The film is based on a true event involving the publicized mid-1980s bitter divorce of Linda and Robert Edelman.
Advised by her lawyer, Linda leaves the children behind in the family's home, reasoning that this way their lives will not be drastically changed.
In order to acquire full custody, and to prevent a court case from being pursued, Robert hires a private investigator James Young, and offers him a large sum of money to kill her.
After Zack tracks her in the mall and on the highway, Linda starts to notice that she is being followed and rushes to Vanden Eykel's office for help.
Zack tries to stall the murder as long as possible, in order for the FBI to collect as much evidence as possible, but soon Young and Robert grow impatient.