Mickey Haller is called on to defend a long-standing client, Lisa Trammel, when she is suspected of murdering wealthy Mitchell Bondurant.

[1] According to forensic evidence, Bondurant, who was six-foot-two, had been murdered with a hammer blow from behind, on the very top of his head, while standing up.

Before Haller can detail the witness' criminal connections in open court, he takes the Fifth, ending his testimony.

Three weeks later, with his law practice booming as a result of the trial, he gets a call from Trammel in which she both accuses him of tipping off the police to dig up her garden and begs him to represent her when she is tried for her husband's murder.

He refuses, telling her that he has just filed to run for Los Angeles County District Attorney because he no longer wishes to associate with people like her.