Matthias Whitlock (Denzel Washington) is police chief of the small Florida town of Banyan Key, in the Florida Keys. He learns that Ann (Sanaa Lathan), with whom he is having an affair, is dying of cancer. He gives her cash seized during a recent drug bust to pay for her treatment. Matthias happens to be sleeping in his car when a nearby house burns down, in what turns out to be a double homicide. One of the victims was Ann, and Matthias believes he's been set up.