Vulnerable just a year after her husband's death in a car crash, Siobhan Milligan still feels that the argument they were having at the time contributed to her husband's death. Her insecurity proved fatal to him. Regret haunts her, but she has a 15-year-old precocious daughter and 11-year-old autistic son to take care of, and a career in the paralegal sector. All she wants is peace. When the death benefit cheque arrives from her late husband's estate, and her current landlord is selling her rental out from under her, she needs to find a house to buy that's affordable and with a quick closing. She finds one, all right, but it comes with a former owner, recently released from jail after trying to kill his wife, who knows what amount of cash has been left at the house. He wants it back. Siobhan wants an even-keeled life. He performs a series of attacks that shatter her coveted happy home, and her psyche, and when she finds the hidden money, and a handgun, she is forced to turn the gun on him, against all of her principles, to protect those she loves. When he kills someone close to her, the small-town police, who have been lax in their duties, finally take the situation seriously. The perpetrator's demise is ironically brought about by a cast off article of clothing that belonged to Siobhan's husband.