The trials and triumphs of life in the small town of Dillon, Texas, where high school football is everything.

It is present day in Arkham Heights, a seemingly desolate town that has decayed much since the eighties. Renny Meeks is a lonely, mentally challenged man with an IQ of 78, who sacks groceries at a small store. He's a simple man, recently released from an institution for a crime he was accused of that rocked the town ten years ago.

The nature and lure of power: in Dallas, a councilman is on trial for corruption, the D.A. is running for the US Senate, a serial killer is slashing prostitutes, and a professor is murdered. Amanda Reeve is assigned to investigate the law-school killing. She hears rumors that the dead man offered women students good grades in exchange for sex. The trail leads her to two wealthy, beautiful students whose alibi is provided by a librarian. At the same time, the cops close in on the slasher. Meanwhile, Amanda misses her former lover, next in line to become D.A., and a reporter is fired for getting close to the truth about the Senate candidate. Is a cover-up or conspiracy in the works?