Paul Preedy's three-year-old son, Clifford, drowns in their backyard pool, even though Paul had locked the pool gate. One year later, Paul's life is dramatically different. Consumed by guilt over Clifford's death, he is no longer with his wife or his remaining son, Tom. Paul has a new girlfriend, Quinn. After his weekly therapy session with Tom, Paul sees his son talking to Arabella Bauer. She and Paul hit it off. When he attends what he thinks is his prep school reunion, Paul finds the the place deserted except for two other schoolmates, Dave King and Andy Adams. The school infirmary contains three porcelain bowls and three embroidered handkerchiefs -- one for each of them. Adams and King are scared at the meaning of this, but Paul is puzzled, unaware of the significance of the hoax.

A blossoming affair with Arabella develops, and Paul's former girlfriend Quinn is becoming a problem. Then, Adams is murdered, horribly scalded, while tied to his bed. Evidence points to Quinn and Paul starts to obsess over what is happening. Next, King is murdered, again in a horrific fashion. Paul is the one to discover the body and a hideous sexual secret, some 20 years old, comes roaring into Paul's life. He realizes that this secret caused the death of his son Clifford, and now, as he tries to come to terms with it, his remaining son is snatched. He discovers who the killer is and must try to save his son.