Story opens at murder scene of Dr. Anatole Trotski, owner and head shrink of Trotski and Associates, a psychiatric practice. Hard-boiled Detective Dussen, on his last case prior to retirement, starts the hunt for the killer. Six months earlier, Marie Castro, mother to troubled Adam Castro, is desperate to find help for her son after several doctors have failed to provide good treatment. At a book store, Adam finds a book written by Dr. James Franz about exposure therapy, mindfulness and facing one's demons head on. Due to Adam's interest in the book, Marie contacts Dr. Franz, begging him to take Adam into his care. Her plea comes just in time to save Dr. Franz's job, which happens to be at Trotski and Associates. Midway into fifteen sessions of therapy, Adam shows progress, which strengthens Dr. Franz's confidence and comeback at the practice. Then, Adam's obsession with killing intensifies, focused on the very head of the practice, Dr. Trotski himself.