Mitch Ringer and his brother, Len, followed their father into the Fall Creek police force. While buying an anniversary gift for their parents they witness a fellow officer, Len's friend, shoplift. Next morning Len has not returned home, Mitch learns he has not been seen since they left the store as their boss and the Chief arrive to tell the family Len is dead, probably murdered. A year later they learn that the shoplifting friend's wife, Len's former girlfriend, Kay, has a son who may be Len's child. After marriage and a promotion to Detective, Mitch is injured and must leave the police force. He becomes a private investigator as he and his wife, Frankie, open a cafe, then she leaves him. Almost killed again while rescuing Kay's second husband, Mitch loses his widowed mother and gains a wife, Danielle. As Kay's husband is about to become Mitch's partner, both are killed in a tragic accident driving home after their son's law school graduation.