The "Blue Flu" has annihilated the Seattle police force, and many officers are out on unofficial strike. Not, however, Lou Boldt. Despite the exhaustion brought on by overwork and lack of support, he's committed to staying on the job -- no matter what. As Boldt learns, however, life has a funny way of playing with you. When a string of robberies and the brutal near-murder of a female cop descend upon the city, the toll of being practically a one-man operation threatens to rupture not only Boldt's psyche but also his marriage. Joined by police psychologist Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia, Boldt is able to make some progress cracking the case, slowly closing in on a Denver convict and his brother, a hardened criminal. But things spin out of control, putting Boldt's life in very real danger.