After the sudden death of her father, San Francisco mediator Kate Reed must work with her stepmother, who’s the same age, to keep his firm alive by resolving a dispute between a clothing magnate and his son, who’s due to inherit the business, and hiding a dark personal secret which could ruin an innocent boy’s life.

Kate mediates a settlement between the State of California and Steve Jenks, a wrongfully convicted man who spent 22 years in prison. As Kate tries to put a price on the years he lost, Steve escapes into a prison of his own making, refusing to deal with the pain of his past -- until, when pushed, he explodes.

One day in the life of Kate: prevent an international incident at the Croatian Embassy and mediate between two litigious brothers before her nemesis, Judge Nicastro, throws her in jail -- all while bracing herself for the possibility of some major personal changes.