In the summer of 1989, the sister of the Hamburg LKA boss Thomas Bethge disappeared without a trace from her house in Weesenburg. Two terrible double murders had recently occurred in a nearby forest. The Lower Saxony police seem overwhelmed. Only the young inspector Anne Bach, who recognizes her mentor in Thomas Bethge, believes that the crimes are connected.

LKA boss Bethge promises his worried mother that he will find his sister, who has disappeared without a trace. But the police in Weesenburg defend themselves against his alleged attempts to interfere and point out to the Hamburg police officer that he is not responsible. Instead, the Lower Saxony police officers initially suspect an act of revenge against the high-ranking Hamburg police officer and ultimately suspect Thomas Bethge's brother-in-law.

There is still no trace of Barbara Neder. Her family is desperate and starts a search message on a TV show - without success. Thomas Bethge's mother attempts suicide. Theresa Neder - the daughter of the disappeared - is heavily burdened by suspicions against her father. After the young police officer Anne Bach has studied all the files again, everything points to the cemetery gardener Jürgen Becker. He gave the police a false alibi without being asked and was one of the last people seen at Barbara Neder's side.