It is a sultry summer's night in Berlin. In an elegant suburb the former youth court judge Fred Lenowsky and his wife Greta are shot in cold blood by a cloaked figure. The police are baffled.

Meanwhile, in the provinces, the former social worker Rebecca Brandt feels unable to cope with the death of her beloved husband Felix and resolves to put an end to her life. However, before she can carry out her plan she has an unexpected visitor: Maximilian Kemper, an old friend and former workmate of her husband’s. He explains that on the way here he picked up two hitchhikers, a young couple called Marius and Inga, who would now like to camp in Rebecca's garden. Rebecca, who has no reason to suspect anything untoward, has no objection. She doesn't realise that 10 years ago she was the one who placed Marius with foster parents. It is no coincidence that he has turned up here: he intends to take her life.

But why does Marius hate Rebecca? He wants revenge - but what for? The situation becomes increasingly menacing. Not until it is almost too late does Rebecca discover the signs of a vicious intrigue based on love, jealousy and hatred - and she begins to realise that she is the intended victim of a terrible plan...