When Peter Bowman, an American engineer working in a South American country, is captured by anti-government forces, the rebels learn his identity and demand $5 million for his safe return. However, his US employer is on the verge of insolvency and will not provide the ransom. Peter's wife Alice is forced to deal with the matter on her own and she retains the services of freelance professional hostage negotiator Terry Thorne.

Dr. Rodolfo Arias, a controversial and corrupt lawyer, is the victim of an attack and he points to his two enemies Miguel Guevara and Javier Roldán as the ones responsible. Faced with this situation, Guevara proposes to Roldán a plan to assassinate the lawyer. Fucho, a young criminal whose brother had been a victim of Arias' corruption, together with two other thugs, would be responsible for perpetrating the murder.