The main character of the story is Major Shapovalov, a police officer. He is investigating a case involving the disappearance of people who decided to sell their cars. Traditional search methods do not yield positive results, so he decides to seek assistance from a person who is well-known in certain circles and is an authority in the criminal world. The situation becomes significantly more complicated when Shapovalov's ex-wife dies and his 15-year-old daughter, Maria, moves in with him.