Adrian Sterling notices his usual coffee, delivered daily by his wife Seraphina, is absent, fueling his annoyance at her attempts to control him. He dismisses concerns about her week-long disappearance, callously telling a concerned party to only contact him if she dies. His disregard shatters when two police officers arrive, informing him that Seraphina Vance, identified as his wife, died ten days ago and he must come identify a severely decomposed body found on a beach.