In 1997, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm provides critical testimony in the trial of Jon Forster, a man accused of being “The Seattle Slayer,” a serial killer known for torturing and murdering women. Forster is convicted for the murder of Joanie Cates and the attempted murder of her sister Janie, with Gramm’s expert analysis playing a decisive role. As Forster is sentenced, he taunts Gramm with the cryptic phrase, “Tick-tock, Doc.”
Nine years later, with Forster’s execution imminent, a series of murders occur that bear a striking resemblance to his crimes. Gramm, now a professor at the University of Washington, finds himself at the center of renewed attention from law enforcement, including FBI Special Agent Frank Parks. The latest victim, Dale Morris, was a former psychology student of Gramm’s who had attended the same party as him the previous evening. While walking to class, Gramm receives a chilling phone call from an anonymous person using a voice changer, telling him he has exactly 88 minutes to live.
Disturbed, Gramm contacts his secretary, Shelly, asking her to compile a list of potential suspects for a risk assessment. As he begins teaching his class, another threatening call comes through, heightening Gramm’s suspicions of his students, particularly Mike Stempt. The class is interrupted by Dean Carol Johnson, who informs everyone of a bomb threat on campus. While evacuating, Gramm finds additional threats scrawled on the classroom’s overhead projector and his car, which has been vandalized in the parking garage.
Gramm teams up with his teaching assistant, Kim Cummings, to uncover the identity of the person threatening him. In a stairwell, they come across Lauren Douglas, one of Gramm’s students, who has been assaulted by an unknown attacker. Gramm reports the incident to campus security before heading to his condominium with Kim.
At Gramm’s condo, they discover a package containing an audiotape of his sister Kate pleading for help before she was murdered years ago. Gramm realizes that someone accessed his secure files to obtain the tape. Shortly after, Kim’s ex-husband, Guy LaForge, shows up at the door with a gun, but before he can act, he is shot dead by a helmeted assailant. As smoke fills the building and triggers the fire alarm, the attacker escapes into the chaos. Moments later, Gramm’s car explodes, having been rigged with a bomb.
Gramm and Kim rent a cab to continue their investigation. On the way, Gramm shares the painful story of his sister’s murder, which occurred years earlier when she was left alone in his apartment. The crime lasted exactly 88 minutes, the same amount of time he has been given by the caller. The duo visits Sara Pollard, a woman Gramm had been with the night before, but they find her dead in her apartment. Evidence at the scene suggests Gramm’s involvement, further implicating him.
As the situation grows more dire, Carol Johnson calls Gramm, making statements that suggest she may be the killer. She demands that Gramm meet her at his office. Shelly arrives at Sara’s apartment, informing Gramm that she suspects Lauren stole the audiotape of Kate’s murder. Meanwhile, Kim disappears and later calls Gramm with threats similar to Carol’s, insisting that he meet her at the office.
Reviewing prison visitation records, Gramm uncovers that “Lydia Doherty,” Forster’s appeals attorney, is an alias for Lauren Douglas. Gramm deduces that Lauren orchestrated the frame-up on Forster’s orders. Kim calls again, instructing Gramm to come to a location on campus. There, he discovers Carol bleeding and hanging precariously by one leg over a seventh-floor balcony. Nearby, Kim is tied up and held at gunpoint by Lauren.
Lauren forces Gramm to record a false confession, admitting that he fabricated his testimony during Forster’s trial. As Gramm complies, Special Agent Parks arrives on the scene. Parks shoots Lauren, causing her to fall partially over the balcony along with Carol. Gramm manages to save Carol from falling, but Lauren slips and plummets to her death.
With the immediate danger resolved, Forster calls Gramm from prison, demanding to speak with Lauren. Gramm coldly informs him of her death and delivers his own taunt: “Tick-tock, tick-tock, you got 12 hours to live,” before smashing the phone. As the tension subsides, Gramm reflects on the memories of his sister Kate. He pockets the device containing the false confession and exchanges knowing looks with Parks and Kim before walking away, ready to face what comes next.
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