An FBI agent going through PTSD from his last mission must goes deep undercover to bring down a ring of thieves dealing in stolen Native American artifacts in the remote Southwest, and finds it hard to keep it together in order to complete the mission.

SYNOPSIS:

Looting of Native American sites in the remote southwest by Diggers has been going on for years. But now, the looting has taken on another dimension. Local Tweakers discover they can sell the artifacts to art dealers and collectors in the United States and, through a well-connected ringleader, all over the world. They’re called Twiggers (Tweaker + Digger). Jinx Smith is an FBI agent who’s dealing with the fallout from his past disastrous mission breaking up a dogfighting ring. He was viciously attacked by some of the dogs, leaving him with badass scars, recurring nightmares, and self-doubts. The experience has affected his personal life, and made his troubled marriage even more so, especially after the guilty party goes scot free. He’s brought in undercover as a Twigger in order to bring them down along with their boss before this precious cultural heritage is lost forever. This story is based on true events that rocked the world of archaeology.

Jinx's wife, soccer wife mom Susan, can’t take the stress of living with him after the toll his last mission has taken. She takes their sons Tyler and Kevin to go live with her parents. It’s the catalyst which sends Jinx on his way to his new undercover mission. Before leaving, he asks his friend and fellow agent Allan Ward to keep an eye on Susan and the kids for him.

One of his only contacts with the outside world is Kay Lomahaftewa, a fellow agent and Hopi archaeologist from the Farmington field office with whom he feels an immediate connection. Kay is independent and idealistic, but has trust issues. His other contact is Carlton Begay, a Navajo cop who has worked with Kay before. Carlton is dependable and solid with a sense of humor, but has a stubborn side. Jinx starts his new life as “Dale Kane.” He meets single mom Filly Chavez, the asset who’ll introduce him to the group. She isn’t in too deep yet, and Kay offers her a way out of the Twigger life in exchange for her help. He also encounters Andy Browne, the loose cannon “foreman” on illegal digs, his skittish hippy girlfriend Valerie Lockhart, and Jimmy Tsosie, a superstitious Navajo who who’s been in and out of trouble for years. Mel Tubbs, Farmington’s dirty sheriff, buys painkillers from the Twiggers in exhange for turning a blind eye to their activities.

Filly introduces Jinx, and he takes fake drugs in order to get accepted as one of Andy’s pack. One night, he’s invited to join them on a dig, where they find a valuable pair of yucca sandals. They negotiate a deal with Andy’s boss Alexander Brightstar at an exclusive chic party at Alexander’s sprawling Santa Fe mansion. Alexander is a big-shot, narcissistic art dealer/painter who passes himself off as Cherokee, but whose whole background is a sham. Jinx also meets Alexander’s unscrupulous and intelligent assistant and girlfriend Shannon Darsey. Kay attends undercover, and searches Alexander’s office for information.

He passes on intel to Carlton and Kay away from prying eyes, meetingt them at a fast food restaurant or a laundromat in Shiprock, on the Navajo rez where Carlton lives. He and Carlton become friends, and he and Kay get close. His friendship with the Twiggers grows, and they trust him more. On one of their nightly desert grinds, Jimmy finds human remains, the “pot of gold.” Some clients have a weird fetish for such finds, but in keeping with Navajos’ superstitions about the dead, Jimmy freaks out and is afraid they’ll be haunted by the spirit. Andy and Jimmy duke it out, and when Jinx tries to break them up, he gets knocked out. When he comes to, Fillly tells him Andy hid the skeleton in a secret location. Jinx confronts Andy, who confides in him that he wants to cut Alexander out and deal with clients directly. Jinx warns him against it, but like many methheads, Andy feels invincible.

Jinx, Kay, and Carlton get close to trapping Alexander at a Navajo Fair and rodeo, where German and Japanese clients show up to negotiate for the skeleton. However, their plans go awry when Carlton finds himself occupied with runaway bulls, and Shannon distracts Jinx after his frustration at not being able to contact Kay. Alexander regroups and kidnaps Andy. Valerie, a lost little girl without Andy, loses it and ODs. Jinx and Filly feel guilty for not having taken care of her, and Jinx doubts he still has what it takes for this job.

Filly breaks down, cuts herself and ends up in the ER, but with Jinx’s help, gets back on track and goes home with a Witness Protection Program agent. Shortly after, a local sheepherder finds Andy’s body in the shadow of the eerie, imposing formation from which the town of Shiprock gets its name. Jinx goes on a bender, but with Kay’s support and help, has an epiphany that the mission isn’t about addicts, but about protecting this irreplaceable legacy. Kay and Jinx get very close to starting something, but put on the brakes.

They get information from sheriff Mel about Alexander’s next move and plan a sting. They’re interrupted by the news that Filly’s mom and baby have been kidnapped. At a remote ruins site, they take on the bad guys, and must not only protect the southwest’s cultural legacy, but save an innocent life, Filly’s baby. After battling it out with Jinx over a rickety platform over an abyss, Alexander falls to his death and his Twiggers are defeated as the FBI cavalry arrives. Jinx has proved to himself that he can still get the job done.

The human remains are reburied according to Hopi customs in a traditional ceremony. Kay finds out that Jinx has kids, and steps out of the running. She thinks he should try and work things out with Susan for their sake. Jinx has a video call with Susan, and asks her and the boys to come to New Mexico, where he’s decided to join the Farmington field office, and she accepts. Susan, who in Jinx’s absence, had been getting close to Allan, ends things with him, and gives her marriage another chance. Jinx rents a house in town, a fresh start for all.