Things are not going well for Roger West, one of Scotland Yard's finest detectives. In just a few days he had received a bloody nose; been robbed of important papers; shot at; attacked with a knife; and been accused of dereliction of duty. Moreover, the Assistant Commissioner was not pleased. The Home Office were concerned about Andrew Kelham, whose son had been murdered and cleaner strangled. And then West had to meet Mrs. Kelham . . .