A plane explodes mid-flight and plunges to disaster from the Scottish skies, the British and American Defence Secretaries among the victims. Now Edinburgh's Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner must lead the most high-profile investigation of his career. The means of destruction is apparent from the start, but the investigation quickly grows more puzzling. When Skinner himself is wrenched from the case, his colleagues struggle with the mass of clues while he fights for his life, trapped with the secret horrors of his past. As Skinner's ordeal reaches its crescendo, the police pursue their suspects in a dramatic race to hunt down those responsible. But will their much respected DCC be able to pull himself back from the brink in time?