Isaac Hammer is under arrest. The police have proof that his company, a private London intelligence agency, has broken a dozen laws - tapping phones, hacking emails, bribing police - and now he must face the consequences. But this wasn't Hammer's work, or his style. This was all Ben Webster, and now Webster is missing.

Released from custody, Hammer heads to Webster's house to persuade his old colleague to give himself up. But Webster isn't there; he's in Tbilisi, and his wife hasn't heard from him in days. Hammer has no choice but to break bail to bring back the wanted man.

In Georgia, every step he takes is watched by policemen, spies and gangsters. Someone out there, Hammer soon realizes, is ready to kill him and everyone dear to him to stop him stumbling towards the truth . . .