The second in the Malan trilogy. The recently promoted Commandant Malan finds difficulty in achieving a balance between his new senior administrative role and his instinct to be involved out on the streets. Unknown to him international crime, terrorism, kidnapping and revenge are swirling into a fog he must cut his way through with the involvement of the security services. With this menace approaching over his personal horizon, Malan struggles to make headway with a high profile murder.