DI Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork but an escalating dispute between the upstart Tommy Telford & Big Ger Caffertys gang gives Rebus an escape clause. Telford is known to have close links with a Chechen gangster bringing refugees into Britain as prostitutes. When Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call girl it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford goes back to Paisley & pronto. Then Rebuss daughter is the victim of an all too professional hit-&-run & Rebus knows that there is now nothing he wont do to bring down prime suspect Tommy Telford
- even if it means cutting a deal with the devil.