All is not well in the murky world of the British Secret Intelligence Service. A leak is traced to a small sub section of SIS, sparking off the inevitable security checks, tensions and suspicions. The sort of atmosphere, perhaps, where mistakes could be made?

For Maurice Castle, now in his 60s and back in London at the SIS Africa desk, it is the end of the line anyway.

A mild unassuming man, who loves his black South African wife Sarah, he should be getting ready to retire peacefully.

Instead he find himself caught up in a nightmare. He has rescued Sarah once before... nowhe must protect her again.