With his boss still recovering from a heart attack, Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner is filling his shoes. Intelligence reports suggest that a ruthless terrorist is on his way to Scotland - and he can only have one thing on his mind: the forthcoming meeting of world Heads of Government. If Skinner doesn't pick up his trail fast, he could have a global disaster in his backyard. After a terminally ill woman is found dead, the race to find the terrorist mixes uneasily with the search for a mercy killer. One thing's for sure, Skinner will soon be staring death straight in the eye...