DETECTIVE INSPECTOR REBUS IS BURIED UNDER A PILE OF PAPERWORK GENERATED BY HIS INVESTIGATIONS INTO A SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINAL. BUT AN ESCALATING DISPUTE BETWEEN THE UPSTART TOMMY TELFORD AND BIG GER CAFFERTY''S GANG GIVES REBUS AN ESCAPE CLAUSE. TELFORD IS KNOWN TO HAVE CLOSE LINKS WITH A NEWCASTLE GANGSTER NICKNAMED MR PINK EYES - A CHECHEN 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 TAKES THE HIGH ROAD BACK TO PAISLEY AND PRONTO. THEN REBUS''S DAUGHTER IS THE VICTIM OF AN ALL TOO PROFESSIONAL HIT-AND-RUN AND REBUS KNOWS THAT NOW THERE IS NOTHING HE WOULDN''T DO TO BRING DOWN PRIME SUSPECT TOMMY TELFORD - EVEN IF IT MEANS CUTTING A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.