Raban believes that Pugnus Dei is being funded by the Validus Group, an American private equity group and a significant global arms dealer.

Raban finds Carolyn lying dead in her front doorway; the police arrive and suspect Raban of killing her.

Raban discovers that two Iranian cousins have been murdered; Raban believes that Defence Concern had something to do with the killings, and recruits Cosgrave's policy adviser Alice Ross to help him