When a police officer is killed, apparently by two armed robbers of "middle Eastern" appearance, Muslim Detective Zane Malik uses his connections in the Arab neighborhoods of Sydney to track down the youths involved. Malik's search for the truth brings him into a head-on clash with old-school Detective Sergeant Ray Crowley, who accuses Malik of putting his community before his job.

Two Lebanese youths and a schoolgirl are killed in a drive-by shooting. Inspector Wright appoints Malik to run the investigation, but this doesn't sit well with Detective Sergeant Crowley.