Henry Jay: Civil Servant, mid-thirties. Good Head for Detail. Prospects: Steady promotion. Index-linked pension. Hobbies: Philately, Hi-fi. Current Project: Computer Fraud Report for Whitehall Trade Ministry. Altogether a seemingly puny obstacle to a massive financial conspiracy - with the bureaucratic clout to silence the inquisitive.

Murder and the power to subvert officialdom: Henry Jay has good reason to believe in "Le Pouvior" and its likes with the growing evidence of a financial conspiracy. A dead detective's legacy - a file pointing to a Euro MP and a girl in Brussels - leaves Henry no option but to pick up the trail.

Henry at bay. His home in ruins, his allies and hard-won.