Barlow and Hawkins feel that many of their problems will be solved if only they can 'find the lady'.
The regional Crime Squad has moved from Gloucester to Di John Watt's building in Wyvern. The move does not please Watt or his detectives as it brings them directly under the eyes of their bosses. Meantime a crime has been committed by a man the Squad has every reason to believe cannot have committed it.
Three apparently unrelated facts turn out to have a fascinating connection. A former criminal, now crippled, lives like a lord but has no visible means of support. A film unit arrives in the area to make a television documentary. And a mysterious and ambiguous note arrives on John Watt's desk.
A new gambling club is due to open and already the manager has been 'invited' to pay protection money to a man from a firm that supplies fruit machines. The Squad investigate, and they don't like what they find.