As the infrastructure of the Soviet Union crumbles before the world's eyes, twenty thousand tactical nuclear weapons, once under the command of the Soviet military, are up for grabs - and US intelligence believes they may soon appear on the open market.

Jake Grafton is despatched to Moscow to ensure that the weapons are destroyed before they disappear into a terrorist pipeline. But Grafton discovers that unidentified American officials want his mission to fail - and will go to any lengths to stop him.

Meanwhile, off the coast of the Canary Islands, the body of a British billionaire has been found floating in the sea. Grafton's contacts tell him the man was a victim of a hit squad from within the CIA. And before long, Grafton realises he too has been targeted for assassination - and the conspiracy is clearly stamped 'made in America'...