A top Chinese swimmer kills himself on the eve of an international event. An Olympic weightlifter dies in the arms of his Beijing mistress. But the suicide was murder and both men's deaths are connected to a sinister series of killings.

Beijing detective Li Yan finds himself in charge of what could be his last investigation for the Chinese police. Li's only hope of a breakthrough is a champion runner, the sole member of the athletics team who seems willing to talk. But she will only talk to American pathologist Margaret Campbell - and now, the runner has disappeared.

As Li's enemies take their chance to destroy his career, and shadowy figures seem hell-bent on victory at any cost, finding the missing runner seems to be the only way to save his joband the lives of more young athletes.