Mark Kent has come to Budapest at the urgent-and mysterious-written request of his childhood friend from Turkey, Ahmet, whom he lost touch with years earlier. Mark had immigrated to the States, where he became a radiologist in California. Ahmet disappeared into eastern Europe, involved in various shady dealings, as Mark discovers, and with too many women.
In Budapest, Mark discovers his friend murdered in the Royal Suite at the Gresham Palace. The bloodless scene leaves Mark, a doctor, baffled. But he's determined to find out who killed Ahmet, why, and how.
Mark's life becomes a kaleidoscope of hit men, spurned women, and detectives who raise as many suspicions as questions. And who is this skulking figure trailing Mark-friend or foe?
When an attractive young Hungarian policewoman named Jasmin decides to help Mark with his investigation, he soon realizes that she has other motives as well. Mark finds her irresistible-yet knows that he must resist her.
The story's climax takes place in one of Budapest's public bath houses. Just when Mark thinks he's put the many pieces of this deadly puzzle together, there's yet another twist. And in the end, he must turn, once again, to Jasmin.