Harry Old, 45 years of age, is an investigative journalist for a London-based newspaper and is to be sent to Basra, in post-war Iraq, to aid a colleague, Stephen Jones, with whom he has shared mixed past experiences. While preparing for the trip he has a chance encounter with a freelance photographer, Hillary Osborne, which develops into a close relationship that has some bearing on his future work. Information he received before leaving England for Iraq gives rise to doubts as to why he is being sent to help Stephen. Unable to find Stephen in Basra, Harry sets in motion a chain of events which brings to his attention a link between drug smuggling and a story being pursued in England by another colleague, Michael. As his investigation gets closer to the principals of the drugs ring in Basra, Harry is injured during attempts made on his life and is forced to return to home to receive medical treatment, where further attempts are made upon his life and that of Hillary. All elements of the story are brought together during a post-operative convalescence in the south of France, at a harbour side cafe in the port of Marseille.