Dumped by the Security Services after a near-fatal posting, but kept on a long leash, former M15 officer Harry Tate now works in the private sector as a 'tracer', tracking down those with something to hide. Hired by a government fixer to trace two separate runaways who have disappeared with large amounts of money, Harry is stunned when both runners are killed by an unknown assailant within minutes of being found. Despite severe misgivings, Harry is persuaded to trace a third runner, this one described as top-priority, a professor with important government connections. But when he finally catches up with the target and discovers links to a possible terrorist operation, things start to go very, very wrong.--From jacket flap.