The autopsy of a Russian national who is found dead face down in a lake reveals that someone tried to murder him two years previously - with an AK-47 bullet which became lodged in his spine. Meanwhile, the owner of local factory firm Matty's Shoes is found bludgeoned to death in his office. Dalziel initially suspects Stevie Earle, a man who suffered severe acid burns during an accident at the factory four years ago, for which he never received any compensation. And then there's the man's youngest son, who appears to have disappeared from the face of the planet, even relinquishing control of his nightclub after racking up a massive debt. As the list of suspects continues to grow, the man's estranged wife makes a confession, saying she was responsible for his murder - but which one of her sons is she protecting? The involvement of a Russian businesswoman only complicates matters.
