Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau is summoned by an official of the party to take the lead in a corruption investigation - one where the principle figure and his family have long since fled to the United States, beyond the reach of the Chinese government.

But he left behind the organization and his partners-in-crime, and Inspector Chen is charged to uncover those responsible and act as necessary to end the corruption ring. In a twisting case that reunites him with his counterpart from the US Marshall's service - Inspector Catherine Rohn - Inspector Chen must find a measure of justice in a corrupt, expedient world.