The Home Office has co-opted Barlow to look into corruption in Wales. Businessman Tony Sherlock employs the daughter of a senior officer and tries to buy him off.
Hopkins is jailed, and DS Owen commits suicide. Barlow finds counterfeit money hidden in a old coal hunt, and the body of a small child is discovered in Hopkins' father's grave.
Barlow heads for Cyprus to tie up the loose ends of the Hopkins case. The beautiful Despina attempts to sidetrack him but gets immunity if she gives up the printing press set up by Hopkins.