Nash Bridges, an Inspector in the San Francisco Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU), poses as an undercover computer chip buyer to bust a ring that stole $2 million worth of chips. Along with Evan Cortez, his young new partner, they exchange phoney city money with Ferguson, who has the chips; but Ferguson gets away.

Nash, while investigating an apparent gang killing, discovers that the weapon used for the job is the Army's newly missing man-portable, antitank system: The Javelin. Nash is assisted in the investigation by Sandra McCormick whoose career is on the line if the Javelin is not recovered.

On the way to an undercover purchase of some heavy industrial equipment from some Russian gangsters, carrying $300,000 of the city's money, Inspector Harvey Leek vanishes. Has there been foul play? Or has Harvey pocketed the money? Nash Bridges has to find him before it's too late.