As surgeons labor to save the Sniffer, events of his and Viktor's investigation into the beheaded bodies of a senior investor and a petty thief show what lead up to the life-threatening shooting.

Over one jar of red caviar, three supermarket security guards are brought down by a brooding shoplifter with a silencer. Against doctor's orders, Viktor wants the recuperating Sniffer's help.

When two intelligence agents disappear together, Ukrainian Intelligence fears conversion to a third party but tries to operate without help from the General's Intelligence Service to find them.

Viktor's team investigates three men who were inside the expensive apartment of a poor college student/stripper the day she was murdered.

With the capture of the sniper, the Special Investigation Bureau (SBR) finally learns more about the "ghost" men, unaware that their trusted Sniffer has been compromised.

Several concurrent investigations test Viktor's friendship with the Sniffer, some of which bear these features: a missing quadriplegic, criminal malpractice, a missing finger, "ghost" men and a 1980s children's show.

As Viktor prepares an arrest team against his friend, the Sniffer awakens in the clutches of the "ghost" men, aiming to recruit him with a very tempting proposal.