Muslim detective, Zane Malik, is fighting crime in a post 9/11 world. A police officer s killed, apparently by two armed robbers 'of middle Eastern appearance.' Zane Malik uses his connections in the Arab community to track down the two youths involved. Malik's search for the truth brings him into a head on clash with Senior Detective, Ray Crowley. Rowley accuses him of putting his community before his job. Malik is angry. He wants justice for the police officer too, but he knows what it is to be an Australian Arab, and feel unsupported by the law. When he was a boy his father was shot by an armed robber; the shooter was never brought to justice. But will Malik be able to find out the truth behind the officer's death before war erupts on the streets of Lakemba?

In the midst of investigating the murder of a Serbian car salesman, Malik's obsession with the past deepens. Malik seeks to prove that John Hunt was once an armed robber, and the man who shot his father. But this is contrary to the evidence. Is Malik going mad? Can he find the evidence that will prove Hunt's guilt? And why is Crowley obstructing him? Is it sheer bloody mindedness or is there a reason? Malik, Koa and all at Major Crime, work to solve the mystery behind the Serbian killing. The detectives discover that the car salesman is not as respectable as he appeared. Has his dark past something to do with this death?

Hunt is missing. HQ received a panicked call from a woman accusing Malik of killing him. Is he dead? And is Malik reponsible? When Hunt's body is found in Chinatown Crowley is dismissive - Malik's quest is over. Malik disagrees, Hunt may be dead but his quest for justice remains. Whoever killed Hunt took away the satisfaction Malik might've found in a lawful outcome. But Malik's determined to track down Hunt's killer. He finds the woman who called HQ. Celia Cho, is the daughter of Bruce Cho, a leader of the SW Crime Syndicate and the mother of Hunt's son. Bruce Cho hated Hunt. If he is the killer, proving it, in a world where everyone is afraid to talk, will not be easy. The closer Malik gets to the truth, the more dangerous he becomes.