Michael Gibson's world is collapsing all around him. He desperately wants to marry his mistress but his wife is refusing to give him a divorce. He is suffering from crippling headaches and terrifying nightmares. Worst of all, Jack McFarlane - who has sworn to kill him - is about to be released from prison. When Gibson's wife mysteriously disappears, DCI Charlie Anderson has to establish if he's dealing with a case of abduction, suicide or murder. As events unfold against the dark, wintry streets of Glasgow, Charlie finds even his renowned analytical skills seriously challenged.