After the exploits dealing with police corruption, (see "You Don't Say" in the Downs Crime Mystery series) Detective Inspector "Sarge" Downs from Cairns was looking for a break. However, while on a holiday in Hong Kong with his partner Sarah, he finds himself in trouble. He had decided to accompany his partner Sarah, who, as a lecturer at James Cook University in marine biology and toxicology had been invited to be a guest speaker at a world wide seminar. Sarge unwittingly becomes involved in a Chinese drug triad after coming to the rescue of a man being beaten up in a market place in Hong Kong. Sarge is captured by the triad and held to ransom. With the aid of Chief Inspector Li of the Hong Kong Police, Geoff Smith from the Australian Federal Police and Sergeant Nat Johns from Cairns, Sarge is released and then helps them to curtail the activities of the triad.