Hugh Ryan represents Marie Petraud, who's husband Haristead is back from the dead. He was presumed dead in 1944 but instead sent to a Russian Labour Camp. His brother Pierre is unconvinced but Ryan discovers a sister who is a Trappist Nun.
Hugh meets a British tourist, Maria Teruvik in Tangiers. He is contacted by the British Consulate who want to remove Maria's citizenship. He has three days to help her but learns she was married to a British man but has no documentation.
Chantal Millet needs Ryan's help when her husband, Jacques breaks an Asturcon vase, at the Gallery Felix. He says the vase was his father's and looted during the war. Millet wants his trial to expose gallery owner Pierre Mathieu's lies.
Italian ship, the Andre Fisser discovers a stowaway, known as Trinka, who refuses to leave and appears to be stateless. Solicitor Henri Bersac learns she is Algerian but the Italian captain has already drugged her and left her ashore.
Francoise Albert asks Hugh Ryan to help clear her father's name. He is in jail for shooting his partner but claims he was with girl called Luci. He learns his father in law Henri Bersac was Albert's counsel and reluctant to take the case.
Monsieur Blanck wants Ryan to help SCE recover £2½ million worth of farm machinery, coming from Mozambique. Ryan travels to Lisbon but learns the SS Kelos has been placed in quarantine. Ryan suspects it's an arms deal bound for Rhodesia.
Ethel Downie-Parl dies when her plane explodes in mid air. Her daughter Anna, a ballerina inherits control of Downie Neutronics. Her Uncle Hugo hopes take control but her father Erich has his own plans for Anna back in East Germany.
Marcel Mouchier married Francois for her money but now wants a divorce. She is very religious and leaves for a convent. Writer Andre Dumker, asks Ryan for legal advice on an article about the Mouchier divorce. Next day Dumker is murdered.
Ryan's client Frank Preston needs to catch an early flight to New York. His rival, Pollard has paid an agent to delay him, and miss the flight. When Preston gets arrested for hit and run, Ryan needs to find a witness to prove him innocent.
