Thomas March Quinter, forty-four, is a Cleveland trial lawyer with a love for the law and a thirst for justice. Not long after setting up his own shop, he's approached by a former college classmate, David Bordman, whose background since their days at Princeton includes the Navy, the CIA, and the US State Department. Bordman has a big job with a big arms manufacturer that includes a big promise: pull off a delicate business deal with Spain and jump the line to become the CEO of Nortex. Bordman hires Quinter, who is well-acquainted with Spain, to go to Costa del Sol and set up several sites for Nortex, but under Quinter's own name, not the company's. The fee offered is more than generous, but Quinter has a nagging suspicion that all is not what it seems to be. Eventually Quinter must prevent the deal from taking place -- without getting himself killed in the process. And Quinter has one other important task -- bringing David Bordman to justice.