Davide Shape is a half-Spanish, half-English businessman who returns to Spain to try to grow an American company's client list. Realising the chances of success are diminishing and suspicious about why, he asks Caterina Certaldo, a previous business partner, to come from Sydney to Madrid and explore what's wrong. She does, bringing with her a fellow Australian and bi-sexual colleague, Emilia. All too soon their joint efforts indicate corrupt business practices. Davide, Caterina and Emilia are joined by a Madrilena, Ana de la Rosa, who introduces her cousin, Pedro Casals, a senior policeman responsible for investigating national crimes like corruption and money laundering. They are backed by the formal powers of Rafa Garibey de Williams, a frustrated investigating judge. As they try to understand a cat's cradle of connections, they discover deceits which reach deep into not only into business but beyond - to the Church, Opus Dei, the legal profession and ... politicians. Their activities soon provoke a reaction from those who fear the consequences, who try to prevent progress. The effect is to question the future viability of major parts of the Spanish State. This is the second Davide Shape/Inma Avila novel: the first is The HolyPhone Confessional Crisis.]"