Lieutenant Mark McMichaels served his county as a United States Military Policeman in occupied Tokyo in 1946. He's takes an assignment to discover who is killing Japanese prostitutes. Fluent in Japanese, he respects Japanese culture, but learns things about the culture that are far more sordid than he could have ever imagined. He solves the case but things do not end well for him in Japan. He returns to the states and after receiving an honorable discharge in 1948 takes a job in law enforcement ultimately becoming a detective with LAPD serving in Little Tokyo. His career with the LAPD ends with disappointment and perceived betrayal. He joins forces with his former partner in the Military Police: Jim Corothers, who has a private detective agency called Noble House. Noble House does discreet work for the studios protecting talent from themselves and those who would exploit their weaknesses. It's turned out to be quite lucrative for both men. Jim owns a house in the Hollywood Hills with great views and Mark buys a modest home for his family in Beverly Hills. Someone is exploiting prominent studio personnel whose personal weaknesses have led them to become involved in adulterous relationships. The blackmailers threaten exposure and Noble House is summoned to get to the bottom of it. It turns out that Hollywood is not the only target of the blackmailers. Their investigation leads them to uncover a plot that reaches to the highest levels of power in society. It is a tale of blackmail, extortion, temptation, adultery, murder, corruption and revenge.