Orphan William Hyde and professor's daughter Melissa Elmet fell passionately in love as teenagers at Oxford. But, after her family intervenes, their secret marriage is annulled. Heartbroken, Melissa retreats into her shell, and the life of a shy academic. Will, on the other hand, rejected and embittered, joins MI6 - then becomes a millionaire in New York, with a model girlfriend and only dark memories of Melissa. Their lives are completely different. They'll never meet again. And then the killings start. Only Will notices the link to all four high-profile murders: Melissa's late father, the secretive professor who died working on a confidential project. And now he fears that the next hit will be Melissa - unless he can get to her before they do.