Newcastle-based lawyer Eric Ward is surprised when an important local shipping firm, Goldwaters, pay him a large retainer to do some work for them. They have their own in-house legal team so Ward can't understand why they have come to him, but the money is good, so he agrees to take the case.<BR>One of Goldwater's ships, the Sierra Nova, has been `arrested' and is unable to leave the port. One of the crew, Edwards, has been caught smuggling drugs - but now he's been removed from the ship, so why can't the voyage go ahead?<BR>Things get even more complicated when Edwards is killed on his way into the courtroom. When Ward finally gets to talk to the police he finds that the Sierra Nova is under investigation by the International Maritime Bureau - they want him to betray his client's confidence and assist them with the case. It isn't long before Ward finds himself immersed in the dangerous world of international conspiracy and modern day piracy.