The death of an antique dealer seems an unlikely stimulus for the stalled career of Inspector Charlie Salter, of the Metropolitan Toronto police. The victim died in a fire deliberately set and that meant arson and murder.Charlie discovers plenty of suspects: the dealer's assistant, mistress, wife, and any number of other unfortunate people he might have swindled. All these promising leads seem to go nowhere, until chance points Charlie back forty years: to wartime Vancouver. Step by intricate step he works his way towards the truth.