Jonathan Pine returned to work as a night manager at a major hotel in Cairo, two years after Richard Roper's arrest. He had taken a sabbatical to recover from the physical and emotional scars of his confrontation with Richard and the subsequent trial. The hotel was a familiar and comforting setting for Jonathan, a place where he felt at home and in control. As he settled into his new routine, Jonathan found that the hotel had changed. The guests and the staff were different.