Amid the chaos of post-invasion Iraq, Kalila Farid follows her brother, Hanif, to root out artefacts from the churned-up desert soil. Soon they’re selling their finds to the foreigners rushing in to ‘rebuild’ the oil-fields and city of al-Basrah.

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When the ambitious Hanif accepts a lucrative offer to push the business in a dangerous new direction, Kalila fears for their future.

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Meanwhile, In London, Veryan Turner is a world away from her once heady life with Nick. Now she’s struggling with debts while temping for the owner of a transport company, Antony Lombard. He’s a demanding boss. After a late-night stint, Veryan suspects Lombard’s hiding something.

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Except, of course, it is his company and her judgement’s been proven wrong in the past. But when she glimpses a far more disturbing incident, Veryan is determined to track down the truth before it vanishes…