Over the course of the following day, unease gathers about Perowne, as he moves amongst hundreds of thousands of anti-war protestors in the post-9/11 streets. A minor car accident brings him into confrontation with Baxter, a fidgety, aggressive man, who to Perowne's professional eye appears to be profoundly unwell.

But it is not until Baxter makes a sudden appearance at the Perowne family home that Henry's earlier fears seem about to be realised...