The book chronicles the adventures of the CHERUB agents investigating a small-time crook who suddenly makes it big.

James Adams is partnered with his sister Lauren, Bethany and Jake Parker and grey-shirt Dana Smith on a simulated warfare training exercise.

James, Lauren and Dana protest and Large is ultimately demoted as head training instructor, while Kerry's team is punished instead.

Zara Askew takes pity on James and arranges for him to work with Dave Moss on a low-risk mission in the London suburb of Palm Hill.

While looking at Will's computer, James finds that Will was in possession of a CD with information about a robbery at a casino that happened shortly before his death.

James and Dave deduce that Patel had killed Will and touched the body to provide plausible deniability for any forensic evidence he had left behind.