Aftercausingacommotionwithhislastassignment,Falkhasbeengivenadeskjob,whichhardlyagreeswithhispersonality,andheendsupacceptinganofferfromanoldfriendtobuyintoaprivateinvestigationagency.AnotherfriendofFalk's,Sven,purchasedabusinessinEstonia,andwhenlocalgangstersattemptedtopressurehimintopayingprotectionmoney,SvenretainedtheservicesofNikolausLehmann,aburlyprivateeye,tothrowthemoffhistrail.However,Lehmanndoeshisjoballtoowell,murderingtheracketeers,andthenthreateningSvenandhisfamily.Withnowhereelsetoturn,SvenasksFalktohelphimdealwiththecrazedLehmann;Falkagrees,butsoonrealizeshe'sdealingwithamoredangerousmanthanheimaginedwhenLehmannkidnapsFalk'swifeJeanette,andthenreleasesherwithatimebomblockedaroundherneck,demandingthatFalkhandoverownershipofhisdetectiveagencytoLehmann.