Two fourteen-year-old girls go missing from an exclusive boarding school. Did they abscond, or have they been kidnapped? The girls' parents - and indeed the parents of many other pupils - have considerable influence in very high places. Pressure is quickly brought to bear to get Scotland Yard involved. Concern for the girls' safety is paramount. Detective Chief Inspector Adair and three of his officers are assigned to help the local police. Initially there is little to go on, but Adair soon determines that the children didn't leave voluntarily. The first step - to ascertain how the girls were abducted - takes time. To find out who was responsible takes longer.