When Harry Barnett is anonymously informed that his son is languishing in hospital in a diabetic coma, he is certain there must be some mistake, since he does not have a son. But he soon discovers he does. David Venning is a brilliant mathematician, whose illness is taken to be either a tragic accident or a suicide attempt. But oddly enough, his notebooks are missing from the hotel room where he was found. Harry discovers that two other scientists employed by Globescope Inc. have died in mysterious circumstances. Perhaps David is actually the victim of attempted murder. And perhaps the deaths of other Globescope staff are not the coincidences they seem.