PHOEBE GREEN is an anti-war activist in an alternate 2003 where Tony Blair held a referendum to determine whether the UK should go to war with Iraq. The pro-war side won by 52% to the anti-war side's 48%. The nation is split. Political tensions are running high with accusations that the Yes side manipulated the referendum.

Phoebe is at a protest with her fellow activists CASSIE, XIA, VINCE, PAULA, GUS, LIAM, her ex-boyfriend SEFU and her sister MEL, when they are all arrested except Cassie and Paula. Hours later, Phoebe is interrogated by the police and is informed that Cassie has been murdered.

Phoebe has trouble coping and decides to try to solve Cassie's murder in order to maintain some sense of control. The activists tidy up in the wake of a police raid, and Liam tells Phoebe that malicious gossip will be emerging about him soon.

Phoebe calls a friendly lawyer, ERYL, who offers to follow up with some of her contacts about Cassie's murder. Phoebe and Mel clean out Cassie's room. Phoebe finds a strange piece of paper containing the addresses of several men named RICHARD LAMPART. Phoebe goes to the pub where Cassie was murdered, where she learns the attack was far from random, as the police claimed.

On her return, Sefu tells Phoebe that he spotted strangers on the farm, away from the house. Phoebe and Sefu see Vince being attacked by a right-wing agitator who they recognise from PATRIOT'S UNITE, a far-right organisation.

Phoebe and Sefu run to help Vince but he's been killed by the time they arrive. Phoebe comforts Mel, who was dating Vince. Phoebe and Sefu decide to find Vince's attackers and bring them to justice. Xia is unhappy with this — she wants the activists to go on another action to ground some American B-52s at a nearby airbase before they can bomb Iraq.

Phoebe and Sefu locate one of the attackers in a barn and trap him. The attacker, who Phoebe dubs COWARDLY WINSTON, tells them that he saw Vince and the other attacker being stabbed by a third party. Sefu and Phoebe return to the house and find a sword belonging to Sefu covered in blood.

The investigators establish that it is possible for Vince to have been attacked in the way Cowardly Winston described. They can only conclude one of their friends is the murderer.

Phoebe and Sefu used to think that the only people could they trust were inside the house. They now know they're wrong. One of their own is a murdered. But why would one of them kill Vince? And what does that have to do with the murder of young Cassie. And who is next to die?

Michael Coolwood

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