On a routine assignment, Art Loss Register investigator, William Forbes discovers a famous painting in the possession of a struggling artist. As he back tracks through the provenance a link is discovered to an owner who simply gave it away. As Forbes endeavors to discover why; it appears that Vladimir Chekov, Russia's president elect holds the secret to the mystery. Forbes's investigation takes him to Dubai, where a veil of secrecy is drawn ever closer.And then to Bangkok where Forbes discovers the past is not always history