While at secondary school, Louise Copperfield and Charlotte Hoar were both sexually assaulted by the same man, their teacher, David Bannister. Now, as adults, one woman suffers emotional difficulties for which she blames herself, and the other cannot sustain relationships with men. Louise is stalked by someone who wants to ruin her family life by distressing her to the point of breaking down. Through the efforts of friends and a priest, she recovers and fights back in a way that puts her life at risk.Two men in Louise's life, her husband, Frank, and school friend, Nigel Jones, have big decisions to make regarding their own integrity. Frank decides to enter into a dubious and dangerous building project, while Nigel decides to fight the corrupt City Council. Both decisions bring fearful consequences.A devastating flood involves Louise, Frank, Nigel, Charlotte and David in a life and death conflict, with a shocking outcome.