Douglas Bromley, attending a training course in Spain, entertains thoughts of quitting the Met and starting a new life on the Costa del Sol. Back in London, his friend and colleague, Bernard Blake, sees the appeal.
Douglas and Bernard arrive in Spain, they've quit policing the streets of London for a beach bar on the Costa del Sol. However, there is someone in Spain who remembers them from London and he's determined to put them out of business.
When 'ex-pat' Dinny returns to London for a few days, he enlists Graham to mind his Villa with the strict instruction that no-one is allowed in. When Dinny's wife finds out he is away, she arrives in Spain to claim the villa which is in her name. To do that she must have the villa officially declared vacant, but it's guarded by Graham and three vicious dogs. Blake is called in to find a way past the dogs.
When a woman he has never met before kisses him in the street, Blake is bemused. As he stands watching her as she walks away, two men bundle her into a car and drive away. Blake contacts the Spanish police who seem reluctant to investigate, so Blake sets out to find the mysterious woman.
Bromley is depressed and irritable, that can only mean one thing: it's his birthday, his 56th. Blake offers to take him out to cheer him up, so they spend the night at the casino. Whilst there Bromley overpowers an armed man , the intended targets are two British drug dealers. The man blames them for the death of his son. Bromley promises to bring the men to justice.
Mercer and Graham have returned from South Africa and they need a favour. They are trying to do a deal to buy some diamonds from a recent robbery in, London. They are £50,000 short, so put pressure on Frank to raise the money. Seeing this as a chance to get rid of Mercer and Graham for good, Frank enlists the help of Bromley and Blake. Meanwhile, at the marina, Blake investigates a series of thefts, thefts which Metcalf has accused Senora Sanchez of being involved in.