Megan Rhys is a half-Welsh, half-Indian forensic psychologist who is assessing the impact of the government's new legislation on the vice trade in Cardiff. As predicted by critics, the problem hasn't gone away - prostitutes have simply moved into darker, more dangerous areas. Megan is deeply concerned about the risk this poses to the women - especially as a young prostitute was murdered in the area just a few months ago. The story opens with Megan joining Pauline, a former prostitute turned outreach worker who the police called 'the oldest tart on the beat', in the red light district. Pauline is giving out condoms - she is affectionately known to the working girls as 'The Rubber Woman'.