When a college principal is crushed to death in a lift, the preliminary investigation into his death discovers that the lift mechanism was deliberately sabotaged, and the finger of suspicion points to the dead man's wife, who may have avenged herself over his adultery. But DI Ross believes that the deputy principal has a hand in the murder, and sets out to prove the man's guilt.
Universitetsrektoren Simon Nimmo bliver klemt ihjel i en elevatorskakt. Det står klart, at nogen har forvandlet elevatoren til et effektivt mordvåben, men hvem og hvorfor? Mens Burke, Ross og Reid går på jagt efter svaret, forsøger Stuart Fraser at opspore sin biologiske mor. Det påvirker ham i en sådan grad, at han begynder at forsømme sit arbejde. Men det hjælper ham også til at finde nøglen til mordgådens løsning.
