Law-school educated Detroit Police Detective Sergeant Jericho Jackson, known locally as "Action Jackson," was a celebrated lieutenant on the force, but he was demoted nearly two years ago for almost tearing the arm off of sexually violent sociopath Sean Dellaplane, whose father is Peter Anthony Dellaplane, a major car manufacturer. The fallout over the case collapsed Jackson's marriage, and put him at odds with the public. Jackson still has conflicts with his commanding officer, Captain Earl Armbruster. And Dellaplane himself has taken an intense dislike to Jackson, with whom he's been feuding. Jackson begins investigating Dellapane's professional exploits, uncovering the string of murdered trade union members connected to Dellaplane's company. Jackson discovers that Dellaplane is secretly maneuvering his way into a "behind the throne" seat of power, and has been using a group of assassins called the Invisible Men to kill uncooperative union officials. Dellaplane's intent is to gain a political power base, and pick the next president of the United States...one who will be friendly to his interests. Dellaplane fatally shoots his wife Patrice when she discovers his plot, and he plants her body in Jackson's apartment, framing Jackson. Dellaplane is not the kind of guy who would miss Patrice, because he has a mistress named Sydney Ash. Sydney is a local lounge singer and heroin addict. Dellaplane keeps Sydney hooked with a free supply of heroin, delivered in a little velvet-lined box. On the run from the police, Jackson is helped by friends from his old neighborhood -- Sable, a local hotel owner and retired professional boxer, and Dee, a lively local hairdresser and gossip informant who gives Jackson a way to discreetly get to Dellaplane. Jackson and Sydney arrange a meeting with Dellaplane's figurehead replacement for the auto union, unaware that The Invisible Men have been tracking them. What Jackson soon realizes is that Dellaplane intends to enact his plan, and make sure Jackson takes the fall for that too. Jackson and Sydney, along with her bodyguard, Big Edd, find themselves having to fight for their lives against Dellaplane and the Invisible Men.