The government wants direction for the possible construction of more high-rise apartment buildings. Fay Chantry is asked to live in one and supply a report based on her experiences.

John Ridge apparently suffers a breakdown from the pressure, and decides that, due to the excessive threat of pollution on the environment, drastic steps should be taken. He steals some phials of the deadly virus anthrax and holds the government to ransom: unless his anti-pollution terms are met, he will destroy humanity by releasing the virus in a number of major cities. A race against time begins. Can Ridge be tracked down before it is too late?