While Inspector William Fox and girlfriend Tracy Jordan cruised on his cigarette boat The Midnight Fox, a crackle of the police scanner informed him a body had washed up on a beach. Much to Tracy's disapproval, William chose to investigate. The Montreal police investigator already on the scene discovered a note on the body intended for William's friend and taekwondo master, Mr. Kim. He is certain the note was from his long-lost sister, Mi-Cha. Kidnapped, while still a child, and trapped in North Korea, Kim is convinced she is still alive and implores William to help get her home. Sanctity of Freedom plunges RCMP Inspector Fox and FBI Special Agent Patrick Reilly into an investigation of a savage assassination of a Canadian diplomat and two Australian intelligent agents. Meanwhile, Kim and his old friends chase down leads to find his sister that point to Pyongyang, the North Korean leadership, and the shadowy operatives of Bureau 39 who skirt the NATO sanctions.