Alcoholic former CIA man John Creasy is trying to escape his less than commendable past by relocating to Mexico City, where he has secured a job as bodyguard to the 10-year-old daughter of a rich businessman. Gradually, Creasy's new employment begins to mend the man's damaged persona as he bonds with the girl. But the Mexican capital's reputation for kidnapping is solidly based, and she is snatched and money demanded. Thus Creasy sets out to track down and inflict maximum grisly pain on everyone involved in his charge's abduction.