A petty thief and a pizza deliveryman are gunned down in an alley. A US Congressman's assistant falls in front of a subway train - three seemingly unrelated deaths. The dead assistant was the chief researcher for Congressman Stephen Collins, spearheading hearings into the role of private security firm PointCorp. She was also his lover. Cal McAffrey, a rumpled, old-school metro reporter at the Washington Globe is covering the first story. He was Collins' college roommate, and had a brief affair with Anne, Collins' wife. Their personal history may be exploited, as Cal spies a conspiracy waiting to be uncovered. Teamed with aspiring young Globe political blogger Della Frye by his crusty editor, evidence begins to pile up, and new pieces start to fall into place. Leads are run down, supporting reporters are brought in, as Cal and Della work together in an attempt to connect the dots before the clock runs out. Cal will discover at least one truth: when fortunes are at stake, no one's integrity, love, or life is safe.