Policewoman Sara Woodruff, on death row for murdering her lover, John Finley, is appealing her case to the United States Supreme Court. But the unexpected resignation of a prominent justice could sink her appeal. Then a second justice is attacked for no apparent reason. Called in to quietly investigate, p.i. Dana Cutler finds disturbing links between the Woodruff appeal, the ominous incidents in the justices' chambers . . .and a shootout that occurred years before on a small freighter docked upriver in Shelby, Oregon, with only one survivor: John Finley. Joining forces with former colleagues Brad Miller and FBI agent Keith Evans, who helped bring down a president in Executive Privilege, it's not long before Dana discovers a deadly secret in the heart of the U.S. intelligence community.