Waking to sirens is hardly unusual for Samantha Owens. She's no longer a medical examiner, but a local police investigation has her curious. When homicide detective Darren Fletcher invites her to look over the evidence, she realizes the crime scene has been staged. What seems to be a clear case of murder/suicide is anything but. The discovery of toxic substances in hidden vials indicates something much more sinister is at play…

Fletch and Sam are summoned to a meeting at the State Department. High-level officials are interested in what they know and are keeping secrets of their own. As the threat of bioterrorism grows, Sam's boyfriend, Xander Whitfield, is in the line of fire.

Unsure who to trust, Sam and Fletch find themselves up against DC's most powerful people. No one is who they appear to be, and the danger escalates by the minute. It's Sam's most complex case yet, and the terrifying reality is beyond anything she could have imagined.