Speaker of the House Anita Killington is thrust into temporary power when a hostage situation at a State Funeral leaves both the President and Vice-President incapacitated. As she battles to save the lives of the thousands of people held hostage, she realizes nothing is what it appears to be and nobody seems to be telling her the truth. Teaming up with a young Secret Service Agent and untrusti ng members of her own government, Killington must sort through the evidence to determine how security was compromised, who on the inside can be trusted, and what the real moti vati on behind the attack is, all while attempting to avert a seemingly-related International crisis. One thing is for sure, getting there will be no easy task for the Speaker whose limited time frame leaves the President, the hostages, and the nation in jeopardy. From the majestic beauty of the Basilica, to the deep-dark secrets of the White House bunker, to the backwoods of Maryland and the rough airspace above South Korea, one thing is certain; with every new piece of information comes twists and turns that leave her trusting nobody and questioning the most basic tenets of her beliefs.