What would you risk to prevent a murder? Private investigator Merrill Monroe enlists the services of detective John Jordan to protect Malia Goodman, a civil rights and police shooting activist with a target on her back. But Merrill doesn't just want John to help protect Malia, he wants him to find out who's trying to kill her and help him stop them. Malia is surrounded on all sides by suspects-rogue cops, homegrown terrorists, right-wing militants, and even some supposed friends very close to her-and Merrill wonders if even John Jordan, with his considerable skills and experience, can figure out who the killer is before it's too late. Can John save a life? What about the would-be killer's very soul? Or is Malia fated to be another martyr for the cause of justice and equality?