Murder, scandal, political espionage and an extremely dangerous woman. Lucas Davenport's going to be lucky to get out of this one alive... Lucas Davenport is investigating a vicious smear on a US senator when the trail leads to a political fixer's disappearance. Then, very troublingly, it leads to the Minneapolis police department, then, most troublingly of all, to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons. She has very definite ideas about the way the world should work, and the money, ruthlessness and sheer will to make it happen. No matter who gets in the way...