Year 1901 Martino DiPaolo is hired as a Pinkerton bodyguard for Rounsevelle Wildman. Wildman, U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, wants to reach Washington D.C. in time for President McKinley's inaugural. DiPaolo and Wildman sail on the S.S. Rio de Janeiro for San Francisco. But there have been threats against both Wildman and the president. As the threats become more real, DiPaolo doubts his own ability to protect the Consul. He has failed before and may fail again. He doesn't like this ship. DiPaolo doesn't know she is sailing toward disaster.

Meanwhile, an assassin is on the loose.