It begins innocently when a casual friend asks Charlie Draper to search for his niece, missing when a group of bodies discovered near of the U.S.-Mexico border includes her mother. Draper suspects murdered drug mules, people forced to carry drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border. Draper's friend is convinced that his niece had to be there and certain the young woman is in the hands of cartel mercenaries. Draper almost hopes the young woman is dead, because if she were in the hands of the cartels, what would happen to her would not be pleasant. Draper knew a couple that had survived it, but most did not. If they did survive, and help came, the physical and mental damage would be severe and likely permanent. Despite the likelihood she will be difficult to locate, Draper agrees to try to find her with no guarantees. Locating the young woman turns out to be the easy part. He and DeCollado stumble into a terrorist plot designed to rain death and destruction onto the United States. They find themselves in the middle of a war involving a dedicated and well-financed enemy.