Jake Fox, an aviation accident attorney, graduated from law schoolduring a break from his Air Force tour of duty. He served as a pilotin the Viet Nam War avoiding injury or death flying the high riskmissions out of Thailand into North Viet Nam. Upon release fromthe Air Force, he begins his legal career handling uninspiring minorinjury cases until a more substantial case provides him with thefunds necessary to move his practice to Palm Beach. After threeyears handling small property cases in Palm Beach, he is retained bya wealthy Palm Beach gold merchant, Trey Fielding, with respectto a minor federal air regulation violation. Jake fortunately wins thecase and the two men strike up a friendship. When Trey Fielding loseshis life while flying his single engine airplane, his very attractivewife, Michelle, retains Jake as her attorney to represent Trey's familyfor the loss of a husband and father. The Fielding case against theaircraft and engine manufacturer becomes a highly publicized, highvalue target for the many parties eager to get a slice of the pie. Jakebattles not only the able defense attorneys on the case but also thevarious interests that are trying to assume control of the case. Whilepreparing for trial, Jake must also deal with growing allegationsthat Michelle was a knowing participant in creating the conditionsthat led to her husband's death. The novel winds its way through themany challenges of the trial to the final outcome of the case and therealization on Jake's part that doing the right thing is not always aneasy choice.