This is an Urban Fantasy story set in London, New York and Washington.
The president is convinced that a coven of witches has put a curse on him. He is right, but the truth is more complicated than he thinks.
The British embassy is using telepaths to send confidential reports to the Foreign Office in London. Their emails are being intercepted - and the ambassador's opinion of the president could provoke a crisis.
Mary is a telepath, trained by the secretive Guild of Magicians in England. Newly qualified, she has been sent to the consulate in New York, where she will use her skills to send reports to London.
She has been told that there are no magic users in the United States. The truth is more complicated - the American magic users are keeping their own secrets.
Carson runs a radio show. When he hears about these secretive British 'cypher clerks', he tries to guess their true role - and guesses wrong. He assumes they must be part of a conspiracy to harm America.
Oliver just wants to enjoy his playboy lifestyle. But then the Guild asks him to visit New York and help the telepaths. He regards this as a chore - until he meets Mary.
The allegations about Mary and the 'cypher clerks' grow wilder. But the telepaths cannot defend themselves.
If Mary tells the truth, who will believe her?
Then, in the Great Storm, the President suffers a near-death experience. He tells the world that the witches were responsible. But are these 'cypher clerks' witches too? What is Mary's true role?