After years as an undercover CIA agent in Europe and the Middle East, Scott Foster is recalled to Washington shortly before Christmas. Short-tempered and brilliant, he anticipates resigning. Despite that, Scott is sent on one last mission to Egypt where he learns of an imminent terrorist attack on Washington. Upon returning, he soon attracts the attention of the Directors of the CIA and the Office of National Intelligence. Lastly, lame-duck President Bishop decides to give Scott extraordinary powers and directs him to chase down the terrorists and expose the cabinet member responsible for numerous and serious leaks. Challenged, Scott begins working with the FBI and the NSA, but his efforts are soon hampered and then stymied by Congress and the elusive terrorists. Meanwhile, drawn into Bishop's White House, Scott is exposed to cabinet intrigues while employing the myriad levels of the government's intelligence services, legal and otherwise. Taunted by a married former girlfriend and deterred by the traitor on the cabinet, Scott pinpoints the looming date of lthe attack: Inauguration Day, the twentieth of January.