Morris Rives, scion of a politically prominent Washington DC family, is mired in the 'all but dissertation' limbo of a Ph.D. and carrying on an affair with Karen, trophy wife of the business school dean. When Karen drives home drunk from one of their trysts, she hits a hitchhiker. She drives on, reporting to the police next day she must have been a deer. Morris gets roped into a cover-up and abruptly leaves town. In DC, Uncle Jack Rives finds Morris some work--counter-oppo research for Minder Associates, known to insiders as ruthlessly effective. The subject is Larry Weldon, former lieutenant governor, now potential candidate for governor. Weldon's reputation is pristine, the whitest of white hats. Or maybe not. Morris follows the trail across sleepy southern towns and exclusive golf resorts, learning of possible will fraud, adultery, even murder. While Morris pursues Weldon's hidden past, his own past pursues him. A collision occurs, shaking Morris to his foundations.