The President's son and daughter have been kidnapped, and Detective Alex Cross is one of the first on the scene.
Just days later, a deadly contagion in the DC water supply threatens to cripple the capital, and Alex fears that these events could signal the beginning of the most devastating terrorist attack the United States has ever experienced.
With each hour that passes, the window for solving both crimes narrows - and Alex makes a desperate decision that goes against everything he believes in.