It was only a split second but that's all it took for Secret Service agent Sean King's attention to wander and his third-party presidential candidate Clyde Ritter, to die. King retired from the Service in disgrace, and now, eight years later, balances careers as a lawyer and a part-time deputy sheriff in a small Virginia town. Then he hears the news, once again, a third-party candidate has been taken out of the presidential race, abducted right under the nose of Secret Service agent Michelle Maxwell. King and Maxwell form an uneasy alliance, and their search for answers becomes a bid for redemption as they delve into the government's Witness Protection Program and the mysterious past of Clyde Ritter's dead assassin. But the truth is never quite what it seems, and these two agents have learned that even one moment looking in the wrong direction can be deadly.

About the Author:David Baldacci practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C., as both a trial and corporate attorney. He is the author of seven original screenplays and ten novels, including Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, and Saving Faith. Over 40 million copies of his books are in print worldwide, translated into 35 languages and sold in more than 80 countries. They all have been national and international bestsellers. He lives in Virginia.