Nobel laureate, international financier, and
philanthropist Peter Novak-a billionaire who has committed
his life and fortune to fostering democracy around the
world through his Liberty Foundation-has been kidnapped.
The terrorist known as The Caliph is holding Novak in a
near-impenetrable fortress and has refused to negotiate
for his release, planning instead to brutally execute his
hostage in a matter of days.... Running out of time and
hope, Novak's people turn to a man with a long history of
defeating impossible odds: Paul Janson-a legend in the
notorious U.S. covert agency Consular Operations. Janson
sets in motion an ingenious rescue operation. But the
operation goes horribly wrong and Janson is marked for
death, the target of a "beyond salvage" order issued from
the highest level of the government. Now Janson is running
for his life, pursued by Jessica Kincaid, a young agent of
astonishing ability who can anticipate and counter his
every move. To survive, Janson must outrace a conspiracy
that has gone beyond the control of its originators. To
win, he must counter it with a conspiracy of his own....