Senator Robert Partridge is killed in front of his wife and children, seconds after announcing his intention of running for the office of president of the United States. His assassination is blamed on Christian fundamentalists who are opposed to his views.

His death changes the lives of three people connected to him forever, including the life of the man who was paid to kill him. For the sake of the wife, he sets about trying to unmask the killers. As he does so, he is drawn into a deeper and deeper pit of deception and duplicity.