As Zahira pursues studies at St. Martins and the VPs visit approaches, she realizes that the VPs Secret Service team leader, Owen Michelson suspects Fahad is a terrorist and may suspect her as well. Yet in interviews with him, Zahira is deeply attracted to Owen and knows he is equally compelled by her. Torn by her longing for Owen and relentlessly mounting doubts about Fahad, Zahira determines to find the truth about her cousin and if she must, dissuade him from terrorism. Her efforts are savagely thwarted by Amir, Fahads Iraqi control, who has murdered and stolen a St. Martins students identity.
Amir kidnaps Zahira and forces Fahad, now beginning to reject his terrorist mission, to come to St. Martins and proceed with the assassination. In an explosive climax, the lives of three children and countless civilians hang in the balance, and in spite of college supporters and Owens attempts to save her, Zahira must make her jihad alone.
A. E. PRITCHARD earned a PhD from the University of Maryland. The former college professor is the author of two other books in her St. Martins mystery series: Death’s Dark Angel and Death at Dames Hundred. She and her husband live on the Florida Gulf Coast.