When is death row better than a not guilty verdict? When Sterling King agrees to defend a client accused of murder, she never thinks winning the trial will place her client and herself in danger. After she wins the case, they kill him, but then it occurs to them-he might have confided in her. As one of the most cunning killers in the country stalks Sterling, all that stands in the killer's way is Gary Randall, an FBI agent with no experience in guarding people. As Gary matches wits in a deadly game of chess, the FBI leaves him in a paradox. His supervisors order him to stop the protection. If he does, she dies-if he doesn't, his career dies.