It is a time of estrangement and talk of divorce from her husband, the first African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a potential Presidential candidate after retirement. His refusal to provide an acceptable alibi and his history of womanizing and abuse, makes him the prime suspect of the civilian police authorities.

The General Staff and the President, fearful of the potential harm to the military and to the country if the General is openly accused or indicted, sets up a special team to prove the General's innocence. The leader of the group is Major Hank Costeau, erstwhile research microbiologist, who, in a mid-life crisis episode, renlisted as an army air force pilot and became the General's chief pilot and friend.

From here the plot takes many intriquing twists and turns which Hank follows doggedly till it reaches an exciting and surprising conclusion.