A lawyer and his wife are killed in their home; the only witness is their eight-year-old autistic daughter. Mannion calls on former F.B.I. hostage negotiator Tommy Morgan (now a horse whisperer) to try and get through to the girl and discover the killer's identity.

Mannion probes the apparent suicide by hanging of a congressional lobbyist who was about to reveal the names of top officials involved in the exchange of sexual favors for votes. The reporter she was giving the news also has a history with Chief Mannion's family almost becoming Mannion's son-in-law five years ago. Also, a school teacher fights for health care reforms for students and families.