The 25 year oldwoman was too young to die. She deserved to be loved -- not murdered. A recent law school graduate,Melissa Walker had a bright future ahead of her. But, her dead body was now lying in the middle of the Oregon State Capitol Building directly on top of thebrass replica of the state seal. Salem homicide detective Jack Davis is assigned to investigate. Jack hates killers -- almost as much asbureaucrats. However, he quickly finds himself caught in a web of political cover-up and federal government espionage. The murder victim was a legislative intern for a powerful state senator, who flees by private aircraft to Bogota, Columbia. But, eventually,the senator must place hislife in the hands of his son,an ex-Navy fighter pilot who attempts a daring night takeoff from a mountaintop runway. As the investigation unfolds, Jackand his partner, Eva Tolento, are led toZuni, New Mexico, where they search for the killer and also meet an old Indian shaman.After theyreturn to Oregon, the investigation takes an unexpected turn that places Jack and Eva in harm's way . . . and perhapsno way out.