Paul Bannerman and his "people" were the government's most efficient killers, until they retired to a peaceful, affluent community in Connecticut. But there were promises made that still need to be kept. And old lethal habits sometimes die very hard--especially in matters of honor...or survival.

Assassins don't come any deadlier than Carla Benedict, Paul Bannerman's most ruthless operative. And now she's been forced to terminate a smooth, cunning, and dangerous spy: her own lover.

Bannerman realizes that Carla's extreme actions will ultimately have serious global repercussions. But he doesn't know how serious until an urgent call from Zurich blasts him out of retirement and plunges him into a roiling maelstrom of conspiracy and murder. For there is a terrible new cancer growing in the corrupted heart of an old enemy -- a virulent, rapidly spreading disease that Paul Bannerman has sworn to battle...to the death.