An ancient deadly disease, a cocky, young FBI agent desperate to stop a terrorist plot, and a beautiful, brilliant scientist caught in the middle--A quaint, southern college town may seem the least likely place to harbor a terrorist threat-a genetically engineered virus that could wipe out civilization as we know it. But when renowned scientist Dr. Abdul Khan vanishes along with a supply of the hybrid virus used to make smallpox vaccine, FBI Agent Colton Stillwater fears the worst. As he races against time to locate the terrorist cell, he becomes involved with Deana Cole, Khan's beautiful, brilliant graduate assistant. But when her involvement makes her a target, protecting her becomes even more important to Stillwater than stopping the terrorists. The stakes are high, and both Deana and Stillwater will be tested-and ultimately forced to weigh their feelings for each other against the fate of the free word.