Roger Ferris is a CIA operative in the Middle East; Ed Hoffman is his control at Langley. Cynicism is everywhere. In Amman Roger works with Hani Salaam Jordan`s head of security whose only dictum is "Don`t lie to me." The Americans are in pursuit of a cleric who leads a group placing bombs all over Europe. When Hani rebukes Ed`s demand that Jordan allow the Americans to use one of Jordan`s double agents Roger and Ed hatch a plan to bring the cleric to them. The plan is complicated by its being a secret from Hani and by Roger`s attraction to a local nurse. Satellites and cell phones bodies and lies: modern warfare.