Mayor Ron Steadman of Centerville, New Mexico, is ready for reelection. The campaign has been running smoothly, no question. No opponent stands a chance against this powerful community leader. The election is only a month away, and the desert skies couldn't be bluer-that is until there's a murder, and Ron's wife, Val, becomes the prime suspect. Valarie Steadman is a scientist and university laboratory director for stem cell research, but she's not a murderer. Someone has set her up, but she wonders whether the perpetrator is out to ruin her-or her husband. She enlists the help of lab assistant Steve Janson to help her solve the crime and clear her name. Meanwhile, the mayor-who happens to be an ex-FBI agent-joins forces with the local homicide detective, Joe Maxwell, to do a little investigation of his own. Soon, Ron and Joe find themselves near the border of Mexico, where a drug cartel that might be tied to the murder gets involved. When the FBI and DEA join the fray, things get even more complicated. It's a good thing Ron is a politician; he knows how to change complicated into simple. Still, his time is running out. If he's lucky, he can get reelected and save the life of the woman he loves.