During a dark period in the history of the United States, a few powerful government officials twisted the meaning of our laws and trivialized universal human rights principles. This novel peels back a deceitful veneer of legal gamesmanship to reveal flagrant violations of international law and the US Constitution. The narrative exposes the criminal actions of individuals who continue to make bold assertions that torture is not torture, that what they did was necessary, and that torturers are above the law. It does not redeem us, the American people, of our culpability. Crimes against humanity have been committed, and we have yet to meet our responsibility to confront the perpetrators.

The story unfolds within the framework of existing statutes and develops a practical approach for bringing the guilty to justice - the first step in any attempt at reconciliation.

There is realism in the premise, which relies heavily on information gathered by professional journalists and investigators around the world. The legal basis draws on US code and the published opinions of qualified legal experts. Here is a work of fiction, with fictional paladins reacting to the actions of nonfictional characters and historical events. We can envision real people following in the footsteps of the story’s protagonists. It is only necessary to find the courage to act.