Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-326).

Charlie and Margaret Marder, political stars in 1960s Washington DC, know all too well how the tangled web of power in the nation's capital can operate. Attorney General Robert Kennedy needs them to look into a potential threat to the security of the United States. Charlie and Margaret quickly find themselves on a flight to sunny Los Angeles. At the center of their investigation is Frank Sinatra, a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and a rumored mob crony. But in a town built on illusions, where friends and foes all look alike, nothing is easy, and drinks by the pool at the Sands and late-night adventures with the Rat Pack soon lead to a body in the trunk of their car. Before they know it, Charlie and Margaret are being pursued by sinister forces from Hollywood's stages to the newly founded Church of Scientology, facing off against the darkest and most secret side of Hollywood's power.