The political thriller, CHECKMATE, is the story of a young scientist who works for a defense contractor just outside of Washington, D.C. She invents an incredibly low-cost technology to defend against cruise missiles. She needs support from skeptical company officers, funding from a reluctant Congress and help from The White House to develop her project. A member of the staff at the National Security Council sees the potential of such breakthrough technology and wants to help incorporate it into the President’s missile defense system. The fact that he’s attracted to the brilliant scientist adds one more dimension.

But disaster is brewing overseas as militants in the disputed Kashmir region steal a series of cruise missiles from sympathetic members of the Pakistani military and launch the first one against India. At the same time, they send one of their agents to Washington, DC to steal the new technology so they can protect themselves when their enemies retaliate.

The scientist and NSC staffer find themselves enmeshed in terrorist plots and political wrangling at the highest levels. With scenes in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Capitol Hill, Georgetown restaurants and Washington dinner parties, as well as action in Kashmir, New Delhi and the Taj Mahal, the tension and intrigue escalates and brings two nuclear armed countries to the brink of war.

When I put this story together, it was the culmination of my fascination with the whole concept of missile defense as President Reagan first outlined it during my sojourn in his White House. There were many skeptics about his Strategic Defense Initiative. There still are, in spite of the fact that President Clinton later signed a law stating that pursuing missile defense is the policy of the United States. Today hundreds of dedicated Americans are working to protect our country from a missile strike by rogue nations, terrorist groups, or even a mistaken launch. I applaud their efforts.

CHECKMATE is published in hardcover by Forge Books. Look for the paperback edition on sale March, 2008.