This thriller goes by fast. Ben Addison is starting his new job as clerk at the Supreme Court. Ben and three college friends all room together in Washington, D.C. They’ve all known each other since childhood. Ben and his fellow clerk, Lisa, are just getting started when Ben is befriended by a man named Rick. He’s a former clerk who fills Ben in on some procedures and guidelines. After speaking on the phone several times, Rick asks if they can meet in person. They meet up at a restaurant and since Rick has been so helpful and is after all, a former clerk himself, Ben shares an opinion that has has been decided but not published yet. Over the next few days Ben watches in horror as a well known investor makes millions of dollars by investing in a company that benefits from the decision. All of a sudden, Rick is nowhere to be found. His phone is disconnected, he’s not at the address Ben has for him. After doing some research Ben and Lisa discover Rick was never a Supreme Court clerk.
Now Ben’s career is in jeopardy. Already he is being courted by one of the top law firms in the country to join them once his year at the court is through. He has broken a pledge to keep all information regarding the court confidential. If he goes to the authorities for help he will lose his job and his career. With help from Lisa and his room mates, Ben sets up a scheme to catch Rick. Because Rick does get back in touch, now blackmailing Ben with threats of going public with his breach unless more information is forthcoming. Soon everyone is bending if not breaking the rules, the room mates are using their positions in other parts of government to try to help. Distrust creeps in, the childhood friends making decisions that will change their lives, or maybe even end them.
There’s lots of dialogue so the book reads quickly. It’s a page turner, and as I read, I could easily imagine the story being made into a movie. It’s also an interesting insight into the workings of the Supreme Court.