A tremendous blast rocks an established town eatery during a book-signing event that features the director and inspirational leading advocate of New York charter schools, killing three and wounding others. A neo-Nazi is the prime suspect, but the evidence leads Karp in another direction. The treacherous teachers union president has long been furious at the unqualified successes of the charter school movement in New York City, which threatens to expose his corrupt practices. The homicidal schemers fall into the trap of thinking they can manipulate and misappropriate union funds, and even commit murder with impunity, given the power and influence that they purchased with their union dues.