For the Negotiator, talk is never cheap. In a moment, he has to make connections with the crazed and the desperate and the lost. He has to promise, cajole and placate. Success is a rush. Failure would cripple a lesser man. Above all, he must stay detached. Beck Winters is the Negotiator. Despite everything he's seen and done, Beck's still sane, but only because he never allows himself to get close to anyone. Then during a hostage incident, he hears a voice over the phone line, Jennifer Barclay's voice. Jennifer's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her plan has always been to avoid excitement. But that was before she was taken hostage...before the incident ended badly...and before she met the Negotiator.

Lena McKinney is the Commander. Two years ago, Lena tried to be both a woman and a cop - it didn't work out. Now her ex-fiancé is back in town and her SWAT team has been assigned to protect him. Much as she'd like to walk away, Lena will do her duty, keeping her true feelings buried. But that's before the shots are fired...

A SWAT team is only as good as its weakest link. The Listener works hard to make sure that no link breaks. She's constantly watching the team, testing to see if anyone's getting too close to the edge. But she can't do much when her help is refused. Dr. Maria Worley is the Listener. Maria's latest case is the hardest she's ever had. In her experience, no patient has walked closer to the edge than Ryan Lukas. Worse, he's convinced himself that he's just fine. And to make things even more complicated, Maria - and her teenage son - need Ryan as much as he needs them. The Listener is about to learn that helping others is easier than helping yourself.