In a modern world where magic supplanted science, two non-intersecting stories: one about the death of a city executive at the hands of a wrongful convict, and the introduction of terrorists who are devoted to the destruction of magic.
Detective Regan Reilly and cleaning-woman-turned-private-eye Alvirah Meehan, investigate the kidnapping of Regan's father and a young female driver just before the holidays. The race is on to rescue the pair and get them home in time for Christmas.
Charlie Price, a former scientist turned science fiction author, starts living one of his novels when the Federal Science Foundation's weather experiments escape control and turn disastrous.