Posing as a wealthy but benevolent Algerian in France, Aboud appears to help poor North Africans in the suburbs of Paris. Penny, a New York reporter, attempts to inform her friend Charles, who experienced great personal loss in New York during 9/11, that Aboud, whom he is doing business with, is in reality an Islamic terrorist. In the Sahara, Charles discovers that Aboud is anything but charitable. When Charles tries to find out what target in Paris Aboud seeks to destroy by rockets or C-4 explosives, he is imprisoned and tortured by Aboud. However, Charles is rescued by Fatima, a Muslim Egyptian flight attendant enslaved by Aboud after a 2001 Islamic riot against women in an Algerian oil town. The two flee by camel across the desert but face dangers at the hands of Abouds men, and Charles is gravely wounded. When they finally reach Paris and inform Steve Hallcroft at the American embassy of their suspicions, the fourCharles, Fatima, Penny, and Steveform a team to thwart the destruction of American institutions in Paris.