Death Spiral

A new client who is in danger of losing his company because of a practice called death spiral financing, seeks professional help from the Sloane Law Firm. Susanna Sloane files suit against the lender, Lionhart Advisors, and petitions the court for an injunction to stop them. She requests the assistance of the secretary of the treasury, Roger Howell, a former lover.
Together with Moe Oxman, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Howell moves to have her appointed head of a task force to evaluate whether death spiral financing should be outlawed. The task force meets in Washington. Oxman then proposes that Susanna be appointed to fill a vacancy on the SEC. Howell urges her to accept. They resume their affair.
Susanna quickly learns that Lionhart is controlled by Ray Atherley, her current paramour. A confrontation ends their relationship.
She is called upon by her client, the Chinese government, for whom she has negotiated an oil deal, to go to Venezuela to assess the political situation. She meets with the oil minister, Rafael Ramirez, and the President, Hugo Chavez.
Susanna is appointed to the SEC. She and Roger decide to live together at his home in a Washington suburb.
Ramirez admits to Susanna that he has lost money investing with a Miami stockbroker. She asks him to send his account statements to her law firm for evaluation.
Ramirez later discloses that he is bi-sexual. Susanna insists that he be tested for HIV. She is also tested. Ray becomes enraged when he learns she could be infected. When Ramirez is found murdered and mutilated in an alley on South Beach, Susanna is questioned. As his attorney, she cannot disclose certain information, and invokes attorney-client privilege. She is arrested for obstruction of justice and incarcerated. Roger secures her release.
The Venezuelans negotiate with the Chinese to build a heavy oil refinery on Aruba. Susanna negotiates the contract and is asked to open bank accounts for the Chinese in Zurich. She travels there, meets with the Swiss banker, Otto Kronheim, who is found murdered and mutilated the next day. Interpol questions her about both murders.
Roger proposes marriage. She accepts. An elaborate wedding is planned. The Chinese government urges them to honeymoon in China. They agree. Before the wedding takes place, Susanna’s ex-husband, Rusty Byers, is cruelly attacked. He survives and Susanna rushes to his side, staying with him until his release from the hospital. She discovers that she still has deeply held feelings for him.
She and Roger marry, honeymoon in China, and return to Washington. Ray Atherley breaks into their home to attack Roger, but fails. He is arrested. The knife used in the attack on Roger is linked to the murders of Ramirez and Kronheim, and to the attack on Rusty. Atherley’s trial is held in Florida, a death penalty state, and the locale of the Ramirez murder. Susanna must testify.
Roger learns that she had engaged in sex with Ramirez, Kronheim and Rusty, and leaves her. The marriage is annulled.
Initially, Atherley’s counsel raises the defense of justifiable homicide, and then he raises sufficient reasonable doubt to acquit his client. Atherley is extradited to Switzerland, which has no death penalty, saving his life.
Susanna and Rusty decide to see if their relationship can finally work.