On the ocean liner Mauretania, two European scientists with a dramatic new invention are barely rescued from abduction by the Van Dorn Detective Agency's intrepid chief investigator, Isaac Bell. Unfortunately, they are not so lucky the second time. What are they holding that is so precious? Only something that will revolutionize business and popular culture --- and perhaps something more.

It is 1910, and newspaper publisher Preston Whiteway is offering $50,000 for the first daring aviator to cross America in less than 50 days. He is even sponsoring one of the prime candidates --- an intrepid woman named Josephine Frost --- and that's where Detective Isaac Bell, chief investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency, comes in.