Judge Horace Blackwell is found stabbed to death in his room at the Executive Mansion, and Sara Carter, a black maid, is summarily arrested. Faced with the steamy facts of Blackwell's private life--his mob connections and the related death of a speakeasy bouncer--Eleanor finds suspects and motives aplenty. It takes sharp wits and common sense to solve a crime while serving tea to the ladies of the crusade for decency, but can Eleanor save Sara from the electric chair--and save Washington from a cunning killer?