The cover features a broken Mayan artifact, as the book primarily takes place in Tikal, Guatemala.

The back of the book states "Life or Death: The clock has run out for thirteen year-old Dan Cahill.

Dan and Amy have always managed to stay a step ahead of their enemies, but it was only a matter of time until luck failed them.

The chopper is on its way to Tikal, where the kids have to look for riven crystal in order to complete the antidote to the serum Pierce and his thugs have taken.

As the groups discusses the riven crystal and Tikal, a national park and archaeological treasure uncovered in 1956, the chopper suddenly shakes.

The pilot, who is wearing a parachute, had been hired by Pierce to jump out and crash the helicopter, in an attempt to kill the Cahills.

Meanwhile, in Trilon Laboratories in Delaware, Nellie Gomez, acting as Nadine Gormey, makes contact with Sammy Mourad, who is being held in the building to improve the serum for Pierce.

In Delaware, Dr. Brent Beckelheimer is trying to expose Nellie as a fraud, but she uses pictures of his gnoming hobby in order to portray him as unstable.

However, even though the riven crystal is found, Dan is abducted, Pony is killed by Pierce's thugs, and Nellie and Sammy are captured.