As Cal McAffrey delves deeper into the investigation surrounding the death of Sonia Baker, a woman with ties to Congressman Stephen Collins, he uncovers a web of political corruption, deception, and betrayal. Throughout the film, Cal works alongside his colleague, Della Frye (played by Rachel McAdams), and his editor, Cameron Lynne (played by Helen Mirren), to piece together the truth behind Sonia’s death and its connection to Collins.
In the climax of the film, Cal discovers that Sonia was murdered because she had stumbled upon a conspiracy involving Collins and a private military contractor, PointCorp. Collins had been investigating PointCorp’s unethical practices and was planning to expose them, putting his political career and life in danger.
Cal confronts Collins with the evidence of his involvement in the conspiracy, forcing him to come clean about his relationship with Sonia and his efforts to expose PointCorp’s corruption. Collins admits his mistakes and acknowledges the danger he has put himself and others in by pursuing the truth.
Meanwhile, Della, following her own leads, uncovers crucial evidence linking PointCorp to Sonia’s murder, further corroborating Cal’s findings. With their combined efforts, Cal, Della, and Cameron are able to expose the truth behind Sonia’s death and Collins’ involvement in the conspiracy.
In the aftermath, Collins resigns from office, acknowledging the consequences of his actions and the need to atone for his mistakes. The truth is brought to light, and justice is served as those responsible for Sonia’s murder and the corruption within PointCorp are held accountable for their crimes.
The film ends on a note of resolution as Cal reflects on the importance of journalistic integrity and the pursuit of truth in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges they faced along the way, Cal and his colleagues emerge victorious, having uncovered a scandal that rocked the political establishment and reaffirmed the power of investigative journalism.