Jack rushes to the aid of CTU Director Richard Walsh who comes into possession of a keycard and ends up in a shootout. Gaines encounters trouble acquiring Martin Belkin's ID from Mandy. Elsewhere, Kim realises the gravity of her situation.

As Kim and Janet temporarily escape their captors, Senator Palmer learns that his son may have been involved in the death of his daughter's rapist 7 years ago. Gaines finally gets Belkin's ID from Mandy, while Jack delivers the keycard to CTU.

District Director George Mason (Berkely) shuts down CTU forcing Jack to escape in order to follow up on a lead on a conspirator. Nina and Jamie try to cover for him. Palmer discovers how a reporter found out about Keith. Jack finally learns that Kim and Janet have been kidnapped.

Jack follows the arrested conspirator to the police station in order to get more info on Kim's whereabouts. Palmer meets with a reporter who has some damaging information. Kim realizes just how dangerous Ira Gaines really is.

Jack returns to CTU to switch out the id card with a fake per Gaines' orders. Palmer tries to convince Keith and Sherry to go public about the murder.

Jack delivers the briefcase to the assassin at Palmer's press conference. Palmer wants to let the press know what happened with Keith and the murder.

Jack is taken into custody by the Secret Service after he stops the assassination. He quickly escapes in order to check on another name from the key card. Palmer tries to deal with the assassination attempt.

Director Green and Regional Director Ryan Chappelle question Jack about the day's events. Nina takes Kim and Teri to a safe house after getting them medical attention. Palmer wants a meeting with Jack.

After handing out photos of all the assassins, Jack and Mason discover that one of Palmer's campaign staff is in a romantic relationship with Alexis Drazen. Teri and Kim are attacked in the safehouse. Keith confronts Carl Webb about the cover-up.

Jack and Mason use Palmer's campaign staffer Elizabeth Nash in a sting against Alexis Drazen which backfires badly on them. Kim makes a run for Rick's house after getting separated from Teri following the attack.

Jack poses as Alexis Drazen and goes to meet a contact who has vital information. However, a CTU agent with a grudge against Jack might risk the success of the mission. Dr. Parslow takes Teri back to the Bauer house.

Jack and Mason search for location of the address found in Victor Drazen's confidential file. Palmer finally lets the press know about Keith's past. One of Drazen's goons closes in on Teri; Kim is arrested after the police raid Rick's house.

It's been a year since Jack lost his wife, and the emotional toll includes estrangement from his daughter Kim, who is now a live-in au pair for a troubled family. Jack is no longer with CTU, and no longer interested in that line of work - until he's summoned directly by President Palmer. The situation: terrorists have planted a nuclear device somewhere in Los Angeles and plan to detonate it within 24 hours.