Mercury Rising

The film begins with a tense bank robbery in South Dakota, where FBI agent Art Jeffries is undercover among the criminals. Art tries to reason with the gang's leader, Edgar Halstrom, to keep the situation from escalating.

As tensions rise, an armed FBI task force storms the building, leading to a tragic outcome. Both fourteen-year-old James, whom Art was protecting, and multiple criminals are fatally shot during the chaotic assault.

In a fit of rage and frustration over the tragic outcome, Art confronts his superior, Hartley. This confrontation escalates when Art punches Hartley, resulting in his demotion to desk duty as punishment.

Years later, we meet Simon Lynch, a nine-year-old autistic savant. His teacher gifts him a sophisticated puzzle book, and Simon exhibits his extraordinary abilities by swiftly solving a complex puzzle.

Simon's solving of the puzzle inadvertently leads to contact with two NSA cryptographers, Dean Crandell and Leo Pedranski. They realize that the cypher Simon cracked poses a significant national security threat.

In response to the perceived threat, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kudrow orders assassins, Peter Burrell and Shayes, to eliminate Simon and his family. This sets off a deadly chain of events targeting Simon.

Disguised as a police officer, Burrell brutally murders Simon's parents while searching for him. However, Simon escapes detection by hiding in his bedroom, ultimately leading Burrell to fabricate a murder-suicide scene.

Art Jeffries is assigned to investigate the murders of Simon's parents. During the case, he discovers Simon hiding in a crawl space, understanding the immediate danger that the boy is in.

After learning about Simon's autism, Burrell poses as a doctor to make another attempt on the boy's life. However, Art intervenes just in time, whisking Simon away to safety from the looming danger.

While aboard a train, Shayes tries to kill Simon again. Art heroically knocks Shayes off the train tracks, preventing another assassination attempt on Simon's life.

Kudrow devises a plan to frame Art as Simon's kidnapper, aiming to eliminate all witnesses. Yet fellow agent Tommy Jordan, suspecting foul play, decides to help Art in protecting Simon.

Art arranges a meeting at the Wrigley Building with NSA agents Crandell and Pedranski. Tragically, Burrell arrives first and murders Crandell before he can reveal critical details about Kudrow's conspiracy.

Pedranski tries to inform the FBI about Kudrow's illegal operations through letters. Unfortunately, he becomes a target himself and is killed by Burrell, adding to the chaos surrounding the situation.

However, Pedranski's girlfriend, Emily Lang, brings the carbon copies of his letters to the FBI, where they serve as pivotal evidence. With this evidence in hand, Art gains a crucial advantage in his fight against Kudrow.

As tensions reach a boiling point, a climactic showdown unfolds at a skyscraper. An intense gunfight erupts, resulting in Burrell's death and Art ultimately confronting Kudrow with Simon's clever assistance.

In the final scenes, Art checks on Simon, who is now safe with his foster family. Their heartfelt embrace signifies the bond they have forged through their harrowing journey, bringing a sense of closure to their story.