Excerpt

      Detective Robert Hamilton III checked VICAP, and it was the obvious move to call Florida about their SPS5.5 case last year. 

       Lieutenant Anson Miller took the lead. “What’s going on in your world, Detective Hamilton?”

        It took five sentences from Hamilton for Miller to look at his ex-partner, Hillary Jansen, with hard eyes. They knew damn well that the SPS5.5 case was never solved to their satisfaction.

       Miller asked who the victim was. “The housekeeper called the back-line to the police department instead of 9-1-1. Regular citizens don’t do that. So who is she?”

     “Carolyn Kessler. But she’s using her mother’s maiden name.”

      Miller winced in sympathy. “Who’s she related to?” he asked, guessing accurately.

      The words were slow and filled with dread. “It’s the governor’s daughter.”

      The silence lasted for two beats, then Miller said what they were all thinking. “You poor bastard.”