Ray Bates

A Cold Kill Ray Bates

It's a good day to die for lawyers. A deposition is about to begin in a large, metro law firm where the senior partner is breathing his last before a shooter barges into the conference room and redecorates with blood and brains compliments of his Glock nine.

The shooter seems like a nice guy. Admits everything, asks for his lawyer and the only question unanswered by the Central Precinct detectives is the motive. Lots of folks have grudges against lawyers, but this killer's reaction seems a bit extreme even for clients with a distaste for the legal system in general and insurance defense lawyers in particular.

Detective Sergeant John Bowers and his interim partner Detective Max Bando need to start pulling threads at the scene of the crime and work backward to find answers. Preliminary investigation points to a related cold case involving the victim's ex-wife. Is the shooter on to something?

And waiting in the wings is another Bowers ex laying landmines for John. His number-two wife Doris shows up for a repeat performance. Only this time she's mixed up with some genuine bad guys, Mexican drug bandidos, and she's eager to get John tangled up in her trouble. And meanwhile, John's regular partner Detective Minola Raye is on the sidelines birthing twins when an unexpected twist and look back stops the clock.