SECOND
WATCH
By
J.A. Jance
While
“under the influence” of painkillers after having double knee surgery,
Investigator J.P. Beaumont (“Beau”) remembers the unresolved issues from his
past. “Ghosts” visit him, prompting him to finish what he left unanswered.
A
young woman, killed when Beau was a beat cop, appears and reminds him of her unsolved
murder. Known among the cops as the “girl in the barrel,” Monica Wellington was
found by two boys and Beau was one of the first cops on the scene. That case
got him transferred to the Detectives Division, a promotion he sought for quite
some time, and Wellington’s murder was his first as detective. Unsolved, all these
years later.
His
second visitor was Lieutenant Lennie Davis, better known as Lennie D to the
guys in ‘Nam. Lennie D saved Beau’s life by giving him a book to read. That
book, tucked against his chest during a battle, took the impact of the bullets
and saved Beau. Lennie D wasn’t so lucky. Although Beau knew Lennie D had a
fiancé, he never contacted her to tell her of his act of kindness. Unresolved,
all these years later.
Beau
is recuperating from double knee replacement, but has the old case of Monica Wellington
reopened. The detective assigned to aid him—Delilah Ainsworth—was valuable in
digging up information, but at what cost? The trail is cold, but starts to heat
up when Beau finds that it’s more than a simple murder.
Through
years of service, Beau developed contacts throughout the force’s network. Using
a few of them, he tries to locate Lennie D’s fiancé. He has to set the score
straight and tell her what Lennie D did for him. Is it too late? Will he be
able to find her and if so, will she be receptive to what he has to say?
Jance
shows that Beau is not perfect, but a very flawed protagonist. This in itself
is refreshing. I highly recommend this novel!
Reviewed by Starr
Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”
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