When veteran beat police officer Harry Cassidy violates his oath of office by standing by and allowing a despised bartender, Richie Winston, to suffer a cruel beating and stabbing, he must withstand an intensive internal investigation while battling his inner demons over his betrayal of the shield. When Richie, who has been in a coma, dies a few days later, a murder investigation is commenced led by veteran homicide detective Charles "Pop" Hunter, a friend and former fellow police academy classmate of Harry's. Complicating Harry's situation is a developing love affair with his chief inquisitor from Internal Affairs, Sergeant Susan Goldman, who fights her own turmoil between her career ambitions and her love for Harry. As the psychological pressure builds on him with both Pop hunter and Susan Goldman inching ever closer to the truth, Harry becomes involved in a gun battle with the perpetrators who killed Richie Winston suffering gunshot wounds.Having recently admitted the truth to Susan after making love, she now agonizes over her next course of action. Will she betray the man she loves for the sake of her career, or will she destroy the tape recording she secretly of Harry's admission? This taut crime thriller will keep you in suspense as you race through the pages to find the answer.