Rochelle Baxter was an artist recently arrived from Washington State, cruelly cut down in the early stages of a promising career. Now all that remains of her lies on a cold slab in the Cochise County morgue, and Sheriff Joanna Brady knows that murder has once again infected her small desert community. But there is more to this homicide than initially meets the eye -- the victim died while under government protection.
Instructed to swallow her indignation, Joanna awaits the arrival of the newest member of the state's Special Homicide Investigation team, a man named J. P. Beaumont. Sheriff Brady resents his intrusion and cannot help but make her feelings known.
But the road they are forced to travel together takes some unexpected turns, running them headfirst into the impenetrable stone walls of a conspiracy of silence. Brady and Beaumont's hunt is disturbing a very deadly nest of rattlers, and suddenly trust is the only option they have.
Performed by Debra Monk and Cotter Smith
J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, six thrillers about the Walker Family, and one volume of poetry. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, she lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington.
Debra Monk is a veteran actress who has won a Tony® Award for Redwood Curtain and an Emmy® for her work on NYPD Blue.
Cotter Smith has starred ion stage, in many motion pictures, and on such television prograns as Law and Order, L.A. Law, Chicago Hope, and Oz.