Susan Dunlap

When a rash of pranks on the city's meter maids turns deadly, Jill Smith isn't amused Two witnesses see the man drag the old woman into a canyon while brandishing a rifle. As night falls, detective Jill Smith and the Berkeley police department set up a perimeter. The canyon is a hostage negotiator's nightmare-dark, rough, and full of escape routes-and when she finally opens communication, the gunman doesn't respond. Rather than wait for dawn, Jill...