Double Tap

Attorney Paul Madriani defends a highly decorated soldier on trial for murder and unwittingly steps into a maze of secrets and lies that the United States government – and possibly even his client – would rather leave hidden and undisturbed.

In his new outing, Madriani is faced with daunting ballistics evidence, a so-called “double tap” – two bullet wounds tightly grouped to the victim’s head, shots that could only have been made by a crack marksman.  Madriani’s client, Emiliano Ruiz, is an enigma, a career soldier who refuses to talk about his past though clearly he is a battle-tested pro.  Ruiz is accused of killing a beautiful businesswoman and guru of a high tech software empire catering to the military.

One key to the case that’s especially damning for Madriani’s client:  the murder weapon is one used only in special operations where the “double tap” has become the signature of the most skilled assassins.

Ruiz is sitting on a story he says he’s not at liberty to tell – a seven-year-gap on his military resume for which Madriani can find no details.  And more troubling, Madriani discovers that the victim and her company were involved in a controversial government computer program designed to combat terrorists.  Madriani finds himself in a deadly legal quagmire – with a client who refuses to help and prosecutors who stonewall every question about the victim’s shadowy business and his client’s past.  Finding justice and the unvarnished truth has never been so elusive – or so dangerous.