Applaud the Hollow Ghost

In his third case (after Half the Truth, 1996), Evanston, Ill., piano-playing PI Mal Foley is urged by his patron, whom he has nicknamed ""the Lady,"" to look into a case of child molestation. Foley remembers the accused, Lambert Fleming, from 20 years earlier on a basketball court when Lammy had been humiliated by his peers and his eyes had appealed to Foley for help. To make up for turning his back then, Foley agrees to help him now. But finding out who molested the little girl turns out to be a harder and more dangerous task than he anticipated. First, the girl's father won't allow her to be interviewed; then Lammy's dog is castrated and he himself is beaten. The investigation goes from bad to worse as Foley discovers the little girl is linked to a powerful crime family. Not until the girl's grandmother agrees to step in to help her grandchild does Foley's job take a turn for the better. An extended and twisting climax stretches credibility, but otherwise Walker sets questions of morality in a believable context. (Feb.)