An intrigue centered on the water politics of Southern California promises high tension and high stakes, but Rudolph (Listen to the Mockingbird
) loses sight of the big picture in her first mystery. The unusual heroine—parking-garage proprietor Rachel Chavez—has many customers from InterUrban, a major water company across the street in downtown L.A. Soon after Rachel hears that Jason Karl, an InterUrban executive, has been killed in a hit-and-run, she notices that a company car has a suspicious dent. As she looks into this and other troubling facts, she's joined by two other loners: Hank Sullivan, an appealing, quiet guy who works for InterUrban, and Goldie, a tough-talking gal who runs a cleaning business that services InterUrban. Goldie and crew come across some interesting items at InterUrban, including a mysterious powder that may be responsible for a second death, that of a young man who had worked at the garage. An old family friend of Rachel's and an attractive environmentalist help to broaden the story, but it never quite catches fire. Agent, Sorche Fairbank. (June 1)
