A Thousand Bridges — Michael McKinney

Five years after his partner and lover Patty Sheevers was killed during their investigation of a shady politician in northwest Florida, Clay has become a lackey for ultraconservative Bob Birk, leader of the political machine he'd been out to destroy. When Patty's friend Kate Furay asks for help in exposing Birk, who had raped her teenage daughter and may be behind the murders of the girl's friends, Clay reluctantly agrees, knowing Birk is headed for the Senate. He learns that Birk has his hand in the creation of a special "supercadre" of quasi-militiamen who will aid him in his plan to take over the drug trade. But no one in the establishment will tolerate allegations made against Birk; even an outrageous radio talk show host refuses to believe in the plot until his friend, who has agreed to assist Clay and Kate, is executed.