Jazz in the Crosshair — Joel B. Reed

Chasing light. That's what Jazz loves, catching the perfect shot of a freight train crossing a bridge against the brilliant red and yellow leaves of a perfect October day. Yet when he shows a friend his results weeks later, they discover something else. Jazz has somehow taken four clear pictures of a murder taking place. When Jazz tries to investigate, he finds himself blocked by the county sheriff who denies anything happened. Nor is there any record of a shooting anywhere in the area in the week Jazz took the pictures. Except for his images, there is no evidence a crime has taken place and Jazz is forced to bring in a team of CID investigators. They soon discover that this is no simple homicide. It is one of a series of cold blooded assassinations. For two dozen bodies are found buried at the killing ground, all of African descent. To Jazz this spells genocide and he calls in the feds. The FBI steps in and gets nowhere, despite the fact they know who is behind this. Other investigations crop up and political pressure is brought to bear to close the case. When it gets put on the back burner, Jazz is determined to continue, even if he has to go it alone. Yet help appears from a surprising source. One of the victims turns out to be a federal judge and the US Marshal Service becomes involved. This sets off a turf war with the Bureau and to keep the investigation from stalling, Jazz is called upon to mediate. While Jazz is able to forge an agreeement and keep the case going, his troubles have only begun. A perpetrator is killed raiding the crime scene and Jazz is blamed for his death. Without realizing it, Jazz is thrown into the middle of a mountain blood feud and finds himself in the cross-hair of a stone cold killer determined to put him down.