Sacrificial Offerings — Michael A. Black

Things couldn't be worse for Sergeant Frank Leal. He's assigned a homicide at a seedy motel that suddenly develops into a “heater.”

Leal's regular partner‚ Olivia Hart‚ is reassigned to the SWAT team. He's also saddled with a college intern tweeting his every move‚ and Hart's replacement is a rubber-gun-squad candidate who has conversations with a hand-puppet named Oscar.

Hart's secretly assigned to an internal affairs investigation to determine which members of the SWAT team are stealing the money during drug raids. She's thrust into a non-stop series of dangerous raids that require all of her skills.

After a few more murders by a ruthless street gang‚ Leal wonders if they'll end up as sacrificial offerings in the escalating conflict.