The Drum Within — James R. Scarantino

Santa Fe Detective Denise Aragon and her partner are called to investigate a murder on U.S. Forest Service land only to be pulled away to investigate the murder of Linda Fager, wife of ruthless criminal-defense attorney Walter Fager. When Aragon presses a key fob found at the murder scene, artist Cody Geronimo flees the area as his vehicle's alarm blares nearby.

Marcy Thornton, Fager's twisted protégé, will do anything to defend Geronimo, including trading sexual favors with a judge. To counter Thornton's underhanded tactics, Aragon enlists the help of the FBI special agent investigating the Forest Service murder. But the situation escalates when Aragon misjudges Fager's ruthlessness, and she's forced into a vicious, high-stakes game with opponents who have no moral limits.