Dismas Hardy

Dismas Hardy was a soldier in Vietnam who became a cop upon his return. After working with the SFPD for several years as a homicide detective, Hardy went back to school and became a lawyer. Hardy worked with the district attorney's office for several years, eager to make a difference and make sure the right people went to jail. Hardy's life appeared to be a perfect one. Hardy was married, had an infant son, and his career was taking off. Then one night Hardy did not raise the side of his son's crib high enough and the child, who had just learned to pull up, fell out of the crib and landed on his head. The death of his son hit Hardy hard, causing a divorce and influencing Hardy's decision to leave the DA's office.

Five months prior to the commencement of the novel's beginning, after nearly...