Too Close To Call - Hardcover

Homicides are down in the cities, but accidental death rates are up. Why? Buf Collins investigates and gets embroiled in presidential re-election politics.William Buford (Buf) Collins, VI is trying to help an old friend find out what happened to her husband who turned up dead in a hotel room. They are sure that he was murdered, but the city officials do not agree. There was no gunshot or knife wound. So, according to them it's an accidental death.It turns out there is a lot of this going around in all the major U. S. cities.Someone in the FBI notices this and writes a report and the sitting president appoints a special prosecutor to look into the matter.Buf Collins' father-in-law is a very wealthy and powerful man and he gets the president to name Buf Collins as the special prosecutor. The opposing party suddenly loses its presumptive nominee for the presidential election and the old man somehow is able to get Buf nominated! Crazy!The president is now in a classic political quandary: He appointed Collins to look into the possibility of corruption in the cities, but now his appointee is his opponent. He can't dismiss him as this would look like he is using his power to his own advantage. And, as Collins is unable to get a continuance on the case, he is precluded from campaigning.The judge on the case decides to let the media cameras into the courtroom. The president feels like he can't compete with Collins who is fighting city hall on national t.v. and seeming is winning. So, he tries to undermine Collins' case in order to ensure that he loses and thus will look bad to the public. He gets the charges to be upgraded from corruption to conspiracy. But, Collins is ready and handles the change seamlessly. Then, the president gets the Attorney General to upgrade the charges from conspiracy to cover up. And, Collins handles this as well.All the time the election is getting closer, and closer . . .