SPANISH INQUISITION

A military police officer is the prime suspect in an assault.

Despite his reputation as a ladies’ man, Sgt. Phil Piercy was getting nowhere with Cpl. Maria Norton, a fiery beauty who’s playing Carmen in a local operatic society production in which Piercy plays a picador. When a badly beaten Maria staggers into a base police post claiming that Piercy attacked her, he denies the allegations, but the evidence seems to support her claims. Capt. Max Rydal (Scotch Mist, 2011, etc.) has returned early from medical leave just in time to help Sgt. Maj. Tom Black, who’s been running the unit in his absence, in his attempt to establish Piercy’s innocence. The pregnant Maria goes AWOL from the hospital and is seen making desperate attempts to contact someone. Although the arrogant Piercy is well and truly in the frame, neither of his superiors can picture him committing this particular crime. So they look to Maria’s many other admirers for another suspect. Realizing that solid police work is needed to solve this crime, the team gets busy nailing down alibis and finding more witnesses. In the meantime, Max’s early return inspires little warmth from either his commanding officer or his doctor, who’s also his lover. Undeterred, he continues his hunt.

An enjoyable but run-of-the-mill military procedural.