Neal Goldstein

60th & Haverford Neal Goldstein

The intersection of 60th and Haverford Avenue in West Philly is one of the most notorious drug corners in the city. Despite Police Officer Jake Loman's repeated calls to the Narcotics Division during the past several weeks, the corner gang's 'bness' continued unabated. When he stopped at the corner late one night to the welcoming shouts of "Five-O" as the crew ran for cover. Seconds later a man wearing a thobe, an Arab robe, over his street clothes, runs out of the corner bodega firing wildly at Loman. Jake takes several rounds before he can return fire. Veteran detective Frank Benson is assigned to the investigation. Pope Francis' long anticipated visit to Philadelphia is a month away. Secret Service agent Nikki Cartwright and her team spent the last year overseeing the security arrangements for the visit. In anticipation of the Pope's visit the drain on the Philadelphia Police Force's manpower resulted in the temporary assignment of Sergeant Ophelia Brown-Thurman to assist Benson. The two veteran officers have known each other since they trained at the academy 16 years before. Ophelia's familiarity with Officer Loman, as his platoon sergeant and her sterling reputation on the force, was a clear asset to the team. When Nikki arrives at the briefing she discovers that Benson, who she had a teenage crush on when he dated her older sister, was in charge of the investigation Is the attack on the police officer connected to the Pope's visit? Benson, Ophelia and Nikki's investigation leads them to a deeper look at the drug culture and the corruption of the police assigned to control it, and the possible connection of terrorists in the Muslim community as they try to solve the crime. All of the action culminates as the Pope celebrates Mass in the presence of 100,000 pilgrims and celebrants on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.