Sounding the waters

Ben Shamas has spent the five years since the accidental drowning of his daughter in a carefully circumscribed routine. Between long hours of work at his law practice and the occasional quiet weekend bender, he has managed to avoid thinking about his daughter, his failed marriage, or his future. Then events break in on his comfortable numbness. Ben's oldest friend, Bobby Parrish, asks him to help run his campaign for the U.S. Senate, in what promises to be a bitter contest against a ruthless opponent. Ben's involvement in the campaign draws him out of his emotional shell, but as the heat of…