Random Assignment: A Research Thriller

Frank Bland, a research analyst in the Department of Family and Community Services, has uncovered corruption in a major social welfare experiment. The contractor, Construct, Inc., under the direction of its CEO, Everett Gridley, has been manipulating data from the study to support the agenda of an ambitious U.S. Senator. The stakes for the Senator are high. If the study's findings support her proposal for welfare reform and Congress enacts it into law, she could be tapped as the President's running mate in the upcoming election. With occasional support from two colleagues, Julia Rodriguez and Vincent Thieu, plus a journalist friend, Helen Pullitz, Bland gradually assembles the evidence against Gridley. A third colleague, Barney Steadman, from the Inspector General's office, steps in to help. Bland finds himself attracted to both Julia and Helen, but for very different reasons in each case. Furthermore he is not sure of their feelings toward him. This dilemma dogs him as the investigation proceeds. Bland's efforts to expose the fraudulent research face official hostility and put his career in jeopardy. Subsequent attempts on his life threaten to stop the investigation dead in its tracks. The most likely scenario is that if he fails, his federal career is over and if he succeeds, others will reap the rewards.