The Patchwork Girl

"The Patchwork Girl" is a story in "Known Space" by Larry Niven. It is the fourth of five "Gil Hamilton" detective stories and the first to be published as a stand-alone novel.

In a break from his usual ARM duties, Hamilton is an acting UN Delegate on the moon, attending a conference on Lunar Law. The Belt Delegate, Chris Penzler, is shot by a laser in an apparent murder attempt. The shot came from outside of the window of his personal quarters, which looks out onto the lunar surface. The only person known to be outside on the lunar surface at the time of the attempt is Naomi Mitchison, a tourist and old flame of Gil's.

Gil believes Naomi to be innocent of shooting Penzler, but discovers that she may be lying in order to hide a more serious crime.