เข้าสู่ระบบThe room falls silent after Miller’s words.Pennet’s sister.I stare at him, trying to process what I just heard.Over sixty names.Over sixty lives.And among them was someone Pennet had loved.Someone he’d buried years ago.I feel sick.“What kind of person keeps something like that?” I whisper.Neither Miller nor Lincoln answers.Because there isn’t any right answer.No explanation.No excuse.Just pure evil.Lincoln’s arm tightens around me, pulling me closer to his side. I instinctively lean into him, drawing comfort from the warmth of his body.I can’t imagine what Pennet must be going through.Finding drugs and a dealer is one thing.Finding your dead sister’s name in a notebook hidden inside a suspect’s house?That’s unimaginable. It’s almost taunting.Before anyone can speak again, an alarm suddenly blares from my phone.I nearly jump out of my skin.Miller startles, too.Lincoln slowly glances down.Then his eyes widen.Three minutes.The pregnancy test.My stomach drops.“
I watch Jess as she sits down without a word. I can feel my heartbeat shift from a steady rhythm to something closer to a vibration, and suddenly the room feels warmer, the air heavier.“I have to wait three minutes,” she says, trying—and failing—to sound calm.I nod in understanding and drape an arm around her shoulders. She immediately leans into me, seeking the reassurance I desperately hope I can provide.Just as she settles against my side, Miller’s phone begins to ring, the shrill sound causing Jess to jump.“I’ll step out onto the balcony. This should be Pennet,” Miller says calmly as he fishes his phone out of his pocket and makes his way toward the sliding doors on the other side of my living room.I watch him carefully.The second he answers, his shoulders stiffen.This isn’t good.Jess shifts beside me, her fingers instinctively wrapping around my hand. Even without looking at her, I can feel the tension radiating from her.She knows this isn’t good.“What is it?” she whisp
I pull my vehicle over about two blocks away from our suspect’s home and wait for Narcotics to arrive.The Sergeant had made it abundantly clear that their presence wasn’t optional. A drug of this caliber was being manufactured and distributed within our district, and multiple reports suggested it had already proven lethal.Within minutes, a large black van rolls to a stop behind me.The side door slides open.Two Narcotics officers step out wearing full-body protective suits, face shields, breathing masks, and tactical vests carrying their sidearms. They look more prepared for a hazardous materials incident than a simple search warrant.One of them approaches and holds out a folded protective suit.“Put this on.”I take it without complaint.“We’ve been ordered to treat this as an aerosol contaminant,” the second officer explains gravely. “Most synthetic drugs have to be chemically combined or cooked. If this guy is manufacturing the product himself, the air could be contaminated. Tr
I wait in tense anticipation as Miller’s expression twists with uncertainty. His jaw tightens, and for a moment it looks as though he’s carefully choosing every word before speaking.“I’d like to say soon, but that depends on Pennet. He should be on his way to their residence tonight. The sooner we get ahead of this, the better.” Miller says as gently as possible.I glance over at Lincoln. He’s been watching me the entire time, his attention never wavering. The concern in his eyes only makes the knot in my stomach tighten.My fingers begin to fidget nervously in my lap. I twist them together, unable to stop myself. It feels as though every terrible possibility is racing through my mind at once.“It’s going to be okay. We’ll take this one step at a time.” Lincoln says softly as he places his hand over mine.His touch is warm and grounding, but it does little to quiet the panic building inside my chest.“And I will continue to oversee your cases,” Miller adds reassuringly.My throat tig
Much to my displeasure, I leave Jess to answer the door. Irritation rolls through me as I stride across the house, already dreading whoever decided to show up this late.I yank the door open, making it abundantly clear that I’m in no mood for visitors, but my annoyance quickly fades into surprise when I find Officer Miller standing there with a small cardboard box balanced in one hand.“Your delivery guy just left,” he says flatly.I step aside and pull the door wider so he can enter.Before shutting it, I glance cautiously down the hallway to make sure no one else is lingering nearby. Satisfied, I close and lock the door behind him.“Thank you,” I say as I take the box from his hand.I carry it toward the kitchen counter, placing it down carefully while forcing myself to appear casual.“Is there a congratulations in order?” Miller asks, his tone curious but restrained.“We’re not sure yet,” I answer as I turn back toward him, “but it seems that way.”A faint understanding crosses his
I say nothing as we drive back home. There’s nothing I can say until I know exactly what’s going on.A heavy silence fills the car, but it isn’t uncomfortable—it’s thoughtful, tense, full of questions neither of us is ready to ask out loud.I glance over at Jessie a few times, watching her quietly. Her arms are folded protectively over her lap, close to her stomach, and I can’t help the overwhelming sense of pride that rises in my chest.She’s mine.No matter what hardships wait for us ahead, no matter what storms are coming, she’s mine—and if there’s even the slightest chance that she’s carrying our child, that feeling will only grows stronger.I pull into the garage and park quietly before turning to face her. The dim lighting softens her features, but I can still see the exhaustion written all over her face.“It looks like we made it home before him,” I say softly, reaching over to brush a loose strand of hair from her face. “How about a shower?”“Okay,” she replies quietly.I step
I must’ve been out for hours because I’m awakened by a tiny sliver of light peaking through the black-out curtains, setting directly across my eyes as I bat my lashes tiredly. It takes me a few minutes to recollect myself to consciousness when I realize I’m tangled in black silk sheets and I can fe
Normally, I’d dread having to pick up Miller for an early morning run, but this time was different. This wasn’t a routine check-in or another dead-end lead—we had a meeting with Mrs. Crenshaw. Blaire’s mother.A pivotal point in the investigation.Maybe even the end of it.The thought alone had bee
“What happens then?” I hear the question but all I can think about is how soft and warm his skin feels against my thighs. How his woodsy fresh scent fills the air around us and engulfs me and how his eyes are piercingly teal as they stare back at me.“I’m no t worried about then.” My response. Beca
Jessie is fine.Apparently.And yet she hasn’t even thought to call me.The realization needles at my chest, sharp and persistent. If she were truly fine, wouldn’t she reach out? Wouldn’t she check in—if not for me, then for Jeremy? That’s what wives do. That’s what mothers do - even if she hasn’t







