LOGINActing fearless and brave in the face of uncertainty had become my strong suit.A well-developed tactic I’d developed for my career and have now used relentlessly with the woman I love.I want Jess to feel stability and protection.Even if I don’t feel that myself.I feel her hand tightening around mine as I lead her toward the bathroom where answers await.Truthfully, I’m glad she’s not close enough to hear my heart drumming in my chest.I’m terrified of what this answer might be.I’m scared that it’s not going to be what I want it to.Not because I would love her any less.Not because I would leave.Hell, she’d have to pry me away with a crowbar at this point.But because somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, I’d allowed myself to hope.And hope is a dangerous thing.Hope means something can be lost.Hope means putting your heart on the line and praying life doesn’t strike an arrow through it.God knows Jess and I have had enough arrows shot our way.I stop outside the
The 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 silently sulk back to my house just across the front lawn, every step heavy, deliberate. I close the door softly behind me, as if any sound might shatter what little composure I have left. Truly, I’m at a loss for words after the way Alan chose to defend Jessie—after the way he turned on me.He w
I stand to greet Dr. Hanson as he steps inside.“Dr. Hanson, I’m sorry to have called on short notice. I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you.” I shake his hand as I apologize.“No need, Lincoln. It’s no inconvenience at all.” He offers.I watch as the officers slide by with a nod and leave without
I hear the urgency in Mike’s voice on the phone before he snaps at me and hangs up. He knew something I didn’t, and I had no time to find out what it was.If he was moving this fast, then someone’s life was hanging in the balance—teetering between survival and death.I immediately call it in to the
I read the message with a lump in my throat. She made it. I couldn’t change the past but this was something. I was able to stop this from happening to someone else. I lock my phone and slide it back into my pocket without responding. “The drug was a potent liquidated form of fentanyl, Pennet. T







