Marcus "Mack" Alexander had earned a break.
For years, he’d been the one people turned to when things went wrong, whether it was missing persons, shady business dealings, or dangerous criminals. But now, he was taking time for himself, stepping away from the grind for the first time in what felt like forever. A month of peace. A month where he could finally focus on Camille, his new wife, and enjoy the quieter moments of life without the constant buzz of a case hanging over him.
"Can you believe it?" Mack said to Camille, lounging on the couch in their Gulfport home, his feet propped up on the coffee table. "A whole month off. Just us."
Camille smiled, a warm, content look on her face. "I’ve never seen you so relaxed. I’m starting to think you’re going to enjoy this time off more than you realize."
Mack chuckled. "I can’t help it. I’ve spent so many years running from case to case, it feels weird to sit still."
But even as he spoke, his phone lay on the coffee table, silent. He knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.
Meanwhile, across town, Tasha Alexander was already feeling the itch. Her brother’s month off was his decision, but she’d always been the one who worked behind the scenes. The ex-Army skills she’d picked up had kept her sharp, and while Marcus had taken the break he so clearly needed, Tasha was back in her element—ready to take on whatever came her way.
It didn’t take long before the phone rang.
---
"Detective Alexander," Tasha answered crisply, already knowing this wasn’t going to be a simple case.
"Miss Alexander?" The voice on the other end was thick with exhaustion. "This is Sergeant Ruiz over at Biloxi PD. We’ve got a homicide. And I know you’re on a break, but we’re short-handed. We need someone who can handle this, someone with experience. I heard you were the one who handled things when the department was in a pinch."
Tasha sat up straighter. Biloxi wasn’t far—just an hour from Gulfport—but the fact that the Sergeant had called her meant this wasn’t your average homicide. She rubbed her jaw, feeling the familiar weight of a new case settle in.
"I’ll be there," she said, before hanging up and grabbing her jacket.
---
By the time Tasha arrived at the crime scene in Biloxi, the sun was beginning to set, casting a long shadow over the house. It was an upscale neighborhood, the kind where neighbors knew each other’s business, yet no one seemed to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Tasha walked past the yellow police tape and entered the home, where detectives were already working the scene. The victim was a woman, early 30s, with no apparent connection to the area. She was found in her living room, a gunshot wound to the chest. The police had already begun the preliminary investigation, but something about the scene didn’t sit right with Tasha.
"Sergeant," she greeted Ruiz, who stood by the door, his arms crossed.
"Thanks for coming," Ruiz said with a nod. "We’ve got a few leads, but nothing concrete. The victim’s name was Rachel Reynolds. We’re still working on her background. No forced entry, no signs of a struggle. But the thing is... the shot. It was too clean. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."
Tasha studied the victim’s body, the angle of the wound. "This wasn’t a random act," she said. "Whoever did this wasn’t just a shooter. This was targeted."
She crouched down, scanning the room. There were no signs of a robbery, no broken furniture or signs of forced entry. It was almost as if the killer had known the victim personally—or at least knew exactly what they were looking for.
"What about witnesses?" Tasha asked, standing up.
"None," Ruiz answered, shaking his head. "Neighbors didn’t hear anything. But there was a car parked outside about an hour before the shooting. We’re trying to trace it, but the plates were fake."
"Fakes? That’s not good," Tasha muttered. "Alright, I’ll take a look around. You keep digging into her background. I’ll check with the neighbors."
---
Over the next few days, Tasha threw herself into the case. Her military training kicked in as she pieced together the details—no fingerprints, no signs of forced entry, and a lack of any obvious motive. The victim had led a quiet life, with few people who would want to hurt her. It made no sense.
But as she dug deeper into Rachel Reynolds’ life, Tasha uncovered a few things that seemed odd. The victim had been involved in a real estate deal that had recently fallen through, and there were rumors that she had been meeting with some shady characters.
One particular name kept popping up: Greg McCallum, a local developer with a questionable past. He had been in and out of trouble, and he seemed to have had dealings with Rachel before her death.
Tasha decided to pay McCallum a visit.
---
The day she went to meet him, Tasha could already sense something off. McCallum’s office was sleek, expensive, and filled with the trappings of success—perfectly manicured, all appearances of wealth. But behind those polished doors, Tasha had learned that the man had a history of questionable dealings.
"Ms. Alexander," McCallum said as he shook her hand, his grip firm but slightly too cold. "I’ve heard about your... reputation. What can I do for you?"
Tasha didn’t waste time with pleasantries. "I’m here about Rachel Reynolds. You know her?"
McCallum’s eyes flickered for a brief second before he recovered his composure. "I did some business with her. She was looking to buy some land, but the deal fell apart. It’s unfortunate what happened to her."
Tasha studied him, noticing the way his gaze shifted when she mentioned Rachel’s name. "Unfortunate, yes. But I’m curious—what exactly was that business you two were involved in?"
McCallum hesitated, but then leaned back in his chair, giving a tight smile. "Nothing illegal, if that’s what you’re asking. Just a property transaction. It didn’t work out. That’s all."
But Tasha wasn’t convinced. There was something more there. Something that he wasn’t telling her. Before she could ask him more questions, McCallum’s phone rang, and he excused himself.
Tasha left the office, feeling a gnawing sense of uncertainty. Something about McCallum didn’t sit right with her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.
---
Days later, the break came. The forensics team had found something hidden in the victim’s safe—documents tied to a secret deal involving McCallum. It turned out that Rachel had discovered McCallum’s plan to build on environmentally sensitive land—a project that could ruin the surrounding area. The deal had soured when Rachel threatened to go public with the information.
Tasha brought the new evidence to Ruiz, who got a warrant for McCallum’s arrest. When they finally tracked him down, McCallum was caught trying to flee the state.
Rachel Reynolds had been silenced because she stood in the way of McCallum’s plans. It wasn’t just a random homicide; it was a cold, calculated murder to protect a shady business venture.
---
Tasha returned to Gulfport after solving the case, her mind still sharp, though the break had been short. She had covered for her brother, using the same skills that had once served her in the Army to find the truth in Biloxi.
Marcus was just finishing up his break when Tasha walked into his office with a smile.
"Had fun?" she teased.
Mack raised an eyebrow. "You didn’t wait long, did you?"
Tasha chuckled. "I think you were due for a break. But the case was interesting. You’d have liked it."
"Next time," Mack said, leaning back in his chair. "I’ll leave the work to you for good."
Tasha smirked, but the truth was, she'd always be ready for the next challenge.
No comments:
Post a Comment