The night air in Gulfport felt heavy, warm, and thick with anticipation. Marcus “Mack” Alexander stood by the window of his apartment, looking out at the Mississippi coastline, his hand resting lightly on Camille’s growing belly. In just two days, they would be heading to the hospital, where doctors would induce labor. Their baby was finally going to make its way into the world, and the excitement—and nervousness—was palpable.
It had been a long road to this point. Mack had retired from his private detective career, transitioning into teaching Criminal Justice at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He was ready to embrace fatherhood, to be present, and to start this new chapter in life with Camille.
But life had a way of throwing curveballs, even at the most perfect moments.
His phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. It was a text from Tasha, his younger sister, who had recently taken over his detective agency. The message was brief, but it hit Mack like a ton of bricks:
“Need your help. Murder case in Moss Point. I’m out of my depth on this one. Can you come?”
Mack’s heart skipped a beat. He’d promised Camille he’d be there for the birth of their child, that he was done with the dangerous life of a private investigator. But Tasha had just started her journey in the world of criminal investigations, and this was her first real case. If she was asking for his help, it was serious.
He looked over at Camille, who was sitting on the couch, reading through some baby books. She caught his gaze and smiled softly. But Mack knew her well enough to see the concern in her eyes. She knew something was off.
“Everything okay?” she asked, putting down the book and folding her hands in her lap.
Mack hesitated for a moment, then walked over to sit beside her. “Tasha called. She’s got a murder case in Moss Point. I don’t think she’s ready to handle it on her own.”
Camille’s brow furrowed, and she placed a hand on his arm. “Mack, you’re two days away from becoming a dad. Are you sure you want to get involved in another case?”
Mack sighed, his fingers running through his hair. “I don’t know. But she’s my sister. I’ve been in her shoes before. She’s never had to deal with a murder case, not like this. I don’t want her to make mistakes because she’s in over her head.”
Camille looked at him with understanding. She knew what this meant to him, but she also knew how important this time was for them. “Okay, I get it. But promise me, you’ll make it quick. The baby could come any day now.”
Mack nodded, his eyes softening. “I promise. This will be the last one.”
---
Moss Point was just a short drive from Gulfport, but it felt like a world apart. The small, tight-knit community had its own charm, but like any place, it had its dark corners. As Mack arrived at the scene, Tasha was already there, speaking with local law enforcement. She looked a little out of place in her tailored suit, but her determined posture gave away her sharp mind.
Mack approached her, giving her a reassuring nod. “You called for backup?”
Tasha turned, relief flooding her face when she saw her brother. “Mack. Thank God you’re here.” She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “We’ve got a problem. This one’s messy. The victim is a local teacher—Carmen Hayes. Her body was found in an alley behind a bar on Main Street. No witnesses, no obvious signs of a struggle. But something about it feels off. I can’t put my finger on it.”
Mack nodded, immediately slipping into investigator mode. “Let’s take a look at the scene. Walk me through what we know.”
---
The alley behind the bar was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos it must have witnessed earlier. Mack crouched beside Carmen Hayes’s body, examining the bloodstains that trailed across the ground. There were no signs of defensive wounds, which meant she might have been caught off guard, or worse—she might have known her killer.
“This wasn’t a random attack,” Mack muttered, his voice low as he surveyed the area. “She didn’t fight back. She knew the person.”
Tasha stood beside him, her arms crossed. “That’s what I was thinking. The bar’s right here, and no one heard anything. No one saw anything.”
“Anything from the locals?” Mack asked.
Tasha shook her head. “Not yet. I spoke to a few people at the bar, but no one was there when it happened. They all seem to think she was a regular, but no one saw her leave with anyone. Her car’s still in the parking lot.”
“Let’s talk to the bartender,” Mack suggested.
---
Inside the bar, the dim light flickered as they approached the bartender, an older man with a grizzled face who eyed them warily. Tasha introduced herself, and Mack gave a small nod, taking a step forward.
“We’re investigating the death of Carmen Hayes. She was here tonight, and we need to know who she interacted with.”
The bartender wiped a glass clean with a rag, then sighed. “She came in about 9:00 p.m., just like she usually does. A few regulars were here, but no one paid her any mind. She’s quiet, keeps to herself.”
“Did she talk to anyone? Leave with anyone?” Tasha pressed.
The bartender hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “No, nothing unusual. She had a drink, talked to a few folks, then left. Didn’t seem like anything was wrong.”
“Did anyone follow her out?” Mack asked, his voice calm but firm.
The bartender’s eyes shifted. “Actually, yeah. There was a guy. I didn’t get a good look at him, but he came in about ten minutes after her. Big guy, maybe mid-thirties, dark hair. I saw him leave right after Carmen. Didn’t think much of it, but now I wish I had paid more attention.”
---
As the investigation unfolded, Mack and Tasha followed a trail of clues that led them deeper into the local community. The mystery surrounding Carmen Hayes’s murder slowly began to unravel, revealing a web of secrets and lies that stretched back further than they could have anticipated.
In the end, it wasn’t just a random crime—it was a crime of passion, tied to an old betrayal that no one had been willing to confront. The man responsible was someone Carmen had known, someone she trusted, but whose jealousy and anger had led to violence.
By the time the case was wrapped up and the killer was arrested, Mack felt a heavy weight lift off his shoulders. This was it—the last case he would ever handle. He had kept his promise to Tasha, and more importantly, to Camille.
---
As he drove back to Gulfport, Mack couldn’t help but feel the weight of the decision settling in. He was done. No more late-night chases, no more dangerous confrontations, no more cases that would keep him from his family. He was ready to be a father, to be there for Camille and their child, to embrace a new chapter of his life.
The next morning, he sat beside Camille as they waited for the doctor to begin the induction. She held his hand, smiling softly as he looked at her, his heart full of anticipation for the future. The case was over. His work as a detective was done.
And now, it was time for something new.
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