Episode 16: Trail of Shadows

It started as a favor. Gulfport PD had been tracking a string of homicides for months, and while the official investigation was ongoing, the detectives hit a wall. That’s when Detective Quinn reached out to Tasha Alexander. She had the knack for spotting details others missed, and this case needed fresh eyes.


The killings were brutal, calculated, and chillingly precise. All the victims were young women in their mid-20s, last seen leaving bars or nightclubs. The killer left behind no fingerprints, no DNA, and no witnesses, but one clue linked the cases: each victim was found with a small, silver medallion clasped in their hand.



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The Lead


While poring over the case files, Tasha found a crucial connection—a surveillance photo from a Gulfport gas station where the latest victim was last seen. A man with distinctive tattoos on his arms had been caught in the background, lingering too long near the victim. She ran the image through every database she could access, and a hit finally came back. The man was a known drifter named Calvin Price, and he’d recently been arrested for petty theft in Jackson, Mississippi.


Tasha called Detective Quinn. “This guy might not be the killer, but he knows something. I’m heading to Jackson to pick up his trail.”



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A Quick Detour


On her way to Jackson, Tasha called her cousin Dre. He’d been staying out of trouble since Marcus helped him with his last scrape, but Tasha knew he had a knack for navigating the streets and getting people to talk.


“Dre, I’ve got a lead on a big case,” she said. “I need someone who can help me ask the right questions. You in?”


Dre didn’t hesitate. “Of course, Tash. Where do I meet you?”


They rendezvoused at a diner just off I-55. Over coffee, Tasha laid out the details, and Dre’s eyes widened. “A serial killer? Man, you don’t play around.”



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The Trail to Nashville


They quickly learned that Calvin Price had skipped town. He’d been spotted boarding a Greyhound bus to Nashville two days earlier. Without wasting time, Tasha and Dre hit the road. The seven-hour drive gave them time to strategize, though Dre kept cracking jokes to lighten the mood.


“This is some ‘True Detective’ stuff, you know that, right?” Dre said, grinning.


Tasha smirked. “If this were a show, you’d be the comic relief.”



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In Nashville


Once they arrived in Nashville, Tasha and Dre checked into a modest motel and got to work. They hit local shelters, bars, and bus stations, showing Calvin’s photo and asking questions.


After hours of dead ends, they finally caught a break at a dingy bar on the outskirts of the city. A bartender recognized Calvin and said he’d been hanging around with a sketchy crowd near an abandoned warehouse downtown.


“Guy gave me the creeps,” the bartender admitted. “Always talking in circles, like he was hiding something.”



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The Warehouse


Tasha and Dre approached the warehouse cautiously. It was late, the area deserted except for the occasional rumble of a passing train. Inside, the air was thick with dust, the faint scent of mildew hanging in the air.


They split up, Tasha moving silently through the shadows while Dre kept watch near the entrance. As Tasha crept deeper into the building, she spotted a makeshift sleeping area—blankets, empty food containers, and a small pile of objects.


Among the objects was a silver medallion.


Her breath caught. This was it.


Before she could examine it further, a voice echoed from behind her.


“Looking for something?”


Tasha spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for her concealed weapon. Calvin Price stood a few feet away, his eyes wild and his posture tense.


“You’ve been following me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Why?”


“I just want to talk,” Tasha said, keeping her tone calm. “You’ve been seen near some crime scenes, Calvin. I think you know more than you’re letting on.”


Calvin’s laugh was sharp and bitter. “You think I’m the guy? I’m not the killer. But I know who is.”



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The Truth Unveiled


Calvin wasn’t the killer, but he was the key to catching him. He confessed to being part of an underground network that trafficked in stolen goods—and occasionally in people. The silver medallions were a calling card, left behind by one of their most dangerous members: a man known only as “Graves.”


“Graves is the one you’re after,” Calvin said, his voice trembling. “But you don’t want to find him. He’s... he’s not like the rest of us. He enjoys it. He kills because he likes it.”


With the information Calvin provided, Tasha contacted the Nashville Police Department. They set up a sting operation, and within 48 hours, Graves was in custody. His capture brought closure to families across multiple states, including those in Gulfport.



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Back to Gulfport


On the drive home, Tasha and Dre reflected on the case.


“You’re crazy, you know that?” Dre said, shaking his head. “Chasing serial killers across state lines. What would Marcus say?”


Tasha chuckled. “He’d say I’m stubborn. But he’d also say I did the right thing.”


As they crossed back into Mississippi, Tasha felt a sense of satisfaction. The case had been dangerous, but it reminded her why she’d taken up this work. There were people out there who needed someone like her—someone who wouldn’t stop until justice was served.


And she wasn’t about to let them down.

Episode 15: No Rest in Austin

 

Six months into running her brother’s private investigation firm, Tasha Alexander was thriving. The cases rolled in steadily—missing persons, thefts, fraud, and even the occasional high-profile investigation. Her reputation as a sharp, unrelenting investigator was spreading beyond Gulfport, and she was starting to make a name for herself.


But after months of constant work, Tasha decided it was time for a break. She needed a vacation, something to recharge her energy before diving back into the chaos. Austin, Texas, with its vibrant music scene, eclectic food, and laid-back vibe, seemed like the perfect escape. She booked a flight, found a cozy Airbnb in East Austin, and promised herself she wouldn’t answer her phone unless it was an emergency.


For the first few days, she kept her promise. She spent her mornings exploring local coffee shops, her afternoons wandering through art galleries and boutiques, and her evenings enjoying live music on Sixth Street. It was everything she needed—until her instincts drew her into something she couldn’t ignore.



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On her fourth night in Austin, Tasha was enjoying dinner at a popular food truck park. She had just finished a plate of brisket tacos and was sipping on a cold drink when she heard raised voices from a nearby alley. Her ears perked up, her Army-trained instincts instantly on alert.


She glanced around, noting that no one else seemed to notice—or care. The commotion wasn’t loud enough to cause a scene, but it was enough to make Tasha curious. Leaving her plate on the picnic table, she quietly made her way toward the alley, keeping to the shadows.


What she found made her stomach drop.


A man in his mid-thirties lay on the ground, blood pooling around his head. Standing over him was a young woman, her hands shaking as she clutched a bloodied knife. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she looked like she might collapse at any moment.


“Hey!” Tasha called out, stepping closer but keeping her hands visible. “Put the knife down. I’m not going to hurt you.”


The woman froze, her gaze snapping to Tasha. For a moment, she looked like she might bolt, but then she dropped the knife and started sobbing.


“I didn’t mean to... I didn’t mean to do it,” she cried, her voice trembling. “He was going to kill me. I didn’t have a choice.”


Tasha crouched down, keeping her movements slow and non-threatening. “Okay. Let’s take a deep breath. Tell me what happened.”


The woman wiped her face, her words spilling out in a rush. “His name’s Matt. He’s... he was my ex. He’s been following me, threatening me for weeks. Tonight, he found me here, and when I told him to leave me alone, he grabbed me. He said if I didn’t come with him, he’d kill me. I... I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do.”


Tasha’s heart ached for the woman, but she also knew the police would need to get involved. “Do you have a phone? We need to call 911.”


The woman nodded weakly, pulling out her phone. As she made the call, Tasha scanned the scene, taking in the details. The man’s injuries matched the woman’s story—a defensive strike, not an attack. Still, there was more to this situation than met the eye.



---


The Austin Police Department arrived quickly, and Tasha gave her statement to the responding officers. The woman, whose name was Rachel, was taken into custody but not charged immediately. The officers seemed sympathetic to her story, but they needed to investigate further.


Tasha, unable to let it go, decided to look into the situation herself. She wasn’t licensed to operate in Texas, but she could ask questions, follow leads, and do what she did best—find the truth.



---


The next day, Tasha visited Rachel at the county jail. Rachel was shaken but grateful to see a friendly face. She told Tasha everything she knew about Matt—how he’d become abusive after their breakup, how he’d stalked her, and how she’d filed multiple police reports that seemed to go nowhere.


Tasha’s gut told her there was more to Matt than just an angry ex-boyfriend. She started digging, using her contacts and skills to uncover his background. What she found was disturbing: Matt had a history of violence and restraining orders from previous relationships. He also had ties to a local criminal organization known for intimidation tactics and illegal activities.



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Over the next few days, Tasha pieced together a chilling picture. Matt had been using his connections to terrorize Rachel, and his death wasn’t just the result of a domestic dispute—it was the culmination of a long history of abuse and control. But there was one loose thread that didn’t add up: why had Matt chosen that night to confront Rachel? And why had he been carrying a large sum of cash when he died?


Tasha’s investigation led her to a shady nightclub where Matt had reportedly spent his last few hours. There, she learned he’d been meeting with a local loan shark—a dangerous man who didn’t take kindly to unpaid debts. It became clear that Matt’s death was about more than just Rachel’s self-defense; it was part of a larger, darker story.



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Using her evidence, Tasha worked with the Austin Police Department to build a case. Her findings cleared Rachel of any wrongdoing, proving that she had acted in self-defense against a man with a violent past. The investigation also led to the arrest of the loan shark and several members of his crew, effectively dismantling a criminal operation that had been terrorizing the community.



---


As Tasha packed her bags to return to Gulfport, she couldn’t help but reflect on the irony of her “vacation.” She’d come to Austin to relax and recharge, but instead, she’d stumbled into one of the most intense cases of her career. Still, she didn’t regret it. Helping people—finding justice—that’s what she was born to do.


Before leaving, she texted Marcus:

"Vacation was eventful. Remind me to tell you about it over dinner. Back to the grind tomorrow."


And with that, Tasha boarded her flight home, ready for whatever came next.

Episode 14: A Race Against Time

 

Tasha Alexander paced around her office in Gulfport, a sense of unease settling in her gut. It had been a few weeks since she’d taken over the private investigation firm from her brother, Marcus “Mack” Alexander, who had officially retired to focus on teaching and fatherhood. While she’d handled smaller cases so far—infidelity investigations, missing persons—it was clear that her new role wasn’t just about running an office. It was about stepping into some serious, often dangerous, territory.


Her second case hit her hard.


The phone rang. Tasha grabbed it quickly, knowing from the name on the caller ID that this would be no ordinary case.


“Tasha Alexander,” she answered.


“Ms. Alexander, this is Detective Samuels from the Pass Christian Police Department. We’ve got a situation. A 15-year-old girl, Emily Hayes, was abducted from her home earlier this morning. Her parents are beside themselves, and we’re hitting dead ends here. We’ve called you because we need someone who can move fast and dig deeper. The clock is ticking.”


Tasha’s heart raced as she listened to the detective. “What do you have so far?” she asked, her voice calm but her mind already working.


“Not much. She was supposed to be at school, but her mom found her missing when she woke up. No signs of forced entry, but her bedroom window was open. We suspect she left willingly, but we're not ruling out foul play. The parents are insisting something is wrong. We've got a few leads we’re following, but we need more eyes on this.”


Tasha felt her pulse quicken. A missing girl was always urgent, but when it was a teenager—someone just on the edge of childhood and adulthood—it brought a different level of tension. “I’ll head over right away. Do you have a photo of her? Any known associates?”


The detective promised to send over all the information. “We’ll be waiting at the house. Please hurry.”



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By the time Tasha arrived in Pass Christian, the small coastal town had already begun to buzz with rumors. People were talking. Emily Hayes wasn’t a troublemaker; she was a good student, a quiet girl with a lot of potential, according to her teachers and friends. But there was something about the situation that didn’t sit right. Girls like Emily didn’t just disappear without reason.


The Hayes family lived in a modest home near the water, the kind of place where neighbors knew each other’s business, but never overstepped. Tasha was greeted by Emily’s mother, a distraught woman with tear-streaked cheeks and eyes wide with fear.


"Thank you for coming," the woman said, her voice shaky. "Please, you have to help us. Emily would never run away. Someone took her."


Tasha’s gut twisted as she took in the sight of the mother’s distress. She knew this wasn’t just a typical runaway case. There was something more to it, something lurking beneath the surface.


Tasha sat down with the family, reviewing all the details she could gather. Emily had a routine, the mother said. She was quiet, kept to herself, and had a few close friends at school. But there was one friend—Amanda—who Emily had been spending more time with recently. According to the mother, Amanda was a new girl in town, but no one knew much about her.


“Do you have a picture of Amanda?” Tasha asked.


Emily’s mother nodded and handed over a recent photo of the two girls together. They looked close, laughing and enjoying the day at the beach. But something about the way Emily held herself, almost like she was shielding herself from the camera, made Tasha pause. There was more to this relationship than just a friendship.


Tasha glanced at the photo and then made a decision. “I need to talk to Amanda. I’ll be right back.”



---


Amanda’s house wasn’t far from the Hayes family’s, just a few blocks away. Tasha arrived at the front door to find a disheveled woman in her early thirties, who looked surprised at the knock.


“I’m looking for your daughter, Amanda. She’s a friend of Emily Hayes. Have you seen her today?” Tasha asked, keeping her voice firm yet friendly.


The woman blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Amanda? She’s not home. She left early this morning. I haven’t seen her since then. What’s going on?”


Tasha didn’t buy it. She was no stranger to the way people could evade the truth when they were hiding something. “I’m investigating Emily’s disappearance, and I think Amanda might know more than she’s telling. I need to talk to her.”


The woman’s face twisted into something between worry and guilt. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Amanda’s just a teenager, what could she possibly have to do with all this?”


“Then why did she leave this morning? Why is she hiding out?” Tasha pressed.


The woman hesitated, then glanced over her shoulder nervously. “I’ll tell you what I know. But I want you to know I’m just trying to protect my daughter. You can’t keep poking around like this.”


Tasha wasn’t backing down. “Tell me what you know, and we’ll make sure this gets resolved.”


The woman sighed deeply. “Amanda... she’s been hanging out with some older boys. I didn’t want to say anything, but Emily started spending time with them, too. They’re not good news—gang connections, troublemakers. I didn’t want Amanda to get involved, but she wouldn’t listen. I’m afraid this is about more than just a friendship.”



---


Tasha knew this case was more complicated than it seemed. She returned to the Hayes home, piecing together what she had learned. Emily’s relationship with Amanda and the boys had put her in a dangerous situation. But there was one thing that kept nagging at her—the fact that no one had seen Amanda since the morning.


Tasha called in some backup, asking for a search of the area. A few hours later, her team located Amanda’s phone. The tracking information led them to an abandoned house on the outskirts of Pass Christian. It was a run-down property, known for being a hideout for local gangs.


Tasha arrived on the scene, her heart pounding. This was it. The final push.



---


Inside the house, Tasha found Amanda—and Emily. They were hiding in a bedroom, scared and confused. Amanda had been trying to protect her friend, but she had gotten in over her head. Emily had been forced into a dangerous situation, and the older boys were involved in illegal activities, including drug trafficking. They had threatened to hurt Emily if she didn’t comply.


Tasha was able to get both girls to safety and notify the authorities. With the help of the police, they arrested the men involved in the abduction, and the girls were returned to their families.



---


The case wasn’t easy, but Tasha had done what her brother had taught her—never give up, even when the road seemed impossible. As she walked out of the Hayes home later that night, the weight of the case lifted, and a deep sense of accomplishment settled in her chest.


When she returned to her office, she picked up her phone to text Mack.


“Case closed. We got her home safe. Just like you taught me.”


As she set the phone down, she realized that this was just the beginning. Her path was set, and she was ready for whatever came next.