Author: Tiffany

Chapter One
    
       Jamie Conway peered out through the windshield of her old jeep.  The dark clouds were setting in and the wind was causing the leaves to turn upside down.  Just my luck; I’m late, and on top of that, rain is coming.  Man, this sucks!  Jamie shook her head and let out a sigh.  Finally the barracks, it’s about time.

       As Jamie walked through the barracks, she heard someone screaming; stopping outside of the Captain’s door, she listened in.

      “Dammit, Jamie, Where are you?”  Steven Mercury started to pack up his things to leave.
      “Jamie never was one for being on time.”  James Sterling offered.
      “I don’t care.  This was supposed to be our first assignment together.  Where is he?”
      “About that Steven…”
      At that moment, Jamie raced through the door; excited, embarrassed, and apologetic.
      “You’re late again girl,” James said with non approval.
      “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling, I overslept.”
      “Well, you better try harder to be on time.  I don’t want to let you go.”
      “I will, sir, I really need this job.”
      Steven stood in the background.  His jaw almost hit the floor when he saw the pretty brunette come in.  He thought to himself…people these days.  How do pretty women always manage to wind up where they don’t belong?  
      Of course, it wasn’t like Steven wanted this case.  After his mother was killed when he was twelve, he had made up his mind to be a cop.  His real quest was to nab his mother’s murderer.  After years of coming up short, though, he was about ready to give up.  Steven had combed through the case files over a hundred times, it seemed.  To no avail, though.  The real question was: how could one man escape a whole police force?  Well not again!  Only James knew Steven’s story and he planned to keep it that way.  He would crack this case and then search again.  He vowed to make his mother proud.  Then he would take a much needed vacation.  
      Pulled from his thoughts, James made the introductions.
      “Jamie Conway.  This is, Officer Steven Mercury.”
      “Steven Mercury.  This is, Officer Jamie Conway.”
      “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Conway,” Steven said in his southern tone.
      “Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Mercury.”
      “Please, call me, Steven.”
      “Well in that case, call me, Jamie.”
       James was becoming impatient, knowing that time was precious.  

       “Well.  Now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s get down to business.”  Jamie and Steven both tuned in.  “I have been informed that people are turning up dead in the next county.  You might be wondering what this has to do with the, Seas Borough Police Force.  Captain Slater Bradshaw has been ill for a while and his force has gone downhill.  Expenses have become too much and the barracks had to close down.  The Captain recently phoned me from his sick bed to ask for a favor.  We need to nab these killers pronto!  Their names are Jason Right and Jennifer Raine.  These killings have gone on for far too long now.  Are you guys good for the case?”
      A “Yes Sir” came through in unison.
      “Good, then let’s get on it.  There have been many sightings lately of this couple, but no one can seem to catch them.  I’m going to give you the address of the most recent sighting, and you can take it from there.”  
      “Sounds simple enough,” Steven said.
      “Well, there’s a catch.  You will need to blend in with your environment.  This couple catches on quickly to cops and we don’t need that.  So, make sure to stay out of uniform at all times.  Be careful and keep me informed.  Oh and Jamie, take it easy on Steven.  I know how you like to get in and out. This case will need some time.”
      “Yes, Sir, whatever it takes.”  Jamie nodded her understanding.
      Steven stood observing Jamie.  Twenty-three, she had to be twenty-three.  His extra twelve years wouldn’t slow him down.  He wouldn’t let it.
      “Here’s the address.”  James handed the piece of paper to Steven.  “Now get out there and nail these guys.”

      One Fifty-Five, Staten St. was particularly quiet, for three o’ clock.  The fine downtown apartment building looked peaceful enough.  Jamie sat in the old Ford, while Steven checked things out.  On his return, impatience grew to anger.
      “What’s the deal with you being the only one going in?  I own a gun, ya know.”
      “Sorry.  I just had to be sure all was secure.”  Steven couldn’t understand Jamie’s outburst.
      “Well, I won’t sit back again.  I’m on this case, too, ya know.”
      “Trust me, woman.  I won’t forget again.”
      “Good.”
      “The landlord said our couple hasn’t been here for days now, says they packed up all of their belongings and left.  If he sees them return for any reason, he’ll let us know.”
      “Where do we go next?”
      “I’ll call James and find out if he’s heard anything.”
      “Ok and then perhaps we could get out of this part of the city.  I don’t know why, but the older buildings like this give me the creeps.”
      Steven snickered and made the call, while Jamie sat staring out the truck window in deep thought.
      Jamie knew that even though she was a woman, she could hold her own.  Since she was six, Jamie had always wanted to be a cop.  Her father had died before her birth and she was his namesake.  Her one dream was to serve his memory well.  After only ten years in the police force, her father was gunned down.  His killer was never brought to justice.  Well, Jamie intended to change that.  
      “What’s wrong?”  Jamie was brought back to the present by Steven’s heavy sigh.
      “We’re on our own.  He wants us to track them.  He said he’ll let us know if he hears anything.”
      “Sounds just like James.  Now it’s just the waiting game.  So where do we go now?”
      “Well, for the time being, I’d like to go to my place.”
      “Why?”  Jamie became nervous.
      “Well, for one reason, my place is safe.  Also, I have to let the dog out.”
      “You have a dog?”
      “Yep, old Howler might think I abandoned him.”
      “No one watches him for you?”
      “No.  He usually does well on his own.  I’ve been gone a good portion of the day, though, and I’m sure he’s lonely.”  Steven could sense nervousness in Jamie and was lost on what the problem could be.
      “What’s wrong?”
      “Nothing, I’m fine.”
      Really something was wrong.  Jamie was afraid of failing this case; failing James.  James had become a father figure to her since she started working with the force.  If it wasn’t for him, Lord only knows where she would be now.  She heard Stevens, “Ok”, and started to observe him.  He had to be in his mid to late thirties.  Tall, dark, and handsome, with a smile that could make any woman melt.  Not her though, she wouldn’t and couldn’t give in.  Single was her word.  Business was her life.  And there wasn’t room for anything else.

      After leaving One Fifty-Five Staten St., Jamie still felt off.  It’s just being late, that’s all.  Its nerves and nothing else, so get over it!
      “You sure you’re okay?”  Steven asked.
      “Yeah, I’m just a little thrown from being late.  I’m usually on time.”
      “James said that this wasn’t your first offense.”
      “Well, I intend to make it my last.”
      “I think you’ll like my place.  It’s out in the middle of nowhere a very nice and quiet atmosphere; as opposed to the city.”
      “After you let…Howler out, we’re going to leave…right?”
      “Well, I guess we could.”
      “I just want to make sure to stay with the case.  I don’t want to lose focus.”
      “We won’t.”
      Steven couldn’t understand Jamie’s worry.  Jason and Jennifer hadn’t struck while on their watch.  So what was the big deal?  

      Pulling up to his house, Steven couldn’t wait to see Howler.  He had been his only companion for a few years now.  
      Steven and Jamie got out and started to approach the house, until Howler came out barking and whining.  
      “What’s wrong, Boy?”  Steven was becoming worried.  He always kept his door locked.
      Just then, Howler raced to the old truck and Steven decided to check out the house.  He was partway there when the house exploded.