I sat on the chair, trying to hide the tight knot forming in my stomach. Jesse sat behind his desk, the permanent scowl etched deep into his features, while the captain perched stiffly in the chair beside him, like he’d been swallowed by nerves. Not exactly the welcome I’d hoped for after a morning spent basking in the glory of my last case.“Andrew,” the captain began, voice measured but serious, “we’ve got a situation. Something I don’t trust anyone else with.”I raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the edge of the desk, masking my unease with a shrug. “You’ve got my attention.”He exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Cedar City. Utah. There’s been a string of kidnappings over the past few months. Local law enforcement is stretched thin, and frankly, they’ve hit a wall. We need someone who can handle this… someone thorough, someone you’ve proven yourself to be.”Cedar City. Small town, quiet—or at least, it had been until now. The thought of stepping into a case that had

Morning found me walking through the quiet streets of Cedar City, Tommy trotting alongside me, tail high and ears twitching. The sun was barely above the horizon, painting the town in pale gold, but the air had that crisp bite only early fall could bring. The streets were silent, except for the occasional rumble of a car or the distant crow of a rooster. Cedar City was charming in a small-town, postcard kind of way—but quiet towns had secrets, and I had a feeling this one was full of them.I had told Sally to go into town and have a chat with the people and see if there's something worth our attention while I head over to the victims house.I adjusted the strap of my satchel, in which I carried the photos, witness statements, and other files from Sheriff Riker’s office. Tommy sniffed at a lamppost, then looked up at me, impatient as if to say, Let’s get this over with, boss. I smirked. “Patience, Tommy. You’ll get your sniffing reward soon enough.”The walk to the Graysons’ home was l

I sat there in that damned wooden chair, the legs creaking every time I shifted. The sheriff’s office was empty, too empty, and the air smelled like stale coffee and old paper. Sunlight slipped through half-broken blinds, cutting thin yellow lines across the desk where Sheriff Riker should have been sitting.But he wasn’t.He wasn’t anywhere.I drummed my fingers on the armrest, trying not to let irritation show on my face. I’d already been here long enough for my patience to start peeling away, layer by layer. If there was one thing I hated more than incompetence, it was avoidance — and that was exactly what this felt like.The reverend had spoken earlier. Nervous man, pacing like he was carrying something sharp under his tongue. And the sheriff? Nowhere.Interesting pattern.Just interesting.You guys haven't realized that I'm a master in this game.I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, scanning the room like clues might appear if I glared long enough. Everything was too neat. Too no

The drive back from the airport felt heavier than the drive there. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the phantom echo of Sally’s weak laugh. Maybe it was Tommy, staring at me with those round, judgmental eyes, like he knew I was one bad day away from falling apart.Or maybe—just maybe—I just hated goodbyes.Tommy rested his chin on the console, watching cars pass by. Every time we hit a bump, he grunted like an old man. I reached over and scratched behind his ear.“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered. “She’ll be fine.”He didn’t look convinced.Honestly? Neither was I.But she needed rest. She needed safety. And I needed… whatever the hell it was I was chasing. Answers. Closure. A way to stop feeling like I was always ten steps behind some invisible threat.Food, at least, was straightforward. Comforting. Predictable. And right then my stomach agreed more loudly than I’d have preferred.So I pulled into the diner’s parking lot, slid into an empty booth, and ordered for both o