Chapter: Chapter EightSeamus O'Dálaigh quietly made his lunch. His wife Siobhan lay sleeping in their bedroom. He didn't want to wake her. Their twenty-two year old daughter, Faidh, had not been home for nineteen days. Nobody had seen her. Nobody had heard from her. Her Cobalt Blue Honda Civic had been recovered on day nine. It had been deserted near Michigan State University in Parking Lot Seventy-Five. The police still held it in their possession. They wouldn't allow Seamus to claim it, as he wasn't the registered owner.Seamus knew something had happened to his beloved only child when she hadn't returned home in time for their ritual family supper. That was Monday, May 2nd. It was now Saturday, May 21. Although she was working as an interpreter, Faidh remained living with her parents. She valued her ever growing independence, but she also loved her family. Faidh never missed an evening meal with her pare
Last Updated: 2021-10-20
Chapter: Chapter SevenDane stood at the window. Thoughtful, he watched as a group of people stopped at a crosswalk. The light turned red. Everyone crossed. Another group gathered and crossed, followed by another. Dane's mind was racing with thoughts. "Had he done enough? Was he adequately prepared for this meeting? Would they understand what he believed to be true? Would the Tuesday/Thursday clue be enough to convince them they had a national serial killer on the loose? He'd been active for years. They had to catch him! He WOULD kill another innocent woman!" Dane couldn't face the thought of having to speak to one more devastated family; one more heartbroken child; one more lost husband. He promised himself he would find this psychopath!Dane turned away from the window. Absently he pushed the button automatically cl
Last Updated: 2021-10-19
Chapter: Chapter SixHeath sat at his desk thoughtfully. He rotated his chair to face the wall behind him. Pushing the red button on the remote control in his left hand, he turned on the fifty- two inch, flat screen monitor, which hung on the wall behind him. It quickly went through it's voice guided starting options. He chose the source button on the thin black remote. "Source selection Open HDMI1-MHL," echoed through the large open space. "Source selection close HDMI1-MHL," the electronic voice announced. Suddenly, Faidh's sleeping image appeared on the screen. The blank expression on Heath's face quickly changed to tenderness. This WAS his Eve. She just HAD to be!As he watched Faidh sleep, Heath thought about how different things would be for the world, now that he had found Eve. Humanity wouldn't die out. Heath was beginning work on his PHD in Biophysics in Nineteen Eighty-Five, when he met May-Ellen Reardon. She was a Math Major who believed the world would end through a new w
Last Updated: 2021-10-16
Chapter: Chapter FiveDane slowly walked through the lobby, on his way to the elevator. His eyes traveled the room as he moved. From the recessed lighting in the ceiling; to the marble floors; to the unique redwood accents, walls and display cases; the space was designed to be elegant yet, comfortable. Every day people sitting in this lobby had enough on their minds. They didn't need some stuffy, overly formal space to make them even more stressed or uncomfortable, as they waited to speak with someone.Dane was proud walking through this lobby. He knew he had earned his place. Still, he felt so lucky. He was helping folks. His job meant fewer people in his own community would ever have to suffer. His job meant taking monsters off the street. His job meant safety. He raised his shoulders in pride; pausing for just a moment, to think about seven years of cases solved; seven years of stopping the predator
Last Updated: 2021-10-04
Chapter: Chapter Four“2012 Ronald Reagan Drive”, greeted Dane’s eyes as he approached the parking structure. Every morning for seven years, the backlit, black lettering adorning a clean beige wall, greeted him. White lettering carefully traced upon a solid black banner; painted on the wall above the address, read “Federal Bureau Of Investigation – Cincinnati Field Office”. For Dane, it was breathtaking. Every morning he felt a sense of pride as he passed this wall. Every morning, he felt it announcing his arrival; like a king being proclaimed on his throne. It felt honorable, majestic even; and was the perfect start of every work day.Dane was proud of his job. Many applied every year, and many were rejected. Dane had been accepted easily. His background investigation had taken all of six months. His approval- overnight. The smoothness of his process made him question his own capability; at first. Rumors began. He could hear people insinuating &ld
Last Updated: 2021-10-04
Chapter: Chapter ThreeDane stretched lazily. He allowed his alarm a few extra moments before turning it off. “Sweetheart, you’re gonna have to go,” he shook the petite blonde lying next to him. “I have to work today," he explained. He continued moving his hand on her back, "So, you’re gonna have to go," he unapologetically announced. “There’s coffee in the kitchen, if you'd like some," he offered. "I don't keep tea, and I don't cook," he headed off any questions she might ask about breakfast together. "I’ll call a cab if you need one," he absently offered over his shoulder; hurrying her along. Impatiently, he fell into his normal morning routine, and began doing push-ups on the floor.“I’ve got a Lyft account,” the woman drowsily answered. “Do I have time to shower, or am I stuck with the walk-of-shame?” Sarcastic irritation dripped from the question. No answer. The woman waited in an uncomfortable silence,
Last Updated: 2021-10-04