KarsynI'm still sitting in the police station when I hear the Amber Alert come out. My stomach drops to my knees, because I know what's coming for this girl. They say her name is Leah, and when they show her picture, I start shaking. She could be my twin when I was a little girl. Immediately I want to help. There's no way I can sit here in this room and not do anything. It goes so far against everything I've learned about myself, the person I've become. Getting up, I walk over to where Holden is sitting at the information desk. Even though he's officially retired, he volunteers a few hours a week here. He can't stand to do nothing from what I've heard."I wanna help," I tell him.He nods solemnly. "Are you sure? This isn't easy, you may see things you won't ever be able to forget.""I live with that every day," I remind him. "I was his first victim." But I think about that, and something tells me I'm not actually his first victim. "Scratch that, I'm the first one who got hi
Tucker"Run a report on that van," Mason yells. "Find out if the owner knows where it is, or better yet, find the damn owner."We decide quickly that we're going to wait until we hear back from the owner. Birmingham police have already sent a unit over to the last known address. My heart is pounding as I stand with the rest of my fellow officers and Karsyn, waiting to hear if this van is stolen.When our radios start squawking, my adrenaline spikes again.Registered owner of the van say it's stolen. Repeat registered owner of the van is reporting it stolen. That's all I need to hear. I grab Karsyn's hand and together we run for my SUV. "What does this mean?" she asks as she buckles in. "It means he's probably right where you said he was gonna be.""Shouldn't we wait for everyone else?" "It was already discussed and decided that Ransom and I would take point on this. If he runs, we need to be there ASAP to get the dogs on the scent."Major is whining and barking in
Karsyn"How's it going?" Kels asks as I have a seat in the chair next to her.She's updating her charts, while I've already done mine. "I want my peace back again," I grimace. "I've had to change my number again." I frown. "You should be getting a text from me tonight with my new one."Since everything came out with Clarence, news organizations have found my name, and they're all asking for interviews about what happened not only recently, but back in my childhood. To say I'm sick of it is an understatement."It's a good thing you and Tucker moved in together, huh?" "Yeah," I agree. "I went by my apartment yesterday because I have like a box of clothes left there. I can't tell you how many news vans were there. I just said fuck it, I'll buy new clothes. So far no one seems to know I've moved in with him.""Today's a big day for him, isn't it?"I grin. "It is. He should get the okay to go back to work. Not that I haven't loved having him off to help me move and get stuff
KarsynThe house is dark when I get home, but I'm not surprised. It's been a hot as hell day and we've decided to grill out tonight, as not to warm the house up too much. I picked up the sides on the way home."Tucker?" I yell as I approach the back porch."Yeah, we're back here." I can hear Major making his presence known.Opening the gate, I see the two of them. My man standing in front of the grill, no shirt on, while Major sits next to him, probably waiting on some meat to be dropped. Climbing up onto the porch, I go over to them.Tucker leans back, pursing his lips for a kiss. I oblige, resting against him slightly."Long day?""Super long. Just wanted to be here with the two of you. I hate when you're off and I have to work.""You get so jealous," he teases me. "Not because you're off work." I'm slightly offended. "But because I don't get to spend the time with you.""Sure." He rolls his eyes good-naturedly. "What did you get for sides?""Pasta salad and co
TuckerLate August - A Year Later"I normally wouldn't be running this meeting, but FEMA has requested that we be on call for the potentially devastating event in the Gulf this week." Mason looks out at all of us. Today, he looks older than normal, almost like he believes all the reports that have been coming in. A Category Five Hurricane is barreling toward the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf Coast.He pulls up a weather map. The storm looks even nastier than it has the past few times we've gotten an update, if that's even possible. With my left hand, I reach over, grabbing Karsyn's hand in mine. I smile slightly as I feel her do what she's done since she slipped the ring on my finger. She caresses it, playing with the symbol of our devotion to one another."Long-term impact has it making landfall at Pensacola. As big as this hurricane is, I don't have to tell you what that means for the Alabama Gulf Coast, as well. We'll need the K-9's." He looks out at me. "Sorry to take y
VOLUME FOUR: CUTTERCutter"Didn't even shave?" I roll my eyes as Tucker and Major walk toward me. Karsyn follows closely behind, not because she's coming with us, but because she wants to see her boys off. At least that's what Tucker told me when I texted him, asking if he wanted a ride this morning."Something tells me a beard and my tattoos are going to be the least of anyone's worries over the next few weeks."Reaching down, I give Major a few scratches, watching as the rest of the crew heading down to the gulf coast show up. "You've definitely got a point there." Karsyn hugs her arms tightly to her body.It's not necessarily cold, but it is three in the morning. "Are you going to meet us down there? If we have to stay longer than a few weeks?" She nods. "Depends on what's happening here. There are a lot of you going down. We can't have a shortage in Laurel Springs and still expect to help people who need it.""Makes sense."Tucker reaches back, grabbing hold
Cutter"Have you ever been in a hurricane?"Tucker looks over at me. We're in a hotel, about ten miles inland. Close enough to help, but far enough away to be safe from the storm surge. The Weather Channel has been on non-stop, and I'm starting to recognize the names on the screen. One thing I am sure of? If Jim Cantore is where you are, shit's about to get real. Jim Cantore is ten miles from where we are. To say I'm nervous would be an understatement, but those of us in roles like myself and Tucker are in aren't supposed to show it. Instead we're expected to sit in this small hotel room, with our two queen beds, and pretend it doesn't feel like the world's about to end. Already, I'm beginning to think about what it's going to look like once the storm passes, how many people are we going to help? What will the situation be like as far as what access we'll have to materials?"I was in Katrina." He rubs at Major's head slowly. He drops this bomb like it's nothing."No shit?" T
RowanDevastation.I've felt it before. You don't bury your four-year-old daughter and not feel it. But this? This is destruction."Isn't that where The Juke Box used to be?"I nod, listening to my brother, Sullivan, list off places that used to be on Main Street in our small town of Paradise Lost, Alabama. Everywhere the eye can see, there's debris and water. So much water. I'm standing in ankle-deep sludge as we speak. The rain is still coming down, but not as hard as it was hours ago. Thank God for rain boots; without them, I'd probably be risking some sort of waterborne illness no one has discovered yet. "Should we start going door-to-door?" He looks down at me, a harsh look on his face. "First of all, little sister of mine, I'm the police, you're an EMT. If anybody will start going door-to-door before this storm's over, it's gonna be me. Second of all, we haven't been given the go ahead. Honestly, we should still be sheltering."I know he speaks the truth, but I