Kimberly Grace’s Stories

Start at the beginning!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation!

**Please note that this is the last excerpt that I will be sharing from my book. I truly hope you have enjoyed listening along to Jude and Dylan’s story. If you wish to hear the rest of their tale, please click below to purchase it on Amazon:

Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖

You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:

🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟

You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:

🌟Just Because🌟

🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:

* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;

* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;

* Full participation in my book-making decisions;

* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;

* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;

* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and

* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per month

Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription!

Start at the beginning!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation!

Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:

Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:

💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖

You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:

🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟

You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:

🌟Just Because🌟

🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:

* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;

* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;

* Full participation in my book-making decisions;

* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;

* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;

* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and

* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per month

Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription!

Start at the beginning!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation!

Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:

Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:

💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! 💖

You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:

🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟

🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:

* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;

* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;

* Full participation in my book-making decisions;

* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;

* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;

* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and

* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per month

Right now take advantage of my annual subscription price being only $30 for the entire year and you will receive all of the awesome benefits listed above! 🙌🏻

Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription!

Start at the beginning!

Previous Part!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I want to give an extra special thank you to my paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! Your support means the absolute world to me. There are no words to express the true depth of my gratitude. Now, let’s continue with Part 8…

Jacob watched the flicker of brilliant light dance in Cassidy’s eyes when she saw the flowers. They were a bouquet of white and pink peonies, along with a few strands of baby’s breath mixed in. He had carefully clipped the prettiest ones from his mother’s garden. Most were starting to droop, but a couple still bloomed tall and beautiful. Their long stems and big, puffy flowers reminded him of the cotton candy they used to inhale when the carnival came to Haven Park during the summer. Jacob knew they were her favorite flowers, and watching her delight made his heart leap with joy. Yet, the moment was fleeting as his muscles tensed, reminding him of the reason for this meeting.

“They’re gorgeous, Jacob. I can’t believe you remembered. Thank you.”

He watched the way she held the flowers gingerly, as if afraid she might break them with her touch. Jacob loved Cassidy’s gentle spirit and the great care she exuded effortlessly with everything that came across her path. Her vulnerable side was magnetic, yet Jacob could tell she was putting up walls left and right to protect herself. He wanted so badly to smash them down and be her knight in shining armor, but he knew that would prove a difficult task given that his employee was creating trouble for her.

Cassidy then smiled at him with genuine gratitude. He was about to return her happy grin when he heard a raucous laughter erupt from the front door of the precinct. A growing gathering was forming there with many officers making kissy faces and fake swooning sighs. Cassidy’s demeanor immediately flipped on a dime as she shoved the flowers down at her side to try and hide them. They both knew it was too late, however, as the police officers continued to carry on with even more teasing and taunting behavior.

Jacob led Cassidy around to the other side of his truck, where the policemen would not have a clear view of them. He could tell she was feeling deflated by their childish actions, but there was no time to address those emotions. Right now, Jacob needed Cassidy to focus only on the task of finding Carlos, and he had a plan that he believed would help her with just that. There was one big snag in his grand idea, though, and he gulped as an unsure feeling started to take root in his stomach. After praying a quick, silent prayer asking God to provide him with the right words to say what he needed to say, he exhaled deeply before beginning the tough conversation.

Kimberly Grace’s Christian Romance Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation!

Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:

Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:

💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! 💖

You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:

🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟

🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:

* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;

* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;

* Full participation in my book-making decisions;

* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;

* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;

* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and

* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per month

Right now take advantage of my annual subscription price being only $30 for the entire year and you will receive all of the awesome benefits listed above! 🙌🏻

Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription!

Start at the beginning!

Previous Part!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I want to give an extra special thank you to my paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, and Theresa. Your support means the absolute world to me. There are no words to express the true depth of my gratitude. Now, let’s continue with Part 7…

Cassidy held her breath, trying not to gag on the awful, pungent smell. Her nostrils begged for a reprieve from the repulsive scent of wet socks left out in the rain. It was clear to Cassidy that Detective Landry had mixed two of his musk colognes, creating a horrible concoction that should never be repeated. She cracked her window down and leaned her head as close to the opening as she could. Thankfully, Bill Landry rambled on incessantly and did not notice what Cassidy was doing. In fact, she probably could stick her whole head out the window like a dog and Bill would have no clue. His obliviousness to his surroundings made Cassidy question his merit for being a detective, but as if right on cue, Bill started listing his lengthy track record of accolades.

“Not to brag, but I’ve solved over 30 cases in the past year. Of course, it’s much slower here in Haven, but with this crazy thief on the loose, who knows how many more cases will spawn from this? Yep, it’s all just getting started now.”

Cassidy bit her lower lip to keep from talking. She was in no position to talk back to her superior on the case, yet she had never wanted to punch someone more than she did Detective Landry right now. His arrogant way of demeaning others grated on her soul. Even though she knew Carlos was guilty, her stomach churned uneasily at the way Bill Landry spoke about him. He was still a person and deserved a fair trial regardless of the incriminating evidence. Detective Landry rained down judgment as if he were king of the law and that did not sit well with Cassidy. She had taken the oath to serve the public with moral aptitude in mind while upholding the laws to the highest standard. Instead of encouraging Detective Landry to expound any further, she decided the best tactic was to switch subjects.

“Did you call the landlord to let him know we were coming?”

Bill sighed with exasperation, as if he was about to explain something to a toddler for the millionth time. He drummed his fingers in irritation on the steering wheel.

“Yes, of course. This is not my first rodeo, remember? Jack Harrison knows and is expecting our arrival any minute now. We would have been there already if you hadn’t taken the time to talk to the roofing company owner. Honestly, Burns, I don’t know why you waste your time with him. There are plenty of more accomplished men than that guy. Obviously, I for one—but sorry, you know the office no-dating policy.”

Cassidy rolled her eyes internally and suppressed a laugh that was building inside of her. There had never been a need for a dating policy until Cassidy joined the precinct. The only reason for its creation was that too many of the single men kept asking Cassidy out. She had had the most awkward conversation with the head of H.R. and he sheepishly drafted the clause. At the time, she hadn’t minded the suitors too much but was definitely relieved for it now. There was no way in hell Cassidy would ever go on a date with Bill Landry. After trying to remove that asinine thought from her brain, Cassidy replayed what Detective Landry had said about the landlord. Jack Harrison? Had she heard the name correctly? It cannot be him, she hoped.

“I’m sorry, did you say Jack Harrison?”

“Yes, Jack. J-A-C-K. Harrison. H-A-R—”

“I know how to spell his name.”

“Well, gee, Burns, I thought I had to spell it out for you since you made me repeat myself so many times. Or maybe you just love hearing me talk.”

He gave her the most flirtatious smile and winked at her. The sick feeling was starting to bubble up again and this time Cassidy had to lower her window all the way down. A sharp blast of wind hit her square in the face. She didn’t care one bit, though, as the air was refreshing and she gulped it in a welcoming gasp. She knew they did not have long until they were at the Ramirez apartment building. Cassidy’s mind spun as she had not heard the name Jack Harrison in ages. After running into Jacob this morning, it apparently was turning into a Haven High class reunion.

Start at the beginning!

Previous Part!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. Now it’s time for me to give you fair warning—after this section (Part 6), the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. I genuinely hope you have enjoyed hearing my story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I pray you will continue to follow Cassidy and Jacob as more twists and turns are revealed in their story. Now, let’s continue with Part 6…

Jacob leaned against the side of his work truck. He had been pacing for the past five minutes and was a bit beside himself with what he should do. His crew was already working on replacing the roof despite not having Carlos and Rosalina’s help. Jacob had insisted that he jump in to help as well, but Diego, Pedro, and Antonio physically blocked him from coming up the ladder. They wanted their boss to support Rosalina and help her in any way he could. As hardheaded as he could be, Jacob obliged their request, knowing how much they deeply cared for both Carlos and Rosalina. They were not just coworkers. They were like family and family supports each other during tough times.

Yet, it was agonizing for him to have nothing to do but wait. Jacob leaned his head back and placed his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow. He closed his eyes and remembered how cross Chief Braxton had appeared while talking with Cassidy a little while ago. Although he could not hear what he had said to her, he watched her body language carefully. Cassidy stood with her head bent downward while she wrapped her arms across her chest protectively. She appeared to be nodding and shaking a bit. Oh, how Jacob wished he could wake up the strong, smart Cassidy hiding inside of her. The one who was always respectful but would stand her ground.

When she had turned around from what looked like an awful and degrading diatribe, Jacob tried to lock eyes with her, but she never looked his way. Her face was sullen and downcast. Jacob watched her walk slowly, as if every step took massive effort. He watched her join Rosalina and another man, whom Jacob presumed was the interpreter, as the trio climbed into a police van to talk. Jacob had asked if he could be Rosalina’s interpreter, but the police officers laughed at him for quite some while until they realized that he had been serious. Then they matter-of-factly explained to him that it would be inappropriate for her boss to play a neutral role in the case. He knew they were right, but still, Jacob desperately wanted to be by Rosalina’s side to help her during this scary time. And by Cassidy’s.

That thought stirred up the longing feelings Jacob had experienced while he had comforted her after her nightmare. He missed her like a boat stranded on the shore, desperate to feel the lapping, cool waves against its hull again. Jacob was shipwrecked and powerless to do anything about it. He shook his head, knowing that Cassidy would think he was crazy for even contemplating dating right now. There were many more pressing matters at hand, like finding Carlos. A lot about this situation did not add up right. All Jacob could do was hope and pray that Rosalina would be able to provide Cassidy with some valuable information that would help shift the matter to a happy outcome. As helpless as he felt, Jacob knew there was still one thing he could do to help everyone and he was about to do it.

Kneeling down in the grass, Jacob bowed his head low and pressed his palms together firmly. The best way that he could help was to begin interceding on Rosalina and Cassidy’s behalf. His lips moved silently as he lifted them up to the Father, praising Him first for his steadfast faithfulness. Jacob prayed for wisdom and confidence over Cassidy while also lifting Rosalina up to be brave, forthcoming, and cooperative. He had just finished saying his prayers for them and was about to begin praying specifically for Carlos when a man came up to him and spoke out so loudly, it startled him and nearly caused him to fall backwards.

“What are you doing? That’s an interesting way to take a nap.”

Jacob opened one eye and was surprised to see Detective Bill Landry looming in front of him. He had a smirk on his face that lit up like a billboard, advertising his number one status to all passersby. Jacob had learned from Cassidy that Bill had moved to the area only a month ago from the city. It was quite apparent that Bill thought very highly of himself, as he proudly displayed his oversized, shiny detective badge with built-in reflective bling like a gaudy trophy. Jacob held his breath, hoping it was just a one-off comment and that Detective Landry would soon be on his way. However, that was not the case, as he continued to stand right in front of him. Without request, Jacob got up while Bill watched him with an intensity that made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

“I was praying.”

“Oh, is that what you call it? Because your eyes were definitely closed. Anyway, we need to have a little chat.”

Jacob wanted to respond to his napping comment because clearly Detective Landry had never witnessed someone praying before, but there was no use trying to interrupt him now. He had already moved on and trying to backtrack the conversation would be like a fish trying to swim upstream.

“As I was saying, it would be best to terminate Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez from your roofing team. One’s a fugitive on the lam and the other is definitely an accomplice of some sort. It’s sad, really, but it’s a textbook case. I’ve seen it a dozen times over the course of my illustrious career.”

Jacob was dumbfounded at first. He could not believe the gall of this guy. Why was he speaking as if Carlos and Rosalina were already convicted? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

“Excuse me? I may not have all the facts about what is going on here, but I know one thing for certain. Carlos and Rosalina are good people. This has to be a big misunderstanding.”

Detective Landry grinned at Jacob, not in a friendly way but in a manner that stated dominance and control. He took out a cigarette and lit a match to light it. He took a big drag on his cig to draw out the suspense even longer and then finally puffed it out directly into Jacob’s face. Jacob coughed and felt his eyes water from the dirty cloud of toxic air. Stepping back a few steps, Jacob disliked the man even more. He was about to walk away as he could no longer see this conversation bearing any good fruit, when Detective Landry’s chilling words sliced the cool, spring air with pompous intent.

“You might want to check your tools and supplies. Count them two or three times to make sure everything is all there.”

Jacob clenched his fists and felt his jaw tighten. He turned around and tried to appear unfazed by Detective Landry’s arrogant assumptions about his friend.

“I know they're all there, but do tell Detective Landry, what makes you so confident that you can talk about someone with such brazen accusations? Carlos is not a thief.”

To Jacob’s surprise, Detective Landry started laughing. Then he took two steps forward to close the gap between them. He lowered his voice and said, “This case is done and over before it began. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, as you seem like a nice guy, but there is undeniable proof that wanted fugitive Carlos Ramirez is a thief. Not a very sneaky thief, though. There is irrefutable video evidence catching him in the act. He stole a $50,000 painting. I don’t blame the guy. He had a clear motive, what with his growing debt and all. Anyway, don’t say I didn’t warn ya. It’s up to you if you want to keep company with the likes of thieves and criminals.”

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

With that, Detective Landry strode away laughing before Jacob could even open his mouth to reply. He did not trust him and therefore, Jacob refused to believe any of the malarkey he just told him. Moving back toward the other side of the van, Jacob was about to resume praying, even more fervently now after his unpleasant talk with Detective Landry, when he noticed Cassidy and Rosalina had exited the police van. Both women appeared to be exhausted and the worried look on their faces caused Jacob’s heart to beat faster.

Cassidy was moving rather quickly and appeared to be avoiding eye contact with Jacob. She had just passed him, so he reached out his hand to stop her. She looked down at the ground at first, but then she timidly met his gaze. He saw a swirl of emotions jockeying for control. She looked conflicted, hurt, and sad. Jacob longed to soothe the raging sea swirling inside her, but this time he sensed he had better not embrace her. She spoke first, her voice raspy and thick with emotion.

“Jacob, I’m sorry, but I can’t see you anymore.”

“What? Why? I thought we were a team. I can help you find Carlos.”

“If you want to help me, then stay away from me. And if you do find Carlos…tell him to turn himself in. That’s how you can really help me.”

Without another word, Cassidy hurried away to join her fellow police officers, Detective Landry, and Chief Braxton to discuss her talk with Mrs. Ramirez. Jacob watched her go and wished she would turn back, just once, to check on him. However, she did not. Not long after, Jacob caught a familiar whiff of something that smelled like oranges. Without looking, he knew Rosalina had joined him. He turned toward her and opened his arms for a hug. Rosalina fell into them willingly and heaved a heavy sigh. She was as tough as they come, but Jacob knew this ordeal was her breaking point. He spoke to her in Spanish.

“Are you okay, Rosa?”

“Si. Yes. I trust the lady cop. I do not trust the detective.”

Jacob quite agreed, yet he felt his stomach turning in knots. He did not want to pry as the Ramirez family was typically quite private, but at this point, he had to know everything. His heart ached that Cassidy no longer wanted to even talk to him and he would do everything within his power to fix this. All of it.

“Rosalina, what happened?”

She shifted her weight from side to side, creating a gentle rocking motion. A rhythmic swaying to soothe her stress and fears. Rosalina rummaged inside her purse until she produced a small, yellow and red polka dot handkerchief that she used to dab her eyes. She cleared her throat a few times before garnering the strength to tell Jacob the tale.

“After you left this morning, we began working on the house. Everything was normal. Until our landlord showed up. He appeared to be very angry. I watched Carlos speak with him. I could not hear what was being said, but they were both shouting at the end. Carlos came over to me and told me we were being evicted.”

“Evicted?! Why?”

“We had fallen behind on our rent for the past couple of months. You know it’s been hard since Mama’s diagnosis and treatments. Our landlord agreed to allow Mama to live with us, but he doubled our rent. When we couldn’t pay, Carlos asked if he could do some maintenance around the apartments to cut down on our debt. Our landlord agreed. He wanted Carlos to start by painting his house nearby first, though.”

“Detective Landry told me that he stole a $50,000 painting. I don’t believe Carlos would do that.”

“No, he wouldn’t. That I am sure.”

“How do you know?”

Rosalina’s gentle swaying came to an abrupt stop. She looked at Jacob with such fragile hope that he was sure the next smallest gust of wind would break her into a million pieces.

“The last thing he told me this morning was that he is innocent. He wanted me to tell you that.”

“Okay…but Rosa? If he’s innocent, why did he run away?”

With that last sentence, Rosalina burst into tears and started sobbing uncontrollably. Jacob wrapped her tighter in his arms to try and console her. Although he didn’t know how to comfort her as he was now unsure about everything. Had he been too trusting of Carlos and missed the signs? This nightmare seemed so surreal and he wished he could wake up from it. The only saving grace in this mess was his faith in God, so he did the only thing he could think to do.

Jacob whispered quietly, “Oh Lord, help us.”

To be continued…

Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Start at the beginning!

Previous Part!

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. Just a friendly reminder that at some point, the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. Don’t worry, there is still more story for me to share with you before that happens. Now, let’s continue with Part 5 — Cassidy’s nightmare begins…

Peeling left out of the station, Cassidy and Jacob sped down Main Street as fast as Cassidy’s stomach could handle. Although she was feeling slightly better, her insides lurched with every turn. Pushing the nausea out of her mind, Cassidy tried to find something else to concentrate on. Reaching down, she turned the volume up all the way on her radio. Jacob leaned in slightly to listen to the chatter on the channel. So many voices were chiming in at once that it was hard to make out what was happening. The only thing they could gather from the gargled mess of voices was that Carlos had not been found yet and someone named Rosalina was at the house. Good, there’s still time to find him first, Cassidy thought.

She stole a glance at Jacob, who was typing intensely on his phone. Cassidy knew he was trying to get more information on Carlos’s whereabouts. He had tried calling him directly when they left the precinct, but the call had gone straight to voicemail. With sweaty palms, Cassidy tightened her grip and pushed the pedal down as hard as she could muster. She knew it wouldn’t get them there any faster than they were already going, but it made her feel better for some reason. A pounding headache formed in the upper right corner of her forehead, drumming loudly on her temple. She strained her ear towards the radio and heard that name again. Rosalina. Who is she?

“Um, Jacob?”

“Hmm?”

Jacob did not look up from his phone. He cradled it like a precious sleeping child, as he gently coaxed it to give him the answers he sought.

“Do you know who Rosalina is?”

“Yes, she’s one of my crew members. She’s also Carlos’s wife. She’s amazing—an extremely hard worker and a dedicated team member.”

Cassidy nodded, as the realization dawned on her that Rosalina was the woman roofer she had seen this morning. She worked a very tough job and Cassidy respected that. Jacob was clearly not a partial participant in this case and she needed to keep reminding herself of that fact. A good cop sticks to the facts and doesn’t let emotions get in the way. Biting her lip, Cassidy choked back a wave of guilt, remembering that it was precisely her emotional attachment to Jacob that got them into this mess. All she could do now was hope that Rosalina would be able to help shed some light not only on her husband’s current location, but also on the truth of the situation.

She just needed five minutes with her. That’s all Cassidy asked. Yet, she knew it would not be easy with Chief Braxton now directly involved. He most certainly already had Detective Landry on the case, and judging by his reaction earlier to her disobedience, Cassidy knew she would have to be careful not to be caught stepping out of line again.

“Ships and chips, no one is picking up.”

Jacob pounded his thigh in frustration. Despite the serious and somewhat awkward circumstance they found themselves in, Cassidy couldn’t help but smile. She watched Jacob scrunch his nose in concentration and scratch his chin absentmindedly, as if he could somehow extract the solution that way. His hair was a tousled mess of curls from him bending forward so much to look at his phone. Cassidy had to resist the urge to run her fingers through it. Her heart pounded in her chest so fast that she was sure he could hear it.

Turning her full attention back to the road, she shook herself, trying desperately to stop her longing for him. She sighed and noticed Jacob was now staring at her. She blushed and quickly tried to think of something that would distract his attention away from her.

“Ships and chips, eh? What are you, a salty pirate?”

Jacob’s laugh soothed her soul and tamed the panic that threatened to rise up inside of her. She loved that his laugh was so light and wholesome. It reminded her of the days growing up when they would play board games together. Cassidy never liked to lose and neither did Jacob, although he had always been much more gracious than she. Cassidy had seized every opportunity that she could to gloat about her wins over him. She cringed slightly now, realizing how childish and embarrassing she had acted. Jacob didn’t seem to notice her remorse or uncomfortable shift. He was back to typing on his phone again.

“No, not a pirate. It’s just a saying my dad likes to use, especially when playing Pinochle.”

“Oh, but…”

“…but what does it mean? Haha, good question. I don’t know exactly. It’s just an expression he decided to use when the game wasn’t going his way. I think he said something about a ship made of chips wouldn’t sail well, or was it a ship sailing in a sea of chips? I don’t know, but anyway, he said it so often, I guess it got ingrained in me. Either that or I’m getting old.”

“I like it. It’s a cute saying, old timer.”

Jacob chuckled and locked eyes with Cassidy for a moment. Suddenly, the anxious feelings and nausea settled instantly. For whatever reason, Jacob had always made her feel safe, and a wave of gratitude swept over her. It was as if they were suddenly back in high school, or maybe time had frozen until they reconnected again. Whichever it was, Cassidy felt both a little better and overwhelmingly nervous at the same time. Oh great, even the high school insecurities and emotions have followed me, she thought.

There was no time to ponder what could or could not happen between them, though. They were almost to the house and Cassidy’s stress level started to rise. She slowed up as they pulled onto the street where the house sat at the end of the cul-de-sac. Bright red and blue lights flashed like a rave up and down the street. Cassidy pulled over, way farther back up the road. She couldn’t risk being caught by her boss here. She motioned for Jacob to go on ahead of her. He climbed out of the car but stopped with the passenger door open. He ducked his head back in and moved in slightly so they were eye level with each other. Cassidy held her breath as the closeness to him was making her feel dizzy.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“I can’t. The chief is there. What if he sees me?”

Jacob placed his hand on hers. She felt a jolt of excitement shoot up her arm from his warm touch. Jacob was such an encourager, believer, and doer, so much so that it made Cassidy want to step out of the car. Yet, fear and doubt kept her captive enough to resist his charm.

“Cass, I promise it will be fine. What can he do? He didn’t tell you not to look for Carlos.”

Cassidy sighed. He definitely was somebody who did not like to give up easily.

“No, but it was implied, Jacob. I know the look he gave me, and trust me, it was not a good one.”

Jacob released her hand and raised both his arms up in the air as a sign of surrender. She secretly missed the warmth and closeness of him.

“Fair enough. I can’t argue with the police. Well…not too much anyway.”

With that, he gave a wink and his signature grin before turning around to head in the direction of the commotion. A dozen officers were milling around the houses. Some were talking to the neighbors while others were just shooting the breeze. She watched as Jacob disappeared into the crowd. Cassidy then slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes for a second. It was in that moment she realized just how tired she really was and at first, she tried not to drift off. However, she gave up the fight eventually and fell into a deep sleep.

Cassidy dreamed that she was in a dark room with a bright light hanging above her head. It was stifling hot in the room and when she tried to move to get up, she realized that she was handcuffed to the chair. No matter how hard she tugged and twisted her body, she could not break free. Suddenly, a voice spoke out from the shadows.

“You disobeyed me and now you’re going to pay the price.”

Cassidy recognized the voice. It was Chief Braxton. Then two other people spoke up.

“We told you, but you didn’t listen. Now look what you’ve done?”

“You’ve ruined your uncle’s legacy. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Cassidy felt tears sting her eyes. Those were her parents’ voices. Then the last voice spoke, but Cassidy didn’t recognize it.

“You believed in fairytales as a little girl, but wake up! This is real life and you’ll never have a knight in shining armor. Your puppy dog love for Jacob is pathetic. You deserve this. Guards, lock her up and seal the door. She’s never getting out now.”

Cassidy wanted to scream, but her throat was dry and a lump made it hard for her to even breathe. She watched as the shadowy figures started to move out of the room. She mustered enough strength to cry out, “wait!”

Then, out from the darkness, emerged the last person to speak to her. Cassidy trembled at the sight of her. Her eyes were dark and soulless while her jet-black hair was sleeked back and wrapped in a tight bun. She had a sense of familiarity with her, though. Cassidy could not place how she knew this woman until she stepped closer to her. She bent down and gave Cassidy the most sinister-looking grin. When Cassidy met her gaze, not willingly, as the woman forced her chin up, Cassidy’s eyes grew wide in terror. The woman was…Cassidy!

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She was staring at a very dark version of herself. Her mouth dropped open and the evil Cassidy cackled loudly. It was so loud that it began to hurt Cassidy’s ears. She wanted to cover them, but her forearms were still chained to the chair. She shut her eyes instead, but the menacing laughter echoed inside her head. Cassidy’s head pounded with every booming sound of her own maniacal laughter. She did not know how much more she could take and was losing hope fast. Suddenly, a scream pierced loudly, silencing the laughter at once. It was Cassidy’s own voice. She continued to scream and couldn’t stop herself. The next thing she knew, she heard a different but familiar voice calling her name.

“Cass, wake up! It’s okay, just please, wake up!”

Cassidy opened her eyes and to her shock, she was back in her police cruiser and Jacob was standing next to her door with a very concerned look on his face. Cassidy gulped, gasping for air. Her heart was racing. She looked around wildly for a moment, just to make sure she was actually awake. Jacob handed her a water bottle, which she gladly downed in almost two gulps.

“Are you okay, Cass? You were shaking and moaning loudly in your sleep.”

“Yeah, I uh…thanks, Jacob. I had a nightmare. That’s all.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No! I mean, thank you, but really, I’m fine. Did you find anything out?”

Jacob nodded with a serious expression that made Cassidy’s stomach churn. She knew it was not going to be good news.

“Carlos is gone. No one knows where he went, but he took a backpack full of supplies.”

Cassidy put her head down on her steering wheel. The weight of the guilt she felt for letting Carlos escape was too much for her right now. She felt Jacob gently pat her shoulder.

“There is some good news, though. Rosalina is here. She doesn’t speak much English, but she wants to talk to you.”

“To me? I’m sure Detective Landry is the one she needs to talk to right now.”

“Yes, he tried. He even got an interpreter, but she refused to speak to him. She said she would only speak with the lady cop from this morning.”

Cassidy popped her head up so fast that Jacob stepped back a little. Her eyes searched his to confirm that what he told her was true. He nodded and smiled at her. Cassidy breathed a sigh of relief but did not return the smile. Her doubts about being a cop started plaguing her mind again. A worry line crossed the top of her forehead. Jacob seemed to be reading her mind as he took her hand again.

“Don’t worry, you’re going to do great. Rosalina is a sweet woman and I know why she chose to talk to you.”

“Oh yeah, and why’s that?”

“Because you’re the best cop in town.”

Cassidy began to roll her eyes, but the look on Jacob’s face stopped her.

“I mean it. You care deeply for others and your empathy is what makes you a really great cop. And it’s not because you’re a woman. You’ve always helped others, especially the ones who get overlooked. It’s who you are, Cass. I’m not sure why you doubt yourself, but it’s okay. You’ll remember. You’ll find the old fierce, sweet Cassidy again.”

Cassidy wanted to freeze time. Jacob’s words were so tender and healing to her soul. She wanted to reply, but didn’t know what to say. Before she could even think of anything, Chief Braxton’s loud voice shook both of them out of their trance.

“Burns! Get over here now!”

To be continued…

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Start at the beginning!

Previous Part!

Announcement: Hi, I’m Kimberly Grace and I want to thank you so much for your continued support of my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I wanted to let you know that at some point the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. Creating this story and audio recordings takes a lot of time and hard work. It is time away from my primary role as a wife and mother. I owe it to my family and to myself to place value on what I’m creating here. Don’t worry, I will give you fair warning when the paid portion will be coming. I pray you will continue to come along with me on this journey as we discover more questions and answers in Cassidy and Jacob’s story.

An arrest warrant?

Jacob stared at the door that Chief Braxton had exited, probably a good couple of minutes ago. He blinked rapidly while he tried to make sense of what he had just heard. It did not make sense at all. Even though Jacob hadn’t known Carlos for a very long time, he had spent almost every day with him. They’ve bonded over their fishing expeditions and lamented when their favorite sports teams failed to clinch division championships. Their friendship was light and easy. Jacob could not even grasp the concept of a reality where Carlos was a criminal. The unpaid parking tickets only added up to $500. Something was not right here and Jacob was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Finally able to pull himself out of his stupor, Jacob turned his focus and gaze to Cassidy. She, too, looked rather shellshocked and frozen in place. His heart softened at the sight of her and he had to hold himself back from rushing to her side and wrapping his arms around her. Cassidy looked so fragile right now that even the smallest breath of air would cause her to break into a million pieces. Without thinking, Jacob reached his hand across the table and lightly placed it on her arm.

For a brief second, Cassidy seemed to relax but then she jumped up so fast, it made Jacob retract his hand quickly as if he had just been bitten by a rattlesnake. Cassidy’s eyes were brimming with a burning anger that pierced him so intensely, he had to look away for a moment. It bewildered Jacob as to why Cassidy was treating him as an enemy and not a friend. He closed his eyes and prayed that God would illuminate a step for him—just one step, that’s all he needed right now. Jacob did not plead for all the answers, not even what to do about Carlos. Instead, his prayer centered on Cassidy. He prayed that they could at least be friends again. With his eyes still shut, he heard Cassidy speak in an almost unrecognizable tone. It was one almost devoid of emotion, but he detected the smallest bit of care in it, which gave him a glimmer of hope.

“You’ve meddled enough here, Jacob. It’s time for you to go.”

Jacob kept his eyes shut and continued to pray. A warm, calming presence eased the tension in his forehead and back. His strength and confidence in his Savior were being renewed by the Holy Spirit. He sat silently for a moment, not moving an inch, but his lips continued to whisper quietly his prayer offering to God. He heard Cassidy start to walk toward the door. Now feeling more centered, he opened his eyes and spoke the only thing he could think of to encourage his friend.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Cass. It’s the chief’s fault for not telling you about the arrest warrant.”

Cassidy paused in the doorframe with her one hand holding tightly near the top of the door jamb. Her body looked tense and Jacob thought he saw a slight tremor in the other hand that hung defeatedly by her thigh. Jacob did not dare to even think about getting up and moving closer to her. He knew Cassidy would have none of his sympathy right now. Without turning her head to look at him, she replied in a low, flat voice.

“It doesn’t matter. I was given specific orders and I didn’t follow them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go clean out my desk.”

Upon hearing the last remark, Jacob shot up in horror and hurried after her. She was already down the hall and making a right toward the big open space filled with rows and rows of desks. Jacob tried to pick up his pace, but surprisingly, Cassidy could move rather fast for her petite size. Perhaps the anger helped fuel her speed, Jacob thought. He was not expecting to find the office so empty and quiet when he entered the big room. It was just the two of them, except for an older gentleman typing slowly on a computer in the corner. He had so many stacks of piled-up manila folders on his desk that you could barely see his little head poking above them. Jacob’s voice rang out louder than intended, clearly catching the attention of the older police officer in the corner as his clickety clacking stopped immediately, leaving a deafening, ominous silence in the room.

“What do you mean, clean out your desk? You can’t quit, Cass!”

Cassidy glared at Jacob for a moment but then pretended as if she hadn’t heard him and went back to collecting her things. Jacob watched her pause when she picked up a picture of her uncle. He noticed the silent tears falling down her cheeks as she put it in a box, only offering up a quick wipe of her sleeve for the occasion and it was over. Cassidy was back to being a stoic wall, devoid of emotion. It unnerved Jacob to see her this way. This was certainly not the Cassidy that he grew up with and it was driving him mad that she was acting this way. She used to be fierce and determined. She would never back down from a challenge and loved to play games competitively. Suddenly, Jacob had an idea. He walked over to her and put his hand on hers to momentarily stop her from putting another one of her possessions in the box. He searched her face until she was finally willing to lock eyes with his and then he noticed it—the smallest spark of light in them. Now he knew it wouldn’t last long, but for now, he knew he held her attention.

“The Cassidy I know would never even think of giving up. She is smart, tenacious, and would never let anyone else define her destiny other than herself.”

He could tell she wanted to believe him and was hanging on his every word like a child waiting expectantly for the ice cream man to drive down her street. Her eyes welled again with tears and this time, she could not hold back the floodgates. Cassidy started sobbing quietly, so Jacob instinctively wrapped his arms around her. She felt good against his chest and, strangely, everything felt better when he held her. It didn’t take away the uphill battle or mess of a situation they found themselves in, but it did feel more manageable, to him at least. He thought he had understood what it felt like to be in love. Jacob came close in college once with his then-longtime girlfriend, but now holding Cassidy, he realized that he’d been mistaken. The way he felt being with Cassidy was unlike anything else. He never wanted to let her go. He yearned to be her protector, even though he knew she was fully capable of taking care of herself.

The moment was brief yet also felt like a lifetime had passed by between them, instantly solidifying a bond that neither one would be able to easily push away or deny now. Cassidy pulled back slightly, her beautiful green eyes shimmered with tear drops laced between her eyelashes. She met his gaze and parted her lips slightly, as if offering an invitation. Jacob naturally started to lean down to meet them, but was abruptly stopped by the sound of the old man in the corner clearing his throat. As quickly as the two had found themselves wrapped in each other’s arms, they were separated instantly now.

He noticed Cassidy’s cheeks were flushed, so he dropped his head downward to keep his gaze toward the checkered floor pattern and scratched the back of his neck with the full palm of his hand. He felt bad for putting her in a compromising position, but gave himself a little grace given the fact that it was thankfully only just one police officer who saw them together. Cassidy went back to clearing out her desk as though nothing had just happened and Jacob joined in to help her. At this point, what more could he do? He had tried everything he could think of to stop her from quitting. The least he could do was be supportive of her decision, even if he didn’t agree with it.

“Thanks for helping, Jacob. I made a huge mistake and now I need to take responsibility for it. My partner would have done what we were told. I should have followed the chief’s explicit instructions. I…I just don’t think I’m cut out to be a cop. They were right.”

Before Jacob could even inquire about who “they” are, both of them were startled when the sound of the older police man across the room boomed in a raspy voice.

“Before you close up that box for good, Burns, there’s something you ought to know.”

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Struggling to regain her composure, Cassidy rested her left arm on the top of the box and turned her attention to her colleague with a placid expression on her face. Even though she appeared calm, Jacob knew she was hanging on by a thread at this point. Her body trembled ever so slightly as the anticipation began to build and a palpable tension filled the nearly empty room. Jacob wondered where all the other officers had gone, but gulped when he realized that they were probably all out looking for Carlos.

Both Jacob and Cassidy had to stay in their suspense a little while longer while the man slowly made his way over to them. Apparently, what he had to say could not be shouted across the room. Either that, or this man lived for dramatic theatrics. He walked with a limp and had a cane to help him maneuver around. Jacob weighed the likelihood that the injury might have occurred while he was on duty. The man had a stern scowl and his breath was heavily labored with every step. Jacob easily concluded that he would not dare venture a word to him. Finally, after what felt like the longest walk ever, he made it to them. Jacob said a silent prayer for the man as he could tell he suffered greatly every day from his pain.

Cassidy rolled her chair over for him and helped him to sit down. It was clear to Jacob that she very much respected her older colleague. She had always had a kind, caring nature and Jacob’s heart leaped a little to see the old Cassidy shining through again. Cassidy kneeled down like a child would, waiting for their papa to tell them a bedtime story.

“It’s okay, Schmitty. What is it? What do I need to know?”

Now that Officer Schmitty was right up close with Cassidy and Jacob, he appeared to falter in his confidence a little. He clutched his cane with both hands and looked around wildly for a moment. Cassidy placed her hand gently on his arm and gave it a few small pats, signaling her support for him to share what he knew with them. That seemed to do the trick, as he cleared his throat once more before speaking.

“The arrest warrant.”

“Yes? What about it?”

“It was filed this morning. You had already left.”

Jacob’s wheels were spinning. Why would an arrest warrant be filed for a mere $500? He could tell Cassidy was thinking the same thing as she put her index finger up to her lips in contemplation.

“Why didn’t Chief Braxton radio me then?”

Officer Schmitty shrugged his shoulders and scoffed. He apparently felt that he had said enough as he started to struggle to get out of the chair. Jacob swooped in to help the man up and then he was able to steady himself with his cane. Schmitty began making his way back slowly to his desk.

“It beats me, Burns. But the docket is locked. Can’t even read the charges against him. You’ll have to talk to Judge Weston about it.”

Jacob knew Judge Weston. He played golf with his dad and occasionally had dinner with his family. He was one of only two judges in town and although he was a man who greatly respected upholding the law, he always tried to help people learn from their mistakes and give them options that would lead to making better choices. This was the first time Jacob could recall there ever being an arrest warrant issued in the town of Naven. Jacob’s stomach turned as he realized this was either a grave misunderstanding or…no, Jacob refused to believe Carlos had done something nefarious. He needed to find him and he needed to find him quickly. He turned around to tell Cassidy and nearly bumped into her. She had already placed her stuff back on her desk and was pulling on her jacket while grabbing her radio along with a few other items. At the same time, they spoke to each other.

“We need to find Carlos.”

Jacob smiled broadly. He could see the fire was relit in her eyes and was thrilled to see the brave and determined Cassidy had returned.

“I thought you were quitting?”

Cassidy smirked at him and smiled in a way that made Jacob’s heart soar. They appeared to be back in sync and he could not ask for more. Well, at least not right now. Jacob knew not to push his luck. They both started heading toward the front door, walking faster as if everything they had ever dreamed stood right outside of it.

“I’m no quitter, Roberts. Besides, this case just got interesting.”

Jacob wanted to reply ‘that’s my girl' or even ‘atta girl’, but he couldn’t risk messing up the huge progress they had made. It definitely would not be easy to hide his growing feelings for her, yet he would while they solved what was going on with Carlos. After all, they needed to focus and work together as a team. The thought of them as a team caused him to smile so much that Cassidy pretended to punch him in the arm.

“Get your head in the game, Roberts. We got work to do.”

“Copy that, Officer Burns, copy that.”

To be continued…

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“Yes, Ma’am. I’m ready, Officer Burns.”

Cassidy gripped the steering wheel tighter after hearing Jacob refer to her as ma’am. She clenched her teeth, seething with frustration toward him as she sped a little faster down Main Street. The station was not far away, but with the constant construction going on, she knew it would take longer to get there than she’d like. Her face reddened and her palms began to sweat due to the tension. The tension that she had inadvertently helped to create.

She quickly reached over to adjust the fan on the air conditioning. Immediately, a cool blast of air hit her face. This temporarily soothed the burning sensation radiating down her neck and chest. It did not, however, stop Cassidy’s mind from racing nor the strange pulsation feeling throughout her legs and back. It was like a constant buzzing sensation that made her feel weird and tingly. Cassidy tried to remind herself that these were routine charges being brought against Jacob’s crew member and his wife. Still, she was a bit confused by the chief’s specific order to bring Mr. Ramirez in for questioning about them. She took in a sharp inhalation and held her breath. Not obeying the chief’s explicit orders was causing chaos inside her body. Cassidy needed to get out of the car fast. She needed to not be locked in such a tight space with Jacob either. She was desperate for a distraction, so Cassidy reluctantly settled on small talk.

“How are your parents doing? Are they still working?”

“They’re both doing well. Thanks for asking, Cass—I mean, Officer Burns. My mom retired two years ago from teaching and now she is very much enjoying her book and garden clubs. My dad, on the other hand, is adamant that he’s still a spring chicken. Dr. Roberts is still seeing patients at the blessed age of 80, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He keeps Mondays open for Pinochle and Fridays for golf, of course.”

Cassidy smiled, remembering Jacob’s parents fondly. They were always active and social people, so she could clearly picture them as Jacob just described.

“Wait, what about Wednesdays?”

“Ah, good catch. Wednesdays are for Mom. She insisted that they have a day to do something together, since usually the weekends are filled with seeing friends and family, and going to church.”

Cassidy nodded. The buzzing sound began to grow louder in her ears and for a brief moment, she heard ringing in her left ear. It thankfully subsided quickly. She took a large sip of her water, trying to do everything she could to keep her composure. Yet, Jacob’s obvious reciprocal question back to Cassidy nearly made her spit out her water.

“So how are your parents?”

Her whole body tensed up and Cassidy shifted in her seat anxiously, trying to calm her nerves. A sharp pain cascaded down her spine like a lightning bolt, reigniting the fresh wound she had endured only a couple days ago. Cassidy had gone over to her parents for dinner, but the conversation had turned south rather quickly with little warning, causing harsh words to be exchanged. She wished they hadn’t departed on such bad terms. Her mood shifted back to darkness as she continued to wrestle with the hurt. Her answer was muted and short.

“They’re away on a two-month cruise.”

“Wow, that’s exciting! Where are they going?”

Cassidy shrugged and simply replied, “I guess.”

Jacob must have sensed her tone, as he did not say anything else. Cassidy couldn’t even steal a glance his way, but his pine scent filled her nostrils, making her stomach do somersaults of both joy and dread. Cassidy thought she was going to be sick, but a wave of relief rolled over her once the station came into view. The good old 29. Cassidy remembered the first time she had walked through those doors. She was ten and her Uncle Jared was beaming with pride as he gave his favorite niece a tour of the place. Cassidy smiled, remembering how in awe she had felt that day and the way her uncle had made police work seem so exciting and rewarding. It was that day that Cassidy had secretly decided she wanted to follow in her Uncle Jared’s footsteps and become a cop.

Unfortunately, her plans were put on hold due to her parents’ insistence on college first. Cassidy didn’t regret her degree in criminal justice, though, as she knew it would eventually help her with her end goal of becoming a detective one day. She just wished that her Uncle Jared could have lived long enough to see her graduate from the police academy. Cassidy was proud to be a part of the family of blue and vowed to continue his impeccable legacy.

“We better hurry, Jacob. I’m running behind schedule now, so hopefully, this won’t take long.”

“Copy that, Officer Burns, I copy, do you? Over.”

Cassidy shot Jacob a stern look for that sassy comment but couldn’t help but smile a little anyway. Jacob had always been able to make her laugh, which both made her happy and a bit infuriated by his charm at the same time. Without further prompting or silliness, Jacob and Cassidy got out of the cruiser and headed inside quickly.

She led Jacob down a crowded hallway with cops and administrative workers crisscrossing paths everywhere. It was a decently large building for the small town of Naven. Nestled on the outskirts of Lake Glenoake and the Dovetail Mountains, the small town of Naven beckons many tourists in the summer for its serenity and secret nature hideaways. Around 500 people call it home, so everyone knows everybody. Not a lot of crime happens in the tight-knit town of Naven, but often, Cassidy’s precinct gets enlisted to help with the three other neighboring towns nearby— even though the closest one is 45 minutes away.

Cassidy was surprised to see Jacob back in their hometown. Last she had heard, he had been living out west somewhere after attending college in California to become an architect. She wanted to ask him what had made him move back and start a roofing company, but her stomach was churning in knots, so Cassidy dared not say a word. They made their way toward the back of the station and down a corridor with several offices and meeting rooms. Cassidy led Jacob inside one of the open meeting spaces and closed the door mostly, leaving it slightly ajar. She needed that little opening as a reminder that she could leave at any moment and be free of Jacob’s intoxicating enchantment over her.

Fumbling with her clipboard, she laid out five pieces of paper on the table. Jacob rolled his chair closer to take a look. He was now right next to her, and that made Cassidy lose her concentration for a moment. She took a deep breath to regain her composure and used all her strength to stay focused on the task at hand. She had been given specific orders from the chief with this visit and although she technically did not follow them exactly, Cassidy knew Jacob was a man of honor and would help fix the mess that his two crew members created. At least she hoped.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine as her body felt damp and cold. This time, it was not Jacob’s doing. Cassidy clenched her teeth tight to prevent her body from retching. Her eyes grew wide and fear froze her as she watched in horror when her boss burst through the door. He did not look angry. Not yet, anyway. Good, maybe there’s time for me to explain, Cassidy thought. Before Cassidy could even open her mouth, Chief Braxton boomed loudly.

“Mr. Ramirez, I think you know why you’re here—wait, who are you? Burns, this is not Mr. Ramirez!”

Cassidy trembled and felt her knees buckle beneath her. She was about to faint when she felt a gentle hand touch her arm. Jacob’s sweet gesture of support helped Cassidy regain enough strength to answer her boss.

“Chief, I know you had given me specific orders to bring Mr. Ramirez in, but—”

“But you didn’t do it! You didn’t follow what I asked you to do. This is very serious, Burns.”

At this point, Cassidy sank down into her chair. Tears welled in her eyes as she fought desperately to hold them back. She could not allow herself to be seen crying right now. That would make this whole thing so much worse. Cassidy stared down at the large oak conference table before her. She knew she would break if she made eye contact with either man. She was lost in her racing thoughts until Jacob startled her with his voice.

“Sir, if I may, Officer Burns tried to talk to Carlos, but I prevented her. I asked her to take me instead. I don’t understand why everyone is getting so worked up over a couple of unpaid parking tickets, but I will pay them. It’s fine.”

Chief Braxton slammed his fist on the table, causing both Cassidy and Jacob to jump. Her heart was pounding so hard that she was sure everyone in the room could hear it—maybe even the entire precinct. She tried to take a breath in, but it was difficult. Cassidy hoped that this nightmare would be over soon because she desperately needed to get outside for some fresh air.

“Fine, you say? It is not fine! It is quite the opposite. Mr. Ramirez was not being brought in today because of a ‘few unpaid parking tickets.’”

Cassidy’s face turned ghost-white now. She heard her voice speak out meekly, but at this point, she felt so numb; it was like an out-of-body experience.

“Why was Mr. Ramirez being brought in today?”

Chief Braxton was now moving swiftly towards the door while typing fiercely fast on his tablet. He didn’t even turn his head as he yelled the answer back to them on his way out.

“There’s an arrest warrant out for him.”

Placing both her hands over her mouth, Cassidy stifled the scream that was building inside of her. She had failed her duty as an officer. She had let a criminal go free and it was all her fault. Even worse than that, Cassidy had failed to uphold her Uncle Jared’s legacy. Her instincts had been wrong to trust Jacob and there was no way to undo what she had done. Cassidy felt the weight of it all crashing down on her as she realized everything she had worked for had been lost.

To be continued…

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