Jack Mercer
is a rugged private investigator in his mid-thirties, known for his relentless pursuit of the truth in cold cases that the police have failed to solve. With dark black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a signature leather jacket paired with...
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The early morning light filtered through the blinds of Jack's office as he sat hunched over his desk, the faint aroma of stale coffee lingering in the air. His leather jacket still hung over the back of his chair, but he hadn't put it on since he'd walked in the night before. His white t-shirt clung to him, and the legal pad in front of him was already filled with hastily written notes and underlined phrases. It had been a long night of combing through Lana Garrison's case files, but now, the next step was clear: he needed to track down old witnesses and bring in someone who could help with the forensics.
Jack glanced at the large box sitting on the corner of his desk—the one filled with decades-old evidence from Robert Hall. There was no better person to look through it than Danny Price.
Danny had been the top forensic expert at Oakridge Police for years, his attention to detail unmatched. Jack hadn't seen him in a while, but the two had a long-standing history. They had gone to high school together—though they weren't particularly close back then, there had always been a mutual respect. After graduation, Danny pursued forensic science while Jack took the route of law enforcement.
Grabbing the box and his notes, Jack threw on his leather jacket and headed out the door. It was time to take the files straight to Danny's office.
Jack pulled into the parking lot of the Oakridge Police Department, his Camaro standing out in the sea of patrol cars. He made his way through the familiar halls, nodding at officers who recognized him, until he reached the forensics lab.
The lab was a controlled chaos of modern forensic equipment, microscopes, and evidence markers. Standing at the center of it all was Danny Price.
Danny, now in his late 30s, had short brown hair neatly trimmed, and sharp, observant eyes behind black-rimmed glasses. He wore a crisp button-up shirt under his lab coat, and his focused, meticulous nature was evident in the way he moved around the lab. His dry humor and calm demeanor had made him one of the most respected forensic experts in the department, and Jack knew he was the right person for the job.
"Danny," Jack called out as he entered, setting the box of files on a nearby counter.
Danny glanced up from the evidence he was examining under a microscope, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Mercer. What brings you down to my neck of the woods? Finally got something worth my time?"
Jack smirked, crossing his arms. "I've got a case that's been cold for over thirty years. Thought you might be able to crack it."
Danny walked over to the box, peering inside. His eyes quickly scanned the files before looking back up at Jack. "Lana Garrison. I remember hearing about this one back in the day. Never solved, right?"
"Right," Jack replied, his expression turning serious. "My girlfriend's dad gave me this one. He's been holding onto it for years."
Danny raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Your girlfriend's dad? Mercer, you taking on cold cases for brownie points now?"
Jack rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's it. Solving a thirty-year-old murder just to impress the in-laws."
Danny chuckled, shaking his head. "You always were a sucker for a challenge."
Jack smirked, blowing off Danny's remark. "Yeah, yeah. You in or what?"
Danny pushed his glasses back up and rifled through the files. "You know the drill. DNA testing has come a long way, and I've got better tools for analyzing trace evidence. If there's something in here, I'll find it."
"I was counting on it," Jack said, leaning against the counter. "That's why I'm here."
Danny waved him off. "You didn't have to tell me that. I already knew I was the best."
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "Just make sure you don't lose anything important in all that genius."
Danny gave him a sideways glance, his smirk still in place. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As Jack turned to leave, Danny called out, "Mercer."
Jack paused at the door, looking back.
"Good luck with this one," Danny said, his tone more serious. "Something about this case feels... off."
Jack nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I've felt that too. That's why I'm digging into it."
Back in his office, Jack sat down, the files still fresh in his mind. With Danny working on the forensics and Jack retracing old leads, the investigation was moving forward. But Jack knew this case would require everything—new eyes, fresh perspectives, and maybe a little luck.
