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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The sky above Oakridge was painted in soft shades of orange and pink as the sun began its slow descent into evening. Jack Mercer stood on the sidewalk, hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, staring down at the street below. His thoughts swirled, piecing together the fragments of information they had collected from Melanie Roberts earlier that day. The weight of the investigation was heavy on his shoulders, but it was a familiar burden—one he had carried for most of his career.
The Camaro gleamed in the fading sunlight, parked just a few feet away. Jack's eyes drifted toward it as he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Sarah emerging from the building, her red hair catching the soft glow of the setting sun. She looked sharp in her business attire, her paralegal blazer fitting perfectly over her frame, the dark pantyhose complementing her skirt and heels. But there was an edge to her expression tonight—a mix of exhaustion and determination.
"You ready?" Jack asked, his voice low but steady.
Sarah nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah. But I can't shake the feeling that something's still missing, Jack. Melanie gave us some details, but there's more we don't know. We're still in the dark about the man Lana was seeing."
Jack crossed his arms, his gaze following the cars passing by on the street. "Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. Whoever this guy is, he's been flying under the radar for too long. We need to dig deeper."
They both stood in silence for a moment, the hum of the city around them a constant backdrop. Sarah had her bar exam tomorrow, but Jack knew she wouldn't rest until they had made more progress on the case. He admired her resolve—it was one of the reasons they made such a great team.
Sarah took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing in thought. "We need to go back through Lana's old circles. There's someone out there who remembers more than they're saying. It's just a matter of finding them."
Jack nodded, a slow smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I was thinking the same thing. Let's head back to the office. We'll go over everything one more time, see if we can't spot something we missed."
They both moved toward the Camaro, Jack sliding into the driver's seat while Sarah took her usual spot in the passenger seat. The engine roared to life, a familiar sound that had come to feel like a part of Jack's identity. As they pulled away from the curb, the city began to blur past them in streaks of light and shadow.
The drive back to Jack's office was quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts. The streets of Oakridge were still bustling, though the approaching dusk seemed to bring a different kind of energy—one that carried the weight of secrets and unsolved mysteries. Jack's mind wandered back to Lana Garrison's case. Melanie had mentioned the old dark sedan, but it wasn't much to go on. Whoever the man was, he had kept himself well hidden, leaving little trace behind.
When they arrived at Jack's office, the familiar scent of leather and old wood greeted them. The dim light from the streetlamps outside cast long shadows across the room as Jack flicked on the lamp by his desk. Sarah set her bag down on one of the chairs, her eyes scanning the cluttered space as if hoping to find answers hidden among the papers scattered across the desk.
Jack moved to the center of the room, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed. "Alright. Let's break this down again. We know Lana was involved with a man before she disappeared—someone she was trying to distance herself from. We've got Jenkins' statement about the argument, and Melanie's account of Lana's behavior before it happened. But we're missing a critical link—the man himself."
Sarah pulled out her notebook, flipping through the pages as she spoke. "We need to go back to the people who were close to Lana at the time. Friends, coworkers—anyone who might have seen her with him. If we can get a description, we can start looking at suspects."
Jack nodded, pushing off from the desk and pacing the room. His mind raced, replaying the details of the case over and over. "There's something about this guy... The way Melanie described him, he stayed in the background. But if Lana was scared of him, he wasn't just some casual fling."
Sarah leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she considered Jack's words. "You're right. He was more than that. And if he's stayed hidden this long, he's got something to lose. He knows we're getting close."
Jack stopped pacing, his eyes meeting Sarah's. There was a mutual understanding between them—this wasn't just another case. It was a puzzle they were both determined to solve, no matter the cost.
"We're getting closer," Jack said quietly, his voice filled with conviction. "We'll find him."
Sarah gave him a small smile, her eyes tired but hopeful. "Yeah. We will."
Jack walked over to Sarah, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. His voice softened as he spoke. "But you've got something more important tomorrow—your bar exam. You need to get some rest tonight."
Sarah let out a soft chuckle, though the tension in her shoulders remained. "I know, I know. You're right." She stood up, stepping closer to Jack. With a gentle smile, she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss goodbye. "I'll rest. But only if you promise me we'll hit the ground running once it's over."
Jack grinned as she pulled back, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "Deal. Now go get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day for you."
Sarah nodded, grabbing her bag as she walked toward the door. Before stepping out, she gave him one last glance, her eyes full of determination. "Goodnight, Jack."
"Goodnight, Sarah. You're going to crush it tomorrow."
With that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Jack standing in the dimly lit office, the weight of the case still pressing down on him—but with a renewed sense of purpose.
