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 cold, clear sky stretched over Oakridge as Jack Mercer made his way to the police station. The streets were quieter than usual, giving Jack time to reflect on the two crucial leads they'd uncovered: the black sedan mentioned by John Jenkins and the partial DNA match that had surfaced from the fabric Jack had left with Danny Price. They were finally beginning to make some headway in the Lana Garrison murder case, and Jack was eager to see if Danny had found anything new.
He parked his Camaro in front of the Oakridge Police Department and stepped out into the brisk air. His breath formed small clouds as he made his way into the station. The familiar sounds and atmosphere greeted him—officers talking, phones ringing—but his mind was focused on the next steps. Danny's forensic lab was where the case had started to pick up steam, and Jack was hoping today would push them even closer to answers.
As he opened the door to the lab, Danny was already hunched over his computer, scanning through files. The faint sound of typing filled the room as Danny looked up with a grin.
"Mercer," Danny said, leaning back in his chair, "just the guy I wanted to see. I've been going over the info you asked for."
Jack took a seat across from him. "Good, because I've been thinking about that black sedan Jenkins mentioned. What did you find?"
Danny clicked a few keys and pulled up a report. "So, the sedan you asked about—turns out it was reported stolen two days before Lana's murder. It was recovered a week later, wiped clean, and abandoned a few miles from where Lana was last seen."
Jack's brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. "So whoever took it was careful. No prints, no evidence?"
"Exactly," Danny nodded. "It's a dead end in that regard, but the timing and location can't be a coincidence. Whoever stole that car didn't want to be traced."
Jack nodded, his mind racing. "It's possible this sedan was used to transport Lana or the person responsible for her murder. We need to figure out who could've stolen it."
Danny grinned and turned back to his computer. "Already working on that. I'll cross-check it with the database, see if anything comes up. But here's the kicker—I've got something else for you."
Jack raised an eyebrow, leaning in. "What's that?"
Danny slid a folder across the desk. "The fabric you brought me—turns out there's DNA on it. It's a partial match, but it's connected to someone already in the system. The DNA doesn't match the person directly; it's more of a familial match, likely a close relative."
Jack's pulse quickened as he opened the folder. "A familial match? Who's it connected to?"
Danny leaned forward, pointing at the profile on the screen. "The DNA points to a guy named Michael Garza. He was involved in some minor criminal activity in Oakridge back in the early 2000s—shoplifting, trespassing, nothing major. He served a short sentence and then dropped off the radar. But the DNA doesn't match him exactly—it matches a close relative, probably a sibling."
Jack studied Garza's profile. "So we're looking for a relative of Garza, someone who might've been connected to Lana around the time of her murder?"
Danny nodded. "That's right. The partial DNA match means it's likely a first-degree relative. Michael Garza's brother, Andrew, used to live near where Lana was last seen. He didn't have a criminal record, so he never came up in the initial investigation."
Jack's mind started connecting the dots. "Andrew Garza may be the best choice we've got based on this DNA result. He lived near Lana, and if we can find out more about his movements or connections back then, he could be our guy."
Danny leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful. "Andrew's background is clean, but that doesn't mean he wasn't involved. He could've flown under the radar, or there's something we missed. We need to track down more details—where he was, who he was with, and if anyone remembers him being around Lana."
Jack nodded. "If Andrew is connected to this, we need to find out fast. I'll start looking into his past, see if there's anyone in Lana's circle who could tie him to her. The DNA match is enough to make him a serious suspect."
Danny smirked. "You're not letting this one go, are you?"
Jack shook his head, already standing up and taking the file with him. "No way. I'll dig into Andrew Garza's life and find out how he fits into this. I have a feeling he's more involved than we realize."
As Jack turned to leave, Danny added with a smirk, "And don't forget to tell your girlfriend's dad I'm the one doing all the hard work."
Jack chuckled. "I'll give you credit when the case is solved."
"Fair enough," Danny said with a grin. "I'll keep you posted on what I find."
Jack left the lab, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The black sedan and the DNA evidence were two solid leads, and now it was up to him to follow them. Andrew Garza was the best suspect they had, and Jack knew that if they could connect him to Lana, they'd finally be able to crack the case.
As he stepped out into the cold morning air, Jack pulled out his phone and dialed Sarah.
"Hey," Sarah answered after a couple of rings.
"Hey," Jack replied, his voice filled with energy. "We've got two solid leads. Danny found more information on that black sedan—it was stolen before Lana's murder and then abandoned afterward, wiped clean. But the big news is about the DNA."
"What about it?" Sarah asked, her interest piqued.
"It's a familial match to a guy named Michael Garza," Jack explained. "But it's not his DNA—it's his brother Andrew's. Andrew lived near Lana at the time of the murder, and he might be our best suspect."
Sarah's voice brightened. "That's incredible, Jack! So Andrew could be connected to her murder?"
"It's looking like a real possibility," Jack said. "I'm going to dig into his past and see if I can find anything that ties him to Lana."
They talked briefly about their next steps before Jack hung up. As he climbed into the Camaro, the weight of the investigation still pressed on his shoulders, but for the first time in a long while, the cold trail felt like it was starting to warm up.
