Cold Case Chronicles: Beneath the Surface

Chapter 3

Jack glanced at his watch, realizing he was running late for the meeting with Sarah and their wedding planner. It had been weeks since they'd had time to talk about the wedding, and this was supposed to be their chance to finalize some details. Yet here he was, hunched over a map, phone ringing off the hook with updates from David about the stakeout near Lakeside Holdings. Every time he tried to shift focus, something else with the case demanded his attention.

As he gathered his notes and shut down his laptop, Jack's thoughts drifted to Sarah. She was usually the one reminding him to slow down, to breathe, to make time for the parts of life that couldn't be scheduled around work. But lately, even she had been just as consumed by the investigation as he was. The excitement and anticipation they'd once felt for the wedding had faded into the background, eclipsed by the growing stakes of their case against Kane.

By the time Jack made it to the café, Sarah was already seated with Melissa, their wedding planner, reviewing floral arrangements. He noticed the way Sarah's shoulders tensed as she scanned the selections, her usual ease replaced with an air of distracted focus.

"There you are," Sarah said, a hint of frustration in her voice as he took a seat. "I was starting to wonder if you'd make it."

"Sorry," Jack replied, offering an apologetic smile. "David was sending over updates on the stakeout. But I'm here now—let's focus on the wedding."

Melissa gave them both a warm smile, sensing the tension but gracefully steering the conversation back to the arrangements. "I know you both have a lot on your plates, but I want to make sure this day feels special for you. Let's go over the flowers, and then we'll finalize the guest list."

As Melissa held up photos of various floral designs, Jack struggled to stay focused. He wanted to be present, to engage with Sarah in these decisions that were supposed to mark the beginning of their life together. But his mind kept slipping back to the case—the risk they were taking, the dangers mounting with each step closer to Kane.

Sarah caught his distracted expression, her brows knitting together as she placed a hand on his arm. "Jack, if this is too much right now, we can reschedule. I know things are intense, and the last thing I want is for this to feel like another obligation."

Jack shook his head, squeezing her hand. "No, it's not that. I want to be here. I just... I don't want Kane to steal this from us. Every time we start planning, it feels like something with the case gets in the way."

Melissa gave them a sympathetic look. "You two are dealing with a lot. But your wedding day is for you, a break from all of this. Let's just focus on the details that matter most, the ones that will make the day feel right, even if they're simple."

Sarah took a deep breath, nodding. "You're right. It doesn't have to be a huge production. It just has to be us." She looked back at Jack, her eyes softening. "Maybe we need to scale back a bit. With everything going on, a smaller, more intimate ceremony might actually be perfect."

Jack felt a weight lift from his shoulders. "I think that sounds like a great idea. Less focus on the formalities and more on just... being together."

They exchanged a look, a silent acknowledgment of the balance they'd struggled to maintain between work and their relationship. In the intensity of the investigation, it was easy to lose sight of the life they were building together. This wedding, however small, was their commitment to each other, and it deserved their attention—even if it was just for a few minutes between chasing leads and reviewing evidence.

Melissa jotted down a few notes, her smile reassuring. "Alright, so we'll keep it simple and personal. I'll handle the arrangements to make it beautiful but intimate. You two focus on each other and the life you're creating—everything else will fall into place."