Prime Suspect

Chapter 2 - Detective Sergeant Cassidy Howard

A/N: Im not big on author's notes, so don't expect a lot of them. Here's chapter two, enjoy and byeeeeeee

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10:33 PM
Atlanta Public Safety Annex
226 Peachtree Street SW
Downtown Atlanta

Jake poured over the files on his desk, going over the meager clues they had collected from Peachtree Street. The rain had washed most of what little evidence there was away. There was no sign of sexual assault, and her wallet was left behind, full of money, and for some reason, someone had taken her badge off, only to drop it on the sidewalk across the street. Killing a cop was a brazen move for any criminal, but luck seemed to have been on this criminal's side. The one working security camera that had a field of view on Officer Harris' cruiser had footage so grainy that it was basically shadows, and her dash cam had been turned off when she turned the cruiser off.

He pushed back from his chair and stood, turning and looking his office window at the street. Another storm was hanging over Atlanta, making the night sky darker, which Jake thought was appropriate to match his mood. He clasped his hands behind his back and eased most of his weight onto his right leg, letting out a silent sigh as the throbbing pain in his left one died away slightly. Turning away from the window, he leaned over his desk and closed the case file, slipping it into his canvas messenger bag and grabbing his jacket. He pulled the brown leather jacket on, and then he lifted the messenger bag over his head and settled it on his shoulder, strap diagonally across his torso.

He grabbed his gun from his drawer with his keys, and with practiced ease, slipped the holster onto his belt as he left the office, taking care to lock the door behind him. He nodded at a few people as he walked to the elevator, sighing as the doors slid shut, still running over the case facts in his head. After standing in the elevator for a few minutes, he frowned and wondered why he hadn't reached the basement parking garage, Jake blushed lightly when he looked at the panel and realized he hadn't pressed the button. Reaching out and tapping the appropriate button, he stood back and mulled over possible suspects, but they were few and far between.

Harris had written exactly 3 tickets in her 6 months on the force, and Jake had talked to the three people who had been on the receiving end of those tickets, who had told him Harris had been the nicest, most polite person ever. She had no enemies to speak of, and was on the short list for early promotion. Climbing into his car, Jake threw his bag in the passenger seat and sat for a moment, before pulling out his phone and dialing his son.

"Dad, it's almost 15 til 11, where are you?" Jake laughed silently, before starting his car.

"I'm on my way home now, spawn. Have you already ate?" He asked, using the conversation with his son as a chance to give his mind a break.

"No, too lazy to cook. Bring home food?" Zack asked. Jake grunted and mumbled something as someone cut him off, and he took satisfaction at the look of fear on the driver's face when Jake flashed his blue lights at them.

"Pizza, usual?" Jake asked, earning a affirmative reply from Zack. Jake mumbled a goodbye, braking sharply to make the turn into a pizza shop and earning an obscene gesture from a driver behind him. He ordered the pizzas and waited, collecting them and driving home, arriving to a quiet, dark house.

Stepping in the front door, Jake called out, and nearly dropped the pizza when Zack mumbled a "Hello." from directly behind him, startling him.

"Goodness, Zachary! Scare me to death! Why are you sitting in a dark house?" Jake asked, following his son to the kitchen.

"Felt like it. Cole was being an ass, and I didn't feel like getting up to turn on the lights."

"Language, mister." Jake mumbled, setting the pizza and his bag down. "Since we're on the subject, how is Cole Parton?"