The sun slowly peaks over the Ozark Mountains, sending a thin ribbon of sunlight through the Bower's bedroom window, stretching across the room where the couple peacefully slumbers. Joe is lying on his back in the center of the bed, snoring boisterously. His left arm draped around his beautiful wife of ten-plus years.
Rachel is curled up against him. Her legs are entangled with his; her hand rests on his broad chest. A soft smile plays on her lips, peacefully content.
The couple look like they're madly in love, but it wasn't always that way. Back when Rachel first joined the police force, both had their moments of rage. There was even a time when Joe threatened to put in for a transfer. Fortunately the captain talked him out of that.
Joe's cell buzzes, vibrating across the bureau.
Opening her eyes, she stretches and says, "It's that time already?"
"It's my cell," Joe says, sleepily stumbling towards the dresser.
"Bower," he says, glancing over at Rachel tangled within the sheets. "Last night was great," he smiles, replaying their passionate night in his mind.
Three kids later, and more fit and sexy than she's ever been. Of course, the gym owner's hurtful words gave her the fire and the drive she needed. Recalling the incident, he chuckles to himself. He's lucky that a bruised ego and a fat lip were all Rachel gave him for saying what he did.
His mind returns to the conversation at hand. "Wait, say that again? ... His posture stiffens. "The sergeant and I will be right there, Jerr."
"What's going on, Joe?" she asks, springing to her feet.
"There's been a murder at the hospital," he says, already pulling on his clothes. "Another EMT—shot in the head."
They arrive to find the ambulance bay taped off. A forensics tech is methodically collecting evidence under the bay's harsh light, while the coroner kneels by the victim and inspects every inch.
Stepping forward, Kirk takes his notebook from his pocket and says, "This is what we know so far."
The sergeant and captain quickly skim through the notes. Joe looks up; his brow tightens when he says, "So the murder happened between twelve and two?"
"One forty-eight, to be exact," Bill says, closing the distance between them. He hands the captain the camera and says, "It was all caught on camera."
The captain and sergeant watch the video and see Millie and a tall, slender male step into the ambulance bay, both dressed in black. Millie has on a loose-fitting black parka, and the man has a long black overcoat with a black baseball cap that's pulled down low.
The duo sprints towards the bus; all the while they nervously keep a close eye on the sliding glass door, as if they were expecting someone. The man looks up. Smiling, Millie pulls a gun from her pocket and shoots the EMT. The impact from the bullet sends the paramedic flying back.
The gliding door opens as the two dart off to the safety of the woods.
Rachel tightens her jaw; through clenched teeth she says, "Millie is our killer."
Bill nods. "Facial recognition confirmed it was her but couldn't ID the mystery man."
"Could that be Millie's friend, Jake?"
Joe pictures the man in his mind, then shakes his head. "Jake is shorter, with more of a beanpole build."
Rachel pulls her phone from her pocket, speed-dials a number, and lifts her gaze. "I'll have patrol pick her up."
Rachel grabs her phone from her pocket, speed dials a number, looks up, and says, "I'll have patrol pick her up."
"They're heading there now," a deep voice says, as heavy footsteps tromp across the drive. Everyone looks over to find Jerry walking towards them. His clothes look to be pajamas, and his hair is a tangled mess, not his normal, professional self.
"Sorry about the appearance, boss, but all my things are still packed." He finishes with a sheepish shrug.
After four years of courtship and a lot of persuasion, Jerry decided to move in with Sharon. With a small push, Jerry finally realized living in the home he shared with his deceased wife and child wasn't doing him a bit of good, something Rachel and Joe had been telling him for years.
"I thought you and Sharon were taking the week off."
Jerry rolls his eyes and then shakes his head before he says, "She didn't feel right about leaving the station in the hands of someone so young."
They look over to find Sharon giving the fifty-something, gray-haired doctor detailed instructions. "He's near retirement age."
Jerry shrugs. "That's what she claimed." Answering his phone, he says, "Ah huh, I see. You're sure she isn't there? I'll let the captain know. Hanging up, he turns towards Joe and says, "Patrol says Millie isn't home."
"Did they search the house?"
Jerry nods. They claim one of the matching suitcases is missing, the clothes hangers are empty, and several drawers have been pulled out. The detective claims he never saw her leave and that her car is in the drive."
"Could she have snuck out the back?" Rachel presses.
"Not possible; the privacy gate is locked from the opposite side."
"Maybe her friend Jake gave her a lift." Rachel interjects.
Joe runs his fingers through his thinning grey hair as he recalls today's events. "That's possible; get an APB out on her and have patrol pick up Jake for questioning.
"Joe, I think I know who the mystery man is.'
"Who?"
She shows him a picture of the two brothers and says, "Jake's older brother, Josh."
"Didn't Patrol say Jake went to see his brother at the car wash before driving home?" Kirk questions.
Rachel pulls a notebook from her pocket and flips through her notes until she finds what it is she's looking for. She points to some text in the center of the page.
"They claim that he talked to his brother for a minute, then pulled into the car wash, and that he was driving off as Josh was pulling in."
Nodding, Jerry adds, "He knows he's being tailed, so he leaves Millie at the car wash with Josh and drives home."
"Good plausible theory, Jerr, now we have to prove it somehow." Rachel sighs.