Caught in the Crosshairs

Caught in the Crosshairs The Silencer Series BY: B.P Stevens Copyright © [2023] [B.P Stevens] – All rights Reserved This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Free Gift! Sign up for my mailing list to receive this FREE exclusive copy of ( Bleeding Carpets ) as well as to be notified of any new releases, giveaways, contests, cover reveals and so much more Click here to sign up for my newsletter Description With her reputation on the line, Detective Pepper has nowhere to turn… As Detective Emma Pepper struggles to clear her name, all eyes are on her. All of her friends think that she betrayed all of them, and even Emma has to admit that they’ve got a point. When the press gets wind of these secrets, things only get worse… But who told the press? In this police mystery, Emma is suddenly in the crosshairs. With the Silencer still free on the streets, and questions at every corner, Emma realizes she’s in danger. No one believes her, and she is stuck carrying the weight of secrets she never intended to keep. But now, she feels like she’s being watched. Who’s watching? Do they want her dead, or do they want her help? Will Emma be able to survive the mountain of secrets she is falling into, or will it swallow her whole? Tables of Content Chapter One Emma wasn’t sure what to think. The list in front of her was full of the most intensive and life-destroying secrets of people in power. In fact, if Emma felt the need to ruin anyone’s life, she could easily do it with this list. When the precinct came into possession of it, Emma began to wonder what this could mean. Why did the Silencer leave this behind? Was he aware that it was on the computer? Was he looking for it? Emma wanted answers and she knew she wasn’t alone in thinking this. The list was detailed, to say the least. Names, file folders, everything was there ready to be scrolled through. Yet, when Lieutenant Ken saw the list, he hid in his office on a phone call. Hid was the word that gave Emma pause. If this list was as serious as it looked - and Emma knew that it clearly and obviously was - then why did Ken run away? Why did he get on the phone? Something didn’t feel right. Emma watched as the rest of the group ogled over the list and took a step back. She didn’t have to excuse herself because they were so invested in the files and what was in them. They couldn’t take their eyes away from it, and Emma was okay with that. Slowly but surely, she backed away and headed toward her desk. Or at least, that’s what she wanted it to look like. She was walking in the direction of her desk, but she was headed toward Ken’s office. She slowed down when she walked past his door and paused to see what she could overhear. She heard deep mumbling and whispering, even a gasp and slight yelling, but she could not decipher anything without walking into the room and demanding to know what was happening. She wanted to, that was for sure, but she also knew that wasn’t possible. She needed to find answers later if she could even ask him what was happening. At that moment, she promised herself that she would ask Ken what was happening when things calmed down. Over time there would be time for her to ask him why he went away during a serious moment with the precinct. Emma went to her desk, defeated. If she couldn’t figure out what Ken was saying, then she could at least figure out what was on the list. And if there was anything on it that could help them figure out what this had to do with the Silencer. From her desk, she grabbed a mint and noticed that her flash drive was left on the table. “Ah, crap,” she snickered and shook her head. She forgot to take this to computer crimes for the last case she worked on, and they needed it for the case they were working on. The DA asked her to turn it in for evidence, and she forgot to, thanks to all the Silencer drama. She grabbed it and headed towards the crew who were circled around the computer crimes table. When she got closer, though, she realized that no one was saying anything to her. In fact, they all looked guilty. “What’s going on?” She asked, raising her eyebrow. Again, no one said anything. Emma pursed her lips, frustrated. What the heck were they talking about that they couldn’t share with her? She was always open and eager to share things she found in cases, what were they keeping from her? And more importantly, why? “We’re not keeping anything from you, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Brooke offered. Emma felt chills run down her body. Brooke tone was something Emma wasn’t used to hearing - not from her friend. This was closed off, angry. This was the tone Brooke reserved for suspects. “I was just trying to figure out why everyone looked so sour,” Emma offered with a small chuckle. Trying to lighten the mood seemed to do nothing, but she couldn’t keep herself from trying at least… right? “We look sour because this list is more detailed than we thought,” Matt shook his head. “Seriously. Have you looked at it yet?” Emma shook her head. “Not all the way yet. I had to go get something from my desk-” “I don’t think you understand what Matt is saying,” Jill whispered. “This list is detailed, Emma.” Detailed? Emma blinked slowly. She leaned over the shoulder of the computer