59

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The next morning, Lauren wakes up to an empty bed and the tantalizing aroma of breakfast wafting from the kitchen. She stretches, feeling the ache in her muscles from the stress of the previous day. As she pads into the kitchen, Tim glances up from the stove, a frying pan sizzling with eggs and bacon. "Good morning," Lauren says, her voice soft. Tim looks up with a smile that reaches his eyes, "Morning.""I already switched the laundry and took the kids to school," Tim says, flipping the eggs with a practiced ease. Lauren's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "You took them?" She asks, pouring herself a cup of coffee. Tim nods, his focus on the breakfast. "Yeah, I figured you needed a break," he says, sliding the plate across the counter to her. Lauren's heart swells with love for him. He always knew when she was at her breaking point, even when she didn't.They sit down at the table, the only sound the clinking of silverware and the occasional sizzle from the stove. Lauren takes a bite, savoring the salty, smoky flavor of the bacon. "So," Tim says, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "you find out if you made Special Agent today." Lauren's stomach flips. She's been dreading this moment for weeks."Yeah," she says, her voice a little wobbly. She takes a deep breath, bracing herself. "I don't think I made it." The words hang in the air like a lead balloon, the unspoken tension thick enough to slice with a knife. Tim's smile falters, his eyes searching hers for any hint of disappointment."But it's okay," Lauren continues, her voice steady despite the fear of rejection. "I'm happy where my life is right now." She takes a deep breath, her eyes never leaving Tim's. "I have you, the kids, a job that I love. That's all that really matters."Tim sets down his fork, his eyes searching Lauren's face. "You're sure?" he asks, his voice filled with concern. Laura nods, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'm sure.""But you've worked so hard for this," Tim says, his voice thick with emotion. Lauren reaches across the table, taking his hand in hers. "And I appreciate everything you've done to support me, but sometimes things don't work out the way we plan them to.""So, have you planned anything for the wedding yet?" Lucy's voice cuts through the quiet of the car as they navigate the early morning traffic of LA.Lauren looks over at her best friend, her eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and anxiety. "A few things," she admits, "but nothing set in stone." Lauren and Tim had been so consumed by work and the kids that the wedding planning had taken a back seat. But with the kids at school and Tim's father's situation behind them, Lauren felt a renewed energy to tackle the task."Why don't you come over tonight, and I'll help you plan?" Lucy says, her voice bubbling with excitement. Lauren's eyes light up at the offer. Planning a wedding with Lucy is like adding a spark of joy to a mundane task. Her friend's enthusiasm is infectious, and Laura knows she'll make the whole process feel like a fun adventure."That sounds perfect," Lauren agrees, her voice filled with a smile. "Let's do it."But their conversation is abruptly interrupted when they spot a quick hand-off on the side of the road. Lauren's training kicks in, and she swerves the car closer, her eyes locked on the suspects. "Hang on, Luce," she says, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Hand to hand transfer."The car skids to a halt, and they both jump out, their badges flashing in the early morning light. Lauren's heart is racing as they approach the teen, who looks up at them with wide, terrified eyes. He's got a bag in his hand, and Lauren can see the outline of something bulky and suspicious. "Little young to be throwing away your life for drugs.""Hands behind your back," Lucy says firmly, her voice steady and authoritative. Lauren can see the determination in her eyes, the unspoken promise that they're not going to let this kid go down the same path so many others have. The teen looks around and then takes off in a sprint.Without a second thought, Lucy goes after him, her legs pumping as she sprints through the early morning light. Lauren's right behind her, her radio crackling to life as she gives their location and description to dispatch. "7-Adam-12. We've got a foot pursuit southbound, Citrus at Olympic. Black male, green pants, black hoodie."The teen is quick, but Lucy is faster. She catches up to him just as he's about to clear the fence. With a swift move, she grabs his leg and yanks him back down, sending him sprawling onto the pavement. Lauren skids to a halt beside them, her hand on her gun but not drawing it. The kid is on the ground, panting and scared, his eyes wide with terror."Don't move," Lucy says, her voice firm and commanding. Lauren moves in to help her cuff him, her eyes never leaving the bulging bag in his grip. As they secure him, the sound of a plane engines roars above them, so close that it seems like it might scrape the tops of the buildings."What the hell?" Lauren murmurs, her eyes snapping up to the sky. The plane is so low that it's casting a shadow over the street, the buildings vibrating with the force of its flight."7-Adam-12. We've got a possible code 1000," Lauren says urgently into her radio, her voice sharp and focused. Before she can even repeat the location, the sound of tearing metal and a deafening roar drowns out her words. The plane crashes, the impact shaking the very ground they stand on. Her eyes widen in horror as the explosion of fire and debris fills the sky, the heat washing over them like a wave.Smoke, fire, people. Smoke, fire, people. Everywhere you look. Lauren's heart thunders in her chest as she walks towards the chaos, Lucy hot on her heels. The roar of the explosion still echoes in her ears, a stark reminder of the disaster that has just unfolded. The once quiet morning in downtown LA has been shattered into a million pieces.Nyla and Tim are already on the scene, their faces etched with grim determination. Lauren sees Nyla's hand hover over her radio, her voice calm and professional as she reports the catastrophic event. Tim's eyes lock onto Lauren's, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses. Lauren knows he's feeling the same mix of horror and duty that's coursing through her veins."What's the situation?" Lauren asks, her voice cutting through the cacophony of screams and sirens.Tim's gaze sweeps over the scene, his face a mask of concentration. "We're still assessing," he says, his voice tight with tension. "The driver got the worst of it. The flipped cars were empty." Lauren's eyes follow the direction of his gaze, and she can see the crumpled hulk of the plane's nose, the twisted metal a stark contrast to the pristine morning sky just moments ago."And the pilot?" Lucy asks, her voice shaking slightly. Lauren's stomach clenches. They start to walk over to the plane. "I don't know." Tim says, his eyes on the smoldering wreckage. She can see the anguish in his eyes, the weight of his father's recent confession still heavy on his shoulders.Tim pulls open the door to the plane, the heat from the flaming metal making the air around them shimmer. Lauren's eyes widen in shock when she sees the empty pilot's seat. "There's no pilot," Nyla says, her voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. Lauren's mind races, trying to make sense of the impossible scene before her."Explains why it crashed." Lucy echoes, her voice a mix of shock and urgency as she stares into the fiery abyss that was once a plane. Lauren nods, her eyes never leaving Tim's. They both know that finding out the cause of the crash is crucial, not just for their job but for the sake of the hundreds of people affected.As they sift through the wreckage, Nolan's voice crackles over the radio, his words cutting through the chaos like a knife. "Uh guys. There's gold back here. Like a couple dozen Fort Knox size bars." Lauren's heart skips a beat. "Repeat that?" Tim's voice is sharp, disbelief etched in every syllable.They follow the sound of Nolan's voice, pushing past smoking debris and dazed onlookers. Lauren's eyes widen as they come upon a sight, she never thought she'd see outside of a Hollywood blockbuster. There, amidst the twisted metal and smoldering ruins, are gold bars. Dozens of them. Each one the size of a small suitcase, glinting in the flickering firelight. The sight is so surreal, Lauren feels like she's stumbled into a nightmare."It gets even weirder." Harper comes around the corner." The fingerprints I just pulled match a Levi Lincoln." Lauren's head snaps up, her eyes narrowing. "He is currently an inmate at the California Correctional Facility," Harper adds, her voice a mix of confusion and disbelief."So, an escaped convict stole a plane and crashed it in the middle of mid-Wilshire?" Lucy asks, her eyes wide with shock as she stares at the gold bars scattered among the wreckage. Lauren nods, her mind racing with the implications of what they've just found. "Don't forget the 200 pounds of gold."Tim's jaw tightens. "I'll call the warden." He says, pulling out his phone and turning away from the group. Lauren knows he's trying to keep his emotions in check, but she can see the tension in his shoulders."I don't understand how an inmate at a maximum-security prison escaped and stole a plane with 200 pounds of gold," Lauren says, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. She stares at the gold bars, her mind racing with the impossibilities of the situation."He didn't," Tim says as he walks back over, his voice firm. Lauren looks up at him, her eyes searching his for answers. "The prison says Levi Lincoln is still there." The revelation hits Lauren like a ton of bricks. If Levi Lincoln is still in prison, then who was the pilot? Where did his fingerprints come from?

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KATE SPEAKS!sorry for such the short chapter :(i've had a long past couple weeks and felt very unmotivatedbut i'm better and hopefully going to start writing a lot more chaptersi love you all and thank you for all the support🥹✨