Out
of Sync
by
Chynna Laird
Genre:
Adult Suspense, Mystery
Cheyenne
McCarthy has two fears: Our sensory rich world and the man who killed
her husband. Cheyenne's gift helps her catch serial killers. But will
it save her when the man comes for her and her unborn child? And will
the secret he knows about her past be what finally breaks her?
Prologue
LOCAL
NEWS
Accused
Double Homicide Suspect to Stand Trial
BY
CHONDRA KELLY, EDMONTON JOURNAL.COM
EDMONTON
– Yesterday in Alberta Criminal Court, Judge Fernadette Noseworthy ruled that
there was enough evidence against double homicide suspect, Marcus Harper, to go
ahead with a trial.
Immediately
after the Judge’s ruling, Harper lost control and not only threatened his
lawyer but also the Prosecution team as well. “This is your fault,” he yelled
at them. “I will get out. And you will suffer as I did. All of you will suffer.
You will know what it’s like to have everything taken away!”
Harper,
who had been brought into the courtroom in shackles and restrained to the
defense table with handcuffs, sprang at his lawyer, knocking the table over, in
an attempt to choke the man. It took the bailiff and three police officers to
remove him from the lawyer, with the assistance of a taser to control him.
Harper
was immediately removed from the courtroom and ordered back to the Maximum
Security Prison, where he had been held in isolation since his arrest. Back
when local TV stations broke the story last month, public outcry for revenge
grew intense, due to the brutality of his crime. And his antics in the
courtroom only seemed to confirm public concerns.
*
* * *
On
his way out of the courtroom, the threats he directed to Cheyenne McCarthy, the
Chief-of-Police, William McCarthy’s wife, were the most chilling: “I’ll save
you for last, Dr. Lady. This isn’t the first time you’ve screwed with my life.
You’re gonna get what you deserve. And I’ll enjoy hearing you scream for
mercy.”
Cheyenne
McCarthy is the Forensic Psychologist who played a key role in bringing Harper
down.
Harper
is accused of gunning down two people, one, a young adult male currently known
as a ‘John Doe,’ and a Hopinachi woman believed to have been in the later
stages of pregnancy. Harper’s detached demeanor and lack of remorse during his
arrest and pretrial have sent angry ripples through the community, creating an
even stronger public outcry for justice for the three lives he’s accused of
taking.
When
police had arrived at the scene of the shooting, Marcus was found standing by
the bodies smoking a cigarette—still holding the gun in his hand—seemingly with
no acknowledgment for what he had done or remorse.
“The
man is sick,” one woman was quoted to have said outside of the courthouse,
shortly after court adjourned. “It’s about time this thing moved forward so
that guy is put away for good.”
Not
all people are happy about the ruling, however. The leader of the Hopinachi
Tribe, Chief Longfellow, along other tribe members who had witnessed the pretrial,
felt that Harper would do better if he were returned to his people and punished
in their own traditions.
“His
family has suffered too much through all of this,” Chief Longfellow said, as he
was led to his car by two fellow Hopinachi members. “We all need to be at
peace, including Marcus.”
The
Prosecution team is currently preparing a statement for later this afternoon.
Harper
is without bail until his trial on the 15th of next month.
*
* * *
A
week had passed since the pretrial. Those involved with Marcus’s trial spent
much time looking over their shoulders taking his threats to heart. Even
Cheyenne.
As
per Judge Noseworthy’s order, Marcus Harper was held in solitary confinement at
the maximum security prison just outside of Edmonton until his trial. He was
also ordered to attend the Anger and Emotions Management program, as requested
by the Prosecuting team.
Even
with the upcoming trial, and worries of Marcus’ threats, Cheyenne had more
important things on her mind.
The
atmosphere was perfect: candles were lit, Michael Bublé crooned from the
stereo, baked gnocchi bubbled in the oven and a fruity, non-alcohol wine rested
in ice. Everything was ready, except William wasn’t home yet.
She
glanced at the time as she switched the plasma television on to catch the news.
She didn’t like listening to the news—it always upset her. But she kept it on
just in case.
Even
though she has a private psychology practice, her expertise in Forensic
Psychology and forensic sciences have made her a highly sought-after expert for
the District Attorney , especially on high profile cases. So watching the news
helps prepare her for any upcoming job she’d be forced to take on.
6:45
p.m. Where was William?
He
was one of those anally-prompt people who got ready, then waited for everyone
else. Cheyenne and William had made a promise to one another—once the clock hit
6:00 p.m., they’d leave work at work and spend their evenings together—except
when those high-profile cases screamed for their attention.
As
she checked on the gnocchi—fearing it’d been in the oven too long—something
caught her eye on the television. Perry, William’s partner, was being
interviewed by a local reporter. His face was white and expressionless as his
lips moved. A shot of adrenaline sparked like a wildfire from her stomach out
to her extremities. She reached for the remote to turn up the sound.
Perry’s
rich Irish accent filled the dining room. “…he didn’t know what hit him.”
What?
A
reporter shoved her microphone in Perry’s face. “There’s speculation the
shooter was Marcus Harper, a suspect in the double homicide at the convenience
store earlier this month. Is that true, Detective?”
Perry
rolled his eyes. “Darlin’, it wasn’t ‘speculation.’ It was Marcus.”
Cheyenne
felt nauseous. Where was William?
“And
where is Marcus now, Detective?” Microphones and tape recorders surrounded
Perry’s head. “Is Harper back in custody?”
“Do
ya see him around, darlin’?” Perry pushed the microphones out of his way and
turned to walk back to a squad car when another question stopped him cold. “And
what about Chief McCarthy,? What is his current status? Did he survive the
shooting?”
Cheyenne’s
blood froze. Perry spoke slowly, his back facing the crowd of reporters. “That
information is private until family is contacted. You know how it works, lass.
If his wife wants to make a statement after that, it’s up to her. No more
questions.”
The
scene switched back to the newscaster at the station. Her heart thudding,
Cheyenne stared at the television.
Did
he survive the shooting?
The
words echoed in her head. A knock at the door caused her to drop the remote.
She ran to the door and flung it open to see Perry’s grim face. He said
nothing—just held out his hand.
Finally
he spoke. “Ya gotta come with me, love. Now.”
Cheyenne
shook her head, backing away. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what
the hell is going on? Where’s William?”
“Just
come with me, Chey,” Perry said. “I’ll tell you everything on the way to the
hospital.”
Cheyenne
had enough sense to shut the oven off, pull the overcooked gnocchi out and blow
out the candles on the table. As she pulled her over-sized sweatshirt on, she
turned back to her surprise dinner table. Her eyes welled with tears.
She
left the positive pregnancy test in the middle of the table.
He’ll
be back home soon…he has to be.
CHYNNA
LAIRD – is a psychology/criminology major, freelance writer and
author living in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband, Ryan, three
daughters [Jaimie (fourteen), Jordhan (twelve), and Sophie (eight)]
and baby boy, Xander (ten). Her passion is helping children and
families living with Sensory Processing Disorder, mental and
emotional disorders and other special needs.
You’ll
find her work in many online and in-print parenting, inspirational,
Christian and writing publications in Canada, United States,
Australia, and Britain. In addition, she’s authored an
award-winning children’s book (I’m Not Weird, I Have SPD), two
memoirs (the multi award-winning, Not Just Spirited: A Mom’s
Sensational Journey With SPD and White Elephants), a Young Adult
novella (Blackbird Flies), an adult Suspense/Thriller (Out Of Sync),
a Young Adult Suspense/Paranormal (Dark Water) and a contemporary New
Adult novel (Just Shut Up and Drive,). She is presently working on a
sequel to Not Just Spirited as well as the next book in the Dark
Water series. Stayed tuned as Chynna has several Works-In-Progress on
the go.
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
2 comments:
This cover is eye catching.
I love the cover art.
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