Chapter 3

By morning, the storm had passed, but it left a trail of destruction in its wake.

Power lines were down with some wires flickering as they had been detached from their fuse boxes. Some trees had been uprooted and some had crashed onto houses, cars, and on the street. Sand that had been blown by the powerful wind was everywhere.

Roofs had been torn off, but there were few that had stayed intact. Windows that had not been boarded up were broken and glass scattered everywhere.

The clouds were still a cold gray and a gentle wind blew into town. The people began to venture out of their secured homes where they found the town in a near-ruined state.

With no time to waste, the town's people began to look for any survivors in houses that had collapsed during the storm. Emergency personnel set up tents in the middle of town, where they would treat the injured.

Some of the business owners, however, protected their own turf from looters by threatening to shoot them on the spot. The town's police force had their work cut out as they searched for survivors, bringing in the injured, and arresting any thieves who were stupid in their heists.

The Swagger house was one of few surviving structures that were close to the beach, with only a few roof tiles that been blown away, and the sand piled up to the patio.

The Swagger's, with their employees emerged from the house, unscathed. Mok, having Emmy in his arms, looked around the landscape, and breathed a sigh of relief. "The best part about this is that we are alive," he said and Angel rested her head on his shoulder.

The first thing they did was to dig away the sand that had piled up beside the house, even little Emmy got in on it, using her hands.

Angel and Cindy checked to see if anything was damaged inside, including up in the attic. Luckily, nothing was badly mangled by the storm, but it seemed that the roof's interior may need a patch up.

"Angel!" Mok called out to his wife, "Davey is here!"

"What? I don't believe it," she replied and went back outside, where she met with her boss, Captain David 'Davey' Biggins.

"Davey, what brings you here?" Angel asked.

"You're not going to believe this, but we got a triple homicide by the old dock," he replied and Angel's eyes grew wide.

"Are you sure?" she asked, again.

"I am pretty sure. At first, I thought they were hit by lightning, but Hannah found gun-shot wounds on the back of the woman's head and more gun-shot wounds on the two kids' backs," Davey explained and Angel gasped when she heard that two children were the victims.

"Do you believe they are related to the woman?" she asked.

"I do, they do share the same features. Hannah has them at the morgue now and Killigan and Rister are looking for anyone who knows the three of them," Davey replied and Angel began to think.

"Do you think they were homeless?" she asked, but Davey shook his head.

"They didn't look that way, they were wearing nice clothes, not the kind you would see on homeless people," he replied and adds, "Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you can come and work on this case."

"Davey, look around," Angel said and her boss did look around, "I can't abandon my family and my employees and let them do all the work."

"Angel, you're not the only one who is up to her eyeballs in work, and you're the best officer in the force," Davey replied, "Listen, I'm needed in the rescue and recovery relief, so I really need you on this case, please?" he begged.

Angel looked back at her family and the employees, who were still digging away at the sand. Mok seemed to notice the look on his wife's face and joins her. "Angel, what is the matter?" he asked.

"We got a triple homicide and Davey here needs every able bodied officer to take this case, but since everyone is out working in the recovery relief, I'm the only one available," she replied. Mok placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Then go, we'll be fine," he said. Angel looked at their daughter, who was using a sand bucket to transport some sand to the beach, with Cindy watching her.

"Alright," Angel replied and went inside the house to retrieve her badge, gun, and forensic kit.

"Mommy," Emmy said as soon as Angel stepped out, "Are you going to work?"

"I'm afraid so sweetie, but I should be back by this evening," she replied and kissed her daughter's forehead, "I love you," she added.

"Love you, too, mommy," Emmy said and Angel joined with Davey and they drove away to the crime scene.