True Self

Meet Sharon Hayes. She is a detective sergeant with the Homicide Division of the Bronx Central Precinct, New York City Police Department. She is new to Homicide, but a seasoned cop. This is the story of her first case, and her journey of discovery about who she really is . . . and was. She also has an abusive husband, and a voice in her head. Sharon's voice is female and speaks to her, constantly and with acerbic wit - and with a British accent. Sharon explains her voice to others. She says she gets "hunches" and that her hunches are usually right. It's her voice: despite the attitude, it is normally correct when it advises Sharon or points her attention to some hitherto overlooked evidence. Sharon lives in our not-too-distant future. In this future, people are kept healthy through a daily regimen of standard pharmaceuticals. Disease has all but been eliminated. The air is clear: fossil fuels are no longer used to power vehicles or other types of equipment. Society is safer: bullets and the weapons that fire them are illegal. That does not mean that Sharon is not armed and dangerous. As our story opens, Sharon has uncovered a connection between eight formerly unrelated murders that provides the precinct with its first solid lead on the cases: they are related. The Bronx has a serial killer on the loose. Sharon is the new detective on the squad, and must watch her mouth and her attitude in order to become a welcome member of the well-oiled team. It both helps and hinders her that the sqad's veteran lieutenant is her own godfather. Years of domestic abuse have made Sharon hard; she finds it difficult to observe societal niceties. Her new partner, Detective Sergeant Courtenay Flowers, grates on the few of Sharon's nerves that aren't numb, putting stresses on their teamwork, and allowing Sharon constant opportunities to exercise her sarcastic wit. As Sharon would say at this juncture, "sigh". Join Sharon Hayes on her first homicide case. Hope you enjoy the experience!