In Queens Hill, nothing stays buried forever. A haunting noir tragedy. Detective Sergeant Frankie Merlot has spent most of his life believing loyalty was the one thing the job could never take from him. The badge changes people. Time changes them more. Not everything survives either. When a young woman is found dead in a roadside motel, what should be a routine case becomes anything but. Frankie begins pulling at loose threads, expecting answers he’d chased a hundred times before. Instead, the deeper he digs, the less the pieces fit. Rumors spread. Trust begins to erode. And things that once felt familiar begin to reveal a truth Frankie is far less prepared to face. Some betrayals aren’t acts of violence. They’re the result of silence, loyalty... and time. Every oath has a cost.
The North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Guidebook to Policing in Healthcare is a comprehensive, practical reference for North Carolina law enforcement officers assigned to or operating within healthcare environments. It explains how healthcare facilities function, what is expected of law enforcement inside them, and how to operate effectively within a complex ecosystem that is unlike traditional street policing. Designed for both new and veteran officers, this guidebook serves as a navigational aid for those entering healthcare policing for the first time as well as experienced officers who have never received formal training on the nuances of hospital-based law enforcement. It provides clear orientation to medical units and departments—what they are, how they function, and the expectations placed on officers working within them. The book includes dedicated chapters on common statutory offenses encountered in healthcare settings, relevant case law, legal authority, clinical operations, organizational politics, and the distinct role of law enforcement alongside—but separate from—hospital security. This guidebook is intended to build clarity, confidence, and competence for officers patrolling hospital hallways, Emergency Departments, Behavioral Health Units, and healthcare campuses of all sizes.