Several missing persons cases have now been solved with the discovery of body parts in the Uptown neighborhood, along Tchoupitoulas Street and the Mississippi River.   

"You have two heartbeats left. How do you use them?"

A gunshot rang out. Two young police officers darted into the street, their firearms raised. They crossed the street, light on their feet, and took cover behind a dumpster. When the dumpster lid suddenly swung open, one officer screamed and stumbled back. That caused the second officer to jump and squeeze the trigger of his gun. The bullet whizzed past one target and lodged neatly in the head of another.

"Now you're dead. And you've taken a civilian with you."

Detective Samuel Athos rose and walked across the...

Please subscribe to keep reading.