If you’ve read Fatal Invitation or Orlando Prime: Origins, you’ve already met members of one of the most important fictional law-enforcement teams in my story world.
But what exactly is Orlando Prime?
The short answer: Orlando Prime is a fictional elite investigative team created to handle complex, high-stakes cases in Central Florida.
The idea was inspired in part by shows like Hawaii Five-0, where a specialized team has broader authority than a typical local police unit. But Florida is much larger than Hawaii, so in my fictional world, Prime is not one statewide team. Instead, Florida has several strategically located Prime teams in major regions, including places like Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.
Orlando made sense for a team like this.
Central Florida is home to millions of residents, countless visitors, major highways, tourist destinations, airports, and a constant flow of people from all over the world. That kind of setting creates plenty of story possibilities: trafficking, organized crime, drugs, kidnappings, financial crimes, and cases that can quickly cross city or county lines.
That’s where Orlando Prime comes in.
Unlike Orlando PD or the county sheriff’s department, Prime has broader jurisdiction. The team reports directly to the governor, with a dotted line to the mayor for oversight. Because of that structure, Prime can often access resources more quickly than a traditional department.
That doesn’t mean they replace local law enforcement.
In fact, Orlando Prime frequently works alongside other agencies, including Orlando PD Major Crimes, the FBI, DEA, and others when a case requires it. Commander Frank Travers also has discretion in deciding which cases are serious, complex, or far-reaching enough for Prime to get involved.
So where does KC Cassidy fit in?
KC is not a member of Orlando Prime. She is an Orlando PD Major Crimes detective. But because of the kinds of cases she works, her path often crosses with the Prime team.
That overlap is part of what makes the KC & Orlando Prime series so much fun to write.
Different agencies. Different rules.
One dangerous case at a time.