December 31st. New Year's Eve. And Lieutenant Giardello's squad is working the night shift. Baltimore has been a city of many murders for many years. And this past year has been proof of the city's nickname…the "city that bleeds."
The phone hasn't started ringing yet. But the night is young. And the detectives know that just because it doesn't ring now doesn't mean it won't later. The night is filled with revelers, many of them drunk. And being drunk usually ends up in one of two things: you're either getting interviewed in relation to a murder or you are the murdered one.
But so far, things are silent. The detectives sit, not saying anything, all of them lost in their own thoughts. And Lieutenant Giardello, affectionately referred to as 'Gee' by his squad, is in his office.
Conversation soon fills their squad room in the form of various complains about having to work the holidays. But, of course, none of them really mean it. They love their jobs, no matter how hard it might seem and no matter what they might say about it.
The conversation changes. Names on the board become their focus. Most are in black. The detectives have done their jobs well, and those cases are all closed. Leftover cases from the year before this one are in blue. But there are few of them. A good number of names are in red, but the other colors overtake them.
A candle is lit near the board. By this time, the others are aware of who lights it every time they're on the night shift. And he does not deny it. The candle is his version of a memorial for those innocent victims of senseless, violent crimes. And it is something that keeps them all going.
Ringing jolts them from their banter. The eldest in the squad answers the phone on his desk. A few seconds pass before he hangs up. And then he rises to his feet, puts on his coat and motions to his partner, the one who lights the candle. Together, the two of them leave the squad room on the first murder of the new year.
January 1st. New Year's Day. And the beginning of another year on the bleeding streets.
A/N: It's probably pretty obvious to you guys that I get bored way too often and have too much time on my hands, but oh, well. And for the record, H:LOTS isn't mine