A/N:
So, I know this is a really short chapter, but that is because it is the prologue, I'm working on chapter 1 right now, so it shouldn't be too long and I apologize in advance for how long it may take me to upload in the future please comment and vote, any criticisms now and in the future are welcome, thanks!
It wasn't until Martha, my border collie, barked that I realised how stupid I was being. I had been sat out on the terrace of my San Francisco apartment for the last…how long had it been...probably about an hour now, trying to convince myself that I had something to live for, all the while holding my service revolver in my hand, every so often pressing the barrel against my temple, my finger twitching as it leant against the trigger. I sighed and stood up, started pacing, trying to put things into perspective.
Martha whimpers and I turn to see that she is stood at the terrace door, watching me with the big brown eyes that right now look so sad. A slight smile appears on my face, she had been with me for six years, each night nuzzling me good night. She had been a loyal dog, someone who I could rely on during the rough times, even if she was just a dog. "It's alright girl, go lay down, I'm fine." I sigh and turn away from her, looking out at the San Francisco landscape, which was currently highlighted by the sunset, knowing that Martha would still be stood there.
I take one last look at the landscape and think about going back inside to call the girls, who make up my support system, now usually you see the guy as the strong, unemotional member of a team, that was me for the majority, with my being an inspector in SFPD's homicide department. But sometimes, everything just got on top of me and I ended up sat out here with gun in hand.
The girls, as I said, are my support system when things get on top of me, and even when things don't, they are still there, laughing and joking. Our group consists of Cindy, a journalist, Claire, our chief medical examiner and Jill, assistant district attorney. Now, I know what you're thinking, one guy amongst three women, he must be in heaven, but it wasn't like that, never had been and probably never would be, not with my job description, the threat of someone killing me always present, many people have the misconception that being a cop is a fun and easy job, a job where you get to carry a gun, but that is just that, a misconception, being a cop is, if not the most, if one of the most stressful jobs you can have, although it can be a laugh sometimes, when it comes to actually going out on patrol or on the hunt for a suspect, all laughter is put aside.
I know that if I was to call them, they would be here without a second thought, probably dropping everything to make sure I don't do anything stupid, telling me that I was loved and that I had things to live for, which is probably true. "Not tonight though." I think to myself, as I open the terrace door and walk past Martha as she follows at my feet, tail wagging. "Fancy going on a run girl?" Martha barks happily as I put my trainers on and pick up her lead, it was a ritual now for us to run every morning and evening, it also helped to clear my head and let me put things into perspective, I attached her lead to her collar, which is red and has a standard bone-shaped tag with my name and phone number on it, not that I thought it would ever be needed but best to be cautious, and we were out the door, hopefully to forget about Melanie and David Brandt, the first couple of the 'honeymoon murders' for tonight at least.