Chapter 1

One Week Earlier

Tim rolled his eyes as Lucy practically bounced up to him. Her face held a cheerful smile as she handed him a cup of coffee. Tim arched his eyebrow not really wanting to know why she was so cheerful. He surmised it was probably Chris Sanford. Chris was the assistant DA, who Lucy started dating after the disastrous double date six weeks earlier.

Tim didn't really care for the guy. He neither disliked him nor liked him. His problem was he didn't see what Lucy saw in him. Of course, Lucy didn't see what he saw in Ashley either. The subject of Chris and Ashley was often quibbled back and forth between Tim and Lucy.

Before Tim could pull himself out of his thoughts, Lucy had already plopped in her seat beside Nolan. He liked Nolan well enough. The man was a good cop and a good man. Tim couldn't figure out why Lucy had a thing with Nolan once upon a time. It was at the first of being a rookie. The Lucy- Nolan seemed to be over before it mattered anyway. Tim couldn't help thinking they still didn't fit as a couple.

Tim had figured that little secret out when it was actually still a secret. He had his own problems with Isabel at the time. Then, he could care less about who Lucy was or was not keeping the sheets warm with. He was determined to make Lucy a good cop or make her forget being a cop altogether. He was glad she became a great cop and not the latter.

The early morning buzz settling down brought Tim from his reveries. The captain was present, which was a rarity. Tim and Sargent Grey flanked the captain. Both seemed confused by the captain's presence.

Unlike Captain Anderson, the new captain didn't address the patrol officers often. He acted as if they were beneath his time. However, no one complained about him. After all Captain Romano was a good captain compared to the in-between after Anderson. Considering those facts, Tim wondered why the captain was standing in front of roll call.

Tim felt sick to his stomach when Rosalind Dyer's photo was in full display on the screen. His eyes locked with Lucy's immediately. He could see the fear permeating behind her brown orbs. Although Tim knew he was supposed to be standing in front of the roll call, he walked toward Lucy.

Captain Ramono paused his speech briefly. His brow furrowed at Tim's sudden departure. Unbeknown to the patrol officers, Captain Ramono had studied each of the main detectives and patrol officers. He knew his people even if they didn't realize it. Therefore, it made perfect sense to him when the sergeant took the hand of the female officer as he sat down beside her. Romano deduced that it must be officer Chen, who Sargeant Bradford was so eager to get to. The once rookie, who was buried alive, needed comfort from her former TO. The man saved her once. Chen would need comfort because her world was about to be turned upside down.