It had been three years since he had overcome the corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department in his first year as Detective Lieutenant. Three years since the big "Nite Owl" case that made him into what he was today. It was almost as if Edmond Exley were in a dream, and that all he went through three years ago was a part of some elaborate story of someone else's life.

But Edmond always knew better.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Detective Lieutenant Exley sighed and reached for his glasses. Of course, he didn't entirely need them, but for the small print on the files of his latest case, he had to use them.

The other officers always laughed at him when he wore his glasses, but they were a necessity whether the members of the precinct liked it or not. He sighed in relief as he put them on and the blurry images on the papers became clear and precise.

According to the police report he was reading, it looks as if a mysterious vigilante has been preying upon the organized crime element in Los Angeles and also in neighboring Anaheim. Exley's eyes traveled to the photos that came along with the report and narrowed at the sight of how these mafia goons have been punished and beaten to death. Whoever did this was an excellent fighter and Exley had to admit that this character piqued his curiosity very much.

There was only one other time where someone had piqued his interest. That someone was Lynne Bracken, now married to his new partner Wendel "Bud" White. He was always captivated by her natural beauty, but she had an intellectual element that most women didn't seem to have….and Exley met his fair share of women over the past years.

After the incident at the Victory Motel, however, Exley decided to be a man and let Lynne go to Bud, considering Bud found her first. Even though Exley was a seasoned Detective, his one weakness was finding that special women for him. Many women have come and gone but he knew there was someone out there waiting for him to find.

"Lost in your thoughts again, partner?" a voice interrupted Exley's thoughts. Exley focused his gaze on the man who sat on the corner of his desk.

"You got me, Bud" Exley replied smiling weakly as he set the report down "This vigilante case is testing and very demanding"

"I have two words for you" Bud White said, flashing an all-too-familiar grin "Coffee Break"

Although Exley and White have had their differences in the past, they grew closer together and became Hollywood's most formidable dynamic duo. With Exley's intellectual assets, and White's fondness for using violence to get confessions, they were inseparable.

"I guess I can step away from the desk" Exley sighed, taking his glasses off "However, I should point out that crime never takes a break"

"Oh come on" White said lightly, reminding Exley slightly of the late Sergeant Jack Vincennes "There's a whole precinct that can take care of it. You need a break…"

"Alright" Exley said, standing up and stretching "Let's go"…