"Hear my words […] Do not mistake me for my mask. You see light dappling on the water and forget the deep, cold dark beneath."
- The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss

Brenda's fingers lingered on the red fabric. This was the dress to wear for this interview, she was sure of it. Bound to impress the Mayor and Sharon.

She shook that thought away. Mayor. Mayor. Not Sharon Raydor.

Fritz couldn't keep his hands off of her when she walked into the kitchen that morning and she giggled, leaned into it, laughed coyly when she was supposed to. Told him she had a big day and had to go. Kissed him goodbye and tasted coffee on his breath. Domesticity at it's finest. The panic that always wriggled it's way into her when these moments happened bit her wrist and stapled itself to her veins, hitching a ride with her to work.

She worried her wedding rings around her finger while they looked over Judy's vlog footage and tried not to watch the clock for Sharon's arrival. Her team knew by now that Brenda hated dressing up at work and aside from a few heartfelt compliments, no comments had been made. To her face, at least, of which she was glad.

When Sharon opened the door the Captain fought to regain her step as she stumbled. "Chief-you look-"

Tao and Buzz waited for the Captain's review eagerly. They thought their Chief looked stunning, but Captain Raydor had been quite judgemental and cutting lately. The sight of Brenda in her skin tight red dress must have been quite the shock for her.

"... amazing," she finished lamely, her face red and eyes still finishing their slow trail from Brenda's legs to her face. "Um, you look great."

Brenda smiled, pleased. "Why, thank you, Captain."

"I made reservations for us downstairs-"

"Oh, I don't have time for breakfast," Brenda replied, looking at the monitors again.

Sharon frowned. Does she ever eat anything besides snack cakes and candy? "I was going to go over more prep for your interview," and then another pertinent question occurs to her and she asks suspiciously, "Why, what are you doing?"

"And here I thought Sharon Raydor wanted to treat me to breakfast," Brenda teased, to the complete confusion of the men in the room. "And trying to find out the exact time that Marc Torres' car was keyed."

Sharon leans in from behind them, fascinated at Brenda's mind. She watches them rewind and fast forward as she puts pieces together that she never would have thought to see.

"Can you bring Marc up from holding, please? I may need him," Brenda says to Lieutenant Tao.

"Chief, surely this can wait…"

"I won't miss my appointment, Captain!" Brenda says while staring at the monitor, while Sharon checks her watch.

Brenda is getting ready for her appointment and pulling on a pair of heels after the arrest of Gifford when Sharon knocks and enters her office.

"I was tempted to bring a uniform escort to take you across the street," she says facetiously. Brenda hopes it's facetious, at least. Probably partially joking.

"Oh, that's not necessary," Brenda says, still nervously adjusting herself in the mirror.

"May I ask you a question?"

Brenda rolls her eyes and turns to face her with a tilt of her head. "Sure, Cap'n. Why not?"

Sharon takes a dainty seat. "Do you really not want to be Chief of Police?"

"I thought we talked about this," she frowns.

"I thought you were just emotional about it," Sharon shrugs.

"Well, no," Brenda replies. "I really don't want to be Chief."

"And you really don't feel any obligation as a woman-"

"Captain, I believe that we've been over this. As a woman I believe I have the right to choices and the right to say no to a job I do not want," Brenda said firmly. "And we've already discussed this before, and frankly I don't want to have a repeat right before I go into an interview that has been stressed to me as very important."

Sharon winces at the memory of telling Brenda she had earned her job by sleeping with Chief Pope. Wishes she could take it back and knows she can't.

"Just listen," Sharon says. "You don't think I wanted to be in I.A., distrusted by my fellow officers? No, I thought it was the fastest way to achieve rank."

"So you're saying take the job whether I want it or not?"

"I'm saying consider the job and consider making the oh-so-terrible sacrifice of more money, prestige, and power than any other job in the city," Sharon replied, and then her gaze became softer, and more personal. "And you'll not only be a positive role model… but I'll personally feel very…"

They were quiet for several moments while Sharon considered what to say.

"I will feel very proud to have a Chief I can admire," Sharon finished, biting her lip.

Brenda turned back to the mirror.

"Chief-"

"Brenda, Sharon," she replies, looking at green eyes in the glass.

"Brenda," Sharon repeats, "... Good luck."

Brenda nods. "Thank you, Captain. Sharon."

Before she leaves, Brenda reaches over to her big, clunky bag and pulls out a small, simple black leather clutch before sashaying from the room. Sharon's eyes watched her go, every step of the way.