Chapter 1

Haley

“Hi. I’ll have the freshly brewed coffee. Venti. No cream and sugar.” I tell the cashier. She starts typing it in when I notice my partner, Alex Davis, staring off into space, looking like a half-dead zombie. I nudge him with my shoulder, trying to get his attention. He snaps out of it and looks at me. “What?” He asks. I roll my eyes at him. I point towards the cashier while giving him a ‘duh’ kind of look.

“Oh, sorry. I’ll have what she’s having.” He tells the cashier apologetically. The cashier nods and types his order as well. “That’ll be $5.00.” The cashier says.

I hand her a ten. I put the remaining change in the tip box. Alex hands me some money while waiting for our orders, but I decline. “It’s okay. I’ve got it this time. Besides, you look like shit.” I tell him honestly. “Did anything happen?” I ask, slightly concerned about his tired-looking state.

He sighs. “I had a very long night. You remember Chasity, right?”

I nod. “Your girlfriend.” I state, keeping the dislike that I have for her in check. “What about her?” I ask like a good friend.

Chasity Turner, Alex’s girlfriend. How could I forget? The few times Alex actually mentioned her, it’s because of acting like a deranged jealous lunatic. She tried calling him while we were on a stake out. We almost blew our cover because of her. Alex even told her beforehand not to call because we’re working, but no, she had to call just to check that me and Alex weren’t fucking. She’s a certified nutjob.

Alex once told me that she’s been sort of jealous that we’ve been spending so much time together, which is absolutely stupid, considering we’ve been partners in the local Coryell police force for 3 years, and not once have we dated.

Coryell is a small city in Texas, and I’ve grown up here my whole life.

I just shrugged it off and didn’t pay it any mind. But then I noticed that even while we’re on assignments, she keeps trying to check up on us and what we’re doing. It reached a point where her calls started to annoy me, especially since a lot of the time, distractions while we’re on the job can cost us one of our lives. And of course, Alex, with his red hair, green eyes, and sexy body, only made Chasity act even more of a jealous girlfriend. Women like to flirt with him all the time. One time, one of the women threw him her panties and told him to frisk her. I couldn’t stop laughing at the image of Alex’s incredulous face for days.

“I finally broke up with her.” He says with a sigh. “I caught her going through my phone again. I forgave her the last couple of times. But I guess with how clingy and jealous she’s been acting for months, last night was the last straw, you know?” he explains. I nod sympathetically. I can imagine that the break-up must have been rough. With Chasity’s personality, I wouldn’t say throwing around shit at the apartment is above her.

“Are you okay? Are you sure you’re good to work today?” I ask, concerned that he isn’t mentally present for work today.

He forces a smile. “It’s fine. I actually feel relieved. I’ve been thinking of breaking up with her for a while. And now that I’ve done it, I feel so much lighter. It’s just, last night she wouldn’t stop screaming and nagging at me about how I was being an ungrateful bastard and shit. I just need some coffee and I’ll be good to go.”

I give his shoulder a light squeeze. “If it makes you feel better, I’m glad you two are over. I don’t know what you ever saw in her.” I tell him honestly.

“The sex was good.” He says with a shrug and a lopsided smile.

I smack him at the back of his head. “Ouch!” he exclaims. “What was that for?!” he asks, while rubbing the back of his head.

I chuckle. “For being an idiot. Look where dating her got you? I don’t think good sex should bring that much of a hassle.”

“I’m a guy. Sometimes we’re prone to do idiotic things for sex.” He grins, still rubbing the back of his head from how hard I smacked him.

I shake my head disappointedly at his response.

“Order for Haley!” The barista shouts from the counter.

I walk over to him and show the receipt. I get our coffee and take a sip of mine. I moan. Coffee is definitely an essential for life.

“Here.” I hand Alex his cup. He takes a sip and hums. “That’s some good coffee right there.” He says gratefully. “Thanks.” He adds.

“Sure. Next time you’re buying.” I say. “Tomorrow, then.” He says with that boyish smile of his that gets the girls to fall for him.

We’re enjoying a few more sips when my phone rings. I pick it up immediately. “Detective Brooks.” I answer.

Detective, there’s been a homicide at 34th and and Parks. I give Alex a look, and already we start walking hurriedly to our car.

The victim is a white male identified by his wife as a Mr. John Robinson. 40 years old.

“Copy that. Detective Davis and I are on our way.” I tell one of our field officers and end the call.

“Alex, we’ve got a murder down at 34th.” I tell him once we reach the car.

Alex places the siren on the car and turns it on while driving to the crime scene.

I look at his determined face and smile, glad that he’s my partner. It’s been a rough couple of years, but with him guarding my back, we’ve managed to pull out of dangerous situations without a single scrape. There isn’t anyone I’d trust to have my back like Alex. Besides, we’ve been working together for so long that we already get each other’s quirks. With a single look, we’d get the meaning of what we want without uttering a single word. We have mastered the art of silent conversation. We just understand each other that well.