Evelyn's dream of securing a scholarship to America's top ballet school shattered when her mother was brutally murdered during her teenage years. Determined to make a difference, she became a detective, ready to take on the world. Assigned to invest...
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The morning air was crisp, with a dry chill sweeping through the streets of Houston. It was the 26th of December, and the city felt unusually quiet, the kind of stillness that only comes in the aftermath of holiday celebrations. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft golden shine across the concrete and glass skyline. For Evelyn, this time of a the day was magical, even if it meant going to work. A few cars passed by, their tires humming on the cool pavement, breaking the otherwise gentle silence of a winter morning.
Inside one of the apartment buildings, a woman in her mid-twenties sat by the window, her brown hair pulled into a high bun and her tired green eyes staring out at the city slowly waking up. The glass was slightly fogged from the contrast between the warm indoor air and the chill outside. She could already imagine how the cool breeze would sting her cheeks once she finally forced herself out of the warm apartment. Evelyn held a cup of coffee in her hands, trying to shake the remnants of sleep from her mind. She'd been up late the night before, partly celebrating Christmas with her father, partly working. Evelyn was one of those who never stop working, out of boredom or duty she herself didn't know. Turning away from the window, she leaned on the kitchen counter and scanned the morning paper. Her uniform was spotless, every seam in place, a quiet testament to her discipline. Around her neck hung a detective badge on a chain.
Her apartment was just as pristine as her appearance, every item in its place. The sleek, modern kitchen opened into a small dining and living space. It wasn't large, but it was hers. Her bedroom held a neatly made queen-sized bed with baby blue bedding, and the bathroom had been freshly cleaned, again. Another nightmare had pulled her from sleep, just like so many times before. Since her mother's murder, they had become a regular occurrence, and every time they struck, she coped by cleaning. Her father had gently urged her to seek help, but Evelyn, as always, was too stubborn to admit that the dreams were affecting her more than she let on.
She jumped when her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her out of her focused reading. Her heart beat a little faster until she saw the sender's name and smiled faintly. It was her former partner from the force. James Laswell had been her first partner when she became a police officer, and even though she'd recently been promoted to detective, they still thought of each other as partners.
You up hun?:)
Evelyn couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. James was about to become a father, to twins, and his wife Emma was as warm and kind as ever. Evelyn remembered how Emma had welcomed her to the force with a homemade apple pie on her very first day, a gesture that had meant more than words could say.
Been for a while partner:)
She typed quickly and hit send. Almost instantly, the three little dots appeared, signaling James was already replying.
