LUMERA CPD - The Sight

I

Lumera City was always a vibrant place, from the illuminating neons native to the bustling modern era to the enthralling fae fire of days long past. The city was borne on land with a potent affinity for magic unlike any other. Though isolated from its neighbours, Lumera shone with a lustrous light that beckoned those who could and could not see alike to reside within its heart.

Of course, Detective Ava Valentino of the Lumera City Police Department was actively driving outside those city boundaries and into the greater unknown of the vastly manifesting forest before her.

As Ava drove, her car filled with the familiar sound of Chief Volker's ringtone playing through the speakers. Somehow,  after everything, there was something so sickly comforting in her return to the routine of it all.

Ava promptly pressed the button on her steering wheel to answer the call, "Talk to me, chief."

"Hey Valentino, you almost at the scene?" Volker had asked, although it was evident in the tone of his voice that he had intended to ask something else.

"I'll be right there; I'll meet you at the scene in five."

"That's good. Good," His voice hesitated for a moment over the phone, "Listen, Valentino, I really am sorry to have you drag you out to a crime scene on your first day back. Especially with everything that's happened lately. But I need you to know you're one of my best, alright?"

Ava's grip tightened on the steering wheel as she listened to Chief Volker's words. It was a bittersweet affirmation; they both knew it. "Thank you, Chief. I'll be bringing my best," Volker huffed out, "Like you always do." she couldn't help but give up a small smile at that; she imagined he did too.

Ava drove in silence for the rest of the car ride until she reached the crime scene. She promptly stepped out of the car and found Chief Volker, which wasn't particularly difficult to do, considering he was nearly half a head taller than anyone else at the crime scene. He was talking with a short, athletic woman sporting a jet-black bob that Ava would be able to recognise from a mile away. 

"Hey, Partner, good to have you back!" Mindy Nakamura greeted as she gracefully tucked back a strand of silky hair behind her ear.  

Volker looked between the two women and felt a sneaking suspicion that it might be in his best interest to step away. "Right, I'll let Nakamura explain the gist. Call me if you have any updates, ladies."

Once he had stepped away, Mindy turned her head to face her at a speed one might call superhuman.

"It's been so long since I saw you, How are you doing?" Ava asked. 

"I'm doing alright, babes, but let me tell you how nice it is to finally have another adult in this police force. The literal day after you left, Phelps spilled Oreo milkshakes on a crime scene. On two separate occasions."

Once Mindy has started on something, it would be an extraordinary feat to get her to stop. Let alone now. After not having seen her over the past few months, Mindy would be determined to catch her up to speed on absolutely everything. 

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