Crossfire

1.

Beyonce Knowles
Federal Bureau Headquarters

October 1st

I walked into the meeting room, clutching the file, a little flustered from being late. I could feel the eyes on me-my reputation preceded me, and it wasn't just my skills that made people uneasy.

As I slid into my seat, the room went silent, and you could feel the tension in the air. I settled in with a serious look on my face. Dealing with a teenager who blows up at everything wasn't exactly a walk in the park. It felt like we were clashing every day.

Raising her on my own wasn't ideal, but what could I do when the other parent wasn't ready to give up their party lifestyle? It was tough, but I had to keep pushing through. For her sake, I had to stay strong and keep trying.

One of my colleagues, Greg, decided it was the perfect moment for a joke.

"Guess it must be that time of the month for Beyoncé, huh?"

I turned slowly, my gaze icy. "If it was, I'd stick my used tampon down your throat. Now shut the fuck up."

The room erupted into awkward laughter.

Kelly, my best friend, gave me a supportive tap on the shoulder, her laughter a welcome sound.

Angela Bassett, our sergeant, was flipping through the case files with a stern expression. She'd been working tirelessly on one case-Trevonte Rhodes, New York's biggest kingpin.

Angela's voice cut through the room as she spoke about him.

"Alright, team, we need to talk about Trevonte Rhodes. This guy's been slipping through our fingers for years. He controls the entire underground network in New York, and his reach is vast. We've managed to get close a few times, but each time, he's managed to evade capture. We can't let him outsmart us again."

Angela paused, her gaze settling on me. "Beyoncé, you've shown time and again that you're one of the best. We're reassigning this case to you. You'll be leading the effort to bring Rhodes down. Congratulations."

The weight of her words settled over me, a mix of pride and pressure. This was my chance to finally make a dent in the criminal empire that had eluded us for so long.

I nodded, determined. "I won't let you down, Angela."

With a renewed sense of purpose, I flipped open the file, ready to dive into the case. Trevonte Rhodes wouldn't know what hit him.

As I settled into my seat, Greg piped up, "You really think she can handle this? A woman?"

Angela turned to him, her eyes narrowed. "I must ask Greg, how do you feel about me as your boss, since I am a woman?"

Greg hesitated for a moment before replying, "Well, yes, but you're the boss, and you're doing a good job."

Angela's gaze didn't waver. "Okay, then. Same goes for Beyoncé. She's more than capable, show respect."