Lucy Chen sat stiffly in the patrol car's passenger seat, her hands resting tensely on her lap. It had been three weeks since she'd started field training with Officer Angela Lopez, and every day felt like a gauntlet. She wanted to impress Lopez—prove that she was worthy of the badge—but her TO's strictness left no room for error.
"Relax, Boot," Lopez said as they cruised down a quiet residential street. She was calm, as usual, her eyes scanning every corner like a hawk. "You're not going to make it through a shift if you're wound up tighter than a watch spring."
"I'm fine," Lucy lied, straightening in her seat. The truth was, she wasn't fine. Every decision she made felt like it was being watched under a microscope. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed like Lopez always found something to criticize.
"You sure about that?" Lopez asked, giving her a sidelong glance. "Because you look like you're ready to jump out of your skin. You're thinking too much. Policing is about instinct. You have to trust yours."
Lucy swallowed, knowing Lopez was right. She'd spent too much time second-guessing every move, worried about messing up and making a fool of herself. But instinct? That was a lesson she was still learning.
Their radio crackled to life. "Unit 7-Adam-15, we have a 211 in progress at the corner of 5th and Main. Armed suspect. Backup en route."
Lopez's eyes flicked to Lucy. "You ready for this?"
Lucy's heart raced. "Yes, ma'am."
Lopez flipped on the sirens, gunning the engine as they sped toward the scene. Lucy's mind whirled with thoughts of procedure. Approach with caution. Keep a clear line of sight. Don't let the suspect out of your view. Stay alert.
Within minutes, they arrived at a small convenience store. The glass windows were shattered, and people were scattering, running away from the scene. Lopez parked the patrol car and looked at Lucy.
"Stay sharp," she said. "I'll cover the front. You take the side. We don't know if the suspect's still inside."
Lucy's palms were sweaty as she gripped her baton. "Got it."
As Lopez moved swiftly to the front of the store, Lucy darted around to the side alley. Her heart thudded in her chest, every sound amplified—the crunch of glass underfoot, the distant hum of city traffic. She reached the side door and peered inside through a broken window. The suspect, a man in his mid-thirties, was crouched behind the counter, his hands shaking as he fumbled with a pistol.
Lucy took a deep breath. Trust your instinct.
She signaled to Lopez on the radio. "Suspect's inside. He's armed. Looks panicked."
Lopez responded immediately. "Stay in position. I'm coming around."
But Lucy's instincts told her the situation was escalating too fast. The suspect looked like he was about to flee. She had to make a decision—and fast.
Without waiting, Lucy raised her voice, projecting confidence she didn't quite feel. "Police! Drop the weapon and come out with your hands where I can see them!"
The man's head snapped up, his eyes wild. For a second, Lucy thought he might raise the gun, and she tensed, ready for the worst. But then, slowly, he lowered the pistol, placing it on the ground before standing up with his hands in the air.
Lopez appeared behind her just as Lucy was moving in to secure the suspect. "Nice work, Boot," she said, her tone approving for the first time since they'd started working together. "You handled that well."
Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as she cuffed the man, her nerves finally starting to settle. Maybe she was learning to trust her instincts after all.
As they escorted the suspect to the patrol car, Lopez gave Lucy a sideways glance. "Not bad, Chen. You're starting to think like a cop."
Lucy smiled to herself, feeling a flicker of pride. It was just one small victory, but in that moment, it felt like the start of something bigger.
