Lucy Chen-Secret Life part 2

Chapter 10: Shadows from the Past

Mid-Wilshire Station—The Following Morning

Lucy arrives at the station, feeling refreshed after spending a peaceful evening with Grace. She's finally beginning to settle into the balance between work and home, and she walks through the bullpen with a confidence that's grown over the past few days.

The buzz of early-morning chatter fills the room, everyone sharing bits of news over coffee before roll call. Lucy grabs a cup, joining her team near the whiteboard where Sergeant Grey is about to go over the day's assignments. She notices the intensity of the conversations around her, everyone animatedly discussing the same topic.

Angela Lopez: (whispering to Tim and Nyla, eyes wide)
"Did you hear about the drug bust last night? They got this guy who's connected to a huge ring—someone high up, apparently."

Lucy raises an eyebrow as she takes a sip of her coffee. She hasn't heard much about the bust but listens as Nyla nods with a knowing smirk.

Nyla Harper:
"Yeah, word is he's not just any dealer. He's tied to some heavy players on the East Coast. This could be big."

The rest of the team exchanges intrigued looks. Lucy tries to keep her attention on the conversation, but her mind wanders, her instincts alerting her that this case could be more complex than the usual busts. She can't quite shake the feeling that something about this hits a little too close to home.

After roll call, Sergeant Grey finishes giving everyone their assignments, and the officers head out in pairs, talking about the latest bust as they go. Tim catches up to Lucy, filling her in on a few details he picked up.

Tim Bradford:
"They're saying he's a ghost—someone who disappeared years ago. No one thought he'd resurface, but here he is."

Lucy freezes mid-step, her heart skipping a beat. She suddenly feels light-headed, memories she's tried to bury surfacing with a brutal clarity. Could it be... him? Her ex-husband, the man she left behind to build a life free from fear, cruelty, and abuse? She shakes her head, trying to convince herself it's impossible. After all these years...

But as Tim continues talking, she hears more pieces fall into place, each detail chipping away at her denial.

Tim Bradford: (continuing, noticing her distraction)
"You okay, Chen? You seem a little out of it."

Lucy Chen: (forcing a nod, swallowing hard)
"Yeah, just a lot on my mind. I'm fine."

But she isn't fine. She can feel the walls closing in, her carefully constructed life starting to crack under the weight of this new threat.

Throughout the morning, Lucy tries to push her concerns aside, focusing on her tasks and keeping a calm exterior. But the whispers around her keep pulling her back to thoughts of him—the man she thought she'd left behind. She remembers the years of hiding, the fear that one day he might come back to find her. Her pulse quickens each time she hears more details about the suspect's background, and by the time lunch rolls around, she's barely holding it together.

Angela, noticing Lucy's uncharacteristic quietness, sits down beside her in the break room.

Angela Lopez:
"Lucy, are you sure everything's okay? You've been off today."

Lucy Chen: (forcing a small smile)
"Just didn't sleep well, I guess."

But Angela isn't buying it, and neither is Nyla, who joins them at the table, her perceptive gaze lingering on Lucy.

Nyla Harper:
"Chen, you know you don't have to pretend with us. If something's bothering you, we're here."

Lucy opens her mouth to respond, but she's interrupted by Sergeant Grey's voice on the intercom.

Sergeant Grey:
"All officers, please report to the bullpen immediately for a briefing."

The three of them exchange looks before making their way back to the bullpen, joining the rest of the team around Grey, who looks uncharacteristically grim. The buzz from the morning has shifted into a somber tension.

Sergeant Grey: (addressing the room)
"As many of you know, last night's drug bust turned up a key suspect who we believe is part of a larger trafficking ring. This man, John Royce, has been off the grid for nearly seven years."

At the mention of the name, Lucy's blood runs cold. Royce. The name she hasn't spoken or thought of in years. The name that once struck fear in her heart every time she heard it. She tightens her grip on the edge of her desk, struggling to keep her emotions in check as Grey continues.

Sergeant Grey:
"He was tracked down in an abandoned warehouse on the Eastside, a known drug hub. He's being held now and is set for interrogation later today. I'll need two officers to assist with the questioning."

The room goes silent as everyone absorbs the news. Lucy feels the stares of her colleagues on her, their curious glances and murmurs swirling around her like a thick fog. She's barely able to keep her composure when Tim, always watchful, leans closer.

Tim Bradford: (in a low voice)
"Chen, you sure you're good?"

Lucy takes a deep, shaky breath. This is it—the moment she's feared since the day she left him. She can't run anymore, can't hide behind a façade. But she also knows she's not the same person she was back then. She has a life, a daughter, a team who cares about her. And they deserve the truth.

Lucy Chen: (barely above a whisper)
"I... I know him."

Tim's eyes widen slightly, but he doesn't press, sensing the weight of her words.

Tim Bradford: (softly)
"We'll handle this together, okay? You don't have to face this alone."

Lucy nods, feeling a strange mixture of fear and relief. The secret is out, and though the battle ahead terrifies her, she knows she has allies by her side. As she steels herself for the inevitable confrontation, she realizes that facing her past might be the only way to truly move forward.