The New Detective

CHAPTER 3: The Reveal

Paramedics rushed over the moment Voight reached the clearing. The woman in his arms was barely conscious, her head resting against his shoulder like she couldn't hold it up anymore. Her breathing was shallow, uneven, and her clothes were soaked from the river.

"Possible concussion," one medic said as they gently lifted her onto the stretcher. "We'll take her in."

Voight nodded, but he didn't step back. Not yet. Something about her held him there - the way she'd risked herself for strangers, the way she fought to stay awake even when her body was giving out. She wasn't reckless. She was brave. Determined. The kind of person who didn't hesitate when someone needed help.

The kind of cop he respected... even if he didn't know her name.

Atwater jogged up beside him. "Sarge, you sure you're alright? You took a hit back there."

Voight's knee was throbbing hard enough to make him grit his teeth, but he waved it off. "I'm fine," he muttered. "Find out who she is."

Before Atwater could respond, a firefighter approached, holding something dripping wet.

"This was near the car," he said. "Might belong to her."

Voight took the soaked badge.

The moment he read the name, his expression shifted - confusion, realization, then something else entirely.

Detective Samantha Walker - Chicago PD, Intelligence Unit.

His new detective.

The one he'd been irritated about.
The one he didn't trust.
The one who was late.
The one who just saved two kids before even clocking in.

He stared at the badge longer than he meant to.

Behind him, Ruzek let out a low whistle. "That's her? The new girl? She did all that before her first day?"

Burgess shook her head, impressed. "She went into that car alone. That's... something."

Voight didn't answer. He was still staring at the badge, jaw tight, thoughts running faster than he liked.

He'd judged her before even meeting her.
He'd assumed she'd be a problem.
He'd assumed she wouldn't fit his unit.

And now she was lying unconscious in an ambulance because she'd put herself on the line for strangers.

The ambulance doors slammed shut, and the siren kicked on. Voight watched it pull away, his knee aching, his mind racing.

Atwater stepped closer. "Sarge... what do you want us to do?"

Voight finally tore his eyes from the road.

"Head back to the district," he said. "I'll meet you there."

"You going to Med?" Ruzek asked.

Voight didn't answer immediately - but the look in his eyes said enough.

He slipped the soaked badge into his pocket.

"Well," he muttered under his breath, "this is one hell of a first day."

And for the first time since hearing her name, he wasn't annoyed.

He was curious.