April 16, 1994
Following a Saturday night dance party at Paisley Park, a human body is found by the security team. It looks like foul play, requiring the new Minneapolis homicide detective, Louise Brannigan on the case.
PP is officially a crime sce...
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April 17, 1994
2 a.m.
**Louise POV**
For the seventh night in a row, here I sit..filling out an obscene amount of official forms and documents instead of being where I crave...no need to be. Out in the thick of the action.
It's funny how life works out isn't it? Just two short weeks ago, I was the lead patrol officer for Detroit's notorious homicide division. I loved my job...and damn it, I was good at it!
Now don't get me wrong...Detroit's status as the murder capital of North America is no joke. It takes a special sort of person to handle seeing that level of crime day in and day out. I routinely worked three or four crime scenes at a time, something that could quickly overwhelm you if you let it.
I'd seen many good officers come and go, cracking under the pressure the stench of death can bring. But not me...rather than letting it break me, I thrive under the pressure. I love a good challenge...and putting the puzzle pieces together to make sense out of chaos fills me with pride and satisfaction; however bringing justice and some measure of peace to the victims and their loved ones is the real prize.
Unfortunately after five years as a patrol officer, the force had no more to offer me and I was ready for a new challenge.
I'd tried biding my time...waiting for the aging homicide detective, Tom, to retire. I had my eyes on his job, and everyone assured me I was a shoe in to succeed him...at least until Detective Jones came along.
As soon as he arrived fresh from the LAPD, it was clear my glory days with the Detroit police force were over. He was older, more experienced, and ruthless.
I stood no chance and I knew it...so when my partner, Officer Herrera informed me they were looking for a new homicide detective in Minneapolis, I decided to throw my hat in the ring.
Everyone on the force was very supportive of the move...in fact, I can still hear their voices now.
You'll be their first female homicide detective, they said. You'll be a trailblazer! Some trailblazer. I'm practically chained to this desk!
When I first heard I got the job, I was elated. Even the short two weeks’ notice I’d had to move was no big deal, as ever since I graduated from the academy seven years ago, my life has been little but work, work, and more work. There was no time for romance and little time for friends, but my life was so full that I never really noticed. Hell, I didn’t even have a cat waiting at home for me.
I looked at this job as a chance at a new beginning. A chance to start over on my own terms. I was full of anticipation and hope...eagerly awaiting the new challenges it would bring.
However after just one week on the job, I can't help but wonder if I'd made the biggest mistake of my professional career. If I don't see some action soon, I swear I'm going to scream!
