The Chicago PD bullpen buzzed with its usual 6 AM chaos - phones ringing, keyboards clacking, and the perpetual smell of burnt coffee that no amount of air freshener could mask. Detective Maya Santos sat at her desk reviewing case files, already two hours into what would likely be a twelve-hour day.

Her phone lit up with a text from her sister Carmen: "Sofia ate all her breakfast and remembered her library book. She says tell Mama Maya to catch all the bad guys today."

Maya smiled - the first genuine one of the morning. Sofia's innocent faith that her mom could fix everything was both heartwarming and terrifying. At six years old, Sofia still believed in clear-cut good guys and bad guys, that justice always won, and that her mama was invincible.

If only it were that simple.

"Santos, you got a body on the South Side," Sergeant Rodriguez called from across the bullpen. "Looks like domestic turned fatal."

Maya grabbed her jacket and badge. Another case where someone didn't listen to the warning signs, didn't get out when they could have. She'd seen it dozens of times - the same patterns, the same escalation, the same tragic ending that could have been prevented if people had just paid attention to who they were really dealing with.

Her phone buzzed again - a notification from the family court app. Marcus's lawyer had filed another motion, probably requesting increased visitation or questioning her "fitness as a mother" because she worked late shifts. The man who couldn't remember Sofia's birthday was suddenly concerned about parenting time.

Maya deleted the notification without reading the details. Carmen would handle school pickup if needed, and Maya's lawyer could deal with Marcus's latest manipulation attempt. Right now, she had real work to do - a victim who deserved justice and a family who needed answers.

She clipped her holster to her belt and headed for the door. The South Side scene would probably take most of the morning, but if she worked efficiently, she could still make it to Sofia's school play at 3 PM. She'd promised, and unlike some people, Maya Santos kept her word.

The elevator doors closed, and Maya steeled herself for another day of seeing the worst in people while fighting to protect the best - one case, one victim, one small victory at a time.