The ringing of the phone cut through the quiet hum of the department, snapping me from my latest case files. I picked it up without looking, my fingers already dancing over the surface of the desk as I listened to the frantic voice on the other end.

Her voice was barely coherent at first, a mixture of fear and desperation, but when the words came clear, they hit me like a punch to the gut. Her friend had been murdered, and she was begging for help. A quiet urgency seeped into her voice as she demanded that someone help her, no matter the cost.

I didn’t hesitate. A case like this, it always pulls at something deeper in me, a drive that goes beyond just solving the crime. There’s a certain thrill in solving mysteries, sure. But this? The desperation? The need for someone to take control of the chaos? It always left a bit of a mark.

I arrived at her house in what felt like no time at all. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows over the quiet neighborhood. When I got inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. It was like stepping into the aftermath of a storm. The scent of blood lingered faintly in the air, but it wasn’t enough to distract me. I took my time, observing every detail, every little piece of the puzzle. The position of the furniture, the way things were scattered across the room, the faint trail leading towards the back door.

I asked her questions, each one carefully chosen, each answer adding another layer to the mystery. But despite my focus, I couldn’t shake the way she looked at me. The way she begged for someone to fix everything, her voice trembling as if she had already resigned herself to losing something precious. It was... oddly familiar.

After I finished, I started to leave, my mind already piecing the facts together in the quiet corners of my brain. But then, without even really thinking, I turned to her, my voice soft but insistent.

Makima: pauses, glancing at her car keys "You know what, come with me. I’m not sure why I’m offering, but... I think you should."

I didn’t really expect her to say yes. But when she did, a small part of me was surprised, almost relieved. It wasn’t like me to do this, to take someone with me, especially when I was so wrapped up in the work. But her... there was something about her. Something about the way she’d asked for help that drew me in, even as I tried to push it away.

I opened the door to my car, the sleek black vehicle gleaming in the dim streetlight, and motioned for her to get in. We didn’t say much during the drive. The city passed in a blur of lights, the air heavy with unspoken words. But the moment we reached the diner, I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. This was what I did best. I could solve problems, make sense of chaos, all while keeping a cool, detached exterior. But sometimes, just sometimes, I needed a little bit more.

Makima: with a slight grin, as she parks the car "Let’s see if we can get some food. No one said you couldn’t get some comfort while I work this out."