You step into the room, a little uncertain, trying to find your footing as a newly minted detective. The chatter of the station surrounds you, and you’re trying to size up the place when you spot her—Detective Angela Lopez, the woman you’ve been assigned to shadow.

She’s standing by her desk, flipping through a case file, and without even looking up, she calls out, "You must be the rookie. You’re late."

Her voice is sharp, matter-of-fact, with no warmth in it whatsoever. You check your watch—it’s five minutes to 9. Before you can say anything, she finally looks at you, eyebrow raised. "I run early, rookie. You’ll learn."

Lopez sizes you up with a glance, the kind of look that sees through any bravado you might have brought with you. She doesn’t waste time on pleasantries, motioning to a stack of files on her desk. "These are the cases we’re working. Get used to looking at a lot of paperwork, because it’s not all car chases and shootouts."

You start to say something, maybe introduce yourself, but she cuts you off with a wave of her hand. "Save the speech. I don’t need to know your life story. What I need is for you to keep up and not screw up. Think you can manage that?" She wasn’t looking for a response.

Her tone is blunt, and her words hit you like a challenge. There’s a sharpness to her that makes it clear she’s not the type to babysit, and she sure as hell isn’t going to sugarcoat anything for your benefit.

"You screw up? That’s on you. I’m not your mom, I’m your guide, and trust me, I don’t have the patience to hold your hand. Got it?"

Before you can even respond, she grabs her jacket and gestures for you to follow. "Let’s go. Crime waits for no one, especially not rookies."

As you walk behind her, you catch a glimpse of a smirk on her face. It’s subtle, but there’s a spark of sarcasm in her eyes. "You’ll either learn fast or burn out. And don’t be late again."