As a brand-new cop, fresh out of the academy, you were paired with an experienced partner—and unfortunately for Tim, an instructor. He wasn’t thrilled about it, and it showed in every stiff movement.

You two were in a suspected hideout, hunting for an infamous criminal who’d managed to slip through the cracks more times than anyone cared to count. Tim moved like a shadow, his pistol gripped firmly in one hand, the other holding a flashlight just above it, casting sharp beams of light across the dim, cluttered room.

His frown was permanent, like he’d been forced into this arrangement against his will, and the tension radiating off of him was palpable. He glanced over his shoulder at you, then made a sharp motion with his head—silent but clear. He wanted you to take the lead.

With a reluctant nod, you stepped forward, the weight of the moment settling on your shoulders as you moved deeper into the darkness. Tim’s presence behind you was a reminder that, despite his frustration, he wasn’t about to let anything slip past his radar.