Dets

1.

The young, fresh-faced woman walked into the detectives’ squad room at the 13th Precinct, accompanied by Captain Deakins.

He introduced her to the two detectives in the room.

One was Coley Stall, twenty‑nine, tall, calm, and a good‑looking young man.

The other was William Ford, thirty, tall, well‑built and handsome, with an air of absolute self‑confidence.

“Gentlemen, meet your new leader. This is Alex Harris. She just graduated from the academy, and she’ll be in charge of your team. Please support and follow Detective Harris.”

The young woman was beautiful and lovely. Her eyes were a pure, gentle light blue, and her hair was silky blond.

“Hi, guys. I’m happy to be working with you.”

She smiled sweetly.

Coley smiled gently back at their young leader. But William, his face tight, ignored her and asked Deakins,

“Boss, I think we deserve an explanation. Why do we have to work under a girl like her?”

Deakins looked at William and replied, “There are special circumstances behind this assignment.”

He paused, then continued,

“Detective Harris is a very capable rookie. She graduated from the academy at the top of her class.”

William glanced at Harris with his dark blue eyes. In that moment, he fell for her. Even though he was dissatisfied, a part of him was glad to be working with her.

“I still think she’s too young to lead detectives older than her. I don’t want to babysit her.”

William turned toward her. “Girl, you’re barely twenty‑three, right?”

Her fair face flushed. She shook her head modestly.

“I skipped a grade, so I’ll be twenty‑one on my next birthday.”

William was a bit stunned, but quickly shot back, “She can’t do the job. This pretty, doll‑like model belongs in Public Relations.”

Deakins spoke in a stern tone. “I disagree, and I’ve already decided that Harris is the head of this team.”

After a short silence, Alex said, “Detectives, I’m confident in myself, and I’ll do my best to work well with you. Please be nice to me.”

Detective Coley gave her a warm round of applause.

“Detective Harris, I’m happy to work with you.”

He reached out his hand to her.

“Thank you.”

Alex smiled in relief and took his hand. Then she offered her hand to William, who was standing next to Coley. William started to reach out to her, but pulled his hand back. Her face fell.

Coley noticed her confusion and stepped in smoothly.

“Ms. Harris, may I call you Alex?”

He was trying to lighten the mood.

“Oh, yes. May I call you Coley?”

“Of course, Alex.”

Coley grabbed William by the arm and pulled him toward her.

“This guy is William Ford. Alex, call him Willie.”

She smiled and nodded. William shoved Coley aside.

“Okay, men,” Deakins called out. “Coley, show her the ropes.”

“Yep, Captain.”

Then Deakins turned to William.

“William, take her with you.”

William stayed uncomfortably silent.

“Okay, William?” Deakins repeated.

“…Okay.”

After a pause, William nodded.

2.

During the drive to their first witness interview, William watched the rearview mirror, which reflected Alex Harris's exquisite young face. She was fair and lovely.

“The witness we're meeting lives in a high-crime neighborhood,” he explained. “We've had a lot of drug and robbery activity there this month.”

Alex jotted the information down in her memo pad.

“I heard much of the recent violence is drug-related,” she said quietly.

William nodded. “Yeah, a lot of people around here are struggling with addiction…” He let his voice trail off and changed the subject.

“By the way, kid… why did you want to become a detective?”

“I…” She stammered shyly. “My adoptive father is a former detective. He did a lot for me. So I hope I can give something back…”

Her answer was very simple.

William kept driving. After about half an hour, he pulled into the parking lot of a small diner.

“Let’s get out of the car. We’re going to have lunch.” William checked the time on his wristwatch as he spoke.

Alex nodded and got out of the car.

They walked side by side toward the entrance of the diner. She was of medium height with a slim figure, reaching about to William's shoulder.

William rested his hand on her arm without thinking, then noticed it and quickly pulled it away.

“Hello.” As he walked into the diner, William greeted the middle‑aged owner.

“Detective Ford, how’s it going?”

“I’ll have the usual, boss.”

The owner nodded, then jerked his chin toward Alex.

“Detective, this young lady…?”

“This is Detective Alex Harris, my new boss.”

The owner’s expression shifted slightly. “Well, this is surprising…”

He stared at her for a moment, then seemed to think better of it. “All right then, may I take your order?”

Alex looked over the menu, thought for a moment, then asked politely, “I’d like to have the same as Detective Ford, please.”

The owner nodded, turned toward the grill, and began to cook. Before long, two warm plates were set down in front of them.

“Thank you,” Alex said with a gentle smile.

Her fresh, warm smile made the owner smile back without even thinking.

“Anytime,” he replied.

The two of them ate their lunch in silence. After finishing her meal, Alex thanked William.

“Detective, thank you for bringing me to such a nice place.”

William shrugged and replied, “Don’t worry about it. I just wanted to stop by.”

He grabbed the bill for both of them, reached into his wallet, pulled out some bills, and laid them on the counter.

Alex tried to pay for her own meal, but William blocked her hand.

“It’s my treat.”

Alex thanked him, looking slightly apologetic.

“All right, let’s get back to work.”

As they were heading toward the entrance, two boys suddenly burst into the shop and shouted, “Hey! Give us the money!”

The two robbers were holding guns, pointing them at the cash register.

“Hands up! Over your heads!”

The owner raised his hands and slowly stepped back from the register.

“Hey! Hurry up and open the register! Put the money on the counter!” one of the excited boys yelled, firing a shot into the counter.

“One wrong move and you’re dead!”

William’s hand went to his gun. He drew it quietly, glanced at Alex beside him, then touched her shoulder and guided her toward the door.

But Alex didn’t move. She stood frozen.

“Alex…”

“Hey! What are you two whispering about?!” one of the robbers shouted.

At that moment, her light‑blue eyes began to sparkle.

Then Alex started walking toward them.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

The two robbers snatched up their guns and pointed them at Alex at the same time.

But Alex didn’t stop.

William lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her to shield her.

One of the robbers fired at her.

William threw himself to the floor with her in his arms, watching the bullet fly toward them.

But the speeding bullet suddenly stopped in front of them and hung in the air.

The whole scene became completely motionless.

“What!?”

William stared at what was happening in disbelief.

The bullet dropped to the floor silently.

Then the two robbers were slammed onto the shop floor several times.

After hitting the ground, both were unconscious.

What happened?

William asked himself. His voice was hoarse, and his whole face was ashen.

“Detective William.”

Alex spoke to him calmly.

“The reason Captain Deakins chose me for your team is this power. I’m psychic.”

He was at a loss for words.

And then the scene came back to life.

“So what do we do now?” Alex asked, trying to sound calm.

3..

“Does she have some kind of supernatural power?”

William wondered to himself.

Alex and William had returned to the office, and Alex was now looking over the notes she had written.

William was still staring at her.

“Are you interested in Alex?”

William turned around. Coley was standing there.

“She’s lovely, and she’s especially good‑natured.”

“Me? Are you kidding? She’s just a kid.”

“But she’s your type, I think.”

William glared at him.

“Cool down, man.”

Coley patted him on the shoulder.

“By the way, I’m going to throw her a welcome party. You’d better come.”

William hesitated. He glanced over at Alex again. She was talking with another officer.

William nodded. “Okay, I’m free tonight.”

The welcome party for Alex was held at a stylish restaurant near the office.

Alex looked like she was enjoying herself.

She was chatting with Coley.

William sat on a stool at the counter, staring at Alex.

“Will, are you enjoying yourself?”

Deakins took the seat next to him.

“So‑so.”

William shrugged.

Deakins turned to face him.

“What do you think of her?”

William finished his beer in one gulp.

“I saw it, boss. She told me she’s psychic.”

Deakins hesitated for a moment.

“Willie, she does have a supernatural power, and we decided to make use of her talent.

She went through harsh training until she was able to control it.

William, I want you to help her.”

Before he even realized it, William had walked over to where Coley and Alex were standing.

They were dancing to the chic jazz music in the restaurant.

William put a hand on her shoulder, bringing their dance to a stop.

“Coley, sorry. My turn. I want to dance with her.”

William awkwardly took her hand.

They looked into each other’s faces.

William raised his voice a little as he spoke.

“Let’s dance.”

Her light‑blue eyes were locked on his.

William drew her close, his hand firmly around her soft back.

They swayed to the music without saying a word.

“I wish this music could last forever,” he thought.

After the party ended, Alex thanked them.

“I really appreciate it. I had a great time.”

Coley smiled.

“Our pleasure, Alex. See you tomorrow.”

William stepped up beside her.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Alex blinked her beautiful eyes in confusion.

“Coley, is that okay?”

“If Alex is okay with it, I have no objection,” Coley commented.

Alex still looked puzzled, but she finally agreed.

“Thank you.”

Her apartment was on the seventh floor of a twenty‑story building, small and clean.

In front of her door, William asked,

“Can I come in?”

For a moment, Alex looked hesitant, thinking it over.

William noticed her reaction and laughed.

“Oh, sorry, I’m just kidding.”

Then he bent down to her height.

“I need to chill out. Too many crazy things happened today.”

He gently touched her cheek.

The feel of her cheek under his hand was so smooth.

“But I’ve realized I’m fascinated by you,” he confessed, brushing her cheek with his lips, a little awkwardly.

Alex stared at him in fresh surprise.

“Please call me Alec,” she asked shyly.

“All my close friends call me Alec.”