Raindrops rolled down the window of the taxi cab that carried NYPD’s newest homicide detective to his first day on the job. Chase Wolfram drummed his fingers anxiously against his knee, his dark brown eyes flitting over all the businessmen and women outside hustling beneath their umbrellas to get to their own places of work. He had just recently passed his promotional exam, but he hadn’t thought he would get the position this fast. After spending the last five years as a police officer, it felt strange to be heading to an office instead of the station. Of course, it was what he wanted. It had been his ambition from the start to become a detective. To actually [i]do it[/i] though… That was going to take some getting used to. Chase let out his breath in a long exhale, fidgeting absently with the handle of the briefcase at his side. It was mostly empty, filled only with a few papers to prove his credentials and an orange he’d brought along for a snack later. He hoped that over time, those items would be replaced with casework for important jobs. Preferably sooner rather than later. After all the hard work he’d put into his career with the PD to get to this point, it would have been disappointing to be reduced to newbie errand boy to all his senior detectives. He wanted to prove that he was just as qualified to take down killers as they were. Peering out the cab window, he saw the building come into sight up ahead, the place where he was soon going to be spending every day of his foreseeable future. It was also the place where he would be meeting his new partner, Alix Andrews. He didn’t know anything about her aside from her name—it was all the agency had given him—but he was eager to find out who she was. He hoped she was friendly, at the very least. It would make the more gut-wrenching parts of the job bearable if he had someone around whom he felt comfortable talking to. His former partner and lasting friend, Jake Kelly, had been great for that. The other officer knew exactly how to keep their spirits up whenever they had to handle any brutal or disturbing calls. He already knew he was going to miss having him by his side. “We’re here, sir.” Chase blinked, realizing he’d gotten swept up in his thoughts. “Thanks,” he said, passing the driver a ten to cover the ride. “Keep the change.” Grabbing his briefcase, he climbed out of the cab and made a dash for the door. Even though he wasn’t outside for very long, he was still moderately soaked from the heavy downpour before he reached the cover of the lobby. Water dripped from his dark hair onto the white marble floor as he approached the receptionist’s station. The blonde girl behind the desk looked up at him from her computer, “Are you here to see someone?” “Sort of,” Chase ran a hand through his hair, attempting to pull out some of the rainwater. “Chief Martinez said I’m starting today. My name is Wolfram.” “Oh, yes,” the girl turned back to her computer screen, typing something out with rapid precision. “Mr. Wolfram… Mr. Martinez is in his office on the eighth floor.” She unlocked a desk and retrieved a card from inside. “This guest pass will give you clearance in the elevator,” she explained, handing it off to him with a smile. “You’ll be getting your own later today, so just remember to bring it back when you don’t need it anymore.” “I will,” Chase nodded gratefully. “Thank you.” Stepping around the reception station, he made his way over to the elevator at the back end of the lobby. There was a small electronic pad on the wall instead of the usual “Up” button, which he waved his pass in front up. A green light turned on, and the steel doors opened, admitting him inside. As he rode up to the eighth floor, he could feel his heart race with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He’d been waiting to become a detective for so long, it almost felt like a dream that he was really there. It was a big step up from being a regular officer. Half of him was elated that he had been chosen to replace the man who had recently retired from the agency, while another half of him was worried he wasn’t qualified enough to do the job yet. He was only in his mid-twenties, after all. Solving murder cases was a weighty commitment for someone his age. [i]I passed the exam,[/i] Chase reminded himself as the elevator doors slid open again. By NYPD standards, he was fully prepared to handle the responsibility. He couldn’t let his doubts get the best of him. It was just the jitters that came along with getting a new job. He was sure that in a couple weeks, he would feel right at home in the agency. There was nothing to worry about. With that thought in mind, he made his way more confidently down the hall that led to Chief Martinez’s office, eager to find out what he would be doing on his first day as a homicide detective.