The morning sun filtered through the blinds of the Tides Police Department, casting stripes of light across the worn linoleum floor. Kyla Martinez adjusted her badge on her belt for the third time, a nervous habit she'd developed during her academy days. At twenty-two, she was one of the youngest officers to graduate top of her class, but that didn't make her first day at the TPD any less nerve-wracking.
"Martinez!" Sergeant Chen's voice boomed across the bullpen. "My office. Now."
Kyla weaved between desks cluttered with case files and cold coffee cups, trying to ignore the curious stares from veteran officers. Chen stood in his doorway, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"You're getting partnered up today," he said, gesturing for her to follow him inside. "Don't make me regret this."
Standing by the window was a tall man with dark hair and an easy smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned as they entered, extending his hand.
"Josh Reeves," he said. "Twenty-three, been here about six months. Looks like we're riding together."
Kyla shook his hand, noting the firm grip and the calluses that suggested he spent time at the gym. "Kyla Martinez. Guess we're partners now."
"Don't screw this up," Chen said flatly, dropping a file on his desk. "There's been a string of burglaries in the Westside district. Nothing major yet, but the captain wants it handled. Start with the latest report—convenience store on Harbor Avenue got hit last night. Owner's waiting for you."
Josh grabbed the file before Kyla could reach for it, already scanning the details as he walked toward the door. She hurried to keep up, grabbing her jacket from her new desk.
"So, Martinez," Josh said as they headed to the parking garage. "What brings you to Tides? Family here?"
"Just me," Kyla replied, sliding into the passenger seat of their patrol car. "Wanted a fresh start. City seemed... interesting."
Josh started the engine, pulling out onto the street. "Interesting is one word for it. Tides has its quirks. Stick with me, you'll figure them out."
The drive to Harbor Avenue took fifteen minutes through morning traffic. The convenience store sat on a corner lot, its windows still intact despite the break-in. A middle-aged man with worried eyes waited outside, wringing his hands.
"Officers, thank God," he said, introducing himself as Mr. Patel. "They took everything from the register, and my security system—completely fried. Just static."
Kyla pulled out her notebook while Josh examined the door. The lock showed signs of tampering, but something felt off. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"How much did they take?" she asked.
"About three hundred dollars. But it's the third store on this block this month. Everyone's scared."
Josh crouched by the door frame, running his finger along a strange scorch mark. "Kyla, come look at this."
She knelt beside him. The mark was too precise to be accidental, almost like a pattern had been burned into the wood.
"Electrical fire?" she suggested.
"Maybe." Josh didn't sound convinced. "Mr. Patel, did you see anything unusual? Hear anything?"
"Just... a strange humming sound before the alarm went off. Then nothing. When I got here, the door was open, and they were gone."
They spent another hour documenting the scene and reviewing what little footage existed before the system went dark. In the car, Josh tossed the file into Kyla's lap.
"Your thoughts?"
"Professional," Kyla said. "They knew what they were doing. In and out fast, disabled the security. But that burn mark..."
"Yeah." Josh pulled back into traffic. "That's new."
The radio crackled to life. "All units, we have a 211 in progress, jewelry store on Mason Street. Suspects still on scene."
Josh's hand was already reaching for the siren. "That's two blocks from here. Hold on."
The patrol car surged forward, lights flashing. Kyla's heart hammered as they rounded the corner, spotting two figures in black hoodies sprinting from the store, bags in hand.
"Police! Stop!" Josh shouted, already out of the car.
The chase was on. Kyla's training kicked in as she pursued the suspect on the left, her legs pumping, dodging pedestrians and newspaper stands. The suspect was fast, but she was faster. She tackled him into an alley, wrestling him to the ground as Josh caught up with the second burglar.
"Not bad for your first day," Josh said later, once both suspects were cuffed and in the back of the car. He was slightly out of breath, but grinning. "You can actually run."
Kyla couldn't help but smile back. "You're not too slow yourself, Reeves."
"Call me Josh. We're partners now."
"Kyla," she replied.
Back at the station, they processed the suspects—two local troublemakers with petty records. Nothing that explained the sophisticated break-ins from before. As Kyla finished her paperwork, Josh appeared with two cups of terrible station coffee.
"First day survival kit," he said, handing her one. "Tomorrow we'll tackle the real cases. That Harbor Avenue thing isn't sitting right with me."
Kyla took a sip, grimacing at the taste. "Me neither. Something about that burn mark..."
"We'll figure it out." Josh raised his cup in a mock toast. "Welcome to Tides, partner. Things are about to get interesting."
Kyla clinked her cup against his, unaware of just how prophetic those words would be. Outside the station windows, the city of Tides stretched toward the horizon, She had a strange feeling something was going to happen soon but she shrugged it off.