The first thing Daniel Carter noticed was the folder.
It was thick, dark blue, and carried under the left arm of a woman who had just walked through the glass entrance of the Westbridge Police Department.
The second thing he noticed was that she wasn't wearing the expression of someone who needed permission to be there.
She walked steadily across the bullpen, her polished black shoes clicking against the gray tile floor. Her navy uniform was immaculate. Silver rank insignia rested on her shoulders, and a metallic badge caught the harsh fluorescent lighting overhead.
Her short black bob framed a composed face. She appeared to be in her mid-forties, with a calmness that seemed almost out of place in the noisy precinct.
Daniel leaned back in his chair.
He was thirty-two, athletic, and confident in the way of someone who had spent years being told he was good at his job. His uniform shirt was slightly wrinkled, and his body camera was mounted prominently on his chest.
He looked at her, then at the folder.
A sarcastic smile appeared.
"Can I help you?"
The woman stopped.
"Good morning, Officer."
Daniel glanced toward the hallway.
"Visitors usually check in at the front desk."
"I'm not a visitor."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
She didn't answer the sarcasm.
"I need to get inside."
Daniel looked toward the office behind him. It was a large corner office with glass walls, a dark wooden desk, and a silver nameplate that still carried the name of the previous precinct commander.
He chuckled.
"That office isn't yours."
The woman turned her head slightly, studying him.
"Are you sure?"
Daniel folded his arms.
"Pretty sure. I've worked here for six years. I know who's supposed to be in that office."
She took one measured step forward.
"Then perhaps you've missed an important announcement."
"What announcement?"
She placed the folder on the counter beside him.
"I'm the one in charge here now."
For a moment, Daniel simply stared at her.
Then he laughed.
Not a nervous laugh. Not a polite one.
A loud, dismissive laugh that made two officers at the nearby desks look up.
"You're the boss?"
"That's correct."
He shook his head.
"Look, ma'am, I don't know who sent you, but this isn't the place to walk in and start making demands."
Her expression remained unchanged.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"You've decided I don't have authority before you've even checked my credentials."
Daniel shrugged.
"I've got procedures to follow."
"Excellent. Then follow them."
She opened the folder and removed a document bearing the department's official seal.
Daniel barely glanced at it.
"Could've printed that anywhere."
One of the nearby officers, a young woman named Emily Brooks, stopped typing.
She recognized the insignia on the document.
Her eyes widened.
"Officer Carter..."
Daniel ignored her.
The woman slid the document closer.
"Read the appointment order."
"I don't need to."
"That's unfortunate."
She retrieved the document and placed it back inside the folder.
Then she looked directly into his eyes.
"My name is Captain Renee Mitchell. Effective this morning, I am the commanding officer of this precinct."
Daniel's smile weakened.
"Captain?"
"Yes. It's me."
He looked at her shoulder insignia again.
For the first time, he seemed to notice the silver bars.
But instead of apologizing, he straightened in his chair.
"Well, nobody told me."
"That sounds like an internal communication issue."
She turned toward the office.
Daniel stood abruptly.
"Hold on."
Renee stopped.
"What is it, Officer Carter?"
He pointed toward the office.
"You can't just walk in there and start changing things."
She slowly turned around.
"Why not?"
"Because this department has a chain of command."
A faint smile touched her face.
"You're absolutely right."
Daniel looked satisfied.
"Exactly."
She took another step toward him.
"And I am now at the top of yours."
The bullpen fell silent.
Nobody laughed this time.
Renee picked up her folder.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a department to run."
Daniel watched her walk away and he muttered under his breath.
"This should be interesting."
Emily heard him.
She also noticed something Daniel hadn't.
Captain Mitchell, she hadn't looked surprised by his behavior.
She had looked disappointed.
And that was somehow much worse.