She didn’t like sunrises; not because they weren’t beautiful, but because they always mocked Cori with reminding her that she was up far too late, again. Maybe it was just the bitter edge she seemed to take with all things; or the rays of pink that seemed to scald her eyes and make them itch and burn more than they already were? A hand lifted to rub over closed eye lids while she breathed a sigh, hoping that would displace some of the stress like those internet chain letters claimed it did.<br/><br/>Counting  up or down only made her feel like a time-bomb. There was no sandy, tropical beach that she could imagine herself in, because the sand reminded her of the war and a place she swore she’d never go back to. Cori didn’t have any friends; excluding Randall, of course, but her partner had over twenty years on her, and their generation gap could be felt like the rays of the sun on her face. He was book smart, caring, a wonderful father, she was sarcastic and weathered, and an orphan who would smother him in an instant if he tried to extend any sort of excessive kindness. They worked well together, trusted one another… but the moment Cori’s shift was over, she shut him and everyone else out.<br/><br/>“For not liking kids, you’re certainly taking this hard.”<br/><br/>Cori tried pinching the bridge of her nose, apparently there was a pressure point located there that was supposed to relieve tension but she was considering the fact that she didn’t come with one. Her reply was a husky murmur, her usual approach to things. “The kids are dead, old man. Nothing we can do about them. It’s the ones behind this mess that I want.”<br/><br/>Her partner shifted in his seat behind the driver’s wheel, the leather creaking under his dark slacks. It wasn’t until the awkward silence was settling in, that Cori realized that Randall might have taken her words a little more darkly than she intended, and so sighed again in an attempt to release the building steam. “You worried about your kids?”<br/><br/>There was silence for a moment, before a tightening of his jaw and a curt nod. Cori licked her lips and looked out the windshield before making her reply. “Evan is… 12? And Alice is 7, right?” Randall remained quiet, and since he made no corrections she went on. “They’ll be fine, Randall. If I thought otherwise –my liking kids or not- I’d suggest you have your wife take them out of the state for a while to visit your parents in Florida.”<br/><br/>“How did you know my parents were in Florida?”<br/><br/>“I’ve been to your house; I’ve seen the pictures. Every year you go to Disneyworld and become those families they show on the TV commercials; and you’ve a picture of you and your father wearing Goofy hats at your desk.”<br/><br/>Randall quirked a brow.<br/><br/>Almost bored now, though thankful the tension was leaving her partner’s frame, she eased back in her seat and drummed her short nails against the armrest. “Oh come on, who doesn’t retire in Florida these days? Your father was Navy, right?”<br/><br/>“Right… stationed in Washington after his tours.”<br/><br/>“Then he went to Florida where the weather is nice and the crocodiles produce enough of a thrill for him to feel young again. I’ve been to Washington; old people don’t like to live there. Apparently the wet makes their bones ache.”<br/><br/>A slow grin spread across Randall’s face as they turned off of Parker and headed East on Union, towards downtown. Small businesses made way for office buildings and the financial district, where the precinct was neatly tucked away among the cluster of buildings, looking like any generic city police head quarters. They pulled up in the front, car still idling, where Cori hoped out before the engine could shut off. With a tired stretch, she swallowed the urge to yawn and adjusted the strap of her shoulder holster, hidden beneath her coat. “Go home. Get some sleep: Evan has a soccer game today.” She closed the door around his reply, burying the words with the slamming of the door. Pivoting on the ball of her foot, Cori jogged up the steps of the precinct and went inside, making her way to the fourth floor and the labyrinth of desks, before eventually finding and settling into hers.