1 Chapter One: Chicago's Finest

l've been a detective with the Chicago Police Department for a year now. And right now, there's a situation to deal with.

Masked man:Stay back pigs! Or this pretty one gets it!

A masked man said holding a hostage at gunpoint inside an electronics store.

Lt. Damon: Okay, officers, let's back up and put our weapons down.

The other police officers followed Lieutenant Damon's orders and dropped back. l was crouched behind the store's back window, ready to take the masked man by surprise.

Lt. Damon: You said your name is Bob, right? I'm Lieutenant Damon and I'm here to help you.

Masked man: Release my friends from prison! Do it and I'll let her go!

Lt. Damon: We're on it, Bob. Also, this might sound like a silly question, but, l need to know if your gun is loaded.

This is it... l thought. 'loaded'is my cue to strike! I dived through the window and landed behind him before he could even react. l had the upper hand now. l remembered what my Sensei taught me in martial arts class. l swept my foot across his face knocking the gun out of his hand in the process.

Masked man: GAHHH!!! My nose!!

The other officers quickly handcuffed Bob and took him away.

Lt. Damon: Well done, Detective Sophia.

Sophia: You set the playing field, Lieutenant, l only followed your lead.

As l left the crime scene, l was startled by a camera flash. The journalists were there already!! I thought. Damon gave me a look of concern. He was worried about my recent fame.

Lt. Damon:Why don't you take the night off, Sophia? Maybe lay low from the media frenzy.

Sophia: Thanks, Lieutenant. l think l will. But... what will l even do with all the free time?

Lt. Damon:Why don't you spend some time with your boyfriend, perhaps? Hmm... l haven't seen much of Justin lately. But, then again things had been weird, too, with him. l thought. Damon sensed my hesitation. He removed a set of keys from his pocket and held them out for me.

Lt. Damon: Would it tempt you to go home if l handed you the keys to my brand new sports car?

Sophia: Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm good with my old sedan.

As l was driving, I received a text. l parked the car to the side and checked my phone.

Mindy:Where are you!!??

Oh no! I completely forgot about Mindy's bachelorette party! I remembered.

Sophia:On my way! Almost there!

Mindy: Don't lie to me, Sophia. You forgot, didn't you?

Sophia:There was a hostage situation at work...

Mindy:There is always some situation with you... Why do I even bother?

Sophia:I am on my way, Mindy, honestly!

Mindy: Fine, I'll yell at you when you get here, then! But get here already!

l swerved my car around and headed to Mindy's villa. As soon as I entered Mindy's villa, the girls put a sash around me that said 'bride patrol'

Mindy:I can't believe my best friend almost forgot my bachelorette.

Sophia: Forgot? I'm just fashionably late!

Mindy: Don't think you can fool me with such flimsy excuses, Ms. Detective!

Sophia: Fine, fine! But, allow me to make it up to you! Come on...!

Mindy:What can you possibly do to make it up for this? It better be something good...!

I folded my arms and jumped to the center of the room and started imitating a chicken.

Mindy:OH MY GOD, hahaha!! You're pecking like an actual chicken!! I love it!!!

Phew! Thank God Mindy loves this nonsense! I thought. Mindy laughed so loud at my antics that her drink squirted out from her nose.

Mindy: Sophia! That was sensational!

Sophia:So,am I forgiven then?

Mindy: Absolutely! Now let's partyyy!!

l partied hard for the rest of the night and got home very late. Wow, it's already past midnight! Thankfully,l have the day off tomorrow! I thought to myself.l didn't notice Justin watching me as l stumbled into bed. Before he could say anything, I'm already asleep. The next day,l woke up groggy as Justin shook me awake.

Justin: Good morning, sleepyhead! I ordered breakfast from Bellagio's. You've always wanted to try their food, right?

l jumped out of the bed and rushed to the kitchen where a mouth watering breakfast awaited me. Justin followed me.

Sophia: I've been dreaming about this for daaaaays!!

Laid out on the counter was an incredible meal of Eggs Benedict, buttery croissants and some heavenly dark roasted coffee.

Sophia:And, there's a chocolate mousse...and a berry parfait!I am in heaven!

Justin:A breakfast fit for a Queen! Because that's who you are! What do you say we spend the rest of the day in bed?

I thought about it and suddenly felt weird at the thought of it.

Sorry babe, but...l have a mountain of work to get through.

Justin:I thought...it was your day off today?

God,l hate lying, but I can't force myself to be with Justin if I'm not feeling it, can l? l reasoned to myself. Justin sighed and hanged his head.

Justin: Moving in together was meant to give us more time with each other. What... happened to us, Sophia?

Sophia: I am a detective, Justin. My work is hard and demanding.

Justin:And, you know how proud I am of what you do...! But,l miss you, Sophia.l miss us.

l really didn't want to have this conversation right now.l thought. The moment of tension was shattered when my phone pinged with a message from Damon.l checked it much to Justin's frustration.

Lt. Damon: Sophia,l know it's your day off...but l need your help.l need to buy my wife an anniversary gift.

Sophia:Oh... that sounds complicated. But,then again, l know exactly what the missus likes!

Lt. Damon:Sharp as ever, Detective Sophia!So, will you help me out here?

Sophia: Absolutely! See you soon!

Sophia:I have to go, Justin. Damon needs me. me

l rushed to get ready as Justin watches in disbelief.

Justin:So you're just going to leave again?

Sophia: Can't help it, duty calls!

Justin: Come on, Sophia, the least you owe me is a proper end to our conversation.

Sophia:Later, okay?I promise.

After a quick shower and change,l darted out the door. Justin watched me leave with a melancholic expression, but doesn't say anything. At the same time in a different part of the city,a shadowy figure looked over a freshly printed newspaper...

The figure delicately cuts the article out...

Shadowy figure:"Supercop" they call you... We'll see about that!

The figure pinned the article to a board covered in clippings about the cases solved by me.

Shadowy figure:Every hero needs a villain, Little Miss Sophia! Let the game begin.