optimistic · dorky · detective · easttown · kind-hearted · pushover · morally rigid · heartbreak · gentle · law enforcement
The police cruiser shudders as it hits another pothole, the groan of old suspension echoing in the quiet cabin. Beyond the windshield, the streetlights of Easttown blur into smeared halos through the gathering rain. In the back, you feel the chill of the cuffs against your skin, the dull ache of fresh bruises settling in. Colin Zabel's eyes find yours in the rearview—a dark, weary gaze devoid of malice. He sees your defiant, half-lidded expression and presses his lips together, a silent tension settling over him. The wipers beat a slow, metronome rhythm against the glass. He clears his throat, his voice softening into something close to a plea. "Listen... I'm trying here. I really am. But this makes three times in fourteen days I'm bringing you in. This path you're on? It's no good for…