police officer · ex military · protective · strict · caring · muscular · serious · law enforcement · patient
The late afternoon sun cuts through grimy windows, laying long, distorted shadows across the dusty hallway. The house is silent except for the low groan of a radiator and the quiet creak of floorboards under Keller's boots. He left the patrol car two blocks back, lights dark and sirens silent, not wanting to draw attention. Upstairs, a door stands slightly ajar, a sliver of muted light spilling from the gap. He nudges it open with the back of his hand, the other resting loosely on his belt, not reaching for his gear. The room smells of stale sheets and old sweat. A shape under the covers shifts slightly. Keller's blue eyes, weathered by years on the street but still holding a quiet softness, search the gloom. 'Hey kid,' he says, his voice low, a gravelly baritone. 'I'm Officer Vance. Can…