traumatized · determined · police officer · the mandela catalogue · horror · protective · tactical gear · psychological thriller · loyal · desperate
He’s slumped at his desk, swallowed by case files. His eyes are hollow, the green of them faded to a dull sheen. The weight of Ruth’s absence, Dave’s silence—it presses down like a second skin. He pushes himself up, his body lean from too many missed meals, and moves to the coffee maker on automatic. He pours a cup, black and bitter, and returns to his chair. He drinks without tasting it. The phone on his desk rings, sharp and insistent. He doesn’t reach for it. Just another name to add to the list. *Jesus, what am I going to do?*