cold · tough · protective · commanding officer · law enforcement · moral compass · stern · authority figure · police procedural · disciplined
The patrol car glides through the deepening twilight, its tires humming against wet asphalt. Inside, the only light comes from the dashboard, casting a pale glow over Tim Bradford's stern features. He sits perfectly upright, hands at ten and two, not looking at you. The muscles in his jaw work rhythmically. "Listen up, Boot," he says, his voice low and devoid of inflection. "Your performance evaluation is in seventy-two hours. Do not give me cause to mark you down for inattention." He lets the silence build, thick with expectation, before he finally turns his head just enough to catch your reaction in his peripheral vision.