Homecoming

Chapter One

Human trafficking, prostitution rings or betting circles of any kind. She had faced most types of organised crime, often placing her and her partner's life at risk going under cover. One wrong move, her cover being discovered and they would be killed or worse.

　　It was part of her job for the last three years. Neither she nor her partner blinked an eye at most of the uncover work they were given. Whatever it was, they had faced worse and lived to tell the tale. All that, and now she was nervous?

　　It wasn't like she was going to face a tigger-happy master-mind, or even a gang member a little too cocky for his own good. No, Commenter Carter had asked her to come to his office... to talk. That was it, but she didn't know the reason. She hadn't done anything suspicious, nor had she broken any laws in her free time.

　　There were a few people who didn't like her, but she didn't think they hated her enough to be the reason she was fired. Or at least, she hoped they didn't hate her that much, since she was sure most of them would rather just want to see her in one of the most dangerous units in Vice.

　　Either way, her job was one of the things she was proud of. Her skill set was perfect for undercover work. Not only that, but both she and Karen were the youngest third-grade vice detectives in New York.

　　She was sure her appearance helped. She was generally looked over as weak and harmless, not that much of a threat. It generally meant she was brought into the main ring faster, since the 'pumps' thought they could make more money from her. Most learnt that wasn't the case the hard way.

　　Not that any of that would be useful in homicide. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door in front of her. Walking into Commenter Carters office, taking a seat in front of his desk.

　　"Miss Rumaysa Crystal," Carter said looking up from his work.

　　"May," she corrected. Her full name was odd, and it usually meant she was in some kind of trouble with her foster father. "Please. Just call me May."

　　"Of course," he told her, narrow green eyes looking at the file in his hands. "May, you have one of the most colourful character description I've compiled in the years I've worked on this force."

　　"Sir?"

　　"I have some people say you're selfish and others swear you're the most self-effacing person they've met." Carter sighed as he pinched his nose, May wondering why he even asked about her, she was happy working in Vice. It kept her mind busy. "Some say you're a know-it-all and others say you know nothing at all. Crystal, I've seen crooked politicians with more consistent reputations then yours."

　　'That must be it,' May thought. He must have thought she was crooked, it was the only thing that made sense. At least she would be able to defend herself. "I'm not crooked sir."

　　"I know. Crystal, you're not in trouble. I've seen your record," he told her, placing a folder on the table. A familiar face looked up at her from the corner, she didn't have a good feeling about it. "You used to live at East End."

　　"Yes sir."

　　"Went to East Grammer Academy. Not a lot of trust fund babies on the force."

　　That made her blink, she rarely got called a 'trust fund baby'. "I'm not a trust fund baby, just a charity case." Not that her foster father was the bleeding heart type, but that wasn't here nor there.

　　"But you know them. Know what circles they run in."

　　"Yes sir."

　　"Then you're perfect for this investigation."