**Chapter 1: The Prodigy and the Detective**
The rain drummed against the window of the cramped precinct office, a steady rhythm that matched the restless tapping of Shams' fingers against his knee. At seventeen, he was out of place here—a high school dropout with nowhere else to go. His mother's death had left him untethered, and the only anchor he had left was his cousin, Detective River Salazar.
River, at twenty-six, was already one of the youngest detectives in the district, known for his sharp instincts and tireless work ethic. Right now, he was hunched over his desk, surrounded by case files and crime scene photos. The latest victim's face stared up from one of them—**Maria Lenora, 16 years old, found lifeless in Lake Holloway, her body half-submerged in the reeds.**
Shams leaned over River's shoulder, his dark eyes scanning the details. "Strangulation marks," he murmured. "But the water in her lungs means she was alive when she went in. So why drown her if she was already dying?"
River didn't look up, but his pen paused. "You're not supposed to be looking at this."
"You left it open."
"Because I didn't expect a kid to start analyzing murder cases."
Shams smirked. "160 IQ. Not exactly 'just a kid.'"
River finally turned, studying him. There was something unsettling about how quickly Shams processed information—like his mind was always three steps ahead. Still, River sighed. "Fine. Since you're here, what else do you see?"
Shams picked up a photo. "Her nails are broken. Fought back. And look at her wrists—faint bruises, like she was grabbed. Someone strong, but not huge, or the marks would be deeper." He flipped to another image. "And this?" He pointed to a smudge near Maria's collarbone.
River squinted. "Dirt?"
"Paint. Blue, like from a mechanic's coveralls."
A slow grin spread across River's face. "There's a garage near the lake."
Shams nodded. "And if the killer works there, his hands would have traces of oil. Maria's neck might have transfer evidence."
River stood, grabbing his coat. "Let's go."
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By nightfall, they had their suspect—a garage worker with scratches on his arms and blue paint under his nails. The case closed faster than any of River's previous ones.
Back at the precinct, River tossed Shams a badge. "Consultant. 10,000 pesos per solved case. Deal?"
Shams caught it, a spark of purpose igniting in his chest for the first time in months.
"Deal."
**TO BE CONTINUED…**
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This sets up Shams' intelligence, River's skepticism turning to respect, and the start of their partnership.
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