As Jackie stood in the breakroom of the Crescent Parish Police Department, the soft morning light filtered through the blinds. She took a moment to savor the tranquility of the morning in full bloom. The familiar chirping of birds provided a soothing backdrop to her routine, while faint traces of morning jazz drifted through the streets.
With practiced ease, she poured herself a cup of steaming coffee, the rich aroma filling the room. The peaceful ambiance hinted at the promise of a regular day—but Jackie's intuition sensed otherwise. Taking a sip, she stepped out of the breakroom, heading toward the holding cells.
As she exited, she collided with an officer rushing past the doorway. While the officer stumbled back and hit the ground, Jackie remained firm, managing to keep her coffee from spilling.
"My apologies, sir. I was in a rush," Officer Newbie blurted before looking up—only to realize he hadn't bumped into a man, but Ms. Jackie O'Hara. His eyes widened. "Ah, Ms. O'Hara! Please forgive me. It felt like I walked into a wall or something, so naturally, I thought…"
"It's okay, no harm done. I'm partly to blame for not looking both ways before crossing a threshold." Jackie extended a hand with a friendly smile, helping Newbie to his feet. "Did you drop those keys over there?"
Newbie patted himself down, his eyes darting to the floor. A sheepish expression crossed his face. "Looks like I did. Thanks for that."
"You wouldn't be heading to the holding cells, would you?" Jackie asked, eyeing the keys.
"I am, actually."
"Great, I'll join you. I was on my way there myself," she said, already making her way toward the stairs leading down.
"Okay, sure," Newbie agreed, hurrying to catch up.
As they walked, he couldn't help but steal glances at Jackie, still marveling at how unfazed she'd been during their collision. His eyebrows lifted slightly in admiration.
"Something on your mind?" Jackie asked, catching him in the act.
"Yes, actually," he admitted without hesitation. "You're just so small and…" His gaze briefly flickering over her frame. "Delicate-looking. How is it that I hit the floor, and you didn't even budge? I bet you didn't even spill a drop from your mug."
Jackie halted, a smile tugging at her lips, pride evident in her stance. "Working here, I'm sure you've heard stories about my father by now, haven't you?"
"Yes, ma'am. The famous contractor, Jack O'Hara."
"My father was a wise man, sharp as a blade, but he never relied on his mind alone. He believed strength and intellect should match—one was useless without the other. He never wanted to be in a position where he couldn't save someone or uncover the truth because of a physical limitation. So he trained every day, pushing himself to be just as strong as he was smart. And when I started tagging along on his jobs, he put me through the same training." She flexed her arm playfully. "I've slacked off since retiring, but I've still got a little somethin' left."
Jackie took pride in her father—not just as a parent but as her hero. No one in the world garnered her respect the way he did. He had shaped her, passing down everything he knew—not just about contract work, but business, discipline, and survival.
"Wow, you're actually pretty toned." Newbie's eyes lingered on her muscles, admiration clear in his expression.
Jackie smirked but said nothing, continuing toward the holding cells. Their footsteps echoed lightly in the corridor, passing rows of iron bars.
When they reached the cells holding Theo and Noir, the officer sifted through his ring of keys, searching for the right one. Jackie, meanwhile, observed Noir's demeanor—still and contemplative, his focus locked onto the cell door.
"Apologies for the accommodations," she said. "You know how police stations are—hospitality's not much of a strong suit. But we couldn't have you disappearing before we figured out why those Dread Hunters were after you. And more importantly, who you are."
Noir didn't respond. He didn't even glance her way. His gaze remained fixed on the door.
In the next cell over, Theo—the Dread Hunter—lay sprawled out on the cot, fast asleep, as if he had nothing to worry about.
Finding the key, Newbie placed it in the lock. As the metal clicked, Theo cracked open an eye.
Then, in a blur of motion, he moved.
Launching from the bed, he slammed his full weight against the cell door, catching the officer off guard and knocking him backward.
But before he could gain any distance, Jackie grabbed him by the collar, slamming him to the floor.
"Ah, Ms. O'Hara, my apologies." Newbie picked himself up, shaking his head. "I should've known he'd try something the moment I let my guard down."
"Intuition comes with experience," Jackie said. "Remember that."
"Yes, ma'am."
She glanced at Theo, who was now restrained.
"You're taking this one to the interrogation room, correct? I ask because I'll be heading there next as well."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Great! I'll help you escort him."
With that, Jackie fell in step behind Theo as they led him out of the cell block, keeping a firm presence at his back in case he tried anything else.