Chapter 4 - The Precinct Visit
Morning sunlight broke gray and cold over the city, casting long shadows across the concrete steps of the 4th Precinct police station. The morning shift was just getting underway when the heavy glass doors pushed open and a man in a charcoal wool coat walked in with measured, unhurried steps.
It was Alexander Sterling.
He didn't look like a grieving, broken father seeking charity from the state. His posture was ramrod straight, his shoulders square, and his eyes fixed with terrifying clarity on the front desk sergeant.
"Can I help you, mister?" the sergeant asked, barely looking up from his donut wrapper. "If you're here about a domestic incident report, you need to talk to Detective Vance—"
"I'm here to see Captain Miller," Alexander interrupted, his voice carrying an innate authority that instantly caused the sergeant to look up.
"Captain Miller is busy. You got an appointment?"
"Tell him Commander Vance is here to discuss his retirement plans," Alexander said softly.
The sergeant frowned, about to bark a dismissal, when the name registered oddly. Before he could ask what 'Commander' meant, a door behind the desk swung open. Detective Miller—the very man who had dismissed Chloe's assault the night before—stepped out, holding a steaming mug of coffee.
When Miller saw Alexander standing there, the coffee cup nearly slipped from his fingers, spilling a dark brown puddle onto the linoleum floor. The color drained entirely from Miller's face.
"Mr... Mr. Sterling," Miller stammered, grabbing the edge of the counter. "I thought you'd be at the hospital with your daughter."
"My daughter is resting," Alexander said, taking two slow steps closer to the desk, invading the detective's personal space until Miller was forced to look up into Alexander's chilling, unblinking gaze. "You told me yesterday that domestic cases are complicated. You told me there was no footage, no witnesses, and nothing the police could do."
"That... that's standard procedure when evidence is inconclusive—" Miller tried to bluster, but his voice shook violently.
May you like
"Let's take a walk, Captain," Alexander said, cutting him off. "Private conversation. Somewhere without badges and radios."
Miller swallowed hard, glancing desperately toward his office. But something in Alexander’s eyes told him that refusing was not an option. Without a word, the detective turned and led Alexander into a small, windowless interrogation room, locking the heavy steel door behind them.
