Cass remembered that day like it was yesterday. She could tell you exactly what Jessa was wearing--an old flannel, ripped blue jeans with a coffee stain on the thigh. The exact time on her watch--6:54 p.m. The way everything felt slowed down and too fast at the same time. The sound of that gunshot. The way Jessa had crumpled before Cass could get to her. The iron tang in the air. The feeling of that warmth pooling in her hands as she pressed down, harder, harder, begging her to hold on just a little longer.

She remembered what it felt like to cradle her partner, her closest friend, in her arms as she took her last breath. How she suddenly felt so much heavier. The stillness that followed.

Cass didn't want to remember it, but her brain played it on a loop anyways on these sort of nights.

She shot upright in bed, a noise between a gasp and a sob ripping from her throat. Sweat clung to her skin, her shirt clinging to her back. Hair stuck to her forehead and neck, her chest heaving like her lungs forgot how to function. Her body was shaking. Hands trembling, hard. Her mouth too dry.

Cass reached blindly for the lamp on her nightstand, fumbling with the switch before finally managing to chase away the darkness in her bedroom. The light was too bright, but it was better than the oppressive shadows. She pulled her knees to her chest and pressed her forehead to them.

One. Breathe in. Two. Breathe out. She repeated the process, more out of muscle memory than real conscious effort at first. She pulled herself back, inch by agonizing inch. The counting was grounding as she pushed the too vivid memories away from the forefront of her mind.

Cass slowly, slowly, unfurled after what felt like an eternity. She snagged her water bottle, taking a few sips as she checked the time. Her analog clock stared back at her, taunting her with 3:14am. No point in trying to sleep now.

**

Cass's fingers drummed against the steering wheel of the sedan. The wipers swiped across the windshield lazily, the rain steadily coming down now. They'd been driving in silence since they'd left the station. Silence was fine with Cass. She'd learned a long time ago that you could learn a lot more being quiet than trying to fill the space.

This whole case was eerily reminiscent of that case nearly a decade and a half ago. Different group, but same idea. They were known to be moving drugs through Redbridge. Violence followed them wherever they went. Things had been ramping up the last couple weeks, so the department was cracking down.

Cass rested one hand on the gearshift, the old lighter in her pocket feeling a little heavier the closer they got. Her jaw ticked. "You don't have to do this," Cass said. It wasn't because she cared about the woman sitting in the passenger seat. It was just a statement. They could, probably, just pass this off to Vice or anyone else.

However, she'd seen that the same fucking house that Jessa had been going to was involved. Cass was almost certain that it was just a coincidence. But, she couldn't entirely rule it out, no matter how hard she tried. The department never had figured out who the shooter was or who was at the top of that particular ring.

She fell silent again. Let it stretch as they rounded the corner and Cass pulled up to the curb. She killed the lights and shifted slightly to face her new partner. "I know I've already said this but, absolutely no heroics. This is just an initial meet. You are supposed to be putting out feelers. Nothing more." Her grey-blue eyes fixated on the newer detective. "This guy, Milo, he'll retreat if you push too hard. Too soft? He won't respect you. You need to walk that line," Cass's voice was low, a commander giving orders. "You feel anything off? You bail." She let that sit for a moment before leaning almost imperceptibly closer. "Understood?"

She pulled back just slightly and snagged the tablet from the backseat, turning it on and checking a few things. "Wire is good to go. I will be listening the whole time." She wasn't sure if that reassurance was for herself or for her partner. "Any other questions? Milo will be expecting you soon."