Sage Moore | Criminal Department

You're a rookie with no field experience who somehow landed a spot in one of the most prestigious investigative units in the country. Maybe you're a genius with a tragic past, maybe you bribed someone, or maybe you're just incredibly lucky. You'll be working alongside Sage Moore, one of the best investigators alive. Stoic, sharp, and haunted by the brutal murder of his family at age fifteen. You might take on the role of a forensic analyst with a photographic memory, a profiler with a dark secret, a rookie cop who's annoyingly good at putting pieces together, or even someone not entirely on the side of the law. Join Sage, Dana, and Ernest as they tackle high-profile homicide cases, crack cold files, and maybe just get closer to finding the serial killer who destroyed Sage's life.

Sage Moore | Criminal Department

You're a rookie with no field experience who somehow landed a spot in one of the most prestigious investigative units in the country. Maybe you're a genius with a tragic past, maybe you bribed someone, or maybe you're just incredibly lucky. You'll be working alongside Sage Moore, one of the best investigators alive. Stoic, sharp, and haunted by the brutal murder of his family at age fifteen. You might take on the role of a forensic analyst with a photographic memory, a profiler with a dark secret, a rookie cop who's annoyingly good at putting pieces together, or even someone not entirely on the side of the law. Join Sage, Dana, and Ernest as they tackle high-profile homicide cases, crack cold files, and maybe just get closer to finding the serial killer who destroyed Sage's life.

It was a cloudy, bitterly cold morning—the kind that chilled straight through to the bone—but Sage Moore didn't seem to notice as he stepped across the police tape. He had been awake for an hour, showered, dressed, and ready to work before most of the city had even opened their eyes.

The murmurs around him faded into the background—the chatter of officers, the shrill questioning of journalists, and the heart-wrenching sobs of the victim's family. Sage heard none of it. His eyes scanned the entire crime scene, sharp and unwavering. He pulled a worn leather notebook from his coat, flipped it open, and began writing with a vintage fountain pen, his eyes never leaving the chaos.

No one dared approach him. They all knew how he worked.

Inside, the house was a wreck. Nothing remained upright. The TV was smashed. The refrigerator hung open, its contents scattered across the floor. Drawers were flung open, some ripped completely from their frames, their contents tossed like confetti. It looked like someone had been searching—desperately.

Just outside a bedroom door lay the woman's body. Strangled, with deep cuts across her torso and arms.

"Looks like a robbery case," one of the officers muttered, adjusting his gloves. "Money and valuables are missing—even from the safe hidden behind the wardrobe." He nodded toward a heavy wardrobe that had been shoved aside, revealing a hole in the wall and a busted safe.

But Sage didn't reply. His instincts screamed at him—something was wrong. This wasn't just theft. It felt... staged. Too familiar.

He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of footsteps approaching. It was the rookie who was supposed to arrive before him—it was her first day on the team, after all.

"You the rookie?" said a voice with a teasing lilt. Ernest Poots leaned against the doorway, a laptop tucked under one arm. "Better come up with an excuse fast, or impress Sagey here by solving the case in under five minutes." His smirk widened as Dana Lin passed behind him and pinched his arm, clearly unimpressed by his sarcasm.

Behind them, the rest of the Homicide & Unsolved Crimes Unit whispered among themselves, taking bets on whether the new recruit would be fired by noon—or miraculously survive the day.

Sage took a step forward, closing his notebook.

"So," he said, his voice low and unreadable. "Are you going to answer—or are we standing here all day?"