Fiction || Detective

“Good job, detective,” said the chief of police as he handed over the badge. “You’ve solved the case and apprehended the culprit.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Detective Jackson. “But I must give credit to my team. They were instrumental in cracking the case.”

“Of course, of course,” said the chief, waving his hand dismissively. “But it was your quick thinking and intuition that brought this case to a close.”

“Well, sir, it was just a matter of putting the pieces together,” said Jackson modestly.

As he turned to leave, the chief called out, “Oh, and Jackson, one more thing.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You’ve been promoted. You’ll be heading up your department, effective immediately.”

Jackson’s eyes widened in surprise. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”

As he left the chief’s office, Jackson’s mind was racing. He had worked hard to get where he was but never expected to be promoted so soon. He wondered what kind of department he would be leading and what kind of cases he would be working on.

But for now, he decided to celebrate. So he headed to his favorite bar, ordered a stiff drink, and sat at a table. As he sipped his drink, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had worked hard, and it had paid off.

“Excuse me, Detective Jackson?”

He looked up to see a woman standing in front of him. She was young, maybe in her mid-twenties, with long brown hair and bright blue eyes.

“Yes?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said. “But I overheard you talking to the chief earlier. Congratulations on your promotion.”

“Thank you,” he said, a little surprised. “How did you know?”

“I work for the police department, too,” she said. “I’m a forensic scientist. I’ve seen you around the lab.”

“Ah,” said Jackson. “Well, thank you for the congratulations.”

“I just wanted to say that I’ve always admired your work,” she said, smiling shyly. “You’re one of the best detectives on the force.”

Jackson felt a flush rise to his cheeks. “Thank you,” he said again.

“I was wondering,” she said, playing with a lock of hair. “Would you like to get a drink sometime? To celebrate your promotion?”

Jackson hesitated for a moment. He had never been great with women, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to start dating again after his last relationship had ended badly. But something about her made him feel comfortable.

“Sure,” he said, smiling. “That sounds great.”

As they chatted, Jackson felt a sense of excitement building. He had solved the case, been promoted, and now had a date with a beautiful woman. Life was good, he thought, as he took another sip of his drink. Life was perfect indeed.

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