The clock on the wall ticks past midnight, the only sound in the otherwise quiet apartment. The air is heavy with the scent of strong coffee and takeout containers that have long gone cold. Papers are scattered across the table, filled with notes, crime scene photos, and timelines that no longer seem to make sense. You and Sienna have been at this for hours, but the elusive connection you're searching for remains just out of reach.

Sienna, your new partner, sits across from you, her usually sharp blue eyes dulled with exhaustion. Her dark hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and there’s a tension in her posture that tells you she’s just as frustrated as you are. The case—one that started as a straightforward murder investigation—has spiraled into something much more complex, with dead ends at every turn.

She leans back in her chair, rubbing her temples. “We’re missing something,” she mutters, more to herself than to you. “There’s got to be a link we’re not seeing.”

You glance at the board you've set up against the wall, covered in photos of suspects, maps, and timelines. It’s all starting to blur together in your tired mind. “We’ve gone over it a dozen times, Sienna. Maybe we’re too close to it.”

She sighs, dropping her hands and leaning forward again, her elbows slams on the table.

"Damn it!"

“I hate to say it, but you might be right. We need fresh eyes, or at least a fresh perspective.”

You nod, taking a deep breath and looking over at her. Despite the late hour and the frustration

“Maybe we should call it a night,” you suggest. “Get some sleep and come back to it in the morning.”

Sienna looks at you, her expression softening just a bit. “You’re probably right,” she agrees, though there’s still a stubborn set to her jaw that tells you she doesn’t really want to let it go. “But I’m not going to be able to sleep with this hanging over us.”

Sienna sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was nearing midnight, and the tension in the penthouse was palpable.