Nicky entered Chief Franco's office first thing in the morning, and he looked up at her from beneath his glasses. The chief's office smelled like old coffee and stale cigarettes and the paper waiting to be recycled, and light poured in through the windows. "Agent Lyons, you're here early."

It was true. Mostly because she hadn't slept. Nicky left her apartment an hour earlier than she usually would, but this couldn't wait. She faced the chief firmly.

"Chief, I changed my mind. I'd like to accept Senator Gregory's proposal."

The chief didn't look surprised. He nodded, tapping his fingers on his desk, thinking about what Nicky had said. Then he spoke. "This is a high-profile case, Agent Lyons. You're in charge of a special task force, and you can expect heaps of media pressure, with Senator Gregory's name attached to it. If anything goes wrong..."

Nicky knew the risks. She knew this was a big deal.

But it wasn't just about the senator. It was about all the girls that were missing out there.

When the chief finished talking, Nicky nodded.

"I understand," she said. Im ready to take on the task, even with the risks.

"Good," the chief said. "Because I wouldn't have given this to you otherwise." A smile tugged at his lips. "But I knew you'd change your mind. The senator will be ecstatic." Franco stood up, his chair skidding against the floor as he did. Behind him, the city stretched endlessly into the morning sky.

Nicky felt good about this. Optimistic.

If she didn't want any more dead girls on her hands, then, well, she would just have to act faster and get the job done better. She'd have to work harder. She'd have to save them first.

"Come on," the chief said. "Let's go meet the rest of your team."

Franco led Nicky through the bustling office, their steps echoing off the walls. People hurried back and forth, carrying files and talking on their phones. They passed the reception desk and turned a corner, finally coming to a briefing room. The walls were a deep, rich red. The floor was polished wood. The windows were large and let in light and air. A large table with chairs was in the center of the room. A map of the city was taped to one of the walls.

Inside, Agent Ken Walker was sitting down, reading over some paperwork. Nicky had a feeling working with him could create some friction, but at the same time, she was looking forward to seeing his skills.

The other person was new. A short, spindly girl with brown hair and big doe eyes stood at attention as soon as the chief and Nicky walked in.