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If there was one thing that could be said of Frank Turino, it would be that he had endless dedication to his job. Frank lived for his work because he knew he was good at it, and it was all he really had. It was with this devotion that he found himself arriving at his desk well before everyone else. He liked to be the first one on the scene and enjoy a moment of solitude before the chaos of the day cluttered his world. While he did thrive on the excitement of his chosen profession and the parade of characters that were a part of it, he also needed his space.
The life of a homicide detective could be rather demanding. Over the years, it had taken its toll on him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet he was proud to be part of such an elite group, since they were truly regarded as the best of the best. He had always been driven to prove himself and had now matured into a seasoned veteran, similar to the detective who had taken him under his wing so long ago. Frank was used to seeing the worst in people, since he tracked down killers on a daily basis. He saw how their mistakes shattered the lives of both the victim’s family and the perpetrator’s. It was his job to make sense of it all, and to make sure the guilty were brought to justice. In many ways, it was a losing game, but Frank was not one to give up. He was committed to the victims and their families that he served.
The son of immigrants, Frank came from a humble background. While he was no stranger to difficult times and hard work, he had at least known the support of a loving family. Eventually, the field of law enforcement became his ticket to a better life, and he earned the admiration of those who knew of the hardships he had overcome to establish a successful career.
But ten years ago, Frank paid the price for his strong work ethic with a painful divorce. He had always been a perfectionist, and this failure was a black mark on his almost perfect record. Frank was ashamed of it, and yet it was inevitable, since the long hours required to solve cases did not go hand in hand with a good marriage. The breakup certainly wasn’t her fault, and he took full responsibility. He couldn’t expect her to truly understand how much his job meant to him and that it was his very reason for breathing.
Now he found himself at age 42 and alone. But at this point in his life, Frank wasn’t actively searching for love. He told himself he was satisfied with the way things were and simply had no time for women and the complications that came with them. It wasn’t that he couldn’t commit. He had already tried marriage and failed. His wife had given him a choice between his work and her, and he ultimately chose to let her go. It was a decision he had learned to live with, but every now and then, he would allow a trusted coworker to set him up on a date. None of the women ever compared to the one he had already given up, and his job always won in the end.
Frank was an old-fashioned man trapped in the modern day world, and few like him existed anymore. Although he had grown more confrontational over the years and was certainly no pushover, he remained a man of integrity and prided himself in being an all-around good guy and a gentleman. While some women appreciated his belief in chivalry, most modern independent women simply did not understand him. Frank actually respected women a great deal, especially those in his field, and it was never his intention to insult them with his courteousness. Over the years, he had tried to modify his ways in an honest attempt to adjust to the changing times, but Frank would always be Frank and would continue to treat women the way his father taught him. The same could not be said for his partner.
“Here’s your coffee, Frank. Black, like your hair used to be.”
On this day, like any other, Frank was caught up in a murder investigation and did not even dignify this type of comment with a response. He had grown accustomed to these playful yet annoying insults during his two-year partnership with Detective Wallace, who had far less experience than he did. Even at age 33, Tim still had a lot to learn but liked to act as if he knew much more than he really did. Frank, however, could recognize his partner’s growing potential and was determined to mold him into a proper detective.
“Whoa! Check her out!” Tim half-whispered to Frank. “Who’s that tasty cupcake?”
“Show some respect!” Frank scolded, trying hard not to stare. “That must be Gina Walker.” Gina was hard to miss in the room full of men, with her long dark hair and shapely figure, but that was no reason to ogle her. Just one glance was all he needed to see she was beautiful, and much younger than he was. Frank knew it wasn’t just Tim who had taken notice of Gina, and he did not want to see her fall victim to the pack of hungry wolves that would try to devour her.
“How did you know her name?” Tim asked. “Have you two already met?”
“No, I just happened to overhear the captain yesterday,” Frank replied.
“They’ll probably pair her up with O’Brien,” Tim said with obvious disappointment in his voice.
“Yeah, and lucky me gets stuck with you, yet again,” Frank responded, only half-joking. He watched with Tim as the captain introduced her to Detective O’Brien first before coming over to them.
“Detective Gina Walker, I’d like to introduce you to Detective Sergeant Frank Turino and Detective Tim Wallace. Gina is new to Homicide, so let’s make her feel welcome,” said Captain Michaels. “She’s going to be O’Brien’s new partner.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Gina said and extended her hand, first to Frank and then to Tim. Tim hesitated before letting her hand leave his, and he returned her polite smile with one much more flirtatious. His shameless leering made her uncomfortable, and she backed away from him the moment she could. Tim’s eyes remained glued to her as she made her way to her new desk.
“Snap out of it!” Frank barked at him. “We’ve got work to do.” Unfortunately, Frank found himself feeling a bit distracted as well. There hadn’t been a female detective in their department for quite some time, and never one this pretty. Gina had certainly captured the attention of the available men in the room, and Frank assumed she must have felt fairly intimidated by their reaction. He decided he should try to help her out if he could and protect her from those like his obnoxious partner. After all, Frank was a gentleman. At the same time, he didn’t want Gina to think he was giving her special attention because she was a woman or imply that she couldn’t take care of herself. Why was he obsessing over this anyway? His case wasn’t going to solve itself.
Midway through the afternoon, Frank realized he hadn’t eaten lunch yet. He made his way to the break room and was surprised to find Gina there. “Hi,” he said shyly as he passed her.
“Hey,” she replied softly. After pausing a moment to study him, she asked, “What’s with your partner?”
“Oh, Wallace? He’s harmless, really,” Frank reassured, although he wasn’t entirely convinced that was true.
“Can you do me a favor? Tell your partner I’ve already got a boyfriend,” Gina said before she turned and left the room.
Frank felt a little stunned by her abrupt exit. Their conversation was over almost before it began, and he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
