25 Alive

“As he wheezed out his last breath, Warren Jacobi was no longer in the present. A soft breeze blew across his face, illuminated images strung together in a bright, lightning-like flash. Jacobi saw himself gathering his family into his arms. […] Entering a crime scene in a deep black night with Lindsay Boxer, his ride-or-die former partner.”

This passage uses a flashback-like sequence of “illuminated images” to portray Jacobi’s final thoughts, juxtaposing the violence of his murder with memories of love and professional camaraderie. By placing an image of his family alongside one of Lindsay, the text establishes the intertwined nature of his personal and professional lives, a central element of The Personal Toll of a Law Enforcement Career. The designation of Lindsay as his “ride-or-die former partner” immediately frames their bond as profound, setting the emotional stakes for the investigation to follow.

“‘Julie, this is what we cops call “pulling teeth.” Just tell me where Dad went and why. Please.’

‘Huh? What does “pulling teeth” mean?’

‘“Pulling teeth” means someone is saying as little as possible about what they know, so the other person must really work hard to get their little girl to tell.’”

This dialogue serves as an early characterization of Lindsay by showing how her professional mindset bleeds into her domestic life. Her use of police vernacular with her daughter demonstrates how her identity as a homicide inspector is all-encompassing, foreshadowing the theme of the personal toll of a law enforcement career. The scene establishes her interrogative nature before she is called to the crime scene, defining her character through the lens of her demanding career.