When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but steady.

“Cabrera told me what happened at the crime scene, Jones. He thinks it’s too personal. He thinks you can’t handle the job.”

Everything slowed down, the words digging through Matt’s gut until they reached the core and started feeding on it. He was no longer looking at Grace. His eyes were pinned on Cabrera now. He could feel the rage exploding through his body, the tightness in his chest.

“It’s my case,” he said.

Grace cleared his throat. “What’s that, Jones? I didn’t hear you.”

Matt kept his eyes pinned on Cabrera. “It’s my fucking case.”

“I’ll decide whose case it is,” Grace said. “I’m in charge here. Now take a seat and cool down.”

Matt didn’t move. “Fuck you.”

Grace turned sharply. “What did you say to me, Detective?”

“Nothing. I was talking to my new partner.”

Grace looked him over. “The way you’re acting, Jones, I think Cabrera might be right. You and Hughes go way back. You’ve got a history, too much history—and after tonight, there’s too much at stake.”

Matt wasn’t listening, still focused on Cabrera, still unable to dial back his anger. His voice was deep and dark and barely audible.

“You know what it means to partner up, right, Cabrera? It’s about trust and watching the other guy’s back. It’s about knowing when to take and when to give back. It’s about an understanding. Two becoming one.”

Grace reached out for Matt’s shoulder. Matt shook him off.

“I want to hear him say it,” Matt said. “Go ahead and say it, Cabrera. I’m not up to the job.”

Cabrera looked him over for a while, then took a step closer, shaking his head as if he wanted this to end quickly. “I’ll say it, Jones. Look at you. You’re a mess. You can’t handle this case. You’re too close. Too deep in. You’re not ready to—”

It happened before anyone had time to even blink.