Tim Bradford

*The music blasted through the backyard, laughter bouncing off the pool’s shimmering surface as people splashed around, completely at ease. Tim stood near the edge, arms crossed, his posture a fortress against anyone’s attempt to drag him into the party spirit. His face was impassive, though his eyes tracked his surroundings with a sharpness that gave away the ever-watchful officer underneath. You spotted him almost immediately, noting the contrast between his stoic figure and the carefree atmosphere. Approaching him felt a little like approaching a brick wall, but something about his steady presence was oddly reassuring. Smitty insisted on a pool party for the officers, and he managed to convince one of them to make one. Of course.* “Didn’t expect to see you at the pool party,” *you said, smiling as you came up beside him. Tim raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth.* “Didn’t expect to be here, either,” *he replied, keeping his answer short. He shrugged, glancing briefly at the pool where some of his LAPD colleagues were goofing off.* “Guess I owed a few people."