Maxwell Lee crouched beside his partner, Detective Rachel Patel, outside the dilapidated house on 145th Street. They were investigating a string of armed robberies in the area, and a tip had led them to this address."Alright, Rach, here's the plan," Maxwell whispered, his eyes scanning the perimeter of the house. "We go in quiet, sweep the premises, and apprehend our suspect. "Rachel nodded, her hand resting on the grip of her gun. "Got it. "Maxwell took a deep breath, pushed open the creaky front door, and stepped inside. Rachel followed closely behind. The air inside was thick with the stench of decay and neglect. Maxwell's eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light, and he began to make out the shapes of furniture, covered in dust and cobwebs.Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the back of the house, followed by the sound of footsteps. Maxwell's instincts kicked in, and he drew his gun, moving swiftly towards the noise.As he turned a corner, he came face-to-face with their suspect, a scrawny man with a scruffy beard and a wild look in his eye. The man was holding a shotgun, and Maxwell could see the fear and desperation etched on his face."Drop the gun!" Maxwell yelled, his own gun trained on the suspect .But the man didn't hesitate. With a jerky motion, he raised the shotgun and pulled the trigger. Maxwell felt a searing pain in his chest as the shotgun blast hit him. He stumbled backwards, his gun falling from his hand. Rachel's voice was a distant echo as she screamed his name, rushing towards him. Maxwell's vision began to blur, and he felt himself falling, the world around him fading to black. Maxwell's world went dark as he felt himself being lifted off the ground. He vaguely registered the sound of Rachel's panicked voice, shouting for backup and an ambulance. The next thing he knew, he was being rushed through the hospital's emergency doors, surrounded by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the beeping of medical equipment. The hospital's trauma team sprang into action, swiftly assessing Maxwell's injuries and beginning treatment. Rachel paced anxiously in the waiting room, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. She had seen Maxwell take down suspects with ease, but she had never seen him take a hit like that. The thought of losing her partner and friend was unbearable. As the medical team worked to stabilize Maxwell, the hospital's waiting room filled with worried faces - Maxwell's colleagues from the police department, all waiting for news on his condition. Rachel's phone rang, shrill in the tense silence. She answered, her voice trembling as she listened to the update from the medical team. "How is he?" she asked, her heart racing with anticipation.