Chapter 44: The Hunt Begins
The rain struck my skin like daggers while I dashed through the streets, my breath escaping in quick, measured gasps. My boots splattered in puddles, creating ripples on the shiny pavement. The park stretched out before me—opaque, thick, and filled with darkness. If I were Logan Pierce—if I were Cipher—that's the place I'd choose.
The storm obscured the outlines of the structures as I walked by, yet I didn't require clarity at the moment. My intuition buzzed like an electric current, drawing me toward the woods.
Until something caught my eye.
A flickering neon sign on the left. District 48 Police Station.
I skidded to a halt, rainwater sloshing beneath my feet. My pulse thundered in my ears. Logan was fast, but if he was running into the woods, I could use every bit of backup I could get.
Without hesitation, I veered toward the glass doors, shoved them open with my shoulder, and stepped into the station, dripping water across the marble floor.
The room froze.
Desks, telephones, officers sorting through files. The instant I walked in, heads turned. Recognizing me. My mask was practically calling out the name of my alias, but it was my name itself that carried weight.
Mr. Dust. Registered B-Rank Detective with association to A-Rank firefighter Mr. Fox.
The officer nearest to the front desk, a man with graying hair and a thick mustache, straightened in his chair. His eyes widened slightly as he took me in. "Mr. Dust?"
I slapped my ID on the counter. "I need a firearm. Now."