Chapter 45: Threads of Deception
I woke to the crackling of fire and the dull, rhythmic pounding of pain in my skull. The room swam in and out of focus as if my mind were submerged underwater. My vision cleared enough to take in my surroundings—a rundown cabin, wooden walls warped by humidity, and a makeshift fireplace casting jagged shadows across the floor.
The rain still tapped against the windows, slightly muffled now but relentless. My body ached, and when I tried to shift, the rough fibers of rope dug into my wrists and torso. I was restrained to a chair, the bonds tight and unforgiving. My coat was gone. My holster empty. Yet, when I glanced downward, I caught the faint reflection of my mask in the puddle of water beneath me. My Dust Mask, secure and intact.
It wasn't a simple mask. It adhered through more than straps—reinforced by Camille's skills to withstand high temperatures, collapses, and yes, even attempts to remove it. Logan hadn't known that. He probably thought removing it wasn't worth the effort.
Soon after, a pair of footsteps creaked across the wooden floorboards. My gaze followed the sound.
Logan stood before me, arms crossed. His firefighter's jacket was gone, replaced by a plain, dark hoodie. His hair, usually neat, hung in damp strands across his forehead. His eyes were sharp and bright in the firelight, but his smile... that smile was off. Tight and unhinged.
"Evening, Mr. Dust," he said softly. "Took you long enough to find me."
I flexed my fingers, testing the ropes. Thick, knotted with precision. Someone who worked around rescue equipment would know how to tie secure restraints. Logan did. He'd been one of the station's best when it came to technical rescues.
I inhaled through the pain. "Where's Officer Grant?"
Logan's smile twitched wider. "Oh. The guy with the shotgun?" He gave a dismissive wave with a gun in his hand. "Shot him when you went down. Might still be alive if someone found him. Didn't care. He wasn't who I needed."
The statement settled like a stone in my chest. "You needed me?"
"Of course." Logan's eyes gleamed with something close to satisfaction. "You're connected to Mr. Fox. He's the key to all of this. His jump from C-Rank to A-Rank—that wasn't normal."