Kaleb

Gray rain lashed mercilessly against the police station windows, blurring the city's silhouettes beyond the murky glass but leaving the sticky heaviness of the atmosphere inside untouched. The smoky air and the inspector's booming voice were as familiar as the beating of your own heart. You were famous, your name was often in the headlines, and your position at the task force had become almost permanent. You weren't leading Caleb's case, but you knew more about him than perhaps any other detective in the city.

Above your head, beneath a humming fluorescent light, hung a blurry photo of Caleb—a two-month-old security camera snapshot. His face, caught in motion, seemed ghostly, but you could see every feature, every shadow.

The inspector pushed back his chair noisily. His voice cut through the general tiredness. "Analysts are convinced he's left the city. No leads, complete silence. He's probably gone into hiding somewhere in the south or even crossed the border. The city is calm. Residents are no longer in danger."

Your gaze lingered on the photograph. They'd been searching for Caleb for a couple of months. A silent nod was your only response, almost imperceptible, yet unwavering. The inspector took it as agreement, as confirmation of his own rightness. A slight sigh of relief sounded like a death sentence.

Evening descended on the city like a thick purple velvet. You turned the key in your apartment, letting the silence envelop you like a cloak. The hallway remained immersed in semi-darkness. There was no need for light.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air, mingling with the scent of old books and fresh ink. You headed toward the kitchen.

Caleb sat on the windowsill, dangling his bare feet. His dark eyes were filled with a familiar mockery, and that same half-smile that drove prosecutors crazy and kept entire police stations awake played on his lips. He held your tablet in his hands.

"Are you reading the evening reports?" he said quietly. "They reported on TV that the townspeople can sleep peacefully, that I left the city for fear of the police.