UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR.

Chapter: 3

*****

Asher walked into the police station, feeling the buzz of activity wrap around him like a warm blanket. After getting cleaned up and changed in the locker room, he was pumped to kick off this new chapter of his life. He made his way to the front desk, nodding at the officer on duty. Just as he was about to head to his desk, he noticed a bright smile across the room. It was Rachel, a fellow academy grad and one of his closest friends, waving him over.

Rachel rushed up to Asher and pulled him into a big hug, her eyes shining with happiness. "Asher, congrats again on making it through the academy!" Asher laughed, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Rachel had been his rock during the tough times at the academy.

"Thanks, Rachel! I feel like I'm on top of the world," Asher replied, his smile wide. But then Rachel's expression changed. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and concern.

"I’ve got some news for you," she said, lowering her voice to a whisper. "I got assigned to a special operation." Asher perked up, leaning closer, eager to hear more.

"What’s the case?" he asked, his voice dropping to match hers. Rachel glanced around the busy station before continuing in a hushed tone.

"We're working on the serial killer case," she said, her eyes darkening.

"The one they call 'The Shadow'?" He asked, his eyes widened, and his mind racing with the implications.

"Yeah, that's the one. We’ve finally found a dumping ground, but… it’s pretty gruesome, Asher. There are over a dozen limbs scattered and buried all over." Asher's stomach dropped at the horrifying image, struggling to grasp the extent of what she was saying.

"Any leads on the killer?" he asked, bracing himself for the answer. The Shadow had always eluded capture, with people disappearing without a trace, leaving their families convinced they wouldn’t just vanish like that, something must have happened to them.

Rachel shook her head. "Nothing solid. This killer is smart. They’ve left behind no DNA, no fingerprints, no witnesses, nothing. We can’t even tell if it’s a male or a female, but we’re leaning toward it being a guy. I swear they’re playing games with us.”

Asher furrowed his brow, leaning in closer. "What do you mean, playing games?”

Rachel's frustration was evident. "The bodies, Asher, they’re not just buried, they were put on display. It’s like they want us to find them, to see this sick game they’re playing… It's twisted.”

Asher’s mind raced with questions, but before he could ask, Rachel glanced at her watch, her eyes widening. "I’m running late, Asher. I have a briefing in ten. I’ll catch you later, okay?" And with that, she rushed off, leaving Asher standing there, deep in thought.

As Asher watched Rachel rush off toward the conference room, her words echoing in his mind like a ghost. A killer was on the loose in their city, leaving a trail of death behind. Just thinking about it made a chill run down Asher's spine. Back at the academy, they had spent hours dissecting the case, analyzing every little detail and clue. Asher had always been intrigued by the darker sides of human nature, and this case felt like the ultimate puzzle to solve.

But as he saw Rachel disappear into the conference room, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t truly ready for this. He didn’t want to be part of the Special Ops team, chasing shadows and flirting with danger. That thought made him uneasy. Little did he know, his life was about to become deeply entwined with the darkness he wanted to avoid.

Asher settled into his desk, warming his hands around a coffee cup as he skimmed through the morning reports. His mind drifted back to the serial killer case. He opened his computer, typing away as he dug into the reports—those eerie details about the bodies found and the frustrating lack of evidence, combined with the unsettling feeling that the killer was always a step ahead.

Just when he was getting lost in the reports, his phone rang, jolting him back to reality. He sighed and picked up the receiver. "Asher speaking," he muttered. There was a brief pause before a voice came through, (’Detective Asher, the Chief wants to see you.’) His heart raced. What could the Chief want? "On my way," he replied, hanging up.

He stood up, smoothing out his uniform as he headed toward the Chief's office, his mind swirling with anxious thoughts. What if someone had seen him making out with Kaidën the night before? What if they had followed them?

“Stop with the what-ifs!” he mentally scolded himself, giving a frustrated sigh before knocking on the door. He waited, his heart pounding with mixed emotions.

“Come in!” The Chief’s calm voice called out. As Asher stepped inside, he was greeted by the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee and the smell of worn leather. The Chief, a man in his late fifties with a rugged face, looked up from the papers cluttering his desk. His piercing blue eyes crinkled with a smile. “Ah, Asher. Good morning! Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair across from him, glancing back at his papers.

Asher took a seat, trying to read the Chief’s expression. “Good morning, sir,” he said, attempting to appear relaxed despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his head.

The Chief leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he regarded Asher thoughtfully. “I’ve got some news for you, Asher. You’ve been chosen to join a task force.” Asher’s eyes widened in surprise; this wasn’t what he had been expecting.

“A task force, sir?” he echoed, wanting to make sure he understood correctly.

The Chief nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. “Missing persons, specifically children. You’ll be working with a team of experienced detectives to tackle these cases.”

Asher felt a mix of excitement and fear. Missing person cases were always tough, but kids? That hit differently. Still, it was a challenge he had secretly hoped for. Clearing his throat, he met the Chief’s smile. “Who picked me for this task force, sir?” he asked, curiosity piqued.

The Chief’s smile widened, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Let’s just say someone important thinks you have what it takes to make a real impact in this area.” His words hung in the air, leaving Asher wondering who this mysterious supporter might be. “And I agree with them,” the Chief added.

As the Chief's words sank in, Asher felt a strong sense of purpose wash over him. This was it, his chance to help bring families back together who were suffering from the pain of missing loved ones. However, for him, it was a lot more personal. He was haunted by the memories of his sister, Emily, who had disappeared when she was just ten. She had vanished without a trace, leaving a huge emptiness and so many questions behind.

At fourteen, Asher felt powerless that day and the trauma of losing her had left a lasting mark on him. He could still hear Emily’s terrified screams in his mind, a constant reminder that he hadn’t been able to protect her.

Emily’s disappearance had always felt mysterious. Their parents claimed the men who took her were social workers, but Asher had always felt something was off. The silence that followed, and an unspoken agreement to never mention her name again, only deepened the hurt. While their parents tried to move on as if Emily had never existed, Asher was left crying day and night, desperate to find his sister or at least figure out what had happened to her.

But now, sitting in the Chief's office, Asher felt the burden of his past beginning to lift. This task force was his chance to make things right, to help other missing children like Emily. And maybe, just maybe, he could find her. Even if she was alive, she wouldn’t be the little girl he remembered, but the ache in his heart would always remind him of his loss.

The Chief's voice pulled Asher from his thoughts. "I know this is a tough assignment, Asher. But I believe in you. You have a knack for this kind of work." Asher met the Chief's gaze, determination igniting within him.

He nodded slightly, his mind buzzing with possibilities. He was ready to jump into the task force, fueled by a fierce desire to find missing kids. With so many children disappearing, often at the hands of traffickers, it was time to take action. But even with this sense of purpose, he couldn’t shake the nagging question in his mind: who had chosen him for this role? It felt like someone understood him deeply like they knew exactly what motivated him. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Before he could voice his questions, the Chief stood up, signaling the meeting was over. "Report to Captain Lewis at 2 PM. She’ll fill you in on the task force details." The Chief’s nod was brief, and his expression serious. "You're dismissed.”

As Asher left the Chief's office, a young officer approached him, curiosity in his voice. "Detective Asher, there’s someone waiting for you in the parking area." Asher's brow furrowed in surprise. Who could it be? His friends were mostly his colleagues from the academy, and he couldn’t think of anyone who would just drop by. He thanked the officer and headed toward the front of the station. As he scanned the busy parking lot, searching for a familiar face, his heart skipped a beat when he spotted him.

Asher walked towards Kaidën, who was leaning against a fancy black car. The car looked out of place in front of the police station. Asher couldn't help but notice Kaidën's piercing blue eyes, which seemed to be staring right through him.

Kaidën was tall and athletic, with messy black hair that made him look like a celebrity. Asher felt a little self-conscious about his own appearance, so he quickly checked himself in the mirror of a nearby police car. He smoothed out any wrinkles and made sure his badge was straight, then he ran a hand through his hair to make sure he looked presentable.

When he turned back to Kaidën, their eyes met, and Asher felt a shiver run down his spine. Kaidën was still on his phone, but he nodded at Asher as if to say, "I'll be with you in a minute." Asher waited patiently, wondering what Kaidën wanted.

When Kaidën finally hung up, he pushed off from the car and walked towards Asher. "Hey, Asher," he said, his deep voice sounding smooth and confident. "Thanks for meeting me." Asher felt a little wary of Kaidën, but he was also curious about what he wanted. How did Kaidën know where to find him, anyway? And what did he want to talk to him about?