But when the doors hissed open, something stirred inside him. That old instinct—quiet but sharp—rose to the surface. Tim had long retired from the police force, but certain skills never leave you. They linger under the skin, waiting for the right moment.

A Stranger and a Child

The first passenger stepped aboard: a tall, wiry man with a hard face that showed little warmth. He moved too quickly, eyes darting across the bus with a nervous energy.

And then came the child.

She climbed the steps slowly, almost shrinking into the oversized hoodie that swallowed her small frame. She kept her eyes down, shoulders hunched, as though trying to disappear.