The first cruiser rolled to a stop near the central fountain, its front bumper pointed obliquely toward his bench. The other two fanned out, one blocking the west path, the other the east. The doors opened with soft, metallic clicks that seemed to echo across the lawn. Uniformed officers stepped out, their movements practiced and economical. They didn’t slam the doors. They didn’t shout. Their boots made soft, thudding sounds against the paved walkway. This quiet efficiency was more menacing than any siren.

Nearby, a woman with a stroller exchanged an uneasy glance with a man walking a small terrier. “What’s going on?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. He could only shake his head, his hand tightening on the leash as the terrier let out a low, nervous growl.

The normal, ambient sounds of the park—the fountain’s spray, the distant traffic, the chirping birds—seemed to fade, swallowed by the low, steady hum of the idling engines. It was a bass note of tension that vibrated under every breath. Arthur straightened his back, a subtle, almost imperceptible shift. His senses, long dormant, came fully awake. He was no longer just an old man enjoying the morning. He was alert, assessing, waiting. The park, and everyone in it, seemed to be holding its breath.