65

Captain Hawkins offers me my job back a month later. Once everyone hasfullyaccepted our version of the Hyde story.

The supposed serial killerAaronisdead and buried, and just like clockwork, the murders stop happening.Jackson has crossed off the names on his list, and vengeancedoesn't haunt him any longer.If anyone pried too deeply, they might find holes in our story, but thehomicide unit barely has time to mark the case closed before they're onto new cases with new victims. They're just glad to have someone to pin it on.

Our story might not betrue. But maybe the truth isn't so important if the right people face justice at the end of the day.

That's not what I would have said a few months ago. But now I'm not afraid of shadows. I'm not terrified of my past coming back to destroy me. I'm not scared of the darkness that haunts the shadowy corners of my soul.

It's not a romcom ending, but I love it.

Hawkins leans backin his chair, surveying me from across his office desk. "I'm sorry, Cain. We put you through hell. I accused you of committing terrible crimes when I should have trusted you instead. I'm sorry for the damage I did to your reputation."

I sip on the familiar burnt precinct coffee. "It's okay, Captain. Lately, I've stopped caring what people think of me."

The thought of being a killer once tore my conscience apart and drove me to become a detective. Now I have blood on my handsandI share a bed each night with a killer, and I've never been happier.

"Come back to the force," Hawkins offers. "We need detectives like you, and we never should have exiled you in the first place."

I shrug. "I'm sorry. I can't."

"Will you reconsider my offer? Maybe a few months down the road?"

I rise to my feet. "You're a good person and a good police officer, sir. But I think it's timefor meto try a different path."

When I leave the station, I head straight to Jackson's house.

I'm going home.