Rain tapped against the police station windows as the young man stepped inside, clutching the wrinkled notice in his hand. Two speeding tickets and one marijuana charge. The total—$2,300—sat at the bottom like a threat. His chest felt tight just thinking about it. Rent was already late. This would finish him.

The lobby was quiet except for one officer leaning behind the front desk. Officer Grady looked up slowly. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his uniform slightly wrinkled like he’d been there too long. His eyes were dark and heavy, watching the young man in a way that felt intense and unsettling. There was something dangerous about the calm way he stared.

“You here about a charge?” Grady asked, his voice low and rough.

The young man nodded and slid the paper across the counter. Grady took it, his fingers slow as he read. His jaw tightened slightly at the number.

“Two speeding tickets… possession,” he muttered. “$2,300.”

For a moment he just watched the young man again, his gaze steady, almost curious. Then he leaned closer to the computer, typing slowly. The quiet clicks of the keyboard filled the room.

Grady glancing up with a faint, crooked smile. The kind that wasn’t friendly, just… evil.

The printer hummed.

Grady pulled the paper out and slid it back across the counter. The young man looked down.

Balance: $0.00

His eyes widened. “What—”

Grady leaned back in his chair, folding his arms like it was nothing.

“Looks like the system cleared it,” he said smoothly. “Lucky night.”

The young man grabbed the paper quickly and headed for the door, not wanting to question his luck.

But as the door closed and the rain swallowed the sound outside, Officer Grady kept watching. His expression stayed calm, but his eyes followed where the young man had been standing, like the moment had left a mark.

“Funny thing about favors,” he murmured quietly to himself.

“You owe me big time, and I’ll have you come back one way or another~”