THE SUNRISE PAINTED THE HORIZON WITH ITS GOLDEN HUES, filtering through the tangled branches of the swamp's trees. Mirroring this natural awakening, the occupants of the steamboat began to surface.
Leading the way, Theo emerged from the boat, his hands bound in cuffs, under the watchful escort of Commander Fortier. As they descended from the boat, an officer intercepted Theo, guiding him toward a waiting police vehicle on the river for his departure.
"It looks like I missed the party. Everything taken care of, Commander?" Chief Nkosi inquired upon his arrival at the scene.
Chief Kota Nkosi was an older gentleman, his hair gray and his voice coarse, with a slight hunch in his back and knees from the test of time.
"Yes, sir. I've only received a minor injury from having to subdue the perpetrator," Fortier began, mentioning nothing of his men.
"Uncle Kota!" Jackie interrupted as she exited the boat, her face lighting up at the sight of her fictive kin. "You should've seen this kid fight; he was pretty good," she said, holding Noir at her side as if he were a mere puppy.
"Is that so? You'll have to fill me in on it once we get back to the department."
Chief Nkosi was no stranger to the random and seemingly crazy things Jackie did from time to time. At this point, he'd just learned to accept them.
"Thanks again for the information. It was spot-on, as usual."
"Chief Nkosi, a word, sir?" Officer Braun requested, having returned empty-handed from his pursuit.
"What is it, son?"
"It's the other Dread Hunter, sir. There were two, but we lost track of the other one during our pursuit through the swamp."
"Is that so?" Chief Nkosi responded. "Well, one is better than none. Don't worry about it, son; I'm sure they'll turn up soon enough."
Chief Kota Nkosi, well aware of the dangers posed by both the Dread Hunters and the swamp, remained unfazed by his men not being able to track down their target on foot.