Rehan looked out the window, his voice calm—too calm.
"Because I was only in that relationship for a mission. Once the mission was over… I left her."
The car grew quiet after that.
CHAPTER - 1 PART - 2
Rehan broke the silence after a moment.
"Albert… I heard this is some kind of vanishing or kidnapping case. Can you tell me what's actually going on?"
Albert's expression turned serious.
"Yes, sir. Students have been disappearing from a school in Huntsville."
Rehan straightened slightly.
"Students?"
"Yes, sir. All of them are under the age of fourteen," Albert continued. "The strange part is that the last person seen with each of them was the same woman—a teacher at that school."
Rehan frowned.
"And she admitted to it?"
Albert shook his head.
"No, sir. She completely denies it."
He hesitated before continuing.
"Some disturbing evidence was found inside the school—signs of violence in a few areas. In another location connected to the case, bodies were discovered."
Rehan's eyes sharpened.
"The students?"
"No, sir. That's the problem. The bodies belong to adults," Albert explained. "And the evidence doesn't match the teacher at all."
Rehan leaned forward.
"Explain."
"The physical evidence doesn't match her strength or profile. Also… the way the victims were killed suggests trained attackers. Some signs indicate precise attacks—quick, professional. Others suggest hand-to-hand combat, but again, done with expertise."
Albert exhaled.
"Even if she were working with a group, sir, the evidence still doesn't line up. The teacher met the children—but the victims we found were adults. That's what makes this case so confusing."
Rehan leaned back slowly, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips.
"So… the obvious suspect doesn't fit."
Albert nodded.
"Exactly, sir."
The car continued toward Huntsville, the silence inside heavier than before.
Rehan spoke again, his tone turning slightly serious.
"Any marks on the bodies? Anything unusual?"
Albert shook his head.
"No, sir."
"Nothing at all that stood out?"
"No, sir."
Rehan paused.
"Which room in the school were the bodies found in?"
"The storage room, sir."
Rehan frowned.
"Wait. If the bodies were found in the storage room, then there should've been signs somewhere else too," he said slowly. "I mean, if they were moved there, there should've been traces. Or were they placed there directly?"
Albert hesitated.
"Sir… we don't know that yet."
"Hmm."
"What was the storage room like?" Rehan asked.
"It was empty, sir."
Rehan raised an eyebrow.
"Empty…"
He leaned back and let out a slow yawn.
"Then someone from the school must be involved," he said casually. "What else?"
The car continued toward Huntsville in silence.
Rehan broke the silence again.
"How many people are assigned to this case?" he asked. "I mean, how many did the top officer put on the team?"
Albert answered quickly,
"Around seven, sir. And yes—Canadian police will also be working under you on this case."
Rehan frowned slightly.
"Seven people?"
"Yes, sir. It's less than usual, but the top officer said… since you're involved, it won't be a problem."
Rehan repeated slowly,
"Seven…"
Albert nodded.
"I know it's less, sir. But those are the orders. What can we do?"
Rehan leaned back.
"It's not that less."
Albert blinked.
"What?"
"I mean," Rehan continued casually, "we don't really need that many. And on top of that, we've got local police support."
"Oh…"
After a brief pause, Albert spoke again, a little hesitant.
"Sir… can I say something?"
"Go ahead."
"I've worked with other head officers before," Albert said. "They're usually very serious. Always tense. Always buried in the case. But you're… different."
Rehan gave a faint shrug.
"You could say that."
Albert hesitated, then asked,
"By the way, sir… why is your code name 'Psycho'?"
Rehan smirked lightly.
"They say I'm a psycho," he replied. "So they figured they might as well make it official."
The car rolled on toward Huntsville, the road ahead quiet and cold.
The car slowed as they reached their destination.
Albert turned toward Rehan.
"Sir… we're here."
Rehan glanced at the building in front of him, his brow slightly raised.
"Oh… so this is the school."
"Yes, sir," Albert replied.
Rehan's eyes narrowed.
"Can I ask something?"
"Of course, sir," Albert said.
"Why did you bring me here directly?"
Albert shifted nervously.
"Sir… the top officer in Alberta is already here in Huntsville. They requested to meet you personally, so I thought it best to bring you straight to the school."
Rehan let out a low whistle, his eyes scanning the school's facade, the quiet playground, and the empty halls beyond.
"Hmm… direct, huh? Interesting."
The car came to a stop in front of the main entrance, and the cold Huntsville wind pushed against the windows. Silence hung between them for a moment, heavy with anticipation.
Rehan stepped out of the car, shivering slightly as the cold Huntsville wind hit him.
"Ah, hoo! Who says it's not that cold in Huntsville… whoever says that, their—" he muttered under his breath, cutting it short.
Albert cleared his throat nervously.
"Yes, sir… it's a bit chilly here."
Rehan rubbed his hands together.
"Alright, that's fine… ah, ha… it's cold, though. What time is it?"
"Around eleven in the morning, sir," Albert replied.
"Eleven, and it's this cold?" Rehan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir. This is common here," Albert said.
Rehan scanned the empty school grounds.
"Hmm… is school closed? I don't see anyone."
"Yes, sir. The school declared a holiday because of all this… you know, the case," Albert explained.
Rehan's eyes narrowed.
"And the top officer… where are they?"
"Sir… probably in the principal's office. If not, we can call them over," Albert replied.
Rehan smirked.
"Why?"
"Because… there's a heater there, sir," Albert said quickly.
Rehan grinned.
"Well then… let's go to the principal's office."
He started walking toward the building.
"Sir, it's not on the ground floor… first floor," Albert quickly added.
Rehan waved his hand dismissively.
"Then let's go… who cares about the cold anyway?"
Rehan climbed the stairs to the first floor without a second thought.
"Hurry up," he called back to Albert.
"Yes, sir… coming," Albert replied, quickening his pace.
(Inner thought: Wow… first time I'm seeing a head officer literally rushing for a heater…)
Albert reached the first floor and led the way to the principal's office. He opened the door, and there they were— the principal and the top officer, both seated behind the desk.
"Sir… you're here," Albert announced nervously.
The top officer looked up.
"Yes, he's here to conduct the investigation. But… where is Rehan?"
Rehan stood outside the door, casually leaning against the wall. He whispered to Albert,
"Go in… I'll follow behind."
Albert nodded, a bit flustered.
"Ah… yes, sir."
Together, Albert and Rehan stepped into the office, the door clicking softly shut behind them.
As Rehan stepped into the office, the top officer rose immediately.
"You… I didn't think you'd come," he said, his voice a mix of surprise and respect. "But it's an honor that you did."
Rehan gave a faint smile, shrugging lightly.
"Oh, thank you. But you're the top officer, right?"
The man nodded.
"Yes, I'm the top officer—Clive Columbus."
"Oh," Rehan murmured, glancing around.
The principal spoke up, a bit hesitantly.
"Sir…?"
Clive waved him off.
"Ah, sorry. I almost forgot to properly introduce you. This is Rehan Haq—one of UNI's head officers. And not just any head officer; he's counted among the organization's top-ranking officers. When he gives an order, even a judician must follow it."
The principal blinked.
"Wait… a head officer's order can override a judician?"
Clive leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk on his face.
"Yes. Rehan prefers to solve cases at the ground level. No other rank can operate like this, which is why he's a head officer. If I told him to, he could be made a judician immediately. And his crime-solving record? Ninety-seven percent success. That's why every judician requests the head judician to let him join a case—no one else has the authority to assign him. He doesn't need permission; the system bends for him."
Rehan raised an eyebrow, letting the weight of the introduction sink in. He knew he had a reputation—but hearing it out loud, from Clive Columbus himself, still brought a slight smirk to his face.
The principal gestured toward the chair.
"Sit, sir… you can also sit," he said.
Rehan lowered himself into the chair, casually leaning back.
The principal studied him for a moment.
"Sir… if you hold a position like yours, why isn't your name more… famous?"
Rehan smirked.
"Whoever speaks about me in public… that's their own loss."
The principal nodded slowly.
"True… but don't you think it's risky? Your information could leak."
Rehan shrugged.
"No."
The principal blinked.
"No?"
"Yes. If it leaks… well, you'll die anyway. What else?"
The principal stiffened slightly, taken aback.
"Ah… Principal sir, sorry… don't take it personally," Clive said softly, his tone steady but respectful.
"He just talks that way."
The principal relaxed a little, giving a small smile.
"Yes… I understand. You have a job to do."
Rehan leaned back, smirking.
"Huh… I don't understand. It's my work… you get it."
The principal chuckled awkwardly, a nervous but genuine laugh escaping him.
Rehan glanced around, then asked casually,
"By the way… you declared a holiday, right?"
"Yes, sir," the principal replied.
"With all that happened… we thought it was best."
Rehan raised an eyebrow.
"How long is the holiday?"
"Sir… until the case is solved," the principal answered.
Rehan leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Cancel the holiday."
Both the principal and Clive froze.
"What?" they said in unison.
Clive spoke first.
"Sir… but crimes are happening. The children won't come… it's safer this way."
Rehan shrugged.
"True. But if the children don't come, how will the culprit execute his plan?"
Clive frowned.
"There's risk in that, Rehan."
"Yes, there's risk," Rehan said calmly.
"But I said yesterday…"
"Sir, today there's risk because of yesterday," the principal muttered.
Clive nodded slowly.
"Cancel the holiday, sir."
The principal hesitated.
"But…"
"Now, sir," Clive interrupted, "we'll catch the culprit."
The principal tilted his head.
"How?"
"Because Rehan said yesterday," Clive replied confidently.
The principal blinked.
"Yes… and?"
"What he said yesterday… means the culprit must have a plan."
The principal leaned back, skeptical.
"But what plan?"
Clive smiled slightly.
"Ah… we'll know that at the end. It's his habit—he reveals his plan only at the last moment."
Rehan leaned back slightly and asked,
"Well… where is the teacher who's the main suspect?"
The principal cleared his throat.
"She's at her house, sir."
Rehan nodded thoughtfully.
"And… how many people know that she's under suspicion?"
Clive spoke calmly.
"Only the officials, sir."
"So… can I meet her?" Rehan asked, his tone casual but sharp.
"Yes," Clive confirmed.
Rehan stretched his arms, stifling a yawn.
"Alright… we'll meet her tomorrow."
Clive turned to the principal.
"Sir… from here on, Rehan will lead the case. I'm leaving now, Albert."
The principal's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait… you're not going to handle the case?"
Clive shook his head.
"No. My job was to organize the team. Rehan will lead from here. I only came to meet him personally."
The principal let out a small, astonished "Oh…"
Clive gave a slight nod.
"Alright, sir… we'll take our leave then."
Rehan finally yawned and stretched.
"Ah… okay, let's go."
As Rehan stepped out of the school, he slid into the car. Clive was already seated in the front, and Albert drove silently.
Rehan leaned back, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"By the way… have we kept an eye on the teacher? I mean… cams, surveillance, anything?"
Clive shook his head.
"No… she's a suspect, yes, but there's no proof linking her to the crimes. Until we have evidence, we can't do that."
Rehan glanced at Albert.
"Ah… well, where are we heading now?"
Albert replied, eyes on the road.
"Hotel, sir."
"Which one?" Rehan asked.
"Just a short drive from here," Albert said.
Clive spoke up.
"By the way… the rest of your team—the six officers who'll work with you—are already there."
Rehan raised an eyebrow.
"Six people?"
Clive nodded.
"Yes, six… plus Albert."
Rehan blinked, slightly surprised.
"Wait… he's included too?"
"Yes," Clive confirmed.
"Ah… huh. Fine," Rehan said, settling back.
Clive studied him for a moment.
"Any problem?"
"No… no problem," Rehan said quickly. "Just one question."
Clive nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Who decided she was a suspect?" Rehan asked. "I mean… if she met all the missing kids last, who noticed? Who reported it?"
Clive's lips curved slightly.
"Shazi."
"Shazi?" Rehan asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Clive explained. "She's working on this case too… and she's part of your seven-member team."
Rehan nodded, processing the information.
"Oh."
Clive smiled slightly.
"If you want, I can introduce you to your team today itself."
Rehan shook his head, stretching slightly.
"No… we'll do it tomorrow."
Clive glanced at Albert.
"Albert?"
"Yes, sir," Albert replied.
"Tomorrow, introduce Rehan to the team," Clive instructed.
"Yes, sir," Albert confirmed.
Albert stopped the car in front of the hotel.
"Sir… I'll drop him off and be right back. If you need anything while I'm gone, just call me," Albert said, keeping his tone respectful.
Rehan looked at him.
"You're going back?"
"Yes, sir. Just taking care of that," Albert replied calmly.
"Ah… okay," Rehan said, stepping out of the car.
The car drove away, leaving Rehan standing outside the hotel. A gust of cold wind made him shiver instantly.
Wow… "Love Palace," he thought, glancing at the neon sign. Out of all the places… this is where they drop me.
— — — — TO BE CONTINUED — — — —
CHAPTER - 1 PART - 3
Written & Created by
DARK_Novels_