Episode 5

Death at Midnight

Episode 5: The Midnight Clue

The woman lay lifeless in Aryan’s arms, her final words echoing in his mind.

"The killer… is in the house."

A sharp gust of wind blew through the abandoned railway bridge, rustling the dry leaves at his feet. Aryan’s instincts screamed at him—whoever had shot her was still nearby.

He crouched low, scanning the shadows. The mist made visibility difficult, but he could feel the presence of someone watching him.

Then, another gunshot whizzed past his ear, barely missing him.

Without wasting a second, Aryan pulled out his gun and fired back in the direction of the shot. A dark figure darted between the trees. He chased after them, his boots crunching against the gravel.

But by the time he reached the clearing, the killer had disappeared.

Aryan cursed under his breath. This wasn’t just an ordinary murder. Someone was trying to cover their tracks, and they were willing to kill to keep their secret.

A Clue in the Blood

Aryan knelt beside the woman’s body, checking her pockets for identification.

No ID. No phone.

But something caught his eye—a scrap of paper clenched in her fist.

Carefully, he pried it from her stiff fingers. The paper was crumpled, but a single name was scrawled in hurried handwriting:

"S. Patel"

Aryan’s stomach twisted. Suresh Patel—the private investigator.

What was his connection to all this?

And more importantly—was he still alive?

The Silent Phone

Without wasting time, Aryan pulled out his phone and dialed Patel’s number.

The phone rang. Once. Twice.

Then, a click. Someone had answered.

But there was no sound. Just heavy breathing.

"Patel?" Aryan said urgently. "Are you there?"

A faint shuffle. A low whisper. Then—

The line went dead.

Aryan’s grip tightened around his phone. Someone had gotten to Patel.

And if he didn’t act fast, Patel would be the next body found.

The Private Investigator’s Fate

Aryan jumped into his car and sped towards Patel’s office. The city lights blurred past him, but his focus was razor-sharp.

By the time he reached the old building, a terrible feeling settled in his chest.

The door to Patel’s office was slightly open.

Gun drawn, Aryan pushed it wider. The room was dark, except for the faint glow of a desk lamp flickering on the table. Papers were scattered across the floor, a chair knocked over.

And then, his eyes landed on it.

A bloody handprint smeared across the desk.

But there was no sign of Patel.

A Hidden Message

Aryan moved cautiously, scanning the room for clues.

Then, something on the wall caught his attention.

A message—written in blood.

"LOOK UNDER THE FLOORBOARD."

Heart pounding, Aryan knelt down and ran his fingers along the wooden floor. A loose plank. He pried it open and found a small black diary inside.

It belonged to Patel.

Flipping through the pages, Aryan’s eyes widened at the last entry.

"I know the truth now. Karan Malhotra’s killer is someone no one suspects. But I have proof. If I don’t make it out alive, the answer is in the house. The study. The clock."

The clock?

Aryan’s mind raced. He had searched the study multiple times, but he hadn’t paid attention to the grandfather clock that stood in the corner.

What was hidden inside it?

There was only one way to find out.

The Clock’s Secret

Aryan rushed back to the Malhotra mansion. The house was quiet, the weight of Karan’s death still lingering in the air.

He entered the study and locked the door behind him. The grandfather clock loomed in the corner, its hands frozen at 11:50 PM—the exact time of Karan’s death.

Taking a deep breath, Aryan examined it closely.

Then, he noticed something.

The back panel of the clock had faint scratches, as if someone had pried it open recently.

His fingers found a small latch. He pulled.

And the back of the clock swung open, revealing a hidden compartment.

Inside was a stack of old letters—and something else.

A small vial identical to the one found in the air vent.

The murder weapon.

But there was one last thing.

A photograph.

Aryan pulled it out and froze.

The picture was of Karan Malhotra… and the real killer standing right beside him.