Episode 8

Death at Midnight

Episode 8: The Shadows That Remain

The air was thick with tension. Even though Anjali Malhotra had been arrested, Inspector Aryan Mehta couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong. The night had ended with sirens, flashing cameras, and Anjali's chilling smirk.

And yet…

Why didn’t it feel like the case was truly over?

Aryan sat in his office, staring at the evidence board. The pictures, the notes, the crime scene reports—everything pointed to Anjali. The cyanide poisoning, the manipulation of Meera, the staged alibi—it all made sense.

But something about the way she had spoken before being taken away…

"You'll regret this, Inspector."

Her words echoed in his mind.

Aryan exhaled sharply. Maybe she was just trying to mess with him one last time.

But what if she wasn’t?

What if… she wasn’t working alone?

The Missing Link

The door creaked open, and Constable Rakesh stepped in, holding a file. "Sir, the forensics report just came in. Thought you’d want to see it."

Aryan took the file, flipping through the pages. The toxicology report confirmed the cyanide poisoning, and the fingerprints matched Anjali’s presence in all the crucial areas.

But then—something caught his eye.

"Wait a minute…"

Aryan's brows furrowed. He scanned the document again, heart pounding.

Something was missing.

Something huge.

"Rakesh," he said, his voice sharp. "Where's the analysis on the cyanide container?"

Rakesh blinked. "Sir, it was found in the vent system, just like we expected."

"Yes, but whose prints were on it?"

The constable flipped through the pages, then hesitated.

"Uh… sir… it says here that Anjali’s fingerprints weren’t found on the container."

Aryan’s blood ran cold.

"What?"

"That doesn’t make sense," he muttered. "She admitted to planting the poison. If she did it herself, her prints should be there."

Rakesh scratched his head. "Well… there was only one set of prints on the container."

Aryan’s gaze snapped up.

"Whose?"

Rakesh hesitated. "Sir… they belong to Patel."

Aryan’s breath caught.

"That’s impossible. Patel was dead before Karan was murdered."

But the evidence didn’t lie. The cyanide had been placed by Patel.

Which meant…

The Truth Buried in the Grave

Aryan’s mind reeled. Patel had been Karan’s most trusted employee. He had been the one handling all of Karan’s security, finances, and dirty business.

If Patel had planted the cyanide…

That meant he was involved in the murder before his own death.

But who killed him?

A chill crept up Aryan’s spine.

Had they been chasing the wrong killer all along?

He grabbed his coat. "Rakesh, I need you to get me everything on Patel. His phone records, his financials, his personal contacts. Someone wanted him dead, and I need to know who."

Rakesh nodded and rushed out.

Aryan rubbed his temple, his exhaustion growing. If Patel had been working with Anjali, why had she never mentioned him?

Unless…

She didn’t know he was involved.

Which meant there was someone else pulling the strings.

The Silent Call

Just as Aryan was about to leave, his phone vibrated. An unknown number.

He hesitated before answering.

"Inspector Aryan Mehta speaking."

A deep, distorted voice responded.

"You're looking in the wrong place, Inspector."

Aryan froze.