Episode 10

Death at Midnight

Episode 10: The Silent Heir

The night was restless, filled with sirens and the lingering scent of blood. The informant's body had been taken away, another pawn lost in this deadly game. But now, Inspector Aryan Mehta had a name.

Rohan Malhotra.

The quiet younger brother. The overlooked heir. The man who now controlled everything.

And if Aryan was right, he wasn’t just the one who benefited the most from Karan Malhotra’s death.

He was the one who orchestrated it.

A Dangerous Game Begins

Back at the station, Aryan sat with Rakesh, going over everything they had.

"Sir," Rakesh said hesitantly, "are we sure Rohan is involved? I mean, he was never in the picture before. What if we’re missing something?"

Aryan exhaled sharply. "That’s exactly why he’s dangerous. He’s been playing in the shadows while we chased Anjali, Patel, and everyone else. And now, someone just tried to silence the one person feeding me the truth."

Rakesh looked uneasy. "But we don’t have direct proof linking him yet. If we move now without evidence, he’ll slip away."

Aryan knew Rakesh was right. Rohan was smart. He had waited years to take control—he wouldn’t make mistakes now.

They needed proof.

And Aryan knew exactly where to start.

A Visit to Malhotra Enterprises

The next morning, Aryan arrived at Malhotra Enterprises, its towering glass structure reflecting the rising sun. The company had been through hell—its CEO murdered, its name dragged through scandals.

And yet, business continued.

The receptionist looked up as Aryan flashed his badge. "I need to see Rohan Malhotra."

The woman hesitated. "Mr. Malhotra isn’t taking visitors."

Aryan leaned forward. "I wasn’t asking."

Minutes later, he was led into a sleek office where Rohan Malhotra sat behind a massive desk, dressed in a crisp black suit.

He looked up, offering a polite smile. "Inspector Mehta. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Aryan didn’t sit. "I think you already know."

Rohan leaned back, amused. "Do I?"

Aryan studied him. Unlike Karan, who had been arrogant and flashy, Rohan was calm, controlled, and calculating.

Which made him far more dangerous.

"I know about the ₹50 lakh transfer to Patel," Aryan said. "I know he was silenced. I know the real mastermind isn’t behind bars yet."

Rohan’s expression didn’t change. "That’s a serious accusation, Inspector."

Aryan folded his arms. "You stayed in the background for years while Karan ran the show. Then, conveniently, he’s murdered, Anjali gets arrested, Patel is eliminated, and you suddenly take over the company. That’s not coincidence. That’s planning."

Rohan chuckled softly. "That’s business, Inspector."

Aryan’s patience thinned. "Did you kill your own brother?"

Rohan’s smile faded. "If I did, do you think you’d be standing here asking me?"

His tone was so cold that Aryan felt a chill.

For a second, the room was silent.

Then Rohan leaned forward. "You want to know what really happened, Inspector? Fine. But I suggest you dig deeper than just me. Because my brother’s death wasn’t the beginning of this game. It was just one move."

Aryan’s fists clenched. "Then tell me—who else is playing?"

Rohan smirked. "That’s for you to figure out. If you can keep up."

A New Lead—And A New Target

As Aryan walked out of Malhotra Enterprises, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Rohan wasn’t lying.

The younger Malhotra had played a role in this, no doubt. But what if he wasn’t the only one?

His phone rang. It was Rakesh.

"Sir, I checked the company records like you asked. You won’t believe what I found."

"Try me."

"There’s another name tied to Malhotra Enterprises," Rakesh said. "Someone who had financial access and direct involvement with Patel."

Aryan’s pulse quickened. "Who?"

Rakesh hesitated. Then he spoke.

"Meera Sharma."

Aryan stopped in his tracks.

Meera.

Karan’s secret mistress. The one who had been manipulated by Anjali.

And now, somehow, she was tied to the financial side of the company?

How deep did this conspiracy go?

Aryan turned, staring back at Malhotra Enterprises.

He had thought he was hunting one mastermind.

But maybe—just maybe—he was walking straight into a game with more players than he ever imagined.

To Be Continued…

(Next episode: Episode 11: The Woman Who Knew Too Much—where Aryan tracks down Meera Sharma, only to find that the real danger is closer than he ever expected.)

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***