Episode 11

Death at Midnight

Episode 11: The Woman Who Knew Too Much

The pieces were starting to fit together, but the picture they painted was more complex than Aryan Mehta had imagined.

Karan Malhotra was dead.

Anjali was in jail.

Patel had been silenced.

Rohan was pulling strings in the shadows.

And now, Meera Sharma’s name had surfaced in the company’s financial records.

Aryan’s gut told him she was more than just a mistress in this deadly game.

And if she wasn’t careful—she could be the next target.

A Missing Woman

Aryan’s first stop was Meera’s apartment, a modest yet well-kept flat in Andheri. He knocked once. No response.

A second knock—silence.

Something felt wrong.

He motioned for the constable with him to step back as he pulled out his gun. With a swift kick, the door burst open.

Inside, the place was ransacked.

Drawers were flung open, clothes scattered across the floor. A broken lamp lay near the couch, and a shattered mirror reflected the chaos.

But what Aryan didn’t see—was Meera.

"Sir, she’s not here," the constable muttered.

Aryan scanned the room. Meera had either run or been taken.

And he had no idea which.

But someone had been looking for something.

His eyes landed on a half-burnt paper near the kitchen counter. He picked it up carefully. The edges were charred, but one line stood out.

"Midnight. Gateway of India."

His pulse quickened.

Had Meera left this as a clue? Or had someone else planned to meet her there?

Either way, he had no choice but to go.

A Meeting in the Shadows

That night, Aryan stood near the historic Gateway of India, the waves crashing against the shore behind him. The area was dimly lit, the usual tourist buzz now replaced with eerie silence.

Then, he saw her.

Meera.

She emerged from the shadows, wearing a hooded jacket, her eyes darting around in fear.

Aryan stepped forward. "Meera Sharma."

She froze. "Inspector?"

"You’ve been running."

She swallowed. "You don’t understand. I—I didn’t know what I was getting into."

"Then start talking."

Meera exhaled shakily. "Karan told me to handle some transactions for him. I never asked questions. But after his death, someone else started sending me instructions. Someone who—"

BANG!

A gunshot rang out.

Meera screamed as Aryan tackled her to the ground, shielding her as the bullet struck the stone wall behind them.

The shooter was close.

Aryan pulled out his gun, scanning the shadows. A dark figure was sprinting away.

"Stay down!" he ordered Meera as he took off after the shooter.

The chase led him through narrow alleys and darkened streets, but the figure was fast.

Aryan was closing in—until the shooter jumped into a waiting car.

The tires screeched as the vehicle sped away into the night.

Aryan cursed under his breath. He had been seconds away from catching him.

But now, he had a bigger problem.

Whoever wanted Meera dead—was still out there.

The Truth She Hid

Back at the police station, Meera sat trembling, her fingers gripping a glass of water.

Aryan sat across from her, his gaze sharp. "Talk. Who was sending you instructions after Karan died?"

She hesitated.

"Meera, if you keep quiet, you’re as good as dead."

Her lips quivered. Then, finally, she whispered, "It wasn’t just Rohan."

Aryan’s breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

She looked up, fear etched into her face.

"There’s someone bigger behind this. Someone who wanted Karan gone. Someone who’s cleaning up every loose end."

Aryan’s grip tightened.

"Who?"

Meera swallowed.

"You’re not going to believe me."

"Try me."

She exhaled. And then she said the name.

And Aryan felt the ground shift beneath him.

To Be Continued…

(Next episode: Episode 12: The Name That Changes Everything—where the true mastermind is revealed, and Aryan realizes he’s been chasing the wrong enemy all along.)

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