Chapter 1: The First Meeting

Amina’s POV

The precinct buzzed with energy. Phones rang incessantly, papers rustled, and hurried footsteps echoed off the tiled floors. It was my first day in this new department, and already I felt the weight of expectation. As one of the youngest detectives here—and a woman—I knew eyes would be on me. But I wasn’t here to prove myself to them; I was here to solve cases.

I adjusted my scarf, smoothing the fabric around my neck, and stepped into the briefing room. The scent of old leather and stale coffee hit me immediately. A semi-circle of detectives lounged around the table, their expressions ranging from bored to mildly curious as I entered.

That’s when I noticed him.

Zayd Ibn Khalid Al-Rashid.

He was leaning casually against a desk, arms crossed, his sharp features illuminated by the faint light from a flickering desk lamp. His thick, dark hair fell in loose waves, and there was an air of confidence about him—too much, if you asked me.

"Detective Al-Zahra, I presume?" His voice was smooth, almost lazy, as though he already knew the answer.

I met his gaze evenly. "And you are?"

His lips curved into a faint smirk. "Your new partner. Zayd Ibn Khalid Al-Rashid, at your service." He gave a slight bow, which somehow felt more mocking than polite.

I frowned. A partner wasn’t what I had in mind when I signed up for this case. I’d been hoping to work independently, to prove my worth without relying on anyone else.

"I hope you’re serious about this assignment," I said, keeping my tone clipped. "Because I don’t have time to babysit."

"Babysit?" He raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Don’t worry, Detective Al-Zahra. I’m more than capable of keeping up with you. In fact,"—he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping—"I might even surprise you."

I didn’t dignify that with a response.

The head detective, a gruff man named Captain Harun, entered the room and cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up!" he barked, silencing the low murmur of conversation. "We’ve got a new assignment. Two, actually. The first is a string of mysterious disappearances reported in the outskirts of the city. The second..." He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. "...is connected to the first. A series of coded messages have been left at each scene."

A ripple of interest moved through the room.

"Detectives Al-Rashid and Al-Zahra, you’ll take point on this case. The rest of you, divide up as needed. And I don’t want excuses—I want results."

I stole a glance at Zayd. He was writing something on a notepad, his handwriting neat and deliberate. His expression remained calm, almost too calm, as if this was just another day at work for him.

When Captain Harun dismissed the group, Zayd folded his note and slipped it into his pocket before turning to me.

"So, partner," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "Shall we get started?"

Amina: "We should head to the most recent scene. I want to see everything firsthand."

Zayd: "Efficient. I like it. But maybe we should start with the coded messages. If we can crack those, we might save ourselves some legwork."

Amina: "And miss the chance to collect firsthand evidence? No, thank you. You can analyze the codes while I do the real work."

Zayd chuckled. "Fair enough. But you’ll find I’m good at multitasking."

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, my focus already on the mission.

---

The First Crime Scene

The first site was an abandoned house on the edge of the city. The air was heavy with the scent of damp wood and mildew. Yellow police tape fluttered in the breeze, and the faint sound of distant traffic served as a reminder of the bustling city just beyond this eerie pocket of stillness.

"Charming place," Zayd said, stepping over a broken plank with practiced ease.

I ignored him, focusing instead on the details. The walls were covered in graffiti, but one symbol stood out—a series of intersecting lines forming a strange pattern.

"Do you see this?" I asked, gesturing to the wall.

Zayd stepped closer, his brows furrowing. "It’s not random," he murmured. "This could be part of the code."

"You think?" I shot back, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

He smiled faintly. "You’re sharp. I like that."

I chose not to respond, instead snapping a few photos of the symbol.

---

As we continued to examine the scene, I caught Zayd glancing at a small piece of paper tucked into his pocket. For a brief moment, his expression shifted—his usual calm demeanor replaced by something darker, almost calculating.

Before I could say anything, he turned to me, his charming smirk back in place. "Ready to move on, partner?"

I nodded, but a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that I should keep an eye on him.

---

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