Chapter 2: The man everyone feared
512 Words
I looked back at the stranger.
The name sounded familiar.
Everyone in Karachi knew the Khan family.
Even if they pretended not to.
"The victim worked for his family," Bilal added.
My eyes returned to Zayan.
I expected chaos when Zayan Khan entered the hotel.
What I didn't expect was silence.
The kind of silence that made people lower their voices and avoid eye contact.
The kind of silence that came from fear.
From the second-floor balcony, I watched him cross the lobby.
No hesitation.
No nervousness.
No concern about the dozens of police officers surrounding the scene.
He walked like a man who belonged wherever he chose to stand.
"Why is he here?" I asked.
Inspector Bilal folded his arms.
"The victim worked directly for the Khan Group."
I frowned.
"So?"
"So that makes this very sensitive."
That wasn't an answer.
Before I could ask another question, Zayan stopped beside the covered body.
One of the officers stepped forward.
"Mr. Khan, this is an active investigation."
Zayan's expression didn't change.
"I know."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Controlled.
The officer seemed to lose confidence immediately.
I stared.
That was interesting.
People weren't just respecting him.
They were intimidated by him.
Zayan glanced briefly at the body before looking around the lobby.
His gaze moved over the officers.
The investigators.
The photographers.
Then it landed on me.
For a moment, neither of us looked away.
Something strange settled in my stomach.
Not fear.
Definitely not fear.
Annoyance.
Who did this man think he was?
His eyes narrowed slightly.
As if he was trying to figure me out too.
Then he looked away.
The moment broke.
"Come on," Bilal said.
"We need to continue processing the scene."
Hours passed.
The victim was identified as Kamran Sheikh, a senior executive at Khan Group Holdings.
Fifty-two years old.
Married.
Two children.
No criminal record.
No obvious enemies.
Which only made the murder more confusing.
By late afternoon, I was reviewing evidence in the temporary investigation room when a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Detective Malik?"
I looked up.
A young officer stood in the doorway.
"The commissioner wants to see you."
I blinked.
"The commissioner?"
The officer nodded.
"Immediately."
A knot formed in my stomach.
Commissioner Rehan Qureshi rarely summoned junior detectives personally.
And when he did, it usually wasn't for something small.
I gathered my files and headed toward his office.
Something told me this day wasn't over yet.
Not even close.
When I reached the commissioner's office, his secretary opened the door without a word.
I stepped inside.
Then stopped.
I wasn't alone.
Standing near the window with his hands in his pockets was the last person I expected to see again today.
Zayan Khan.
My eyes immediately shifted to the commissioner.
Then back to Zayan.
Neither man looked surprised.
Which meant I was the only one who didn't know what was going on.
The commissioner gestured toward a chair.
"Sit down, Detective."
My pulse quickened.
Something was happening.
And judging by the look on Zayan Khan's face, I wasn't going to like it.
- Writer
