she smiled before killing

she smiled before killing chapter 13

The next morning, the bureau buzzed with its usual chaos. Officers hurried from one desk to another, phones rang nonstop, and the sound of keyboards filled the room as everyone buried themselves in paperwork.

The glass doors slid open, and Dua walked in carrying a tray of hot drinks.

"Coffee delivery!" she announced cheerfully.

One by one, she handed a cup to each officer.

When she reached Manal, she extended another coffee.

Before Manal could take it, Iqrash spoke without even looking up from the case file in his hands.

"She prefers tea."

The room instantly fell silent.

Dua blinked in surprise.

"It's alright," she replied with an awkward smile. "She can have coffee today."

Iqrash finally lifted his eyes from the file.

"No. Leave it."

His tone was calm but firm.

"We're heading out for some work anyway. I'll buy her tea on the way."

Again...

Silence.

Every pair of eyes slowly shifted between Iqrash and Manal.

Even Manal looked at him in confusion.

*How does he even know that...?*

Completely unaware of everyone's expressions, Iqrash continued reading the file as if nothing unusual had happened.

Across the office, the team exchanged suspicious looks.

Irtaza raised one eyebrow.

Shahzaib bit back a grin.

Someone nudged another officer with their elbow.

Finally, everyone looked at Manal, silently asking the same question.

**What's going on between you two?**

Manal simply shrugged her shoulders with an innocent expression before returning to her work.

Her answer only made everyone even more curious.

A few seconds later...

**Team Group Chat**

**Irtaza:** *Guys... don't you think something feels off?*

**Shahzaib:** *Very off.*

**Officer Ali:** *Since when does Boss remember people's tea preferences?*

**Shahzaib:** *Forget tea... since when does Boss buy anyone drinks?*

Several laughing emojis flooded the chat.

Dua stared at the messages before typing nothing.

Instead, she looked at Manal across the room.

Jealousy flickered in her eyes.

She spoke aloud instead.

"Don't overthink it, guys."

Everyone looked toward her.

"Even if there is something..." she forced a smile, "...you all know Iqrash isn't serious about relationships."

Her words carried an edge.

"He gets bored quickly."

She glanced at Manal.

"So... focus on your work instead of imagining things."

The room became awkwardly quiet.

Irtaza frowned slightly.

He knew Dua had feelings for Iqrash.

Something about her words didn't sit right with him, but this wasn't the time to discuss personal matters.

A few minutes later...

*Clap!*

Iqrash brought everyone's attention back.

The officers gathered around the briefing table.

"We received a lead from last night's party."

His expression turned serious.

"We've located an illegal auction site."

The room instantly stiffened.

"Intelligence suggests that both gang leaders may be present."

He placed photographs across the table.

"This operation is extremely dangerous."

His sharp gaze swept across every officer.

"Gear up."

"Full tactical equipment."

"No unnecessary risks."

"If anything feels wrong..."

He paused.

"...trust your instincts."

Everyone nodded.

"And remember..."

A faint confident smile appeared on his face.

"We finish what we start."

"Victory will be ours."

"Yes, sir!"

The entire team answered together.

Less than an hour later...

Several black police SUVs silently surrounded an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

Everyone checked their weapons one final time.

Rifles.

Pistols.

Extra magazines.

Body armor.

Bluetooth communicators.

Iqrash looked toward Dua.

"You know your role."

She nodded confidently.

"I'll send updates from inside."

Disguised as one of the waitresses, Dua slipped into the auction hall.

Outside, the rest of the team waited for her signal.

Only the sound of their breathing filled the tense silence.

Then...

Dua's voice crackled through their earpieces.

"I... I can't believe this..."

"What happened?" Iqrash asked immediately.

For a few seconds...

Nothing.

When she finally spoke again, her voice trembled.

"They're not just auctioning drugs..."

Everyone outside froze.

"They're... selling girls."

Silence.

"Some of them..."

Her breathing became uneven.

"...they're children."

Every officer clenched their fists.

Manal's jaw tightened.

Irtaza cursed under his breath.

Iqrash closed his eyes for a brief second before speaking.

His voice was colder than ever.

"Stay hidden."

"Don't expose yourself."

"We're coming in."

He looked at his team.

His eyes no longer held mercy.

"Move."

Within seconds, the tactical unit stormed toward the warehouse.

The operation had officially begun.

The massive warehouse doors burst open with a deafening crash.

"**Police! Nobody move!**"

Gunfire erupted almost instantly.

**Bang! Bang! Bang!**

The peaceful silence of the auction hall transformed into complete chaos.

Guests screamed and scattered in every direction as armed gangsters drew their weapons. Bullets ripped through tables, shattered glass, and echoed throughout the building.

"Take cover!" Iqrash shouted.

The team split into their assigned positions.

Irtaza and Shahzaib covered the eastern wing while another squad secured the exits.

Iqrash fired two precise shots, taking down the gunmen blocking the main entrance.

"Manal! Dua! Rescue the hostages. The rest of us will hold them off."

"Copy!" they answered together.

---

With pistols drawn, Manal and Dua sprinted through the corridors.

Every corner was a potential ambush.

A gangster appeared from a side hallway.

Before he could fire—

**Bang!**

Manal's bullet struck his shoulder, sending him crashing against the wall.

Dua quickly disarmed another attacker with a sharp kick before knocking him unconscious.

"Room clear!" she called.

The two continued searching every floor.

Suddenly, they heard muffled sobs coming from behind a locked steel door.

Manal forced it open.

The sight inside made both women freeze.

Dozens of young girls huddled together.

Some looked no older than fifteen.

Several had bruises on their arms.

Others sat silently with empty expressions, dressed in expensive gowns like lifeless dolls waiting to be sold.

One little girl covered her face and began crying the moment she saw the police uniforms.

"Oh my God..." Dua whispered, horrified.

Manal's grip around her pistol tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"They're monsters..." she muttered.

"They're not even human."

She knelt beside the frightened girls, softening her voice.

"You're safe now."

"No one is going to hurt you."

"We're police officers."

The girls broke into tears.

One after another, they rushed toward Manal and Dua.

"It's okay," Manal reassured them gently.

"We're getting you out."

Dua contacted the rescue team through her earpiece.

"Hostages located."

"Send medical support to the rear exit immediately."

Within minutes, officers escorted the girls safely outside while paramedics rushed to help them.

Watching the last victim leave safely, Manal let out a relieved breath.

But it didn't last long.

A loud explosion echoed from the lower floors.

"They still need us," she said.

Dua nodded.

"Let's finish this."

---

The fifth floor had become a battlefield.

Gunfire echoed from every direction.

Gang members continued pouring into the building.

As Manal searched for another staircase, she spotted a thick industrial rope hanging beside the open atrium.

Her eyes lit up.

"I've got another way down."

"Manal, wait!" Dua called after her.

But she had already hooked the rope around her arm.

Without hesitation—

She jumped.

Holding a pistol in each hand, she slid rapidly down the rope toward the lower floors.

As she descended, armed gangsters rushed toward the railing.

They never got the chance to shoot.

**Bang! Bang! Bang!**

Her shots were quick and controlled.

One by one, the gunmen dropped before they could react.

Seconds later, she landed smoothly on the ground floor.

Right beside Iqrash.

He turned the moment he heard her boots hit the floor.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

His expression hardened.

"I told you to stay with the rescue team."

"And leave you to deal with all this alone?" she replied while firing at another attacker.

"Not happening."

A gangster rushed toward Iqrash from behind.

Before he could react—

Manal spun and drove a powerful kick into the man's chest.

The attacker stumbled backward.

Iqrash fired a single shot.

The threat was eliminated.

For a brief second, their eyes met.

"You never listen."

A small smile tugged at Manal's lips.

"You noticed?"

Despite the chaos surrounding them, Iqrash couldn't help shaking his head.

"You're impossible."

"And yet," she replied while reloading her pistol, "here you are."

Neither of them noticed Irtaza watching from across the hall.

A faint smile crossed his face before he returned to the fight.

---

Nearly twenty minutes later...

Most of the warehouse had been secured.

The remaining gangsters were surrendering.

While searching the upper offices, Manal grabbed one injured gangster by his collar and slammed him against the wall.

She pressed her pistol beneath his jaw.

"Where's your boss?"

The man laughed weakly.

"I don't know."

She tightened her grip.

"I'll ask one last time."

Before he could answer—

A black SUV burst through the warehouse gates.

"He's escaping!" an officer shouted.

Manal looked toward the exit.

At the same moment, Iqrash sprinted after the vehicle.

Without thinking twice—

She threw the gangster into the hands of another officer.

"Irtaza! Take him!"

"I'm going after Boss!"

Dua rushed toward her.

"Go!"

"We've got this."

Right then, backup units stormed into the warehouse.

The remaining criminals were arrested while ambulances arrived to treat the injured officers.

Outside...

The chase had already begun.

Iqrash's SUV sped through the empty streets.

The escaping vehicle swerved recklessly through traffic.

Moments later—

The roar of a motorcycle echoed behind them.

Manal.

She accelerated until she was riding almost parallel with Iqrash's vehicle.

Through the windshield, he noticed her.

She gave him a determined nod.

He immediately understood her plan.

At the next intersection, Manal took a sharp shortcut through a narrow service road.

Her motorcycle shot ahead.

Within seconds—

She emerged directly in front of the fleeing SUV.

The gangster slammed on the brakes.

**Screech!**

The vehicle came to a violent stop.

Before the driver could reverse—

Iqrash blocked the rear with his SUV.

The suspect was trapped.

Both officers stepped forward with their weapons aimed.

"Get out of the vehicle!"

The man slowly raised his hands.

Defeated.

Manal yanked open the driver's door and dragged him onto the road.

"You filthy bastard..."

She was about to strike him again when Iqrash stopped her.

"Wait."

He crouched beside the man and pulled away the black mask covering his face.

The criminal smiled.

A slow...

Disturbing...

Bloodstained smile.

Manal frowned in disgust.

Without hesitation—

**Punch!**

Her fist landed squarely across his face.

"I hate that smile."

The gangster laughed anyway, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"You police officers..."

"...you're celebrating too early."

Iqrash studied him carefully.

"No..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"You're not the leader."

The man's laughter grew louder.

"So..."

"The famous Officer Iqrash finally figured it out."

He spat blood onto the ground.

"You'll never catch our boss."

"You don't even know what he looks like."

"Keep dreaming."

Iqrash remained calm.

"Maybe."

"But we caught you."

"And sooner or later..."

"...you'll tell us everything."

The man smiled again.

"I can't."

"I've never seen his face either."

Silence followed.

For the first time that night...

Even Iqrash realized how carefully the real mastermind had hidden himself.

The game wasn't over.

It had only just begun.