People think interrogation is about force.

They are wrong.

If you want something valuable from someone a confession, a truth, a secret you don't threaten them.

You become their comfort.

Their ally.

Their safest place.

Only then they forget that you are the predator, and they walk straight into your jaws.

The trick is simple:

Smile.

Listen.

Pretend you care.

And when their guard drops... you strike.

Right now, I'm doing exactly that with the man sitting in front of me Keshav. A murderer who still believes he can outsmart the police. The dim interrogation room flickers with a dying tube-light, shadows slicing the walls like thin blades. His hands tremble against the steel table.

I keep my voice soft. Calm. Almost friendly.

"You are absolutely right, Keshav." I offer him a reassuring smile, the kind that makes men relax, the kind that hides my real intentions. "We were wrong to doubt you."

He exhales shakily, shoulders dropping an inch.

Good.

He's starting to trust me.

I place my hand on the table between us, letting the light catch my face just enough to appear warm never threatening.

"You weren't in the victim's room that night," I say gently. "Right?"

He hesitates, then nods too quickly.

"Y-yes... I wasn't. I told you already, sir, I wasn't there."

I chuckle, leaning in slightly, eyes locked onto his like a quiet trap tightening.

"Relax, Keshav. I believe you."

My tone is soft almost soothing. "I'm just talking to you... man to man."

His shoulders loosen. He gives a small, forced laugh.

I continue, voice smooth as silk, "But you understand something, right? If you were at the club that night... then someone must've seen you. There should be a witness."

His face stiffens for a second barely noticeable, except to a man like me.

A professional liar always reacts differently than an amateur murderer.

He swallows and tries to recover with a smug smile, "I already sent those people to be my witness, sir. They know I was there."

He thinks he sounds confident.

He doesn't.

I tilt my head. "Is that so?"

"Yes," he nods. "They will back me up. I'm not afraid."

"Hmm."

I let the silence stretch just long enough to make him uncomfortable.

Then I ask softly, almost casually, "Then how did you plan the murder?"

The question hits him like a physical slap.

His smile falters.

His eyes flicker.

His hands curl into fists.

Got you.

I sit back in my chair, watching the panic crawl up his throat. He tries to laugh it off, but his voice breaks.

"What-what murder, sir? I said I didn't--"

"Keshav," I interrupt him smoothly, "I'm not accusing you. I'm curious. You're a smart man. Intelligent, even." I lean forward, my voice dropping to a whisper. "A plan that clean must have taken years. Right?"

His breathing quickens. Sweat forms on his forehead.

"Years?" he echoes, barely audible.

I smile. "Of course. No man kills his best friend's wife out of impulse."

His entire body freezes.

He did not expect that sentence.

I sit back, crossing my arms casually, letting him drown in his own panic.

Finally, he breaks.

"I- I..." he stutters, staring at his trembling hands like they belong to someone else. "I never wanted to kill her. I... I loved her. She rejected me because of him. He didn't deserve her."

His voice cracks raw, ugly, real.

"And?" I ask quietly.

"And I... I planned it... years ago. I killed him first."

His chest rises and falls violently.

"I killed him two years ago."

Silence.

Heavy.

Absolute.

Then I allow myself the smallest, coldest smile.

"So... the crime is confessed."

His head snaps toward me, horror flooding his features.

"Wh-what? Aayan? You said you were on my side-"

I stand slowly. My shadow swallows the table.

"ACP Aayan Malhotra, Keshav. I am not your friend or your ally. I'm just the man who hunts men like you."

The door opens behind me. Two officers step in.

Keshav's voice shatters.

"You..you tricked me-"

I fix my cuffs calmly, not even glancing at him.

"That's what predators do."

The officers drag him out as he screams.

His voice fades into the corridor.

I remain still for a moment, letting my smile fade, letting my mask slip back into its colder shape.

The door of the interrogation room clicks shut behind me. The corridor outside is dim, lit with long white strips of light that give the entire ACP wing a clinical, merciless shine. Everything here is polished marble floors, glass partitions, metallic nameplates. A luxury cage built to hold monsters.

And the biggest monster walks out of the room.

Me.

Ravi waits for me near my office, arms crossed, jaw tight. The second he sees me, he strides forward.

"What is this, Aayan?" His voice holds concern, frustration... and fear.

I brush past him and make my way into my cabin. The door swings open smoothly. Soft grey walls. A massive glass window that overlooks the city. A mahogany desk that reflects every light like a weapon.

I drop into my chair.

Ravi follows, sitting opposite me.

"What?" I ask, voice flat.

He exhales sharply. "You're want to work on the Hotel Elysian case. After all these years. why now?"

I lean back, tilt my head slightly, let the silence stretch.

I answer, "Because I always wanted to know the mystery"

"That's not an answer," he shoots back.

My lips twitch in the faintest hint of amusement. "It's the only one that matters."

He waits.

I turn my gaze to the side wall steel grey, spotless, comforting in its emptiness. "There's a new player stepping into the field," I say slowly. "Disha Kapoor. Famous journalist."

Recognition flickers in his eyes.

"She wants to work on it because of her mother's death."

"I know who she is, Aayan. Everyone does. But why does that related to you?"

I straighten a file on my desk, my fingers tracing its sharp corner.

"Because now," I murmur, "I have a partner."

He leans forward. "Dude you never take partners."

"Exactly," I whisper.

"But She is not just another pawn, she is important part of my game. Her mind... is dangerous. She knows things about the hotel that no one has been able to find for years. And the evidence she sent me PDF, encrypted files,they have potential."

Ravi studies me carefully. "You sound impressed."

"I am," I admit without hesitation. "For this case, I need someone fearless. Someone who won't break."

A pause.

"And I need someone who's also walking toward the same destination."

He narrows his eyes. "And what is your destination?"

A faint, humorless smile touches my lips.

"Her destination is mine," I say softly. "Finding the truth about Hotel Elysian."

He nods, understanding the weight beneath my words.

I slide my cigarette box across the desk toward him. He takes one, clicks his lighter.

The spark hisses.

Fire blooms for a second.

My jaw clenches. My gaze instantly turns away, fixing on the cold metal linings of my desk instead. My chest tightens, breath shallow.

I have fear of fire and only Ravi and Kashwin knows it.

My little brother.

My only soft spot. The one person I keep far, far away from the darkness that swallows me. He's the golden one heir to A&V Jewellery, untouched by blood and shadows. I made sure of that.

Ravi hands me the lit cigarette.

I take it between my fingers and inhale, letting the smoke burn the fear, the memories, the flames out of me.

The darkness settles back into its throne.

Exactly where it belongs.

__________________________

So what do you think of Aayan?

Author's note:- next chapter will be updated on Wednesday