Deadly Games

|01| : The Mouse Trap

"Four murders in and around the city but no clue of the killer. The police are unable to reach the murderer. The investigation is ongoing, but no one as of now have a possible hint about the killer; every evidence leads to a dead end. You are welcomed in 'Debate with Rini Singhal'. I now introduce you to today's esteemed guests who would answer some of our questions" The journalist proclaimed and slowly the debate dispersed in heated arguments. Yells, screeches, swear words were blasting on the television screen.

A man in his early 40s dressed in a violet suit stood with television remote in his hand. He pressed the power button and the television screen went off.
With a tedious expression on his face, he turned to his teammates.

The recent sepulchral upheaval of murders in the city, accompanied with police's inability to solve the case, deteriorated the image of police force, as well as downturned the hopes of public.

"The case is transferred to the Crime Investigation department. I need strong assistance and a determined team, and I trust you guys on this. The case will be headed under the leadership of Tiara Malhotra"

A young brunette, dressed in a brown shirt and beige pencil skirt looked up at his face, her facial features ranged from excitement to surprise.
Me. She softly whispered to herself.

"Malhotra, Stand up" The senior officer commanded

She stood upright in an attention position. "Yes sir" said in a stern voice

"The evidences, files of this case will reach here by any hour. Any update on the investigation, you would straightly report me" The forty year old man bestowed her with a prime responsibility on her shoulders.

"Yes Sir" She answered confidently, with a glint of strong will and interested on her face.

The team consisted of six members; led by Tiara Malhotra, followed by Siddhanth Sinha, Ranjana Yadav, Khushi Talwar, Jake Santiago, Afreen Nazim. They were all successful, prominent officers of their department, it was bewildering, when Tiara was assigned the task of a leader, and not to mention, she is a amateur.

The officers carried carton boxes filled with things related to the case, to one of the empty conference rooms.

Tiara put the images of the crime scenes along with some theories concocted, penned down on paper. She pinned them on the pin-up board.

"I've got a question, why can't the police find the killer, he would be lurking most probably near the crime scene or the victim's homes. As all of them are related somehow" Jake Santiago raised his hand and shooted a question.

"Yeah, you are right. Was the killer caught in any of the surveillance cameras?" Tiara said

"Nope. He knew about the cameras" Siddhanth said, a young lad, 5'9 ft, chiseled jawline and gelled ravenous hair; examining all the CCTV footage print out and recordings.

Khushi Talwar, a tall, sleek lady in her late 20s took the print outs and the laptop where the pen drive was inserted ,from Siddhanth and delved into it. Her eyes caught something intriguing on one of the CCTV footage, something usual but rather peculiar. A man clad in a black hoodie and black gloves, which shed ultra mysterious, dubious vibes.

She pressed the pause button, and tilted the laptop to Tiara and other members."This can be the killer"

Tiara narrowed her eyebrows and asked Khushi to zoom in, to have a proper view. The camera captured the rear view of that man, his face was barely visible due to his extra clothing.

Tiara defeatedly sighed, "The police must've been looked in here. It doesn't provide what we need. But I am pretty sure, he is the killer. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"