Raaz ( Mystery)

Chapter 18

Vincere aut mori
(Conquer or Die)

Mihrimah :
It was already nine o'clock in the evening when they reached their apartment. Since the organization was responsible for the stay so their finances were limited and they had to stay at an apartment instead of a hotel. Their accommodation was at the Na Lenina Apartments located at the centre of Novosibirsk. The apartment comprised of three bedrooms , two restrooms , a living room and a kitchen.  Asher gave Mihrimah the keys to the room which had an attached bathroom. After taking the keys she went straight to her room leaving him and Fyodor in the living room. It was a compact room with a single bed at the centre , a side table beside the bed with a lamp placed on it and a mirror on the right wall. The walls were painted white and on the left side there was a wooden door which led to a tiny restroom. After putting her bags down Mihrimah observed the room for a few minutes before she went for a shower. When she entered the room again Mihrimah heard a knock on the door. 
"Please come out when you're ready. We're going out for dinner" said Fyodor. He left before she could say anything which made it obvious that it wasn't a question but a statement. After drying her hair she started getting ready. Mihrimah entered the living room within 15 minutes. She wore a white oversized sweatshirt with black wide leg pants and black headscarf. Asher and Fyodor were already sitting in the living room it looked like they were waiting for her. They had dinner at the Cafe Aragvi and were waiting for the bill when Asher excused himself to pick a call.

Asher :
It was Anastasia's call she told him about the situation at pervomayskiy.
"We have found clothes soaked in blood which resemble to the ones described in Mr Zaidi's report. I think this case is heading into a different dimension and we should involve the police now". 
"I'll be there in thirty minutes don't contact the police or do anything until I ask you to. " Asher said in a commanding tone. After hanging up the phone he turned around only to find Mihrimah standing behind him. He tried to hide all the traces of distress over his face and managed to bring back a neutral expression. "You dropped your wallet on the way here" she said with a poker face. He grabbed the wallet from her hands without saying anything.
When they were all set to leave back for the apartment, Asher excused himself by saying he had to meet a friend and he will be back later. Fyodor went inside the cab but Mihrimah refused to go back with him. She followed Asher to the parking lot but before she could say anything Fyodor had already told him that Mihrimah went after him. He turned around and asked "Why are you here and not in the cab with Fyodor?"
"What are you hiding from me?" she answered with a question of her own. 
"You should be back at the apartment. It's not safe out here at this hour" he said trying to remain calm. 
" Why are you not answering my question ? Is it a bad news? Did something happen?" she asked him furiously.
" Miss Zaidi why don't you just listen to me this once and go back to the apartment?" he asked being frustrated by her questions.
" Mr Asher tell me is he even alive? Tell me the truth I have all the right to know" she said with cracking voice. Asher could sense the fear and agony in her voice. He didn't want to disappoint her but he couldn't comfort her with a lie too.
" We don't know that yet. I'm going there to check that myself" he replied in a reassuring way.
"I'm coming with you as well." Asher knew she wouldn't listen to him even if he refused to take her with him so he just gave up. He couldn't help but notice her trembling hands on their way to pervomayskiy. He wanted to comfort her like she had comforted him on the airplane but didn't have the courage to do so. When they reached pervomayskiy the team was already there. Anastasia gave him a look of disbelief when she saw Mihrimah with him.
" She heard our conversation and won't listen no matter how much I stopped her from coming" he explained in a low voice.
"What did you find ?" Mihrimah asked Anastasia.
" We found his clothes. They are soaked in what seems like fresh blood" she managed to say.
" Can you show me the clothes?"  Anastasia looked at Asher for a second before saying something. This was her way of asking for his approval to which he nodded.
"Yes come with me" she said after getting his approval.

Mihrimah :
After closely observing the clothes "These are not my father's clothes" she said confidently. Everyone was taken aback by her statement. "How can you be so sure of it?" asked Asher in a genuinely curious tone.
"I had gifted him the clothes he was wearing that day. These are pretty similar but not the same. This coat has three buttons but the one he was wearing had two only. The brand is different too" she replied calmly.
"Are you sure because if you're right then this seems like a trick to divert our attention" said Anastasia.
"Yes my father is alive" her words held such conviction that everyone wanted to believe her.

Andrei :
He was sitting on his office chair when he called Andrei inside the office.
"Update me on that girl and make it quick I don't have much time " he said agitatedly.
After hearing everything that had occurred at pervomayskiy earlier he couldn't hold back his anger.
"I told you to take care of that girl. You had one job and you couldn't even do that. How can someone so stupid work with Yahyah Sultan? Is this what I pay you for ?" He said with his teeth clenched.
"What is she doing with him ? Why are they always together in the photos lately? Keep an eye on them. I will handle the rest in my own way. Now don't waste my time and get lost" he lashed out at Andrei. After he left the room Yahyah looked at the photos on his table
"I never wanted our paths to cross but why did you have to come here brother?" He said with an evil grin on his face.

Author's note :
Salam how are y'all doing? How was today's chapter? What's going to happen next any guesses? I hope you'll like where the story is getting. Is it getting interesting?