FORBIDDEN FLAMES ✅

Planning and Plotting

AUTHOR'S POV

Vihaan signaled the team to follow silently. They moved cautiously, their guns at the ready. As they reached Dr. John's apartment, they positioned themselves at the door. With silent gestures, they communicated the plan: a swift, coordinated entry to take John and Sagar by surprise.

On Vihaan's signal, they burst into the apartment. Inside, they found a chaotic scene—papers strewn everywhere and a smashed monitor on the floor. Vihaan gestured to Shreya. "Gather all the evidence. Get the hard disk and any other electronic devices."

Shreya nodded and immediately set to work. As she began collecting evidence, there was a sudden click from the bedroom door. The team immediately turned their attention to the noise.

 Dr. John emerged, looking startled. Seeing the armed team, he quickly reached for a gun.Vihaan stepped forward, aiming his weapon at John. "Hands down, John. You have nowhere to escape. We've captured you. If you want to leave here alive, surrender now."

John hesitated, his eyes darting around the room, looking for an escape route. Realizing he was cornered, he slowly raised his hands, dropping the gun.

"Good," Vihaan said, signaling to one of the officers to secure John. "Cuff him and make sure he can't make any calls."

As the officer moved to restrain John, Shreya approached Vihaan with a bag filled with hard drives, USB sticks, and other potential evidence. "We've got everything we need here," she said.Vihaan nodded, turning his attention back to John. "Why did you do it, John? Why betray your profession, your oath?"

John smirked, his expression defiant. "You think you can stop this, Vihaan? You're too late. Sagar's already in motion. He's smarter than you think."

Vihaan's face hardened. "We'll see about that. Where is Sagar, John?"

John remained silent for a moment, then smirked. "No matter how hard you try, you can't catch him or stop him. He's already started our plan."

Vihaan's patience was wearing thin. "Take him to custody, now!" he shouted. He turned to Karan. "Go and check the CCTV footage. We need to get information on Sagar at any cost."

Karan nodded and left the room quickly. As they escorted John out, Vihaan messaged Mahendra: "We've apprehended John. Sagar is not here, we are looking for him."

Mahendra replied promptly, "Understood. I'll get a team prepared to search for him. Good work, Vihaan."

With John in custody and the evidence secured, Vihaan, Shreya, and the team left the apartment. They knew the next steps were crucial—interrogating John to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and ensuring Sagar didn't get away. The stakes were high, but they were ready to see it through to the end.

At the office, John was restrained and tied to a chair. Vihaan stood over him, his voice cold and commanding. "Now, tell me, John. What's the motive? What did you and Sagar plan? What are you doing?"

John chuckled darkly, meeting Vihaan's gaze with defiance. "You really think you can stop us? We have a network, Officer. Sagar's plan is already in motion. You're too late."

Vihaan's patience was wearing thin. "I don't have time for games, John. Start talking, or you'll regret it."

John sneered. "You think you can scare me? Sagar has contingency plans. He's holding those children as leverage. If anything happens to him, they'll disappear forever."

Vihaan took a deep breath, controlling his anger. "Where are the children, John? What does Sagar want?"

John's face hardened. "I won't say it. Even if you kill me, I won't say it. Sagar will make sure you people never reach him."

Vihaan looked at John with a calm demeanor. "Why are you covering for him, John? Just because you are his partner?"

John smirked. "No, it's because after my brother died in that fatal accident, it was Sagar who stood up and took over the business. He gave me respect and treated me well."

Vihaan listened, his face calm. "What if I told you that the person you are trying to cover up is the one behind your brother's murder? Sagar is the cold-blooded murderer of your brother."

John's smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of doubt. "Don't play these games with me, Vihaan. I've seen many of these in my experience. This won't work with me."

"Fine," Vihaan said. "You don't have to believe me. What if I show you proof?"

John turned serious. "What do you mean? Don't play these games with me. Sagar wouldn't do that. He wouldn't kill my brother. My brother gave him life."

Vihaan looked at Neil, who nodded and played the recording of Flex and Lucy's confession, detailing how Sagar killed Alex and made it look like an accident.

John's face went pale, his defiance melting away. "I don't believe this. I don't believe you, Vihaan."

"Don't believe us?" Vihaan said. "What if I bring them here? They will tell you directly. Then will you accept the truth?"

John's eyes darted around the room, the realization setting in. His confidence waned, and he finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Bring them here," he said, his voice shaking. "If they say it to my face, then I'll believe it."

Vihaan signaled to Shreya to bring Flex and Lucy. Moments later, they were brought into the interrogation room, their faces a mix of fear and resolve.

Vihaan addressed them, "Tell John what you told us about Alex's death."

Flex, his voice trembling, repeated the story. "Sagar killed Alex in the warehouse. He made it look like a fire accident. John, it's the truth. We were there. We saw it happen."

Lucy nodded in agreement, her voice steady. "John, Sagar is not who you think he is. He's been using you, manipulating you."

John's face contorted with anguish as he absorbed their words. The realization of betrayal hit him hard. "No... It can't be true. Sagar wouldn't do that."

"It's the truth, John," Vihaan said softly but firmly. "Now, help us stop him and save those children. Where is he?"

John's resistance broke, and he slumped in the chair, defeated. "There's an old abandoned factory warehouse on the outskirts of the city. That's where he hides out and keeps the children. I can take you there."