Shadows of Deceit | MilkLove AU

Ch1: The Murder

The air in the cramped, windowless room felt thick and oppressive. There's a faint light from the solitary fixture overhead that casts eerie shadows that dance across the bare concrete walls of a dark room. An ominous silence hung in the air until it was broken by a man's labored breathing and the creak of the old wooden chair as he shifted uncomfortably, his bound hands straining against the tight ropes.

"Please, I'm begging. I'll give you anything, just please, let me go!" the man pleaded, his voice trembling with fear. His eyes are bloodshot from crying and darting around the room, desperately searching for any means of escape or hope of rescue.

The room smelled musty, and damp, suggesting it had likely been abandoned and neglected. An unsettling sense of isolation and dread permeated the space, leaving the man acutely aware of his vulnerable, precarious situation.

A figure suddenly loomed over him. "Please..." the man pleaded for the last time.

"Your time is up," the figure said.

The man squeezed his eyes shut, a sense of resignation washing over him as he accepted his fate.

The next morning, a group of teenagers stumbled upon a limousine parked in the empty lot behind the bus terminal. The sleek, black vehicle stood out, its tinted windows concealing whatever lay inside.

Curious, one of the teenagers approached the car and tried the door handle on impulse. To her surprise, it was unlocked. What greeted her though made her heart skip a beat - a lifeless figure lay peacefully in the backseat. She gasped and quickly slammed the door shut, staggering back in horror.

"There's someone dead in there!" she cried, her voice trembling.

Within minutes, the normally quiet street in Bangkok descended into chaos. Panicked calls flooded the local police station as word of the governor's murder spread throughout the city. The media arrived in droves, camera crews and reporters clamoring to be the first to capture the shocking scene.

Knock, knock!

A soft knock at the door pulled Pat from her thoughts. She looked up to see her partner, Detective Tinh Kasem standing in the doorway.

"Sergeant? Do you have a minute?" he asked.

She nodded, setting down the file she had been reviewing. "Of course. Come in, Detective."

"Have you heard the news?" he asked.

She fixed him with a penetrating look, and said, "So, by the news you mean the brutal murder of one of the most powerful men in Thailand?" her tone dripping with sarcasm. "No Tinh, I don't think I've heard of it"

Tinh chose to ignore her sarcasm and approached her desk. "There's no need for rudeness. I'm just here to deliver a message."

"Get to the point Tinh."

"The captain wants to see you."