Clock and Compass

2- Lungs

I noted all the names Yasmeen had given me and put a small cross after which I thought was most likely the next crime scene.
-Mustafa Khan
-Aurengzaib Chima
-Ahmed Bajwa

An empty house not even consisting of dust. It seems that someone cleaned a little while ago and left. There's no furniture around here and a human, probably not.
I looked around in the rooms and found that the storage room has a 'peti'(pronounced 'pay-Tea', a large storage steel box, almost like a chest). I opened the door and made sure to keep bricks to keep them from closing. Not that they would close if if they are not held, my mystrey and horror obsession tells me this would look cool and safe.
I lifted one hook from my hands and one from my foot. Just as it opened about a few inches, I was gifted with a faint scent. A warning as to what is in the chest. I took an mouthful of breath and lifted it. I peeked inside and found that there was a body. If it were not for the red colour on the skin of the man, I would have assumed that he was dead.

I ripped off the tape and the incredible amount of newspaper on the body of the victim. The culprit stabbed him with what seems like a knife and wrapped him in these ropes, tapes, clothes and newspapers, etc. That prevented him from bleeding out. Talk about not being a handy person. The tape alone could have worked. I untied another knot of a cloth around him and cussed at myself for having giant fingers. Immediately repenting afterwards. Do not cuss.
When I was done removing the plethora of restraints from around him, I could see why he needed all that to tie him up. Toned muscles. The guy seems strong.
I cleaned his wounds and did a couple of things that would guarantee his survival for time being. Including using Sabeha’s brown bag as an oxygen mask. It has some use. I went around the house trying to find a proper medical kit. I found one lying beneath the bed in the only room which has furniture. It’s pretty simple and cleaned up.
After finally giving the victim the proper first aid, I went around looking the house. I could not find much. The sun is coming out. It’s going to get hot and I better carry this guy back to that guy's house.

Sabeha was sitting on the charpai and keeping a watchon them playing with her phone. I sighed and dropped Mustafa on the other empty charpai. I exhaled and sat down on the table. A cigarette was set on it. I picked it up and examined it. A half smoked with a blackened end. I kept it back and went around the house to have a look at other such things thay would give out something. So far there was not a single cigarette butt or an ash tray left around.
The cigarette belonged to a frequent smoker for sure.
"Only one or two rarely." Barizera told me.
I turned to Anwar, the little boy who tails around Bari.
"What did your dad do when he took you out?" I inquired.
"We ate makai(corn) near the fountain." He told me.
"Anything unusual?"
"He brought Barizera a book." He remarked making a face.
The murderer probably live out in city. From what supplies and information he seems to have. He belongs to a mafia that focuses on expensive items and probably has been there since a long time.

I made the children come along with me to the person who hired me. And also got the two bodies transported. Malik Husain Laghra *$Sahib*, my boss who often hires a lot of investigators and makes them work around to find the roots of these crimes. He appears to be a true patriot but I could be wrong. He has played a big part in maintaining peace in this area. Most importantly his country.

I gave him all the data I have gathered and he nodded.

🔍🕵🏾‍♀️🔎

I shoved the rifle in my bag and closed everything up. Sabeeha was also packing but also creating a lot of mess in the room.
I rubbed my head as I felt a tinge of hurt throughout it. Inhaling all this polluted air was having all of its set backs on me. I looked around the room to find some opening to let fresh air in. I looked at a tear in the wall and decided to enlarge it with my finger but again this is someone else's property. I backed away still looking at it. I really want to get out of this room but Sabeeha is taking a lot of time.
I picked up on of her T-Shirts from the ground and folded it. Followed by other few until she resorted to look back and glare at me. I frowned and threw it back.
I rubbed my chest to releave my constricted air passage. I had little luck to it. I just hope I don't get any lung disease or anything. I took out one of the spare inhalers I always keep around for Sabeeha and took a puff. She looked back at me and gave me the eyes.
"Maybe if you stop smoking, you will have no trouble breathing." She announced.
"The air is polluted." I retorted.
"You need to get your lungs checked once we get back. Even I can breathe in this air."
"That I agree with." I really want to get out of here and take a smoke. But recently I have been surrounded by a lot of naagins female snakes.
I sighed and kept a wet cloth over my mouth.

Sabeeha was to leave by airplane but agreed to accompany me to the train. I was called to investigate a man's death at the train station which his family pleads was murder.
I get these types of requests very often. Where the family is unwilling to accept the death of their dear. And just want someone else to suffer. Many a times these thoughts of theirs are only a result of trauma.

I only got the task of determining whether it was a homicide or natural death. And that I will do.

I was quick to my route. I got out of the cab and tried to catch my breath in this humid atmosphere. I adjusted my feet in the boots and walked into the hospital.

The pathologist stared at me holding a wet cloth to my mouth.
"Whilst I am completing my work would you pleaee get your lungs checked." He said sharply. With almost a hint of demand in his voice. "I will messege the reports over to you." He added.

I agreed with him and headed to the reception. Why lose your precious time to waiting. I could have gotten the infection from the places I have visited.
I lit a cigarette and put it in my mouth to inhale a puff or two. The blue sky looked breath taking and best accompanied by the scent of tobacco. I returned the lighter to my pocket and ran back to the hospital.
The woman at the reception looked up at me and handed me a slip.
All the procedures of the chest x-ray passed rapidly and I arrived back in the room with Dr. Anees.
He was wearing thick rimmed rectangular glasses which he kept on the bridge of his nose. A line tracked back to his ears denoting how tight the glasses are. His hair was back combed and reflective of the light that fell on him. Red from mehandi with a sneak of whites. Quite fitting for my off-centre likings.

He moved away from the corpse and let me take a look.
The man had a minor gashes and marks all over his body. His elbow was scraped and his shirt was slightly torn at the cuffs. The button is unpresent. His nails, specifically thumb nail was quite damaged. Its surrounding skin is peeled off to a point and is red. A serious rash is on his left hand, he probably fell somewhere and put his hand down to protect himself in reflex. His cuff was probably stuck somewhere. It does not have the buttons. The shoulder stiches are also streched. Probably because it was pulled so hard. But it's not torn completely either. He must have fallen into the train tracks, no doubt. His kameez long shirt is dirty.

And mainly the blue lips signifying his deatg due to shortness of breath.

If the cameras have not caught any such incident, he could have been at a blind spot- and that would just make it interesting.
Inspector A.J. Bilal cleared his throat beside me. He held his stick in his hand. He circled around the body, making his heel leather nip shoes clicked.
I silently made prayers he would not pick on me.

"Found anything-… interesting." He spoke slowly. Turning his head only slightly to look at his surma filled eyes.
"Yes." I answered, making sure to be as brief as possible.
He remained silent as if calculating what to say next.  I didn't speak either. He sighed and directed his gaze at me, before staring at the body once again.
"Hmm" He said nodding.
I considered the chapter closed and simply walked out of the room.

I walked making adkhar (repetation of praises for Allah) and my gaze lowered until I reached the station.
I gazed at the wall near the train track and kept walking. I kept strolling further and further until I reached where there was no guard or crowd. There was no cctv monitering the place either.
What could he be doing here in a place like this?
This place is far enough from the main platfrom that it would tire an average person to run back.
I tried to catch any shoe prints on the ground but failed. The train has disturbed the dust. Not even a light print was left.

I am still not sure how he could have torn his shirt and gotten that hand rash. The cause of his death was not explained to me either. But it was more likely shortness of breath or heart compensation.

I changed my course and examined the poles and structures as I passed by them. I came back to the place I was at and climbed the roof of a building which was relatively low. It only lead to the opposite side which held a small narrow alley.

The first thing I spotted amidst the dust was the button. The dust had not covered it. It is clear that it has not been here since the beginning.

I picked it up with a handkerchief after I snapped its photo.

🔍🕵🏾‍♀️🔎