The inspector Rayhan couldn't hold back anymore, his anger bubbling over. He slammed his fist onto the table, his voice harsh. "Why the hell did you let that old man go? He's the one behind this madness, isn't he? He's the one who's been killing them!"
Isarish remained unfazed, his gaze unwavering, as if the inspector Rayhan's outburst was nothing more than a fleeting distraction. He slowly leaned back, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of the desk. "You're looking at this the wrong way," he said calmly, his voice a steady contrast to the inspector Rayhan's fury.
The inspector Rayhan shot him a furious look, as if trying to understand what went through his mind. "Then enlighten me. What's your reasoning for letting him go? He's the one who's been orchestrating all of this."
Isarish's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You think Dr. Rafiq is the mastermind? No. He's just a piece of a much bigger puzzle, and if we keep chasing him, we'll miss the true picture. He's not the killer. He's not the one pulling the strings."
The inspector Rayhan blinked, confusion and frustration written all over his face. "Then who the hell is?"
Isarish stood, his eyes focused and piercing as he met the inspector Rayhan's gaze. "Dr. Rafiq is the key. He is the one who will connect us to everything, to the true architect of this nightmare. His role is far more valuable than just being the killer. He's the conduit—the bridge that will lead us to the real culprit. We need him to think we're blind; to think he's outwitted us."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "You see, his work is done. But his purpose is far from over. He's the one who will connect us to the next part of this. Without him, we're just fumbling in the dark."
Alice, still standing at the edge of the room, looked up at Isarish, her expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity. She spoke softly, almost to herself, "So, we let him go... because he's our only lead?"
Isarish nodded, his voice calm but intense. "Exactly. As much as I'd like to end this right now, rushing into it without understanding the bigger picture would be a mistake. The moment we make him feel cornered; he'll go silent. He'll disappear into his own web of lies and half-truths. We need him to walk into the next stage of this carefully planned game. And then… we'll strike when the time is right."
The inspector Rayhan's anger simmered down, replaced with a grudging respect. "So, you're saying we're just supposed to let him lead us?"
Isarish's smile grew slightly, a flicker of confidence in his eyes. "Yes. Sometimes, the best way to catch a fish is to let it swim into your net willingly. We've already caught his attention. Now, we just need to wait for him to reveal his next move."
Alice's eyes widened with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "But how are we going to find him? How do we catch him before it's too late?"
Before Isarish could respond, one of the officers rushed into the room, his face flushed with excitement and urgency.
"We found him!" he exclaimed, almost breathless.
The entire room fell into a brief silence, anticipation hanging thick in the air. The inspector Rayhan was the first to speak, his voice laced with tension. "Where is he? Where the hell is he?"
The officer quickly regained his composure, speaking rapidly. "One of our men spotted Dr. Rafiq. He was seen near the back of the agricultural fields, heading toward the warehouses. We think he's going there."
Alice's gaze flickered between Isarish and the officer, the weight of the news sinking in. "So, he's going to the warehouses... What's there?"
Isarish didn't immediately answer. He merely glanced at the officer, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Then the officers, seeing the calm confidence in their leader's demeanour, couldn't help but voice their admiration.
"Sir," one officer spoke up with awe, "how did you know he would go that way? The warehouses... How did you predict it?"
Isarish's smile deepened as he met the officer's gaze. "Because Dr. Rafiq isn't just hiding in plain sight," he said coolly. "He's been using the same paths to cover his tracks. He's not stupid, but neither am I. He believes in patterns—patterns he thinks no one else can recognize."
Isarish paused, letting the words settle in. "The warehouses... It's where the next part of his game will unfold, and I'm not about to let him think he's outsmarted us."
---
The officers exchanged looks of admiration, their respect for Isarish growing even more. Isarish's steady confidence, his sharpness in recognizing patterns, had led them to the right place. Now, the pieces were falling into place.
Alice, still in shock, looked to Isarish. "So, we're really going to confront him there?"
Isarish nodded. "Yes. We're going to stop this before it gets any worse."