She got up from her place and shook hands with him. His palm was so large that it engulfed her entire hand. 

“Hello sir.”

She whispered and then lowered her lashes in embarrassment. She cleared her throat and properly greeted him, making a small smile form on his lips.

“Please!”

He said pointing towards her seat, indicating her to sit. She did and he followed suit.

“How are you? And how's Colonel sir?”

He asked and Avantika smiled.

“Papa is fine. In fact you should visit him sometime. He'll like to meet his best cadet.”

She said with a slight tease in her tone and he smiled. He nodded and mumbled an ‘I will’.

“So? Ms. Avantika, what help of mine did you want?”

Avantika took a deep breath and looked at him. His forearms were on the table and he leaned slightly giving her all the attention.

“Umm…sir? Have you heard about the recent murders?”

“Murders? The ones where the victims’ bodies were chopped.”

Avantika nodded and tried to read his body language to sense anything. But she wasn't trained for that. She was trained for dead bodies.

“Yes sir. I am a part of the Special Task Force. I am the forensic expert in the team and we are given the investigation of the case. But sir, we're at a dead end. There is no evidence, no clue, no open link for investigation. Victims’ relatives, neighbours, friends and everyone in the vicinity of the victims have been interrogated.”

Prakhar processed the information she gave him and nodded.

“It happens sometimes. What do you want me to do about it?”

“We need your help sir. I know aap hume officially help nhi kr skte but if you could visit the office sometime and just help us through it. The killer is on the loose sir. And we can't risk it anymore.”

She said seriously to gauge his reaction but he was neutral.

“Hmmm. I don't know if I can -”

“Sir please don't say no.”

She stopped him before he could deny. Prakhar looked conflicted.

“I can't say no to you. Saying no to you means saying no to Colonel sir. And I can't do that.”

“That's means you'll help, right?”

She asked in a hope in her eyes. Even if he was not the killer, he could help them find it. Because they really were at a dead end.

“Ok! I will help. But only as much help as if absolutely required. You know I cannot officially assist this investigation without proper orders.”

“That's fine sir. Thank you so much. I'll see you at the office then?”

She asked and he nodded. He was about to ask something when her phone rang.

It was Khushal sir. Prakhar could only see the picture on the contact and not read the name because she picked it up quickly.

“Are you fine?”

“I am. I'm still at the cafe. I'll talk to you later.”

She quickly disconnected the call and smiled at Prakhar who just looked at her. Avantika smiled nervously and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Avantika was pacing nervously in the office. Her gaze continuously wandering towards the entrance while Aastha and Khushal looked at her with a roll of eyes.

“Avantika. Tumhare aise tehelne (walk) se wo jaldi toh nhi aa jaayega na?”

Aastha asked and Avantika stopped pacing and looked at her.

“What if he doesn't come? What if I failed our only lead?”

“Relax! Even if he doesn't come, we'll figure something out.”

Khushal said keeping a hand on her shoulder and she shook her head. But before she could utter anything, they heard a voice.

“You won't have to.”

Avantika turned with a whiplash making Khushal’s hand drop. Prakhar entered wearing his ray bans and another pair of sexy tshirt and pants.

He removed his glasses and put them in his pocket. He looked at her for a moment before meeting his eyes with Khushal.

He forwarded his hand and said.

“Agent Prakhar Negi! Reporting for duty!”

Prakhar smiled, glancing at Avantika once again. Khushal smirked and shook hands with him.

“Khushal Kapoor. The branch head and also the investigation head.”

Prakhar nodded and Aastha came forward next.

“Aastha Sharma. The technical expert.”

She said with a proud smirk and he nodded again. Prakhar waited for Avantika to continue but when she didn't, he took a step closer to her making her look at him wide eyed.

“You'll not introduce yourself?”

“I-yes! I…ummm…I'm Avantika Mishra. Forensic expert.”

Prakhar tried to hide his mischievous smile and Avantika lowered her head. He then got serious and asked.

“Let's not waste anymore time. We already don't have much time. Do we have any clues or evidence?”

“No sir! Just like I said, we're at a dead end.”

Prakhar got silent for a moment before Avantika spoke again.

“Actually sir, we did find an unknown pair of fingerprints at the second crime scene.”

Prakhar looked at her quickly. All three of them gauzed his reaction but his face gave away nothing.

“Did you run a match test?”

“We did. No matches found.”

He hummed and seemed to be in thought. Then he asked something which shocked all of them.

“Are the victims’ bodies kept here?”

Avantika looked shocked and turned to Khushal who nodded discreetly.

“Y-yes sir.”

“I'd like to have a look.”

Her eyes widened and she looked at Khushal for confirmation again. When he nodded, she looked at Prakhar who looked at her suspiciously, clearly having seen her reaction to his demand.

“S-sure sir. This way.”

She led him towards the lift lobby and waited for the lift to arrive. She saw Khushal and Aastha following them and relaxed. She wasn't alone. He wouldn't try anything.

Her laboratory was on the 5th floor. 

“This is your lab. Impressive!”

He muttered behind her. Avantika could feel her heartbeat in her ears. She was scared. What if he was actually the killer?

She opened the morgue where the bodies or well body parts were kept. The room always gave her chills. But this time, it was also because of the person right behind her.