---
Black Squad — Episode 114: "The Silent Witness"
Prologue: The Message
Mumbai, 2:47 AM.
A storm rumbled in the distance as the city's elite neighborhood, Juhu, lay still in uneasy sleep. Inside a sprawling white mansion, the shadow of a figure moved with practiced precision. The figure moved from room to room, bypassing security systems and cameras like a phantom.
But the figure wasn't there for gold, diamonds, or cash.
The intruder pulled a black marker from his pocket, and on a pristine white wall of the study, scrawled a cryptic message in jagged handwriting:
"The truth is hidden in plain sight."
The figure left silently, vanishing into the night.
The mansion's owner, industrialist Mr. Ramesh Vora, would only discover the message by morning — and it would be the third such case this month.
---
Act 1: The Black Squad Called In
8:30 AM — Black Squad Headquarters
ACP Sulaiman Qazi stood by the window, watching rain streak down the glass. The room buzzed with activity as Senior Inspectors Imran Wani and Arjun Rathore walked in with files.
"Sir, another break-in at Juhu. Same M.O. Cryptic message on the wall. No valuables taken," Imran reported, placing the file on the table.
"Third case in 30 days… and still no lead," Arjun muttered, frustrated.
Inspector Zoya Khan joined them. "We've scanned CCTVs around the perimeter. No footage of the suspect. It's like he walks through shadows."
"Call everyone in," Qazi ordered. "Including the new additions — Shreya and Sachin. And inform Dr. R.P. Gupta from forensics. Let's move."
Within minutes, Sub-Inspector Shreya Deshmukh and Inspector Sachin Kadam arrived, reporting for duty.
"Welcome to the madness," Arjun greeted them with a grin.
"Glad to be here, sir," Shreya replied confidently.
---
Act 2: The Pattern Emerges
At the crime scene, the team split up. Imran studied the message's handwriting, Arjun inspected entry points, and Zoya spoke with the shaken Mr. Vora.
Dr. R.P. Gupta arrived with his team, an old, sharp-minded forensic expert and Qazi's long-time ally.
"I'd bet my pension this isn't a simple burglar," R.P. murmured, examining the marker ink.
Imran noticed something peculiar — each message left behind at the three scenes contained certain letters capitalized. He jotted them down.
T, R, U, T, H, P, L, A, I, N, S, I, G, H, T…
He quickly rearranged them. "It spells The truth in plain sight… wait — it's repeating itself."
"A message in the message," Zoya added.
Sachin ran in. "Sir! The neighbor's driver claims he saw a man leaving the house at 2:45 AM, but he vanished into an alley."
They cross-checked maps. The alley led towards the old Dockside Warehouse District — abandoned for years.
Qazi made the call.
"Gear up. We move tonight."
---
Act 3: The Warehouse Trap
11:30 PM — Dockside Warehouse
The rain poured as the squad surrounded the derelict building. The interior was silent, save for a faint, eerie sound. They breached.
Inside, a single television screen flickered, playing an old video.
A man appeared on screen — gaunt, eyes sunken, dressed like a former cop.
"My name is Anil Bhonsle. The city forgot me. But now, I make them remember."
Sulaiman's expression darkened.
"I know this man… Anil Bhonsle. Ex-detective, dismissed for misconduct six years ago."
The squad spread out.
Arjun and Sachin checked the west wing. Zoya and Shreya scouted the upper level. Imran led forensics on the ground floor. The warehouse was rigged with old surveillance equipment.
Suddenly — a gunshot.
Shreya's voice on comms: "We've got movement, north corridor!"
They converged.
A tense chase ensued. Anil fired at the squad, ducking behind crates. Arjun tackled him, a brutal fight breaking out. Imran took down two accomplices.
Bloodied and cornered, Anil grabbed a young woman hostage — Megha Varma, a freelance crime journalist.
"You turned your back on me, Qazi!" Anil shouted. "You abandoned justice! I did what the law wouldn't!"
Qazi stepped forward.
"You wanted justice? You murdered innocents. You left children fatherless. It ends here, Anil."
As the tension crackled, flashbacks of past Black Squad victories played in the minds of every officer — the school bus hijack, the bomb defusal, the capture of the Eye Gang, the horrors of the asylum case.
Qazi signaled. Arjun faked a move. Anil flinched. Imran fired a precise shot — disarming him without a kill.
The woman was safe.
Anil Bhonsle fell to his knees.
---
Act 4: Closure
Back at headquarters, dawn breaking, Qazi addressed his team.
"Another ghost from the past laid to rest. You did well."
They exchanged exhausted, proud glances.
Megha, the journalist, thanked them.
"Thank you, Black Squad. I'll tell your story."
---
Epilogue: The Press Conference
Later that afternoon, a press conference was held.
DCP Rawat praised the team.
In front of flashing cameras, Qazi spoke.
"For 114 cases, this team has stood between this city and chaos. Some of us didn't make it. Some carry scars you'll never see. But our duty — our honor — remains."
A moment of silence followed, images of fallen officers like DCP Shamsher Singh and others appearing on screen.
As the national anthem played softly, the Black Squad stood together.
Mumbai slept safer that night.
---
Episode End