Tension was palpable—thick, suffocating. like it would stretch to infinity
The only thing we could hear, like the others, was our own breathing.
On the other side, however… the silence between the two men was louder than anything.
Their stares alone spoke volumes.
There was history there.
Whatever had happened between them… it clearly hadn't faded with time.
Or perhaps it never would.
Adel scoffed, the sound sharp in the heavy silence.
"No greeting?" he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "No I missed you, brother?"
A pause.
"I'm truly wounded, Haitham."
His smirk deepened slightly.
"After all… we were raised under the same roof."
The suspect didn't flinch.
His expression remained stoic—unwavering.
"I thought about skipping pleasantries," Haitham replied coolly. "After all, this isn't exactly the right place for them… is it, Detective?"
He held Adel's gaze the entire time.
The only movement was initiated by the suspect
his hands slowly rubbing against each other.
"So… you're quiet, right?"
Adel straightened, opening a new page in his notebook. He immediately wrote something I couldn't see from my angle, then raised his gaze to meet the suspect.
"Care to explain where you were during the incident?"
The other replied automatically, yet formally—his black pupils unwavering from Adel's dark green ones.
"It was lunch break."
Adel sneered softly as he wrote, the pen moving almost playfully.
"So the shield of the victim wasn't there to protect his only duty. What a coincidence."
His gaze focused solely on Haitham.
"So unprofessional on your end… brother."
His jaw tightened, but he had no comeback to defend his honor.
He shrugged and muttered,
"Guess there's no good from you at all."
Adel let the words sink in before continuing.
"Do you know anything about the renovation process?"
"You should ask Sameh. After all, he was responsible for that."
Adel smirked.
"You're right. I should probably ask him."
A pause.
"So how was your relationship with the victim… and Sameh?"
"It was great. He trusted me with all the important matters. My guess? Sameh is jealous—because all he was left with were crumbs."
"That wasn't my question," Adel replied calmly. "But alright. And how was Mr. Kamel's mental state?"
"He was disturbed. We all know why. I don't like talking about it."
"Did you offer any help?"
"I tried to suggest therapy… but he wasn't very fond of the idea."
Adel raised an eyebrow.
"And his son? Did he show any effort?"
"No. Not at all. As I was saying—he's greedy."
Adel replied quickly. Seems like he already decided his next move on his little theater
"What was the victim doing before lunch?"
"Checking the market. Work-related matters."
"Were there any crises?"
"I think there was a drop… or something like that. I don't quite recall."
At that, the suspect started shaking his leg.
I was so focused—just like Adel had instructed—that I had completely forgotten I was following orders from the egotistical detective himself.
Adel placed his pen down on the metal table.
"I guess that's enough for today. You will remain under surveillance until further notice. If you care to share any information, you're free to do so."
"No, sir."
Adel remained seated.
He turned toward the glass.
Somehow, he managed to make eye contact with me—even though the observation glass was supposed to prevent that.
That same smirk.
That same confidence.
As the suspect unclasped his hands and stood up, about to leave, Adel stopped him—still maintaining eye contact with me.
"I just wanted to say… we will be checking the CCTV."
At that word, the suspect flinched—then exited quietly.
The tall, muscular man…
flinched.
From just a few words.
Adel made him shake.
Made him flinch.
It made me realize the power he held.
If he was the killer… then no one stood a chance.
Otherwise… everyone would be doomed.
What made the moment unforgettable was the difference between us.
I was a reporter.
He was a detective.
He pursued my dream.
I gave up mine.
He stood in total darkness, lit only by a single lamp—and that infuriating smirk.
While I stood in the light…
completely oblivious to what was on his mind.
We were from different worlds.
And I was so desperate—so hopeless—to step into his.
I felt like I belonged there.
If only I hadn't listened to them.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize Adel had exited the room.
Now he was standing next to me.
"So," he said, a proud smile on his lips, "how was it?"
Then he added,
"Let's take a break. It's my treat—for you and Charles."
I muttered a thank you as we stepped out of the building.
He spoke over his shoulder without turning.
"Did you have lunch? I didn't. Neither did Charles."
"Me neither… after all, the incident happened during lunch."
I stopped in my tracks as I spotted a bookstore.
Without a word, I hurried inside.
I quickly picked a plain notebook—AGENDA printed in gold on brown leather—and a noble blue ink pen.
Then I rushed back to Adel's car.
"You're starting strong, I see," he said. "Careful—we don't want that spitfire burning out too fast."
He smirked down at me.
And I felt the urge to wipe that smirk off his face for good.
I pulled out the notebook and pen, immediately writing down everything I had noticed.
I could feel Adel's side glances.
And then—
the image of him in that interrogation room flashed in my mind.
He had felt like the main character.
Untouchable.
Like someone who could never be wrong.
But after all…
he was human. And after all humans make sins, deeds and faults
That how we are made from the very start of the beginning
That's just how human are meant to
How humanity is shaped
Right?
But is every sin supposed to be forgiven.
Or there are deeds are meant to never be erased.
What is certain is the holder of law, of justice is mightier and supposed to be honorable, Isn't that poetically right after all?