"The police think they have a lead. Someone delivered an anonymous tip"
"Where? When?"
"Maybe today or tomorrow. Abu wasn't too specific about the details"
"Is that why you called me? To practice on a Thursday?" no, I had called him so I could punch a certain someone's face out of my system.

"You weren't available yesterday"
"Because I have more clients"
"Who? Bored society girls, that just want to ogle you?"
"Whoa whoa," He grabbed the punching bag and tilted my head towards his. "What's wrong Elena? You've been acting...strange"
"I'm frustrated"
"I can see that"
"At life"
"Huh..." his eyebrows had shot up.
"What?"
"How's Haider?"

"How would I know Razi, it's been three days" and he hadn't bothered to contact me. And I could not even get his voice out of my head, that wonderfully low, dark drawl. I shivered.

"And?"

"Apparently Abu and Haider are best friends now" Razi chuckled, his voice bouncing around the empty room. I grimaced and repositioned myself.

They were constantly on the phone, debating the merits of one plan or the other. I had reminded Abu that going to Haider had been my decision, twice. He himself had thought he was a good for nothing junkie.

Abu had laughed it away leaving me fuming. This had been my case and now, I was lost. Ugh, men. I thought, channeling my resentment out into another punch.

"Okay, that's enough."
"I want to get started on the weapons"
"Elena, you're scaring me. Talk."
"I want to be better. I want to aim better"
"You're fine"
"No, I am not. That day in Pindi? I almost died!"
"Don't remind me. If it wasn't for Haider" Haider, Haider, Haider. "Have you been having nightmares? Flashbacks? Because it would be fine if you did and we can talk about that" no, lately my dreams were haunted by him.

Those smoldering eyes had become part of my nightly schedule. I don't know why he affected me so much. He wasn't the first guy to flirt with me.

But he was the first guy who stood his ground and didn't shy away from my punches.

I banished that thought from my head.

"Just let me use the guns" he looked at me unconvinced. I grabbed his hand. "Razi, please. One round"

"Fine, we're going to your place after this. You owe me a cup of coffee"
"Roomi makes the best," I said with a grin.

After a few satisfying rounds where I imagined I was shooting him in the face, repeatedly, Razi and I headed to my house. I winced and picked at the boils that had formed on my fingers.

"I told you to go for one round" Razi scolded, holding my fingers in his hands.
"You've bandaged them up pretty well" I observed. He smiled and brought them closer to his face.

"Elena! What happened?" Both of us circled to see my father and Haider, standing in the foyer. My face burned a bright red.

"Training" I answered, moving to the kitchen, ignoring him.

"Hello, Sir"
"Razi, why is it that every time I send my daughter to you she comes home with a bunch of new bruises. I thought the point was not to get any" I stifled a laugh at the scolding.

"She's a tough cookie Sir" Razi muttered, his eyes accusatory. Well, at least he hadn't ratted out my masochistic tendencies to my father. I gave him a bright smile and he glared at me. "How's the case going so far?"

"We've made some headway," I rolled my eyes and reached for an apple. We. Ugh.

"We're heading to the den. Let me know if you need anything Abu" I gave my father a brief hug, grabbed Razi's arm, and led him down to the basement.

I could practically feel Haider's eyes burning a hole in my back. Two could play this game.

"Why don't you continue with your investigation" Sam replied after I was done with my rant.
"Where do I even go?"
"Did you use the key?" Ali piped up from Sam's lap.
"What key?"
"The one I slipped into your hand when you came to our house the other day" no because I had forgotten about it. "It's the key to Dad's office. He always kept a spare with me"

"That seems like a good place to start," Zaira said, entering the room with a tray full of steaming cups of coffee.

I jumped to my feet.
"Where's Roomi?" I asked grabbing the tray from her hands.
"Abu called her into his office" Zaira answered handing Razi a cup. He took a sip and groaned.
"I think I'll have to marry Roomi"

"For a cup of coffee?" Sam said, amused. He nodded, his eyes still closed. Zaira and I muffled our laughter and moved to sit on the floor cushions.

"Begun Sahiba, Sahib (sir) is asking for you" we jumped.
"Roomi, seriously" Zaira gasped her hand on her chest. "You scared us"
"Sorry Begum Sahiba"
"Where is he?" I said getting to my feet, my coffee still in my hand.
"In his office" I nodded and followed her out telling the others to start the movie without me.

Roomi pushed the heavy door open and I dragged my feet inside. A blush threatened to break out as my mind replayed what had happened when he and I were in the same room.

"Ah, there you are. Is that coffee?" I nodded and offered it to him, ignoring Haider's presence. Abu took a sip and sighed, handing the cup back to me.

"You asked for me?"
"Yes... Haider has had some intel and we need you to get that for us"
"Why can't he do it? He's the one being paid"
"Elena" I tapped my foot to control my emotions. "You're the only one who can do this. We need it to be subtle"

I sighed. I knew that tone. There was no going back. I plopped my butt on the chair.

"What is it?"
"There is a video of the Interior Minister while he's engaged in some... questionable activities"
"That's not new, I hear he has a new case every week" my father's eyebrows came together in a frown and I cursed my tongue.
"So you're aware of his... activities" heat crawled up my neck and I fought to keep my eyes on my father.
"I've heard of them, yes" he nodded, disturbed and I bit back a laugh. My poor father. This case had him discussing illicit activities with his daughter.

"Why do you need me to get it? And how am I supposed to get it?" I said deciding to put both of us out of our misery.

"You're the only one who has access to those people" those people? He couldn't mean...
"The clackers? Seriously?"

"Elena do not call them that, it's rude" I rolled my eyes and focused on my hands, which were demurely placed on my lap. "They have biddings in their parties" my eyes widened and I stared at him.
"You want me to bid on that video? Ewww"

"No. No, I want you to go there so Haider can steal it"
"Oh so that makes it better," a strangled cough sounded from my right and I pressed my lips together.
"Honey..."
"It's a women's party, the only males allowed are husbands or..." fiancés. "No" I blurted out at the notion.

"I told you this won't work," Haider said from beside me.

"You stay out of this" he raised his hands up in defeat.

"You've told Jasmine, what harm could this do?" Abu continued.

"You're telling the ton! The whole city would know! Everyone would know"

Haider and I, engaged. "It's not like you're going to get married!"

"A broken engagement is just as bad! They'll think I'm spoiled goods. Do you not know these people?"

"For heaven's sake, what is going on here?" Ammi exclaimed while closing the door behind her.

I rushed towards her explained the whole thing, hyper-aware of the man behind me.

"Absolutely not Khalil" Ammi snapped. "Haider, you're a wonderful boy but I won't have my daughter's chances ruined because she was tied to someone else's name"

Haider gave her a weak smile not quite knowing how to take that statement.

"She says that she doesn't want to get married" Abu answered weakly.
"So you'll tie her to whoever comes along?" Ammi said putting her hand on my shoulder. I ran my fingers through my hair frustrated.

"There's no other way..."

"Is that why you brought me here? So that I could play arm candy?" I retaliated. Tears stung my eyes and I pinched my arm to stop them from falling over. Stupid, stupid.

"He was just trying to find a way..." Haider began, his gaze soft but unreadable. I glared at him.

"Find another way, Khalil. Sneak him in, dress him up as one of the waiters but leave my daughter's prospects out of this"

"What if he'd actually proposed?"

"Then he would have been marrying her and I wouldn't have had a problem" I didn't dare raise my eyes to look at Haider's reaction.

"She's the only one who could get him in" Abu pleaded. "We need that video to amp up the pressure, to have some security for her" Ammi rubbed her forehead, her gaze on my face. I shook my head.

"No. Find another way," and that was that.

*****************************************
What will they do? Will they find a way around this?