ARU SHAH was not late. Everyone else was just early.

No, no, it's true. The meeting was at 6 A.M, so what was the need to show up 5:15 A.M? So Aru was currently walking to the secret HQ, coffee in hand.

The HQ was in a secret place, since this is a detective agency, and the entrance was moved every month. And she was now trying to find the new one.

There was a library which was owned by one of her best friends, Hira, and the entrances were located in there. That way, if someone who's not from the agency gets too close to it, Hira can call them away.

"Hi, Hira" Aru walked in, taking her sunglasses off. She was pretty famous, unfortunately, since she was the 'Sherlock Holmes of the Era'. "Could I know where the wooden west isle is?"

That was their code. The 'Wooden west isle' was the entrance. It, like the entrance, also changed every month.

"Yep." Hira said. She lowered her voice "science nonfiction area"

"Gotcha"

The library was a bit small and some places would be closed off at times, which is why it wasn't too popular. The closed off sections were where it would be, but more than one would be closed off to confuse people.

She thanked Hira and headed to the science nonfiction bookshelf. It didn't take her too long before the shelf swung sideways, allowing her to see the verification pad. This also had a two-step verification. She had to show both her ID and had to press both her thumbs to open it.

Yep security was that tight around here.

The bookshelf swung more, allowing her to step inside. Other than going here to get to HQ, this place was also Aru's favorite place to be. It was cozy, everything was aesthetically nice to look at, AND there was a self-service drink counter.

In winter, there would be coffee and hot chocolate, which were Aru's favorite drinks. She would sip her hot chocolate while reading a book, sitting on a beanbag near the heater.

But alas, she was a detective, and when business comes knocking, you should know better than to yell 'No one's home!'

And unfortunately, the business was pounding on the door so hard that the door might be rundown. (Eheheh title dropping in another book. Also, you're in for a surprise for the next line)

She entered HQ and walked up to the front desk. She saw her friend Drew typing away at the computer as she sipped her coffee. This was going to be fun.

Aru snuck around the corner and quickly put her hand on his mouth. He jumped and tried to scream.

"Boo" She whispered. He slumped and peeled off her hand.

"Ugh it's you. When are you ever going to stop?"

"The day you can actually fight back"

"I'm the secretary, not the security guard. I'll leave that to them" Drew said, turning to face her.

"I still think you should learn how to use a gun. I can teach you" She offered, checking her phone. 5: 54. She had to go.

"From you? How do I know you won't accidentally shoot me in the process?"

"Um, excuse you, I'm amazing at the gun" She raised her eyebrow. It was true, she was. Her excellent sense of aim and the use of her other senses, she was spectacular at the gun. "But I gotta go. I'll visit you later"

"Oh I'm so lonely. See you, Aru" Drew said in mock sadness.

"Don't even joke, you have friends. Bye, Drew" Aru laughed and then walked to the meeting room.

She opened the door and walked in, to see Mini, Brynne and the Council of Guardians seated there. Brynne was the weapons filer and Mini was the head researcher and also the head doctor.

Honestly, if Mini wasn't there, Aru would have little to none intel and would be dead by now. And without Brynne, she'd still be dead, since she wouldn't have her signature gun, Vajra.

"Hey guys" Aru greeted them.

"Hi, Aru" Mini smiled at her, while Brynne also grinned and said "Hey." The Guardians just nodded their heads in acknowledgement.

"I still don't know what was the need to come this early" Aru sat down next to Mini.

"Early is on time, on time is late, and late is-" Aru interrupted Urvashi. "Absolutely unacceptable. We all know"

"Let's please address the matter at hand?" Hanuman cleared his throat.

"Right. Now, Detective Foudre, we have another case for you"

"Really!? I couldn't tell, it's not like you only ever call meetings to address a case. I thought we were gonna-"

"Aru Shah." Hanuman boomed in his rich voice.

"Sorry. Do continue" Aru said in a fake posh voice, and sipped her coffee.

"This case is very dangerous, so please listen carefully. The Sleeper is back"

Aru choked on her coffee. "What?"

"Yes. He now has an entire gang, we believe, and now his primary focus is to steal the Syamantaka gem which will lead him to our base. That cannot happen, understood?"

"Understood"

The Syamantaka gem was modern technology which could lead you to anywhere you please.

"Then, I would like to tell you something else. We don't know where exactly the Syamantaka gem is. But, Yamini will tell you what we do know"

"Right." Mini walked up. "First, I know you cannot go alone."

"What" Aru scoffed. "Are you saying I can't do it?"

"No, I'm saying you'll have company. This case is way too serious, and you barely made it back alive last time" Mini said, and when she saw Aru open her mouth, quickly added "I'm not saying it in a bad way or anything, but we'll all be worried"

"If it makes you feel better about it, he's not a prick or anything. He's like my best friend and really nice" Brynne told her, pushing herself off the wall.

"Yes, and he's proven to be at your level of intelligence, and our second best detective. You'll make a great team. Now, for the case file, Yamini?" Captain Subala gestured.

"Yes, Captain" Mini took two files and handed it to Aru. "One is the case file and the other is your partner's resume. Take a look at the resume first." She pointed to the left one.

Aru sighed and looked up at Mini with raised eyebrows. "The last time I worked with someone was when I was 19 and that was three years ago. I don't work well with anyone remember?"

"Heh, it's hard to forget it. The people came back begging for some credit cuz you did most of it" Brynne laughed. "And also not to let us pair them with you again because they thought you were insane"

"Aru, please. Do it for me and Brynne? Because you have to be back alive" Mini begged.

Aru looked at both of them and then sighed. "Fine"

She opened the file and took out the resume.

Aiden Acharya - 23 years old

Join date- 30th April 2019

Cases solved- 56

Record- case solved in 10 days

Official birth date- November 6, in the year-

—

Wait hold on. This guy was hot.

Like hot, hot. A perfect jawline, hair swooped over the top of his eyes, and speaking of his eyes, they were dust colored and she could even see specks of gold in them, which reminded her of a starry night.

She covered her surprise with a poker face, and continued looking down. Many stuff, but it seemed like he was actually good. And Aru hate to admit it, but they might actually make a good team.

She checked the case file next. What she gathered from it was that she had two days until a flight to New Jersey which was at 6 A.M and that she should be on guard at all times. And also that she had to be undercover a lot, and that she had a five star hotel booked.

Was she looking forward to the luxury? Yes. Was she happy about sharing with her partner? Nope.

"Okay. So no intel" Aru put the documents back into the respective files.

Mini looked apologetically at her. "I'm sorry. These guys probably cared about covering up their tracks from the last time."

"Yeah, I guess so. It's okay, don't beat yourself up about it" Aru smiled warmly at her. "Okay. So what's next?"

"Your meeting him at your museum"

"Who?"

"Your partner"

"At my museum?" Aru asked. "There's so many people there? Why can't we just meet here?"

"He had some work to attend to"

Oh great, he was the kind that was busy a lot. Aru hated those types of people.

"Fine. What time?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aru went home that day listening to music and happily walking, carefree. She had her AirPods in on noise cancellation, and it was great.

She was supposed to meet him tomorrow at 4 PM. But until then, she didn't have to worry about the case, so she was really free right now.

The sun was setting, so lots of pinks, oranges, yellows and reds painted the sky so that all the buildings had appeared to have a warm filter, thanks to the ambient lighting.

Aru sat on her front porch and sighed contentedly.

She'd worry about her partner and the case tomorrow, and just live in the moment. For now.

Hahhhhh the first chapter is over. What do you think? Like it?

Now. Yes, I made Drew become apart of this book. Okay, so he's like a really amazing character, right, so um I think i might of overshadowed him in Rundown. He doesn't deserve that. So, you'll be seeing a LOT more of Drew in this book. Are you happy about that?

That aside, you'll be seeing Aiden's Pov next chapter, so again look forward to that.

See you!

-Loife xx