She wore a white eye mask, a deep blue top hat, crisp white shirt, fitted jeans, and a long flowing coat that brushed the floor as she walked.
Her black high-heeled shoes clicked softly with each step.
People knew her only as the Masked Detective—a girl who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen.
She didn't talk much.
She didn't smile.
She simply solved the cases others couldn't.
"I believe this belongs to your case," she said quietly, handing over a photograph.
Inspector Ratan looked up. He was in his early thirties, with short black hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. His light brown police uniform was slightly wrinkled, with a badge pinned to his chest. A notebook peeked from his pocket, and a pen rested behind his ear. His sharp, tired eyes flicked between her and the photo.
He didn't like her presence.
A teenager doing the work of trained officers?
It made his blood boil.
She should be at home stressing over exams, he thought. Not handing me evidence.
Still, he said nothing.
"Tell me about the missing girls," the Detective said, her voice calm but firm.
Ratan sighed and motioned to a nearby constable. "Bring the file."
The constable nodded and returned moments later with a thin folder. Ratan flipped it open and passed over a few photographs.
"Five girls are missing," he began.
The Detective took them, eyes scanning every detail.
"I need full information," she said without looking up.
Ratan pulled out his notebook and read:
"All of them are between nine and ten years old. Their names: Sanchari, Sagarika, and Sagnika. They all vanished this morning—different neighborhoods, similar timing. No signs, no ransom, no messages. Nothing."
"If this was a kidnapping, we'd expect a call by now," he added. "But it's silent."
"All from lower or middle-income homes?" she asked.
"Yes," Ratan confirmed.
"CCTV?"
"Zero leads. Either there were no cameras, or they've been wiped."
She went quiet for a moment, then slipped the photos into her coat.
"I'll be back in the morning," she said, already turning to leave.
As her silhouette disappeared through the door, the tails of her coat trailed behind her like a shadow.
No goodbyes. No wasted words.
Only purpose.
And somewhere, five girls were still missing.