## Chapter 14: Into the Lion’s Den

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The night was heavy with silence as Lila and Ethan stood outside Sameer's father's abandoned house in Juhu. The once-grand property was now a crumbling relic of the past, overgrown with vines and shrouded in darkness. The towering iron gates loomed before them, a physical barrier to the secrets they sought.

Lila's heart pounded in her chest as they crept closer to the gate. Her mind raced with possibilities—what if they were caught? What if Sameer knew they were here? She tightened her grip on the flashlight in her hand, casting a quick glance at Ethan. His face was set in determination, his gaze locked on the task ahead.

"We can still turn back," Ethan whispered, though his tone made it clear he had no intention of doing so.

Lila shook her head. "No, we're doing this. We need to know the truth."

Ethan nodded, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a small device. "This should disable the security cameras for a few minutes. It won't give us much time, so we have to move fast."

Lila watched as Ethan connected the device to a small control box near the gate. After a few tense moments, the light on the box flickered, and the cameras powered down. Ethan pushed open the gate with a creak, motioning for Lila to follow.

They slipped inside the property, moving quickly across the gravel driveway toward the house. The air was thick with tension as they approached the front door. The once-impressive mansion was now in disrepair, its windows shattered and its walls stained with the passage of time. It was hard to believe this had once been Sameer's childhood home.

"This place gives me the creeps," Lila muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan gave her a reassuring look. "We won't be here long. Just enough to find something useful."

They reached the front door, which was already slightly ajar, as if someone had been there recently. Ethan hesitated for a moment before pushing it open, the hinges groaning in protest. The interior of the house was dark and cold, the air thick with dust. Lila's flashlight beam illuminated the long hallway, casting eerie shadows along the walls.

"Where do you think he would hide anything important?" Lila asked as they stepped inside.

"If I were Sameer, I'd keep anything incriminating somewhere only I would know about," Ethan replied, scanning the room. "An office or study, maybe."

Lila nodded, her nerves on edge as they began to search the house. They moved cautiously through the hallways, their footsteps echoing in the stillness. Every creak of the floorboards and rustle of leaves outside made Lila's heart jump.

Finally, they found a door that led to what appeared to be a study. The room was cluttered with old furniture and boxes, but there was a large desk in the center, covered in dust. Lila approached it carefully, her flashlight beam sweeping across the surface.

"This looks like it hasn't been touched in years," she said, wiping away some of the dust.

Ethan moved to one of the shelves, pulling out a few books and flipping through them. "We need to look for anything unusual—hidden compartments, false drawers."

Lila opened one of the desk drawers and began sifting through the contents. Old papers, letters, and photographs were scattered inside, but nothing that seemed relevant. She was about to give up when her hand brushed against something solid beneath the lining of the drawer.

"Wait," she said, her voice low. "There's something here."

Ethan hurried over, watching as Lila carefully peeled back the drawer's lining. Beneath it, she found a small metal box, locked but not particularly secure. Lila exchanged a glance with Ethan, who nodded and reached into his pocket, producing a small set of lockpicks.

"You carry lockpicks?" Lila asked, surprised.

Ethan smirked as he worked on the lock. "Never know when they'll come in handy."

Within moments, the lock clicked open, and Ethan lifted the lid. Inside the box were several documents, neatly folded and sealed in envelopes. Lila's breath caught as she saw the familiar handwriting on one of the envelopes—Sameer's handwriting.

"These look important," Ethan said, pulling out the papers. "Let's see what we've got."

They quickly scanned through the documents. Some were financial records, others were property deeds, but one file stood out—a contract with details about various shell companies, names of people involved in shady dealings, and, most importantly, transfers of large sums of money that could only point to illegal activity.

"This is it," Ethan whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "This proves Sameer's been laundering money. And if we look deeper, we might be able to connect it to his recent activities."

Lila felt a mix of relief and fear. They had what they needed, but now they had to get out before Sameer discovered they were here.

"Let's go," she said urgently, stuffing the documents back into the box. "We have to get this to the authorities."

As they turned to leave the study, a sudden noise froze them in place—the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway.

"Someone's here," Lila whispered, her heart racing.

Ethan motioned for her to stay quiet, and they quickly hid behind a large bookshelf, pressing themselves against the wall. The footsteps grew louder, echoing through the silent house. Lila's pulse pounded in her ears as she held her breath, her eyes fixed on the doorway.

A figure appeared in the doorway—a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a familiar silhouette. Sameer.

Lila's heart stopped. He hadn't seen them yet, but it was only a matter of time.

Sameer stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the space. He moved with a predatory grace, as if he was searching for something—or someone. Lila's body tensed as she watched him approach the desk, his hand brushing over the surface where they had just been.

Ethan glanced at Lila, silently signaling for her to stay calm. They couldn't afford to make a sound.

Sameer's gaze lingered on the desk for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he turned and exited the room, his footsteps retreating down the hall.

Lila let out a shaky breath, her entire body trembling. "That was too close."

"We need to get out of here—now," Ethan whispered, his voice urgent.

They moved quickly but quietly, slipping out of the study and retracing their steps through the house. Every second felt like an eternity as they made their way back to the front door, praying that Sameer wouldn't return before they could escape.

When they finally reached the gate, Ethan disabled the security system once more, and they slipped out into the night. The tension in the air didn't ease until they were back in Ethan's car, driving away from the house.

"We did it," Lila whispered, still shaken by how close they had come to being caught.

Ethan nodded, his focus on the road ahead. "We've got what we need. Now we can bring this to the police, and they'll have no choice but to take action."

Lila leaned back in her seat, relief washing over her. But even as they drove away, she couldn't shake the feeling that Sameer wasn't finished yet. He had let them go tonight, but how long before he struck again?

And this time, she feared, he wouldn't be so merciful.