The next morning, I started by reviewing CCTV footage from the streets around the library. The student's last confirmed appearance on camera was at the library entrance, but the surrounding streets were mostly empty. Most of the footage was routine, showing a few pedestrians and delivery drivers. At first nothing seemed unusual. Then I noticed a reflection in a shop window near the east alley. It was a dark shape moving past a camera blind spot for only a second. It was easy to miss, but small details like this were important.
Navid arrived quietly, standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. "I checked nearby parking lots and building entrances," he said. "Some have motion sensors, others rely on logs. Nothing unusual except one late entry card swipe in the dormitory next door at 10:52 PM. No scheduled student activity matches that time."
I raised an eyebrow. "Someone had access to the dorms after hours. That could be our window."
He nodded and opened his notebook. "We should check building access cards and staff with master keys. Someone could have used legitimate access to move without being noticed."
I agreed and began compiling the dormitory swipe records. Navid observed silently, occasionally pointing out discrepancies in timing or cardholder names. Within an hour I noticed a pattern. One maintenance worker had entered the basement storage several times in the past week, always during late hours. His keycard activity did not match the official work schedule.
"Look at this," I said. "He entered the basement at odd times. Could he have been observing the library area or helping someone?"
Navid tilted his head. "It is possible. We should look for physical traces. Check for unusual dirt, scuff marks, or misplaced objects in the storage area."
I checked the cleaning logs and found a report from the night before that mentioned a displaced mop bucket and footprints in a corridor near the storage room. The footprints were faint and easy to overlook, but they fit the timeframe of the disappearance.
"Someone used the building to move through the campus without being seen," I said. "The footprints show careful movement, but there is a trace."
Navid drew a simple diagram of the area. "This suggests planning. They know which spaces have less visibility and use access points strategically. Minimal risk, maximum control."
I said, "We need to find out if he acted alone or coordinated with someone else. Two people were involved in moving the student. This worker could be part of a larger plan."
We went to the basement storage after getting permission from campus security. The room was damp and smelled faintly of cleaning chemicals. Scuff marks ran across the concrete floor. I crouched to study them, noting size, direction, and depth. The marks showed careful foot placement, as if someone was supporting a heavy object without letting it touch the ground completely.
Navid checked the corners and shadows near the shelving units. "This space could be used for temporary hiding. Limited light, few observers, and quick access to exits."
I traced possible routes from the storage area to the east alley. If the student was moved through the basement and then to the alley, it would explain how the movement avoided cameras.
By midday we interviewed the maintenance worker. He was nervous but calm. He explained that he had let someone in once at night. He did not see clearly who it was. "Tall, dark jacket, gloves. Moved quickly," he said.
I noted the description. Gloves and careful movement indicated planning. Whoever was behind this had anticipated potential witnesses.
Navid spoke. "We should check nearby cameras again. The reflection in the alley could help. The person may have used that moment to adjust or signal someone."
We reviewed the footage slowly, frame by frame. A small figure appeared in the alley carrying a large object, followed seconds later by a taller figure. The movement matched previous patterns: two people, precise timing, minimal errors.
"They are organized and deliberate," I said. "They have planned this carefully and know what to expect from observers."
Navid remained calm. "They are patient. They will continue to move carefully. Any mistake would leave a trace and they understand that."
I traced their path from the alley through service corridors to a narrow street bordering the university. Scuffs in dust on a metal ramp showed careful movement. Navid tapped the surface. "The weight shifted slightly. Likely adjustment for stability. They managed the load carefully."
I crouched beside him. "Physically strong, controlled. Could handle resistance if necessary. Someone capable, prepared, and familiar with the environment."
We retraced the route and checked possible temporary hiding spots. By evening we returned to the office with sketches and photographs. Every angle had been recorded and analyzed.
Navid laid out diagrams connecting each point logically. "The student was moved along a designed path. Entry, temporary storage, exit. Surveillance gaps, staff schedules, and obstacles were accounted for. Someone planned this from start to finish."
I studied the layout. "The next step is finding the final location. Where did they take him?"
Navid looked calm. "We follow the clues. The pattern exists. We just need to identify it."
I reviewed the maps alone that night. Every step had been calculated, every small trace left intentionally. Whoever did this had studied the student and the campus. Intelligence and planning guided every movement.
Navid's presence had helped progress the investigation. Precise, observant, and quiet. I relied on my own deductions but his insights offered a wider perspective. Together we discovered angles I would have missed.
Tomorrow we would investigate the dormitory further, check nearby streets, and examine service corridors again. Every piece of evidence could reveal the next step. Every detail could be the key.