Chapter 1

---Izmir, 11 May 2016---

---Karsiyaka District, Izmir, Turkey---

Bamm!

The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the densely populated area, causing many lights that had been off to turn on almost simultaneously. This signalled that everyone had been awakened from their sound sleep that night and were startled by the deafening noise.

The sound, which should never have been heard in that area, now attracted attention and caused many doors to open with people crowding around them.

"What's going on? Who's shooting?" asked a sleepy-faced man to one of the people who had come out of his house at that moment.

"I don't know. It sounds like it's not far from here," replied another man.

"Could it be, that gang of thugs shooting?" added a middle-aged woman named Elin.

Their faces were filled with worry, while several others who were braver than them went to see what was happening. However, their guesses were wrong, because what happened and what the people found was even more terrible.

"Call the police. He's dead!" said someone who was examining a body in a rubbish bin. "Tell the police to come quickly. Because a politician has been killed here." he continued in a low voice.

His eyes were fixed on the body, with his mobile phone torch shining directly on the corpse's face.

The news of the death of Ekram Adolf, one of Turkey's most prominent politicians at the time, immediately became headline news throughout the region. Not only in Izmir, where Ekram had been active as a politician for several years. The news had made national headlines and was the most searched topic throughout Turkey. All media outlets, including print, online and radio, were abuzz with discussion of this bizarre incident, the first of its kind in this quiet city.

Wham!

A man in a white shirt looked angry and slammed the table while holding his mobile phone, which showed Ekram's death as the first news item he was reading.

"How are you going to take responsibility for this? Hah!" said the man.

Unlike the man who was filled with emotion, the person he was talking to chose to remain silent and bowed his head deeply. As if reluctant and afraid to respond to his interlocutor's anger.

"You gave me a guarantee that he would lead us to absolute victory in the Izmir region. You convinced me, that he was a man far from any scandal that could disrupt our path, but what do I see now! What!" said the man again, still full of emotion.

"Sir ... I don't think now is the right time to talk about that." The young man standing behind them both, near the entrance to the room, spoke up first. "We must leave immediately for the deceased's residence to pay our last respects."

"No! I refuse to come and see his corpse!" exclaimed the man.

"It's not for you or the deceased. But do it for the sake of our careers, sir." The man spoke again. "If you don't show up at the funeral home now, there will definitely be new news that will make our path forward even more difficult. Especially ... the campaign is getting closer. Don't let this become a tool for our opponents to dig up more of our weaknesses." He said, convincing the man in the white shirt.

The man in the shirt then took a long, deep breath. He glanced at the person who had not responded cynically and asked. "If he's finished. Do we have a replacement for this election?"

"Yes, sir. The second choice at that time, became one of the strong candidates after Ekram Adolf." Finally, he spoke, albeit with a slight stutter.

"Get it ready." Then the man in the shirt stood up and adjusted his sleeves while grabbing the black coat hanging nearby. "Let's go to Ekram's house now."

***

---24 hours before the death of Ekram Adolf---

---Aegean Region, Izmir Province, Turkey---

---Exceptional Flat, Izmir---

A fairly luxurious apartment with a view overlooking the beach appeared deserted in the early hours of the morning. In one of the rooms, there was a man around 70 years old whose photos and posters were currently being distributed throughout the province of Izmir.

Next to him were a man and a middle-aged woman in slightly revealing clothing who had their heads bowed. They had been in this room since the night before, but had not uttered a single word. Except to be lost in their own thoughts.

The 70-year-old man then showed his disappointment once again. As he stared at the man who was 20 years younger than him.

"You ... how could you do this to me, Amir. You ... did this on purpose, didn't you?" Finally, a sentence slipped from the man's lips.

"I did do it on purpose, Uncle. But I did it for your own good." Amir, the man who was subordinate to the older man, took a deep breath before answering.

"No way!" The man showed a surprisingly harsh and dismissive expression. "You can't do that. I will still go ahead and run for office, no matter what the situation is. And no one, including you, can stop me from serving this city."

"Uncle ... I beg you ...." Amir said softly, "consider all your decisions before going too far. I don't want you to regret this later and not be able to live peacefully after you officially run." Amir then glanced at the watch on his left hand. He seemed to be deliberately stalling for time and keeping the man he called Uncle inside the apartment.

"I have to go now. It's almost morning. And the announcement of my candidacy will be made today.’ Ekram, the 70-year-old man, immediately got up from his chair and walked towards the exit.

"If something happens to you, will Auntie accept it easily and be able to continue living here alone, Uncle?’ Amir spoke up again. "At least ... Uncle should live longer. To accompany Auntie until the end of her life. Especially ... Auntie will be getting older soon."

However, Ekram, who was very confident in his decision to run for Mayor of Izmir, only smiled when he heard Amir's words.

"You know me well, Amir." Ekram replied. "It is precisely because I am getting old that I realise I don't have much time left. So I must make good use of it. I am also confident that you can take care of everything until election day."

Ekram's trust weighed heavily on Amir, making him sigh and feel disappointed with his uncle's final decision. Meanwhile, the young woman, who had been silent and bowing her head inside, looked at Amir as if she understood. She immediately threw some money in front of the woman, just as Ekram left the apartment room, right when the call to dawn prayer sounded.

***

Shahnaz rubbed her forehead because she had not been able to rest properly all night. Even though no mourners had come and Ismi had calmed down, she still could not close her eyes because she kept thinking about Amir's story that Ekram's decision to run for mayor of Izmir was a controversial one.

Ekram Adolf. The 70-year-old man was not a corrupt politician who was hated by the people. On the contrary, in Shahnaz's eyes, her uncle was a very honest politician who always sided with the people and upheld honesty. Shahnaz even saw for herself how electable her uncle was and how much support he had from the people when he decided to run for mayor.

If there were any parties who did not like this support, it was certainly not the community. Rather, it was Ekram's own political opponents. Unfortunately, Shahnaz could not find out who Ekram's political opponents were, because no one had come since last night.

"Miss ... sorry to disturb you," said a female servant who was now standing in front of Shahnaz.

"What is it?" asked Shahnaz.

"Outside ... there are police officers who have come looking for Mr Ekram's family. But Mrs Ismi is still in her room and didn't answer when I knocked on her door," said the maid.

“Oh … I’ll go meet them.” Shahnaz didn’t know what Ismi was doing at the moment, but she chose to give in and meet the police officers first. After all, she was also curious about what the police wanted to tell the family.

But before she could take another step and leave her room, Shahnaz turned around and looked at the servant with a pale face.

"Call Amir too. Tell him to come with me to meet the police officer." Shahnaz ordered.

Hearing Amir's name mentioned, the servant immediately replied. ‘B-but Miss ... Amir is not here." He replied.

"What do you mean he's not here?" Shahnaz asked back.

"Amir ... since last night after talking to you, he left immediately, taking many things with him. I think ... he left on your orders, but."

The servant's words stopped when Shahnaz immediately went to the back and checked Amir's room, which was empty, without a single item left.

“Damn it!"