Date Night
The atmosphere in the CID bureau was tense. Abhijeet was busy putting important information on the whiteboard which they had gathered so far about the murder which had taken place the previous day and the others had gathered around to listen, as Freddy narrated the timeline post the discovery of the murder.
"A courier guy delivering an unidentified parcel was killed as a speeding car hit him at 10.15 am. There were several eyewitnesses as the incident took place in broad daylight on a busy street. So luckily we have the number plate of the car. The car was reported stolen three hours before the murder." said Freddy.
"Okay, so we have the details of the person who sent the courier, correct?" asked Abhijeet.
"Yes. The courier was sent by Mr Kumar a man about age seventy five. He had no idea what the parcel was. His son Mohan,who was serving a jail sentence for corporate espionage had given him the parcel for safekeeping before he went to serve his sentence in jail. Yesterday, Mohan called his father and asked him to send the courier to ACP Pradyuman. Mr Kumar assigned the job to his maid. Our killer was supposedly keeping an eye on the courier's office. As soon as the courier guy left from the office, our killer ran him over with his car, stole the parcel and ran away"
"Do we have any description of our killer?" asked Abhijeet.
"Nope. He was wearing a mask. Nobody saw his face" said Daya.
"And the car was found abandoned in the nearby forest, right?"
"Yes. Dr Tarika is checking it for clues" said Pankaj.
"And then, another body turns up. Mr. Kumar's son, Mohan." said Abhijeet.
"Yes. Shot as he was leaving the jail premises" said Daya.
"Our killer didn't want to take any risks. If Mohan had found out that the parcel was stolen before it reached ACP sir, he would have approached the police himself so to be safe our killer shot him too" said Freddy.
"Yes. But I don't understand, why he insisted the package to be sent before he was released from prison" said Daya.
"Maybe he knew his life was in danger. Let's go and pay a visit to the incharge of the prison where Mohan was serving sentence. Maybe someone came to meet him there and threatened him?" said Abhijeet.
"Yeah we should do that" said Daya.
The bureau doors swung open, announcing the arrival of Dr Tarika.
"Hello there" Abhijeet greeted her with a pleasant smile. "I am sure you have got something interesting for us"
"Unfortunately that is not a case Abhije- TRING!" Abhijeet's cellphone rang interrupting their conversation.
"Hey, Akira" Abhijeet spoke, his eyes lighting up with a smile. He moved away from them yo talk.
Everyone turned to look at Abhijeet.
"-ofcourse I remember. How can I forget this?"
...
"-yeah, yeah great. I will pick you up by 7.30 pm. I am really looking forward to this evening. Yeah. Yeah. Bye!"
Disconnecting the call, he walked back to his collegues, smiling slightly.
"Still responding to your fan mail?" said Tarika, rolling her eyes.
"What fan mail?" asked Freddy looking confused.
"You remember Abhijeet's interview was in the newspaper last week? Since then he has been receiving lot of phone calls and fan mails raving about how courageous and brave Abhijeet is.
"You forgot goodlooking" said Abhijeet, causing Daya to snigger.
"Yeah, yeah, alright goodlooking then" said Tarika rolling her eyes once again.
"So what did this Akira say? Any new adjectives, she showered you with?" asked Tarika.
"Akira wasn't a fan! She is my date tonight. She was just calling to confirm" said Abhijeet.
"What?" said Daya.
"A date?" said Tarika.
"Yeah" said Abhijeet casually.
"But - but" Daya said looking from Tarika to Abhijeet. "Since when did you start on going dates? And you never told me about this Akira"
"Akira is a friend of my first cousin. My cousin said Akira wanted to meet me since a long time so she set us up. I am meeting her today for the first time." said Abhijeet.
"Uh - huh" said Tarika.
Daya was looking from one to other, a small smile playing in his lips.
"Okay, so I think we should hurry up with the investigation. You don't want to be late for your date, do you?" said Tarika, her voice suddenly businesslike.
"Yes yes ofcourse. You are right. So what you got?" Abhijeet asked her.
"The killer was careful enough not to leave any fibres or fingerprints in the car. I have nothing which will help you in the investigation. There were traces of blood on the front tyre. And it matches with the victim. It must have got on the tyres when the car hit the victim." said Tarika.
"So, it's a dead end." said Daya looking glum.
"Yes. We are still working on the port mortem of the other body - that of Mr Mohan. I'll tell you as soon as I have the reports ready" said Tarika.
"Very well then. I think we should go and meet the prison incharge where Mohan was serving his sentence." said Abhijeet.
"Okay, go on I'll grab my gun and come" said Daya.
Abhijeet, Freddy and Pankaj walked out of the bureau. Tarika was about to leave when Daya stopped her.
"Tarika, um... you know I am sure it's just a friendly meet" he said.
"What?" said Tarika.
"Abhijeet and Akira I mean-"
"Oh, it's fine" said Tarika waving her hand airily. "It's his life. I can't see why you are bothered"
"Um.. well... okay" said Daya.
"You know, Abhijeet is right. We should have a social life. We are hanging out with murderers and dead bodies all the time. We should really go out and meet people. I think I should ask Vaibhav if he is interested in dinner tonight" said Tarika.
There she goes. I knew she wouldn't like Abhijeet going out with another girl. Daya thought.
"Tarika, look you don't have to do this. You can just tell Abhijeet-"
"Hey, no, no, no" Tarika laughed. "It's not what you think" she said reading Daya's thoughts correctly.
"I really don't have any problem if Abhijeet goes on a date with Akira" she said and walked away leaving Daya standing alone.
"Okay, so Mohan was a medical professional and he left his former job to join UV Industries a multinational Pharma company." said Pankaj.
The CID team was back in the bureau, discussing the new info which they had gathered.
"Yeah, and the UV industries manager found out that Mohan was planted as a corporate spy in UV industries by his former employer so they would know the trade secrets of UV Industries" said Daya.
"The former employer of Mohan was a private company which was not doing very well. It was on verge of closure. They were developing a drug to stop cancer growth but the tests yeilded negative results. They had put a lot of money in developing this drug so they incurred huge losses. So as one last resort to save the sinking company, they planted Mohan into UV industries, who was developing a similar drug. Mohan's job was to win their confidence and then provide inside information to the former employer." said Abhijeet.
"And then the CEO of UV Industries found out that Mohan was a corporate spy. So Mohan was fired from his job and legal action was taken on him. And then he was sentenced for ten years in prison.
"Sir-" Purvi a walked into the CID Bureau.
"Yes, Purvi" said Abhijeet.
"Sir, there is something weird going on. I checked Mohan's bank details and two months after Mohan was put in jail till his release yesterday, Mohan has been receiving steady payments from a company called SV Industries which happens to be an associate company of UV Industries" said Purvi.
"What? Why would SV industries pay Mohan even after he was guilty of committing a fraud?" said Abhijeet pondering over this new information.
"Something is not right sir. Is it merely a coincidence or were the payments deliberately made by an associate company so as to cover the name of UV Industries?" asked Freddy.
"You are right Freddy. Something is fishy here. Did anyone withdraw the money from Mohan's bank account? A family member maybe?" asked Abhijeet.
"Yes, Mohan's son. He lives abroad but he has agreed to video chat with us tonight at 9 pm." said Purvi.
"Great, Pankaj and Freddy, I want you to find out Mohan's friends or collegues both in his former company and new company. Question them. Maybe Mohan must have said something to them." said Abhijeet.
"I doubt whether they will be able to remember anything now. It has been ten years. And Mohan's former company has went out of business four years ago" said Daya.
"Yeah but worth a shot. Keep me posted you two" said Abhijeet to Freddy and Pankaj.
"I will talk to Mohan's son. Let's see if he can tell us why Mohan was still receiving payment indirectly from UV industries" said Purvi.
"What about Mohan's wife?" askes Daya.
"She passed away a year after Mohan was imprisoned. Mohan father has no idea about this. We can only talk to his son." said Purvi.
The bureau door swung open and Dr Tarika walked in.
"Still here Abhijeet? Aren't you getting late for your date with Akira? It's almost - excuse me" said Tarika as her cellphonw rang.
"Hi Vaibhav" said Tarika on the phone.
Abhijeet turned to look at Tarika as she walked away towards the window.
"Vaibhav? The guy who comes to the Lab sometimes?" asked Abhijeet.
"Yes" said Daya.
"Why is he calling her?" asked Abhijeet, his still on Tarika.
"I don't know" said Daya.
"You don't know?" Abhijeet said sounding irritable and finally turning his eyes back on Daya. "How could you not know?"
"Tarika is not my girlfriend. How would I know about her personal stuff?" said Daya.
"Hurry up Tarika" Abhijeet called across the room, impatiently. "I have to leave!"
"Hey, you don't have to wait if you are getting late, okay? I will talk to her and fill you in later about the case's progress." Daya offered.
"Is she twirling her hair?" Abhijeet asked.
"What?" said Daya and looked at Tarika. Sure enough she was twirling her finger in her hair and smiling.
Two minutes later she walked towards Abhijeet and Daya looking very happy about something.
"You know this restaurant La cirque? How is it? Anyone been there?" she asked.
"You will never get a seat there. It's always full. Ofcourse it's not difficult if you have contacts" said Abhijeet proudly. "You see, I have been of certain help to the hotel owner in the past. So one call from me and violà, you will get a booking. I'll take you someti-"
"Thank you Abhijeet. That's really sweet of you. But now we should get back to work fast. You see I too have plans for the evening" said Tarika.
"Really? What plans?" asked Abhijeet.
"I am going out for dinner. With Vaibhav" said Tarika smiling. "Okay murder weapon was a gun which caused Mohan's death -"
"Since when did you start going to dinner with Vaibav?" Abhijeet interrupted in a slightly raised voice.
"Since now" said Tarika. Turning her attention back to Daya she said, " Three bullets were fired from a close range which-"
"I didn't know you were on talking terms with him" said Abhijeet not paying attention to a word Tarika was saying about the bullets.
"He is a good friend of mine Abhijeet. I was free this evening so I asked him if we could meet and he said we could go to dinner" said Tarika. "All three bullets hit him in the chest killing him immediately. He was dead before he even realised what happened" she continued speaking to Daya as if there had been no interruption.
"Anything else?" asked Daya.
"No, the murder weapon is obviously with the killer. So that's all at the moment." said Tarika.
"Okay" said Daya. "Thanks Tarika. Enjoy your evening"
"Oh, thank you" Tarika said flashing Daya a genuine smile. "Oh and if you need anything, I will be available on my cellphone. Dr Salunkhe is in the lab so it shouldn't be a problem"
"Okay" said Daya.
"Well, see you guys tomorrow then. Have a nice date Abhijeet" Tarika said.
"Yeah, you too" said Abhijeet rather forcibly.
As the door swung shut behind Tarika, Abhijeet turned to Daya to find him smirking.
"What?" Abhijeet snapped at him.
"I think I smell jealousy in the air" said Daya smirking more broadly.
"Excuse me? You've got to be kidding me. I don't care who she goes out with. It's her life." said Abhijeet in an offhand voice.
"You know what? Both of you say the same things and yet I think you guys don't really mean it" said Daya.
"Oh, cut it out. I don't have time for such petty conversations. I have a date with a beautiful girl tonight" said Abhijeet in a satisfied sort of a way.
"That's great buddy." Daya said slapping him in the back. "Go and have fun. I think I will revisit the crime scene and ask around a bit if anyone has seen Mohan's killer. And then I am thinking of paying a visit to the CEO of UV Industries."
"Yeah, you do that. Hey, keep me posted. I will wait for your call" said Abhijeet.
"You sure your date won't mind if you answer work calls?" asked Daya with a playful smile.
"Oh no, I am sure she will be very understanding" said Abhijeet.
"Lucky you. Charming date you've got" said Daya.
"Adiòs buddy. Later" said Abhijeet and walked out of the bureau.
A/N - Next chapter will be posted shortly :)