Here is part 1. Enjoy, do let me know what you think please.
Chapter 1
ETF Office: Mumbai
Chief of ETF, Sameer Rathore, made his way to the conference
room with measured steps. Today he is going to make a move that could break or
make his ETF team. It had been three months since the death of one of his
officers, but the pain of loss continues to affect each and every one of rest
of his team members, most especially one of them. Rathore knew why Arjun was
restless and his decision to bring in the forensic expert is going to send
Arjun's world spinning, but at this point he can't worry about all that. It was
time Arjun Raute faced the harsh reality of his life.
He slammed the file on the conference room table and looked
at his officers who were starring at the fact board as if the answer to their
question would jump right out of the board. "Shree recap of the two murders,"
Rathore ordered his techy expert.
Shree jumped slightly at his chief's order and pushed his
glasses up a little, "Yes sir."
He consulted his laptop and started spitting out the
information on the two unsolved murder cases.
Sweta Tiwari, Age 40,
married, was killed Two weeks ago on Friday, by the knife from her own kitchen.
Husband was out of town on business, alibi confirmed. No evidence found; all
hair samples and fingerprints belonged to the victim and her husband only.
According to the neighbors, friends and co-workers, both the husband and wife
were very nice, no fights between the two that they know of, everyone liked
them and they got along with everyone.
Arjun twirled his pen between his thumb and finger as he
listened to Shree. His mind was flashing the pictures of the crime scene as he
listened to Shree read the information on the case. Something was definitely
missing. They had already ruled out the fact that the murder happened in a
another location, judging by the trail of blood from the kitchen to the
bedroom, the victim was definitely killed in her own house. So why then there
is not even a shred of evidence from the killer? How is it possible that they
didn't have anything?
Arjun's mind switched to the second case as Shree read out
the information on the murder that happened one week ago on Friday.
Kanak Mehta, Age 26,
news reporter, lived by herself. No boyfriend since six months. Ex-boyfriend is
out of India. No evidence, all blood, fingerprints and hair samples belonged to
the victim only. According to close friends, co-workers and neighbors, Kanak
was very friendly and never had anything bad to say about anyone. No one has
been bothering her at work or anywhere else. If she goes out than it is always
with the same group of friends from work. She hasn't been involved with another
guy since she broke up with the boyfriend six months ago.
"Sir the two crimes scenes are exactly the same, the blood
trail, the murder weapon is exactly the same, yet the two victims are opposite
of each other in looks, they also lived in opposite side of the city. They had
nothing in common, we checked everything." Shree said as he pointed to the fact
board.
Arjun threw the pen on the table and got up to go stand in
front of the fact board. "There has to be something Shree."
Shree gulped visually and gave Chottu a sideway look. He got
ready for orders from his two superiors. He didn't even want to think about the
pending work that is piled up on his desk. "Riya,
I wish you were here."
Rathore placed his hands on his hips and thought now is the
best time to introduce the subject of their new team member. "We have to dig
deeper to find the common thread between these two cases before Friday."
Rathore saw Shree and Chottu give each other an apprehensive look; he knew they
have had to carry the load of extra work since Riya's death so he hoped they
don't get upset over Riya's replacement.
"That brings me to something I want to mention to all of
you," he waited for Arjun to sit back down then announced the news about the
new recruit. "Starting tomorrow we will be joined by our new research
specialist slash forensics expert. She also has background in criminal
profiling, she should be an asset to our team and I want you all to welcome her
warmly."
Arjun kept his face devoid of expressions but his mind
flashed a picture of Riya's dimpled smile; he felt his heart twitch at the
thought of someone replacing Riya. As if reading Arjun's thoughts, Rathore
further clarified qualifications of the new ETF officer.
"Remember she is not taking Riya' place, but she will be
doing the job that Riya was doing. She is also a highly trained officer, she is
a sharp shooter, has experience in undercover work and fieldwork. She is also a
very highly intelligent woman and I am sure will be an essential part of our
team." Rathore looked at Arjun steadily when he gave him a sharp look.
Arjun had an uneasy feeling about the new officer but
shrugged it off. He didn't care who did Riya's job as long as it was done
correctly and she stayed out of his way. He has decided it's best not to get
close to whoever came in Riya's place; he had no interest in getting
emotionally involved with another person like he had with Riya.
He hadn't loved Riya, but she had woken up old doormat
feelings in him that he hasn't felt in a long time. When his wife died he had
promised himself he would never love anyone again, but somehow Riya had made it
past his indifferent attitude. There had been something special about Riya that
had reminded him of someone whom he had vowed never to remember. He ruthlessly pushed the old memories out of
his mind and turned his thoughts back on the two murdered victims.
Not too far from the ETF office, twenty-eight years old Priya
Banerjee plopped herself down across from her best friend Dr. Swati Gupta. "I
don't know what I would have done without you Swati," she said as she gave her
best friend a dimpled smile and placed the coffee cup in front of her best
friend.
Swati smiled back at her as she watched her friend cross out
the chores list she had made this morning. The girls had spent the whole day
putting finishing touches on Riya's new apartment. They had few just finished
not too long ago and decided to have a cup coffee at a nearby coffee shop.
Swati couldn't help but worry for Priya, as she thought about what Priya was
about to face. She hoped her best friend made it out of the situation without
any scratches or heartbreak this time around.
The two girls had been friends since they were young girls
and the bond only grew stronger as they got older and each faced the worst kind
of heartbreaks. "Priya, are you sure you want to do this?"
Priya's hazel eyes shot up to her best friend and the
worried frown on her face. "It's time to face him Swati; Sameer specifically
requested for me to transfer to Mumbai office from Delhi office. He explained
to me what has been happening to Arjun and I thought may be it is time that
Arjun knew the whole truth of what happened on that day."
Swati's mouth pinched at mention of Sameer Rathore, "I
should have known he is behind you moving to Mumbai ETF office. So has he
decided to put you in the line of fire for the sake of his best friend."
Priya understood her friend's feelings and nothing she says
will change Swati's mind about Sameer. "He didn't force me to move here Swati,
that decision was all mine. I am well aware of what I will have to face by
joining the office here, but there are things that, I am not at liberty to
share with you, compelled me to take the decision to move here."
"Fine, but I swear I won't spare Sameer Rathore if something
happens to you this time." Swati grabbed Priya's hand when she automatically
raised it up to her right cheek to touch the long, jagged scare on her face. "I
don't mean physical harm Priya." She said soothingly.
"How worse could it get from what I have already been
through Swati?" Priya asked.
Swati sat back and sighed, "It doesn't mean it will hurt any
less either Priya."
Priya decided that it was time to move away from the
depressing topic. "That is something I will have to get used to and I am well
prepared for it too." She held up her hand when Swati started to speak. "Enough
about me and my gloomy past and future, tell me why you never attempted to meet
Sameer since you moved here?"
"Didn't see any point in it Priya, we were never meant to be
together." Swati shrugged carelessly but she knew Priya understood things
without any explanations from her.
Priya glanced at her wristwatch; "I better get going, have
to report to first day of duty early in the morning."
Swati also stood up, "I also have early morning duty
tomorrow and should get going." They both parted ways outside after promising
to call each other the next day to catch up on Priya's first day at the Mumbai
branch of ETF office.
*~+~*
Edited by sbp1971 - 11 years ago
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