Chapter 3

It's in our hands whether we make our emotions advantage, or weakness.

--

Humans are the most superior race on this Earth. They have the brain and muscle power, because of which they ruled this world for thousands of years. They created, destroyed, and recreated civilization. They are powerful, but the basic thing which separate Human from Animals is their emotions. Animals don't have any emotions, but Humans have. The day they will lose it, Civilization will truly cease to exist.

For all human's superiority, it's really astonishing to witness their original master is not the brain, or even God, but emotions. Emotions, like love for parents, friends, understanding for a stranger, caring for a baby, these are the things which dominate human life, make them appear humane. Even the strong, logical people crumble in front of emotions. If God really made Human beings, then it's his way of balancing the indomitable race. Power with accurate weakness.

Some say caring is not an advantage. Caring for someone means putting someone else before you, think about the other person. Caring for someone else means you are not alone, there is a responsibility for another person on your shoulder. Sure, the person might not need your support, but in your heart you will always be tied with him or her. Care, the emotions has it's own way of creeping onto you silently, you are already there before you can understand and stop it, almost like Love. Care might be the first step of falling in Love, the basic feature of a relation.

It's safe to say Riya didn't care for anyone in this World. There was logical reason behind it. For example, she had a big, joint family where everyone share the same house and work in same empire, everyone takes care of everyone and have each other's back. She never had to worry about her parents or stay with them because there were others who could fill in her shoes and do better than her. There is a possibility her parents doesn't even remember her.

Family, check.

She had only one true friend in life, and she has many people to be with her. So Friend . . . check.

Love . . . no point of taking care of deceased Lover so . . . meh.

Yeah, no care for anyone, because she didn't have to.

Who knew, the ETFians will be her undoing?

The very first time she worked with them, when the Commissioner had not dropped the possibility on her to join the team and evoked a sub-interest to exploit this opportunity for her own in fullest, when she had saw and worked with her former Best Friend after a gap of 3 years of being AWOL, when she had nearly damaged the neck of a irritating Man who was inquiring a little too harshly for her taste, Her head was too involved with the main case. But Sub-conscious Mind is an ever active tool, it picks up things which our mind doesn't, so her's also did. She noticed the efficiency of the team, like a well oiled machine, every member is vital, has it's own role, they all contribute equally and help each case to solve. She noticed the true urge to do something good for this society, wipe out the wrong doers, make a difference through their profession. They worked with all seriousness, but there were silly banters and witty remarks as well, not the pessimistic crude cop humour. There was a lightness surrounding the group even in middle of the gruesomest crime scenes and dead end cases, which never ceased, even on the darkest days.  

The team was a mix of different individuals who came together. Most often, people so different from each other create nuisance than good, but they didn't. Maybe it was respect for each other, or the respect for their profession, which bind them together. But she was proven completely wrong when she was in that cabin with the Director.

It was not a team, it's a family.

At first, it was just working with the team on her part, not going solo, one woman army like the Director required. The former didn't want her to mess up with the team so she didn't. She messed up many things in life, but she was not yet ready to see the disappointment in the eyes of her former best friend. It was going well, she would like to think.

When things actually started to change, she can't exactly pinoint.

With the ever present chaos in her life which only increased tenfold in these months, it was safe to say she might have overlooked the signs, and even the sub-conscious disappointed her in this regard. But one day when she had already submitted her resignation, yet stood with the team beside her for the hearing of an investigation of an assult of a criminal during interrogation by her, she witnessed how everyone of them stood beside her and supported her. She was more surprised with the attitude of the team than the unexpected soft result of the hearing.

Then she thought back on the months.

The things she remembered was how team was surprised to hear the Officer they worked some weeks ago in a case was now joining them. She remembered the ever present scowl of the Second in Command who was, in some manner she later find out, was alike her and which increased often due to her flippant remarks and disregard of his superiority. She remembered the displeased expression of the Forensic expert when she barged in the lab with the parents of a victim, demanding to let them see the body before autopsy. She remembered how the IT expert was taken aback everytime she appeared out of nowhere and demanded things from him without explaining why. She remembered how she dismissed the Crime Journo way before she even joined the team and the mutual dislike between them. She remembered the curious glances from the Senior Officer, the exchanged looks between the Commando and the IT expert.

She didn't know if she overnight developed a craving to belong somewhere, to become a part of team, which was laughable on the outside and so accurate deep down that she would rather not think about it, or sub-consciously moulded herself with the ways of the team. Whatever it was, she never realized it. It happened with time, so natural and with ease that it took her by surprise in that hearing room. With sudden clarity she realized how the scowl changed into intense gaze, words stopped being heated verbal exchanges and were now finishing what she was thinking and talking about. Curious glances turned to light remarks, gathering around the desk of the IT expert with mugs of ETF coffee and her own McD caffiene. Displeased expression and irritation turned to surprised and often, admiring looks. Silence around her turned to laughter and banters. Now she was not the only one going the reckless way, or even if she did, rest of them would follow her no matter how crazy the idea sounds. Curiosity turned to understanding, acceptance, having each others back. The team which appeared to her waiting to go into chaos with various characters, now looked like a family, a team, which was together at the end of day no matter what, sticking together and now extended to her as well. The innocence of the IT expert now didn't look silly, or something to be disapproved, the nosy feature of crime journo was easy to bear, light exchange with senior officer was now beyond the line of colleague. Gym sessions, surprise delivery of McD when she would pull her hair out during paper work in late night, sitting on SUV bonnet and having conversation which had some intense internal meaning underneath was now as easy as sneaking out without any note, disappearing for hours and having a dual purpose in life.

She didn't know who raced to catch up with whom, but now it happened and she was left to deal with it.

Maybe it won't be so easy to walk away when it's all over. Won't be easy to pick one over the other.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sometime in life, all you want to do is to show a middle finger to the world and be done with it. For some time, then of course you have to return to it.

ETF Director Aisha Kapoor was now feeling this exactly same emotion.

The problem was, even on her worst days, she was not that person. She thinks and acts rationally, impulsive and reckless is the exact antonym of her. She was seldom angry, and even when she is, it's during work and often on the Crime journo of her team. That was, of course, before her AWOL best friend appeared out of nowhere and joined the team.

She never asked her superior Raghu sir why he sent the former in her team. She suspect maybe it was for her to keep an eye on her. But often, in these months, she suspected whether the Commissioner wanted her to go lunatic after the ACP. If he wanted that, then he was halfway to there. She wanted to pull her hair out to think or even assume what the ACP was doing, and the half clues she got was enough to drive her up the wall. Often she tried to stop thinking what the former was doing, but then she will get something and the process will be repeated over and over again.

But tonight, it was not the time to pull her hair out in frustration. She was angry, seeting even, and was here, in front of the apartment of the ACP for the second time in less than 10 days. The ACP was to return the day after tomorrow, and she wanted to avoid any argument in Office.

Today, the Director had an interesting meeting with one officer from IB. At first, she was surprised, then curiosity got the better of her and she told her PA, to bring the Man inside. The normal exchanges happened, and when the Man came straight on topic, it felt like someone pulled the rug under her.

"We were wondering why ETF is interested in a person, you surely know the name, Nasir Jamal."

The da*ned name which added another reason of her sleepless nights. Since the day she got hint of the name, she tried to find out everything about him. Other than that the Man makes fake passports and also supply girls from all over South Asia, she didn't get anything and it made no sense why the ACP went to great lengths to pull his contact details. But then, hardly anything the ACP makes sense.

She answered truthfully that the name popped out during one undercover operation. The IB guy was persistent, asking why only that Name was important to ETF and not other names in the contact list. After some minutes of cat and mouse, she asked why IB sent an officer only to ask this question.

"He is an asset." The Main rested his frame on table, a subtle attempt to intimidate the Director, "But you surely went one step above of your regular interest. We were wondering why."

The Director was puzzled, "You mean?"

"You searched RAW database for Nasir Jamal."

Several words, and suddenly all was crystal clear. She didn't even have to rethink or overanalyze her thought process.

How she sat through the rest of meeting and had to endure the suspicious gaze and subtle warning that over interest in that Nasir character will not be appreciated, she was not sure. But once the IB guy was out of her room, she sat in stunned silence in the four wall of her cabin, clearing her schedule for the day as she drowned herself in deep thought. It was out of her mind just how the driver which was the only way to access RAW database came in contact of the ACP, or how she never suspected her driver was misplaced. It also stunned her how far the ACP was willing to go on her crusade, breaking into her cabin and cautiously putting it back in it's place.

Even if this confrontation will bear no fruit, still anger got the better of her and she banged the door of the ACP's apartment 10 o'clock in night, adamant to put some sense into the latter and rebuke on her audacity to break into her cabin and do something like this. A mocking voice softly whispered in her ears that even if she always got the wind of what the ACP was doing, she still had no clue of what actually she was doing, what is the actual big picture. Even after staying one step ahead, she is, in reality, many step backwards.  It added fuel to the fire, sufficient to say.

The ACP merely frowned at the Director, before closing the door behind her and walking out to have the conversation. Even someone oblivious can say from the look on Director's face that it was going to be a loud conversation which will attract neighbours. They stopped outside, in the parking lot, and the ACP crossed arms over chest, signaling her to continue.

"How dare you to break into my cabin and use my driver to access RAW database?"

To ACP's credit, she didn't look a slightest bit of surprised at the outburst. The Director wondered if she was trying to look unaffected or actually was expecting her, and the confusion added more to the anger.

"RAW has a database?" Was the only reply she could get.

"Funny you are not interested about the driver." She glared. The ACP shrugged.

"I am not interested in either."

"Cut the BS." She raised voice, "You really thought I won't know you used my driver for it? How thick do you think I am?"

"Do you have any proof I took it?" The ACP asked quietly. The Director crossed her arms over chest, mimicking her.

"Today one officer from IB came to meet me, without any appointment. Imagine my surprise after pleasanteries he asked straight about Nasir Jamal, the guy you are also looking for." She gritted teeth, "He asked me why ETF is interested in that guy, more like why I am interested. They sure as he*l know ETF is handling no regular or undercover case on Jamal. I am now under IB's scrutiny, great," She mocked, "and I don't even know why."

"They didn't say."

"Of course not, except for the regular line." The Director's voice dropped bitterly, "He is an asset." She shoot an suspicious look at the ACP, "How did you even got the driver?"

"You should not accuse when you don't have any proof."

"I have enough points to link them together."

"Fine." The ACP smiled a little without any humour, "You live with your line, I will live with mine."

She tried to walk away, but the Director caught her wrist, "I won't tolerate this next time Riya, I warn you. Don't test my patience."

The ACP raised her eyebrow at the action and the former removed her grip and turned to leave, before saying, "Be careful. It's not only me after you now."

The ACP looked on as she left.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now that's interesting, the ACP thought to herself, really interesting.

In the 10 days of absolute silence, she was contemplating how to proceed further with this Nasir Jamal angel. There was no news from Raghu sir's side, so she was assuming the imposter angel proved futile, like she had assumed. She had finished reading the some 400 pages of surveillance info on this Jamal, but didn't get why RAW was tailing him and what was they actually looking for. She also didn't understand why her deceased Lover and that Raja was linked by this Man only.

And then the Director came knocking.

She was not honestly expecting anyone to notice that ETF Director accessed RAW database, because, what were the odds, right? But they did and it only cemented her faith, from some reason beyond her grasp RAW was interested in him and they were looking out for anyone who even tried to do a background search on him. Aisha said he was an asset, and how much it sounded broken record on the Intelligence Agency's part but somehow it made sense. Jamal may not be some spy, but RAW and IB was hoping to crack some walls by tailing him, if the surveillance info was anything to go by.

But exactly what?

She didn't know.

She didn't have any time to ponder or brood also, because the next thing she knew, she was hurrying to return in her old job. Days passed in the same way like it used to before 10 days break, late night working, pulling hair in report filing after case was over, and angry glares of the Director.

Same old , same old.

"What's with the lovey dovey looks?" Sameer, obviously, had to notice how the Director's mood shift whenever the ACP is near and had to ask about it, even if he gets the most roundabout answer, and sometimes, none. The ACP merely met his eyes.

"The usual."

"Same old same old." He said to himself, sighing dramatically.

"It's because she has a way of doing that to others." The Second in Command joined them and remarked. Sameer chuckled and the ACP just gave a sugery sweet smile.

"You starting to know me so well."

And reasons unknown to them both the Senior officer coughed at that.

Some days of total mundane cases there was this simple case which divided the team, literally. There was nothing unusual about this case, a Guy was locked in a room with his girlfriend. When the door was opened, they found the Girlfriend holding a knife in her hand and blood in the room. The guy was, obviously, dead.

The moment the case came, Arjun and Riya went to one side and concluded it's not as easy as it looks. They were more persistent after the Girlfriend broke down during her interrogation and demanded them to find the original culprit who killed her Lover.

"What's there to find?" Sakshi said after they returned from the interrogation, "They were both inside, and she had the knife in her hand. She killed him."

"Even if her expressions and vehement denial of the crime," Sameer said softly, "makes me think, but still, I am with evidence on this. She is the guilty, there is no other option."

At the end, team divided into two parts, those who believed something was wrong with the crime, and those who believed evidence and normal cases like this. Shree, for the first time, separated from his partner in crime Chotu and Sakshi and joined the duo in their quest for truth, for which he had to listen to stung accusations for days.

Then, to add more into it, some supernatural element was thrown into.

The boyfriend and girlfriend were locked into a hotel room, where they stayed on their return from a road trip. The Manager of the hotel informed the room was haunted from nearly 20 years, some spooky things always happens in there. Even though the team saw nothing in there when they tore apart the room in their investigation.

"So Ghost killed the guy rather than the girlfriend?'' Chotu asked to none particular in one of the discussion.

"I have strong suspicion in anything supernatural." Shree replied to it.

"Better our suspect than Ghost." remarked the ACP lightly, as she wiped the ring of her McD and took a sip, humming lowly at the taste.

"Of course you will say that." Sameer said, scoffing, "Your suspect will go free."

"Why we didn't know about this earlier?" Demanded the Second in Command.

"It would help your case if you knew ghost was involved from the very first?" Sakshi replied, and everyone chuckled at it.

But all the fun was sucked out and things turned paranormally serious when the team actually witnessed the Ghost in the room.

It was all that da*ned hotel manager's fault, really. He said ghosts usually make an appearance in night, so they arrived after midnight in the room, waiting for ghost to arrive. They were not disappointed, suddenly wind and light fog appeared in the room out of nowhere and they saw white cloudy figure hanging from the ceiling, the limbs they could make out in dark moving in all direction.

The officers shot at the ceiling repeatedly after Sakshi let out a cry of whimper, spotting the figures initially. The figure disappeared immediately, and soon the hotel manager came running.

The next day Rawte was rather pi*sed when members of his team started to sport things like chains with god's picture on it, some holy threads on wrist, rings with sparkling colorful stones on fingers. He used his loud voice when the ACP from her far away seat could only hide her smirk behind her McD.

"What nonsense is this?"

"Protection from Ghost." Sameer was the only one, apart from the duo, who didn't arrive with some chain or thread on his body. Others scowled at him.

"There is no Ghost." The Second in command said stubbornly.

"We all saw it last night." Sakshi reminded softly, and was gifted with a stern glare.

"You all should be ashamed." He exclaimed, and immediately everyone felt bad.

2 nights later they went back in the hotel room. The ACP replied casually when Chotu asked, voice trembling slightly, if it's necessary to visit the room again.

"Let's see how effective is this protection, shall we?"

And they were again welcomed by the sight of Ghosts hanging by the ceiling. In the earlier visit the power supply in the room was cut, but tonight the power of whole hotel was suddenly out. The power circuit was intact when one of them ran from the room during the ghost show to see why power was suddenly out.

 The threads and chains increased by the next couple of days. Sakshi even started to use vermillion and mangalsutra, because according to her ghost attacked that couple because they were unmarried and spoiling the Indian culture. From the identical incredulous cum pissed look on the duos face, it was clear they didn't buy this crap.

They met the girlfriend once again some days after, and when they were leaving the infamous interrogation room she caught the arm of the ACP, who was once again allowed inside, but in the presence of Sameer and Rawte.

"I didn't kill him." Her eyes were wide and earnest, and for a moment the team was stunned by the emotions and truth in them, "I can never hurt him."

"Why we are still working on this case?" Sakshi demanded one day not long after that interrogation, "She is guilty, it's evident."

"We are working." Rawte said, head cocked in one side, "if your readers are bored with the news, find something new."

Everyone stared at the harsh tone. It was something new from the Second in Command, who never liked the crime journo and barely tolerated her antics, yet never talked to her like that. They wondered what she did to pi*s him off, unknown to her tipping off press when the ACP was under investigation a month ago.

The ACP merely raised an eyebrow at the tone, which Rawte mimicked. Sameer cleared his throat.

"Do we have something new?" He asked. The momentary staring contest was interrupted then as they all returned to the case.

In that evening, when the team was brainstorming behind the real reason of ghost sighting in the hotel room, Liza entered, to everyone's surprise, with Coffees and McD. Rawte noticed the subtle exchange between the forensic expert and ACP Mukherjee, the former's gulping and nervousness and the latter's ever present calm exterior. When she met his eyes, he raised his eyebrow, much like she did to him, to which she raised hers right back.

After some 30 minutes, when they had finished their coffee, Chotu suddenly started to ask them whether they can see the shadowy figure outside the discussion room. When he asked once, they all refused, the second time Sameer teased him about day dreaming and advised to wash his face. The third time he did, everyone could tell from the sweat on his forehead that something was wrong. When ACP Mukherjee, taking chance of this moment, switched off the light, Chotu went crazy with fear. It took the return of light and another coffee that he became normal.

"That explains the Ghost now." ACP Mukherjee said softly once they all calmed down. Rawte did his semi glare semi curious look on her, lips pressed thinly with disapproval.

"What was in the coffee?" he looked back and forth between her and Liza, who hid her face.

"It was a drug." The ACP answered, "It made him see the ghosts, or the shadowy figures outside discussion room."

"So we were drugged before entering that room?" Sameer asked, recovering from the situation quickly, "But how is that possible? We didn't have anything in the hotel, or area near it."

"HNB, the drug," Liza opened her mouth, looking at everyone with apology, "it mostly comes in gas state. One can inhale it accidentally and see all kinds of vision."

"So HNB was in the air of that room?" Shree asked, frowning.

"The sudden fog in the room." Rawte nodded slowly.

"Exactly." The ACP agreed.

"The hotel manager must be behind this ghost crap." Chotu recovered from his semi crazed state and said, "But what about the murder? Did he do it?"

"I don't think so." Sameer said, "He didn't look the murderer type to me."

"I think the girl did it." Rawte said slowly, "they both were under drug, they might have been panicked by the ghost sighting. Is this impossible?"

"No." Liza answered, "There are reports of people doing horrific things under the influence. It's just another unfortunate incident."

The next day, the manager was under arrest for murder and they got traces of HNB in the room. They also discovered some device which did the whole power off thing without touching the circuit. In a way, the duo lost, but they were right too, the girlfriend didn't do it. She had no reason, it was under drug influence.

After the case was over, ACP Mukherjee offered one cup of Coffee to Chotu, who eyed it suspiciously.

"No drug, promise." She said, and beside them both Shree laughed.

Sakshi asked Chotu heatedly after the ACP walked away, "Why did you take the coffee from her?"

"No drug in it, she said." He replied. She narrowed her eyes.

"She drugged you, how can you trust her?"

He shrugged, and she huffed angrily.

By some weird twist by universe, ACP Mukherjee and Rawte found each other sitting on the bonnet of ETF SUV and the last piece of normalcy was put back in place.

"You drugged him." He said, and just like earlier there was no accusation or judgment.

"I won't ever." She answered sincerely.

"You could have told him about the coffee."

"It was not for him." She answered with a touch of irritation, looking away. He suddenly realized for whom the coffee actually was and chuckled.

"Thank goodness it was not for me then."

"Why do you think it was not for you?" She threw back, eyes rising.

"You would do that to me?" He answered in faux surprise. She shrugged in reply.

"ACP Riya Mukherjee, you are one evil person." He said in mock stern voice.

"I never claimed I am angel." She replied in her usual flippant way, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness. He stared at her for several seconds, and then changed the subject.

"I saw you offering Coffee to him, did he take it?"

"Of course."

"You drugged him, and yet he trusted you." He observed, and she frowned in response, like she didn't know the reason of the trust. The frown that turned to something bitter.

"Why is that," He asked softly, staring at her as she looked back, "you think?"

She took some moments to answer, "Don't know."

"Would not you like to know?" He said the same way she does and she let out a breathy laugh, like she was surprised of it herself, both the answer and her laugh.

The moment was short lived when two Men in formal suit approached them.

"ACP Riya Mukherjee?" One of them asked. Rawte frowned, looking back and forth.

"Yes."

"We are from IB. We would like to talk to you, if you can step away."

His eyebrows shoot up in hairline, while she looked little bit irritated, but then brushed it off as she jumped down from the SUV. She didn't look least bit surprised, even if he was used to her covering her real emotions and expressions, he could tell she didn't look surprise because she was not surprised. It was almost as if she was expecting them.

She tilted her head at him as she turned, and then walked away with the two men, leaving him with thousands of questions.

Willpower has the ability to bring someone to his/her knees . . . a little bit knowledge won't hurt too.

--

Special Agent Vir Rahane absolutely hates hindrance.

Everybody knows it. From a faulty tire to software crash, he hates these small things, or, the things which stand between him and his work. Like many of his superior, he is a total workaholic with no social life. As he dedicated his life to his work, to everyday surveillance of assets and occasional National security, he expects everything and everyone to go as he pleases, provides him support. In the due course, he sometimes forgets the world doesn't move, or will move, just because he wants it in his own way.

He is yet to know it fully.

Coming to work in Intelligence agency was a natural course for him. There was no second career option for him, and he was adamant he will be here, of course his hard work and tenacity paved the way too. His father was a founding member of RAW, when it split from IB and became an independent agency of its own. He wanted to work in that agency, wanted the best of both worlds, so he did. Today he is a liasion Agent, a bridge between RAW and IB.

Past several weeks were unusual for him, to say the least. His superiors sent him to talk to ETF Director one day about some surveillance they were doing on an asset way before he even joined Agency. He only knew one thing, the man was Agency asset and none else was allowed to go near him. It was enough for him, and he made the Director understand it as best as he could. Later, he thought, The Director looked slightly surprised when he mentioned about accessing RAW database. But he didn't pay much attention to it.

But he should have.

Some weeks later his superiors ordered him to talk to an officer from ETF, who has a direct connection with the asset. He put his foot down and demanded to know what exactly is going on, because it's the second time he was in contact with another ETF officer, and whatever is going on between the Agency and ETF, they sure as hel* know things which he is unknown to. He never goes out with half knowledge and won't want to be on back foot.

So his superiors told him, and he realized this was exactly the kind of hindrance he hates. Human hindrance.

So some low ranking officer is messing around the most powerful and discreet agency of country, going as far as provoking them to show their cards. If he was another Man, he would have applauded at the audacity, but as an officer who plays by law and loyal dog, it was a nuisance and point of irritation for him. His superiors had the clear order to eliminate the threat, so he will. No other choice.

He looked over the papers his co-workers provided him, as he stood outside the Interrogation room of IB and looked inside through the glass wall. Inside, the woman was drumming her fingers on the edge of table, her face hidden by hair which was tied and brought to a side, eyes looking somewhere down but not looking at all. He could see the wheels in her mind turning, but he could see she was not a least bit nervous about this whole arrangement. Why would she, she was the one asking for it. A part of his mind said Agency took this step in a hurry, playing by her rules and bringing her inside, but then, if they did, that's because the asset and big picture was something important. His superiors didn't say what, though.

ACP Riya Mukherjee. DOB 4th April. Mid twenties. Born and brought up in Hydrabad. Father is a Hotel tycoon. Has two siblings. Served in Mumbai Bomb squad, before transferred to Investigation Department for not abiding rules. Resigned due to personal problems, MIA for 3 years which has no records. Joined Emergency Task Force ETF 11 Months ago. The Director, Aisha Kapoor, was her room mate in Police Academy, later served with her. Commissioner Raghu Ram personally recommended this addition.

Interesting bio, to say the least. While he had studied and met many rich kids, he can say most of them don't even think about this hard life of IPS or intelligence. They think about Harvard, world tour, vacations in Miami and 4 bedroom apartments. These papers clearly says she had those options in life, but she break herself free from that life. He wondered why is that.

And then, rule breaking. Pages after Pages of records of rule breaking. It's like she had taken personal offence to abide by rules. Sometimes it's mild torture during interrogation, sometime shooting the escaping guilty, sometimes tricking, sometimes bribing to get something. While these things are not uncommon, but to see these offences in a Lady officer's bio is uncommon. Mostly Lady officer are obedient, do as they are told and stay within boundary. From the looks of it, she should have been in Narcotics, she would have been better appreciated.

But the thing took him by surprise was . . no victim. Not a single killing. Shooting someone, plenty, but not a single victim. How is that possible that someone who gives vibe of recklessness from pages of records never killed one single person in her life? It's impossible, but true.

Now he was intrigued. If she intended to give this vibe through her records, then congrats, she succeed. Vir Rahane is on aboard.

He handed over the pages to the agency standing by him and walked toward the door, pushing it and entering. The woman stopped drumming fingers and looked up, clearly waiting for this moment.

"ACP Mukherjee." He greeted, "I am special agent Vir Rahane. Thank you for coming."

"You sent 2 men to bring me." She replied, giving the impression of casual and indifference, like she is often summoned by IB like this, "Not exactly a choice there."

He took the seat opposite her, fingers intertwining as he tried to figure her out. It's a normal process to do, profiling someone. She obviously needs something and he is here to politely show her out, before he hit some raw nerve and shatter her illusions. She looked right back, fully aware of what he was doing. Just like her records she give the aura of recklessness, but there is an undercurrent of determination and steeliness, the things which made her leave the comfortable lifestyle and take a difficult course. There is something else too, he noticed.

He was suddenly aware that it's the same room where spies and wanted criminals cracked under pressure, sometime endured brutal torture. She looked perfectly ease in here, of course unknown to the history of this very room. He should make use of this room.

"You also didn't leave any choice." he leaned forward, a classic move by him to intimidate someone, and she looked just like earlier, looking right into him and completely at ease, "I mean leaving breadcrumbs for our surveillance team to reach you. Why?"

"The answer is obvious, is not it?" She replied, "I need something."

"And why should we give you that?" His question was immediate.

"Before answering that, I need to know who exactly is talking here." She leaned forward, mimicking him, "IB officials who has no clue of what I am talking about, or RAW."

He was taken aback internally by her bluntness, "RAW doesn't exist, you know." He smirked a little.

"If it didn't, you would not be here." She smirked right back, and his vanished.

"So, like I asked, who is talking here?" She repeated her question.

He hated to be on back foot, but losing is okay as long as you win the ultimate battle, "How do you know IB is not involved?"

"I had resources."

"Did ETF Chief help a little?" He tilted head. Anger flashed in her eyes.

"No." She answered curtly, "She is off limits."

He suddenly knew how much she knows and how, "You were the one who accessed RAW database."

She remained expressionless. He clenched jaw.

"Why I should not arrest you right now for stealing and illegally breaking into RAW database?"

"You have no evidence." She answered.

"Give me time." He threatened. She leaned back, waving hands.

"Sure. Feel free." Her eyes never left him. He didn't move an inch from his seat, because already his co-workers outside, who were monitoring this interrogation, were on work, and he needed more time to figure her out.

"You intrigue me." He started talking again, "You went to great lengths so that we will come behind you. Your men even left note for us to contact you. Why?"

"Do you even know what your surveillance team was doing there?" She asked.

"Of course, I didn't come here without info." He answered, a little bit angry at her dismissing him as someone unimportant, "They were tailing Nasir Jamal. One of our assets."

"What kind of asset is he," She started smirking again, "who immediately goes to hiding once he knows RAW is tailing him for years?"

Crap.

"Did you help him hiding?"

"No." She scoffed, "I just sent the words."

"So you want him?" He asked.

"No." She shook her head slowly, "I want to know what is RAW's interest in him."

Now this was his turn to scoff, "Good luck with that."

"I don't depend on luck." She answered, "Also, good luck finding Nasir."

His smirk vanished and anger was back, "Where is he?"

"I am sure he is somewhere safe."

"Where is he?" he repeated, uttering each syllable separately.

"I do not know." She answered with full seriousness.

"Why should we believe you?"

"You know what?" her voice suddenly rose, "We are both wasting our time. We need come at a mutual point."

"What exactly were you thinking when you planned this?" He wondered, "Because, so far, it gives the impression of complete sillyness."

She remained silent.

"You honestly thought RAW and IB will make a deal with a low ranking IPS officer for a criminal who went to hiding? Do you even have any idea how vast is our network? We will find him, and we don't need to make any mutual agreement point to meet you." He was ready to leave, "You, on the other hand, should expect termination letter and jail sentence soon enough."

She hummed in response and he smirked as he stood up, elated with victory, but then her voice stopped him in track.

"Of course you will find him. 10 hour, 10 months, or maybe a decade, give or take. Just like you find Dawood and D company. Or his whole network." She answered flippantly, "Maybe he will be in Middle east, or, our dearest neighbour country, Pakistan. He may form another D company, or maybe it will be N company this time?"

He cursed in mind and turned to meet her smirking, "Your point?"

"My point is clear." She intertwined fingers, "You have some kind of interest in him, and I want to know what is that. If you are ready to come to a mutual point, I will share my interest in him." She paused, "So far, I am in safe zone. You cannot touch a hair on me."

"Arrogance will only take you little far." He commented.

"Self confidence." She countered. "Silly plan? From my side, not so."

He pondered over her words for a moment, "If you wanted him from the beginning, why not take him? And how exactly your men found us but we missed them?"

"My men are very good in keeping them in background." She replied, "For Nasir, I came across him by sheer co-incidence. After knowing RAW's interest in him, I was curious. If I did take him down, you guys would have been after me."

"So you made us come to you." He finished.

"Exactly." She agreed, "So, did we reach a mutual point?"

He thought carefully before answering. This interrogation, or more like meeting because he was in the backfoot in every sentence, has surpassed it's original point. Some new aspects came to light, about whom he can't have any decision. But he does need to serve one purpose of this meeting, finding their asset.

"Is Nasir still in country?"

"Yes." She answered truthfully, "The rat will come out once he knows it was a false alarm."

"And how exactly would he know?"

"Like he knew RAW was tailing him."

They stared at each other for several moments. He took a deep breath before answering.

"I can not tell you everything without consulting my superior."

"Then give me something." She replied instantly. He thought for a moment, and decided.

"The interrogation is over." He stood up, "You better make sure Nasir stays in country before you have the deal, ACP, or else the consequences will not be pretty."

And he shut the glass door behind him.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Deputy Chief of IB was surprised to hear how the 'Interrogation' went. And he was not happy.

"I do not like this, Rahane." He said. The former sighed.

"I felt like she had me from all sides." He replied.

"Who is she?" The DC exclaimed, "What do we know about her?"

"From records?" He answered, "That she is an heiress, worked in bomb squad, has problem to stand by rules, never killed anyone, was MIA for 3 years with no record, and now working in ETF. Without records? She has problems, clear problems with over self confidence, dangerous recklessness and flippancy. She sat in that room like she does that every day. God!"

The DC was silent for a while, then he asked "What do you suggest?"

He sighed, running fingers in hair, "Honestly? I don't know. In one hand, I want to dismiss her words as something silly. We are one of the best intelligence Agency, surely we can find this Nasir guy from any slum he is hiding. But then I remember, this was the same ACP whose men somehow tipped Nasir, and left a chit for us to contact her. She clearly has people who are better than our people. She is resourceful, by hook or crook she knew our 9 years of surveillance in this guy and straight made us come for her. We can't overlook these too."

"She could have gone directly to Nasir."

"But she didn't." He replied, "Clearly, she knew Nasir was not one of our spy, and she wanted the truth from us. She knew going for him directly will be futile."

The DC started pacing back and forth in his cabin, pondering over his words, "Surely we have no other option to shut her down?"

"There is no evidence it was her who accessed RAW database. I can press ETF Director to give her up, but seeing their history I have no hope. They were roommates in Police Academy, later served together. Also, we can clash with Commissioner Raghu Ram, he has soft spot for her."

"Jesus." He muttered, "She is surrounded by forts."

"Tell me about it." Vir answered bitterly. Both the Men were silent for several minutes, then the DC sighed.

"Okay, we need to think about it in a different angle." He sat down in his seat and motioned him to do the same, which he did, "So what do we know about her interest in Nasir?"

"It's clearly not for ETF. There is no case which points them toward him, but then, we would have received official letters, not informers to informers."

"It has to be personal then." DC said.

"There is no record of it."

"You said yourself there is many things about her which is not in records." DC answered, "Maybe the 3 years she was MIA, somehow she came in contact with Nasir. Who knows?"

Vir hummed and he went on, "I say you try to find out about her interest in her. Who knows, maybe through her we get some breakthrough?"

"But she will want some info too." He reminded.

"Then give her. But not anything high profile, not until you have the idea what she is looking for. Then, if it serves both of our interest, we will give something serious."

"Mutual point." He remembered her words, and nodded slowly.

As he walked out of DC's cabin, he laughed in disbelieve. A low ranking IPS officer surely made a deal with country's best intelligence Agency.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vir met the intriguing ACP Mukherjee 3 days later in a crowdy Mc D outlet. He had offered to meet in a quiet restaurant, but she changed that for a new location. When he reached there, it was afternoon and the whole outlet was packed. He searched for her in the crowd and found her sitting in the farthest corner seat, looking into her phone.

As he walked toward her, for the first time he noticed her, not like an IB-RAW liasion agent noticing a low ranking IPS officer, but one human to another. Like the last time, she was dressed in white shirt and black skinny jeans, curving her frame perfectly, her hair neatly tied in a pony and hanging on a side, few strands on hair on forehead. Despite her best formal attire, she looked informal and carelessly dressed, maybe it was the way she carry herself. It's not like he had never seen anyone more beautiful than her, but there was something in her which drawn him, also the first meeting helped.

Smooth, his mind taunted, scolding himself checking out a woman on official duty, real smooth.

He recovered quickly and remembered why he was here. He was way past his anger and irritation for being back foot on every step, because now, he had a new mission in hand, to figure out how much she knows and what exactly she wants, and if, it helps the agency, steer her into right direction and work with her.

Should not be difficult.

He took the seat opposite her and she snapped the phone shut quickly, now meeting his eyes as he spoke, "My location was better."

"I like the coffee." Now he noticed the McD mug on table, from which she took sip. The waiter arrived and he ordered a soft drink, before coming straight to topic.

"You have a deal." He started speaking.

"Do I now?" She answered in faux surprise, and he exhaled.

"Yes dear." He mocked and she smirked, "But first, I need to know why you need it."

"Before that, I need to know your interest in him." She countered, and he narrowed eyes, "Then I would know if I am mistaking somewhere. If my interest don't cross with yours, I will be out of your hair. Save both of us time."

He thought about it, but really, what else option he had? "Fine." He started talking.

"You know about his business?"

"Of course." She replied, "Fake passports and girls."

"We think he helps illegal immigrants to settle here and abroad."

"Like Bangladeshi, Pakistanis?"

"Not only common people." He paused, ""We are suspecting him of helping several big fishes out there. To help them flee country. To help them settle in country."

"Did you succeed?" She asked.

"That's classified." He replied, "But until now, none suspected we were getting infos through him. He was safe."

She was in deep thought after he finished, and he watched her, sipping his own drink. When the silence stretched, he became impatient.

"It's your turn."

Her eyebrows were knotted in deep concentration as she spoke, "What you said, it makes no sense with my cause."

"How about you let me decide that?" He offered. The knot vanished and she met his eyes, like challenging him. Well then, he was up for one.

"What do you want to know?"

"How you came across him?"

"I came across him by sheer co-incidence." She answered, "ETF Director sent me on an undercover op, nothing major. The subject's phone held contact details about him."

He frowned, "You only took interest in him out of all the other contacts? Why?''

She was silent for some seconds, debating in mind, before she replied, "I knew someone, and Nasir was in touch with him as well. It had completely escaped my mind, until I saw his name in that phone."

"Why was this 'Someone'" he air quoted, "was in touch with him?"

"I have no idea."

"You never asked?"

"I didn't get a chance." Her voice was too quiet and icy, "Like I said, I came across the name by co-incidence. I didn't think he was important, until I saw the same name in the phone of a low life. Then I started to dig his background and now here we are." She leaned back in her seat.

"Here we are." He repeated, frowning, "What exactly you want from us now?"

She shot him a look, "I am calling the shots now?"

"If you don't want to, then fine." He shrugged. She was not convinced, scrutinizing him through her impossibly dark brown eyes.

"What's your interest in here now?" She crossed arms over chest.

"We are just observing." He answered, "To be honest, we didn't see you coming. You proved yourself as efficient, resourceful, so we have decided to make a compromise. If your digging lead us to something big, then we will be there to clean up the mess. All for the big picture."

"So I will do the work and you will have the cake." She mocked.

"You will have help, anytime, anything." He offered, "You don't have to break into Director's cabin to access database."

"You don't have any prove." She smirked, which he mimicked.

"I only want to know whose help you had." He leaned forward, "Or you have any hidden trait?"

"Find out." She challenged, "Use your resource. A low ranking IPS officer surely can't beat the best."

"You already did."

"Flattery won't work with me. I know my limitations."

They both held each other's gaze for a while, then he shook his head.

"Man, are not you something?"

She looked sideways, surely to hide her eye roll, "So, what now?"

"You let him free. I want things just like they were."

"Sure." she nodded, "Then I need to talk to him."

"Torture-talk or just talk-talk?"

She drummed her finger once on table before answering, "I can't promise."

"Our name can't be flashed." He warned.

"But I need Men."

"What about yours?" He asked. She stared at him.

"They are strictly information only, not abducting."

"Okay, you get men." He offered his hand for shaking, which she met.

Soft hands, totally in contrast of the rest of her.

Get a grip.

Then she smiled.

Oh boy.

All is riddle, and the key to a riddle is another riddle.

- Emerson

He tried, really tried. He made fake ID, booked tickets of several trains to reach the destination in the most roundabout way possible. He packed his bags, put on fake moustache, and changed 3 taxis to reach VT station.

He did all those things he had recommended other people in his daily work.

Still it could not save him.

As soon as he walked through the giant entrance of VT, someone grabbed him and then there was this bag on his head. He tried to fight back but whoever were holding him, were more powerful. He figured there are 5 people, one driving the van, 2 holding him and other 2 just keeping a look. As he could not fight, he screamed his lungs out, for which he got a weird pinch in his neck which made him semi paralytic.

He knew this can't be any law enforcement. Did anyone see those fatso officers whose belly were bursting through their shirts? There were reasons why he survived all these years, also he made occasional payments to them as well. They can't betray him like that, after all he was laying law for a week. He got the most stupid tip some days earlier, and that IB was on his tail. He thought maybe the people for whom he made those fake IDs, one of them might have turned out terrorists or something, it's not like he made them filled out any kind of form. He had decided to flee city for some months, just to be safe, but now he was caught by bouncers and here he is.

No, definitely not Police.

Did he unintentionally crossed some big mafia? He was always blind when it came to money though, he might have help someone who betrayed mafia boss and now mafia boss wants his head on a platter? What's next? Will it be bullet or knife? He had heard some mafia bosses are pretty sadistic, they like to cut limbs. He shuddered, will his limbs be cut before his death or after?

The van stopped suddenly and then the men were dragging him. He felt they pushed him into a wooden chair, and then tied his limbs with ropes tightly, he could barely move his hand. The bag was pulled off his head and he was blinded by the amount of light around him. He adjusted to it, and then saw the room. What a cliche, he thought, old warehouse. Bollywood films really cemented the use of these kind of places. There were at least 10 people, and now he noticed, there was a girl too. Mafia girlfriend? But if she was, he was disappointed, does not mafia GFs dress up like hookers? If this was his death, the sight was not pretty.

One of the Man, who was wearing a suit and tie in this 40+ degree heat, dragged a chair in front of him and sat on it, his face impossibly calm.

Here it begins.

"Nasir Jamal." The Man started speaking, "I am Vir Rahane, from IB. We would like to ask you a few questions, and hoping full co-operation from you."

He blinked in surprise, looking around the warehouse and then back to him. No Mafia?

That's good news.

But IB?

Umm . . .

"Shall we start?" The Man, Vir, asked, and actually waited for him to do something. He nodded stupidly in response.

"It has come to our attention that you help illegal immigrants to settle here in our Country with fake IDs, also provide fake passports to people, possibly dangerous criminals, so that they can flee the country. Do you deny these accusations?"

Sounds like normal interrogation. But the official way this Man is asking, also, the way they pulled him from VT, he might have dealt with a very nasty kind of guy to get IB on his ass, he thought to himself.

"I do." He said, and hurried, "Of course I do. I deny this all. I am a clean person. Really."

Liar, his inner self said and he told it to fu*k off.

"Are you?" The Man countered, intimidating him with his piercing gaze and the way his frame is facing him, "We know all about it, Mr. Jamal, no point of denying. The Tea stall through which you send IDs and receive money? The meeting point behind that bar? The places you make these IDs? We know all about it."

Then why are you asking me, was his inner question, but he bit his tongue.

And he called him Mr. Jamal. IB or not, it's pretty good to hear his name sounding like that.

"All we want," The Man continued, "are the names of the people you helped. You can side with us. If you agree to help us, we can assure your safety, give you new place to live and new identity, far away from this life of yours. If only," He paused, head cocked to a side, "you help us. Give us the names."

Ha, like he was going to fall for that. IB or not, they can't offer deal like this. New identity? With his luck, he might have helped people so far off his radar, like dangerous people, those who have ears in all places. Who knows, Mafia with limb cutting habit will be really on his ass then.

"No." He said.

"No?" The Man repeated, eyes wide with mock surprise, "Which part? The fake ID thing or not giving names?"

"Both." He blurt out, "I didn't make fake IDs for anyone. You are mistaking me for someone else."

If there was any other Man, he would have laughed, but this man sighed in frustration, "Why don't you cut the crap and save us both time and effort? We know everything, Mr. Jamal."

He doubted that, "You don't have anything on me."

"We have." The Man pressed, and then the girl appeared before them, handing over him a file. He took out something from it and put it in front of me, "Remember this Man?"

Of course, he said to himself. Turned out to be a homophobic serial killer. Police got him from airport, he was about to flee.

"We actually got your name from him." The Man leaned back on his seat, "So, ready to give up?"

No doubt now.

What are the chances here? If he doesn't give up, then, well, these bouncers are not for display. He never liked to be beaten or tortured. If he does give up, the odds are he would be killed on his way to WitSec. Both side looks nasty.

"I will give you some time to consider." The Man got up, looking at him calmly, "We will meet soon."

Obviously.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"So," The Man sweated profusely as the words flowed at him, "ready to give your confession?"

Well, he should be. Not every day the ETF Director handles interrogation.

But this case was special. The man made a very crucial mistake of going behind the Director's back and call someone higher to save himself. To his misfortune, he called Raghu sir, who, though looked like a loyal dog obedient to powerful people, was a Lion in disguise, carefully planned his every step and made the prey fall into his traps. True to his form, he called the Director and told her to do everything in her power to get this SOB off his back.

So she did. The Team did.

Senior Officer Sameer Rathore and ETF Director Aisha Kapoor was handling the investigation, the former ranting something about the illusion of control. Others monitored the interrogation through PCs, while Second in Command Rawte along with ACP Mukherjee stood a little bit away from the team, watching the interrogation through glass wall, talking simultaneously.

"Look at him, cowering under her gaze." ACP said in appreciation.

"Not much courage to call anyone I guess." Supplied the former, and then took a glance at her quickly before looking right ahead, "So," he drawled, and she gave him a look.

"Who were those men that day?" He asked. She barely suppressed to roll her eyes.

"You were there." came the reply.

"IB." He lowered his voice, "Why they took you?" He gave a suspicious look as she looked amused in the reflection, "What you did?"

"Why do you think I did something?" She tried to come up as annoyed but failed.

"Because you are always up to something." He answered seriously, "Really, why they were here? Are you in trouble?"

She spun her head toward him, ready to give him one of her famous answers, sarcasm plus dismissive, but then sobered as she took in his honest expression, "No."

"No what?"

"No I am not in trouble."

"Then why they took you?"

"What if this is the time I tell you to stop asking," She lowered her voice, not liking this interrogation, "Nicely." She added. He exhaled in irritation, looking away.

"Then I will stop asking." He replied, "And nice don't suit you."

"Oh?" Her lips curled upward, "What suit me then?"

"Murderous looks." He acted nonchalant, "Sarcasm works too."

She looked away to hide her smile, which was rare, and was surprised herself at the action, "Since when you stop asking questions instead of pestering?" She wondered.

"Since when I succeeded in getting answers?" He asked rhetorically.

"So you just give up?" She asked in surprise, part mocking, part curious.

"If I did, I would not be asking questions." He answered.

"Still you try." She pointed out.

"Yes I do." He agreed, eyes showing that unreadable expression, "Would not be me if I stop trying."

They both were silent for some moments, focusing back on the scene unfolding inside.

"Why they were here?" He asked once again.

Like he said, he won't stop trying.

She gave him one of her 'Unbelievable' look, "I heard you saying you will stop."

He shrugged and she shook her head.

"I seek them out."

His eyes widen in shock, "How on Earth . . . "

"I did that?" She finished for him, eyes never moving from the glass wall, "I had resources."

"Of course you had." He mumbled, still in shock, but soon the expression was replaced by concern, "What you are getting yourself into, Riya?"

The seriousness in his voice sucked all the amusement from her, her eyes turned stone cold and face became impossibly composed, devoid of any expression, "You should stop."

"Alright." He answered, but in mind there was nothing alright.

"So does this mean you will take off without any word more often?" He asked after a while.

"We will see." The tiny smirk on her face was back.

"The Director won't be happy."

"The Director is never happy with me." She answered truthfully.

"You don't sound remorseful about that." At his comment, she turned to face him.

"I can't show remorse for something and do the same thing the very next moment."

They stared at each other for quite some time, and he might have lost track of time because apparently he missed her phone's vibration, the end of the interrogation inside and the opening of the door near them. She walked away from him and he looked, hearing the soft hum behind him.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vir Rahane met ACP Mukherjee 4 days after they captured Nasir Jamal. The day was little bit chilly after a good day of raining like crazy, and he saw her coming at him as she adjusted her jacket's collar, carrying off the carefully careless look in a da*n good way.

Not that he was checking out. Nope.

She doesn't believe in exchange of pleasantries, or in 'Good Morning' and weather talk. She jumped straight to topic when they were near each other, "Why RAW suddenly decided to take him off the streets? Why now?"

"IB." He corrected, to which she gave a look, "We told him it's IB. I don't want any other name to slip in front of him."

"The answer." She dismissed everything else he said and he sighed in frustration before speaking again.

"He was going to flee city. Maybe even Country. Even if we let the police catch him, he would have been suspicious. So my seniors decided we had enough of tailing and surveillance, it's time to speak with him directly." He put his both hands in pocket, then took out one hand to fix his tie.

"Did he speak?" She asked without missing any beat.

"He gave us some pretty big names."

"Can I have him now?"

He moved his hand, "All yours."

As soon as they walked inside the warehouse she demanded to remove the bouncers, to which he refused.

"I want to be alone with him."

"It can't be possible." He refused flat out. She gave him a steely gaze and he hurried to explain.

"It's for your safety."

She smirked at that, "I am the last person who needs safety."

"You are some kind of Superwoman or something?"

"Remove them, or I will tip off the Media." She threatened.

"You will do no such thing."

She crossed arms, "You don't believe that."

He didn't.

He pondered over her words, and with great difficulty dismissed the guards, "I will be here with you." She didn't look happy, but he was not letting her get her way in every step.

They stepped near Nasir who looked like he was about to fall asleep, "You have visitor, Mr. Jamal." He started. The former blinked his eyes and fixed it on the ACP, who took a chair and sat in front of him, clearly taking charge.

"Who are you?" The Man slurred, voice grave and barely coming out.

"Someone whom you should answer honestly and quickly." She answered, taking out her phone and showed one picture to him, "You remember him?"

Nasir frowned and stared at the picture for many seconds, and then nodded slowly.

"Not much, but I remember that face."

"You were in contact with him." She stated, "Why?"

Nasir suddenly went still as he remembered something. He took deep breaths before saying, "I don't remember."

Vir could clearly tell how that answer pi*sed her off, but she tried to compose herself as she closed the app in her phone and looked at him again, "You don't remember or you don't want to remember?"

He didn't reply.

"I just need a name." She asked, and he remained silent. She stared at him for several moments, in the meantime Vir walked across the room, only to grab the water bottle in the far away table. He opened and closed the lid of bottle, which caught Nasir's attention, his eyes pleading silently.

"You want the water, don't you?" She asked, tilting head. He looked like he was about to tear the ropes and snatch the water.

"It won't work." He rasped.

"We will see." Vir mused, "What is this, the 3rd day without food and water?"

She glanced at him and Nasir at that, before settling on him, "Just a name."

"They are powerful." He answered, already on edge, "I don't want to get caught in the middle."

"We guarantee your full safety." Vir pressed, but he shook head.

"None is safe from them."

Nasir didn't open his mouth, literally, so they had to move out of the place. ACP Mukherjee adjusted her jacket's collar as the wind threatened to blow it away.

"He really didn't have water for days?" She asked.

"You Police officers use sticks and Guns, we use basic human needs. Food, Water, Air, Washroom." Vir answered, "Less mess, but more effective."

"Ruthless."

"So what, spilling blood is humane?" He scoffed, then sobered, "You did good back in there, playing along. It's all true, what I read about you. You are quite ruthless yourself."

"I would like to think I am different than your high ranking methods." She looked away.

"Will you continue to jab me about that rank thing?" He wondered, barking out a disbelieve laugh before continuing, "You could be a good Agent yourself, if you want to."

She didn't answer to that, so he went to the next point, "Who was that Man?"

"From whom it all started." She answered, and it made no sense to him.

"Explain."

"You got all your answers, right? So stay away from mine." She gave an icy stare. He put his hands in pocket and squared shoulder, subtly indicating he is not going to back down.

"I don't like not knowing what's going on around me."

"You can't always have answers."

"I have methods."

"So use them and stop asking me." She answered and walked away from him. At first he thought she is just moving away from him, but she actually went off, sat in her ETF SUV and drove away, without any 'Bye' or anything that would have indicated she is leaving. He stared as she left, rather dumbfounded, then exhaled and shook his head.

She is really something.

As she gave him full permission to use any methods, he ordered people around him in Agency to search about that Man, not before making a sketch to an artist.

Not that he needed any permission.

The picture didn't match any criminal, suspect, hit list or Interpol. In fact, the picture didn't have match in any database. No ID, no driving license, no real picture in any ATM, traffic or Shopping mall CCTV.

It's not odd. If the Man is from some village or place where technology is not so widely spread, it's possible not to have any digital info on him. Unique Identification didn't reach the whole country so there was another reason.

He frowned to himself, and then pulled out all record of that mysterious ACP Riya Mukherjee.

There, he finally found it.

A picture in some parking lot, it appeared as if the Man was trying to pull the ACP to somewhere, his smile a little bit mischievous and childlike. He was dressed in casual, a simple T shirt and torn jeans, and his shirt matched the color of hers. She looked half reluctant, half amused, but the thing took him by surprise was her relax posture and carefree expression in the picture, along with the casual dressing. All the pictures he had gotten of the ACP was of recent times and in most pictures she dressed in more or less white shirts and jeans. All these recent pictures had the stiff and determined woman, not the carefree girl in her mid- twenties.

He had a hard time to take in this piece of information, that once upon a time she was this much relaxed, happy, in her life.

Once he was out of his shock, he dug more about this mystery man, and once again, came up empty. But he noticed far more interesting things, like this Man died 4 years and some months ago, and the ACP took an active interest in the case. The case stopped due to their inability to catch the main culprit, Johny. After the case was officially shut down, the ACP went MIA.

Whoever this Man is, he must be special, both for her and Jamal. He actually sew his lips when he saw the face.

Who is this Man?

He needed to find out why this Man was important, as he like to know every aspect of what he is walking right into. As no information is available digitally, he needs someone to physically go out there and get everything.

Human Hindrance. Just what he hates most.

Something was telling him it won't be easy, and he is not thinking about the ways of gathering info.

There is no hunting like the hunting of man; and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it never really care for anything else.

- Hemingway

The city really comes alive at night time.

He had arrived here that morning, after getting his latest assignment. He spent all his afternoon and evening sniffing around the location, which he will soon transform into a brand new crime scene. He disguised himself a homeless guy, torn dress, disheveled state, with a large plastic bag on his back which people will assume is filled with waste, and took shelter near a dumpster, his eyes going everywhere like a lunatic but mostly fixed on the warehouse. He noticed people arriving, leaving, and strolling around it, taking in the number of guards, entrances and exits. He saw how the Sun's glare softened and soon it vanished out of sight. When it was nearly midnight, he began his work.

Entering and killing the guards was not difficult, and he took no pleasure in killing the Man tied to chair, like he was ordered. It was when he manipulated the power circuit and burnt the place his lips curled upward and he stood in utter fascination to witness his art, of course keeping safe distance and away from people's eyes. He loved fire, loved it when it spread and destroyed everything, loved it when it was a small and innocent and loved it when it was in it's full glory, roaring like a monster, uncontrollable and unflinching, fearless and relentless.

He watched the people came screaming, throwing water and sand to subdue it. He watched fire department arriving and that's when he decided to leave, his eyes ringing with the bells of the vehicles all the while.

He boarded the flight at 2 AM and left the country, all the while humming and smiling to himself, occasionally sighing, satisfied with his art work.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"This one is real piece of work." Chotu commented as soon as the senior foursome arrived at the crime scene and came out of the SUV. He along with the ETF Director Kapoor and Senior Officer Rathore walked ahead, behind them Rawte and ACP Mukherjee followed them. The former frowned as he heard the sharp intake of breath from her, and then she stopped in her track.

"Where do you think you are going?" He didn't mean to touch her, or even hold her wrist, but she was walking away like she could not get fast enough and it was automatic on his part, more than words. She blinked once, he could see her mind working to come up with some kind of work.

"I need to make a phone call." She slowly pulled her hand away from his grip and he let her, watching as she moved away from him, taking out her phone. He frowned at the odd behavior, but then, when he ever understood her? He shook his head, and after giving her one last look, headed for crime scene.

There were 7 bodies inside, all burnt to crisp, unrecognizable and without any ID. People around the warehouse, the crime scene, said this place is mostly vacant and none come here. Then how these 7 people ended up here?

ACP Mukherjee joined the team while Shree was going over what he found, she looked pi*sed and once again the fidgeting had started. She composed herself when, obviously, everyone noticed her foot tapping and raised eyebrows at it, huffing in annoyance, something the Second in Command found amusing as he looked away to hide his tiny smirk. The warehouse was a jute factory some 30 years ago and was mostly abandoned. Earlier homeless people used to stay here but there was a raid some months ago so now it's empty.

"Can it be possible these people are homeless too?" Sameer asked to none particular.

"It can." Confirmed the Director, "How this place caught fire?"

"Faulty wire." Chotu commented, "Old place, it's normal."

"No it's not." Rawte said, frowning, "If this place was abandoned for years, there should not be any electricity at all."

Everyone nodded slowly at this, grasping this piece of revelation, "So someone was using it." Sakshi said, "Criminals maybe?"

"Who else?" Shree said, "Though it's impossible to ID them without taking them into lab first."

"Anything else?" Director asked. They engrossed themselves in some more talks, while the ACP moved away from them, kneeling beside the body of one particular victim, her face unreadable. She stood up suddenly, impossibly still, as the CSU cleared up the area. She snapped out of it when her phone vibrated, and she walked out of the crime scene.

"A little warning would have been nice." She hissed into the phone. Vir sighed on the other side.

"I just came to know ETF is going to handle this case."

"Now what?" She asked.

"Now you and your team will do your job, find out who killed them." He answered.

She stood silent for some moment, "So we are going to investigate?"

"Yes." came the calm reply.

She cursed, and before his indignant reply can come she cut the call. Upon her return she found Forensics had already taken the body. After several hours later they all headed back to ETF.

Is she cursed or what? Anything she touches, any direction she goes, is destroyed. First Aslam, then that informer, and now Nasir. It's the second time she is directly involved in a case ETF is handling and she had to betray them like this, acting as if she knows nothing.

She closed her eyes in frustration when she realized what will happen when team, especially Aisha will know the body is of Nasir's. She already know she was after him, and now this. If somehow the word reaches to Raghu sir, which will surely reach, she is screwed. That Man doesn't like when things are hidden from him, and really, where is the moral code? He is helping her and she is building layers of secrets and lies. Already the IB created an awesome first impression with the Director, clearly warning interest in Nasir will not be appreciated. Now that ETF is handling this case, she can't disclose everything and reveal IB's involvement into this. Agent Rahane, the rule-book, won't approve.

The Bas*ard.

Leaving her to deal with the mess.

How she is supposed to deal with it?

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the doors of the SUV were closed. She noticed ETF had already come and frowned, annoyed at herself. She opened her side of door and found it locked.

She turned her head slowly and narrowed eyes at her Boss.

"You are distracted." He commented. Of course he noticed. Everyone noticed.

"I am." Really, what's the point of hiding? He looked surprised at the answer, clearly not expecting a straight forward reply.

"Do you know anything about the crime scene that we should?" He inquired, tilting head. This Man has two admiring qualities, he don't beat around bush, and he notices quietly, but sometimes, she would have appreciated a little bit of stalling.

She contemplated at the question, and then replied, "Yes."

His eyes widen in surprise, and she answered with a straight face, "We need to work harder."

He seemed to take some seconds to grasp the answer, and when he realized the mocking, his eyes narrowed, "Nice one."

She dramatically threw her eyes up in heaven and heard his huffing. He opened both the doors and they came out.

In the lift, she thought to herself maybe giving him a little warning would have been better.

Of course the team had to work in top gear and rip apart every aspect. Of course Liza had to find out the men were already dead when the fire started, they were shot to death. Of course they won't find anything on the Men to ID them. Of course the nosy crime journo had to do some work and find out the son of the jute mill guy had received money from one bogus company who rented the place, which was paid in cash and untraceable. Of course the team came up with the idea that many things in the crime scene doesn't add up, and then someone, mainly the guilty, manipulated it.

Of course she knew who manipulated the scene.

She mostly kept an eye on the progress of case, because, honestly, she knows everything these people are trying to find out, minus the culprit, so why pretend to work and come up empty? Keeping aside the irritation at the IB-RAW liaison officer, she kept in touch with him, but even they also hit the wall. The guards were trusted. None should know about the secret location except him, the DC, some seniors and the guards. None of the guards who were scheduled to work the next day were missing. None were the suspects.

Literally the dead end.

But the IB-RAW with their high ranking officers and effective contacts had to come up with something, and just like earlier the SOB forgot to give her some kind of warning. She nearly choked on her coffee when one of the guards, who was supposed to guard the warehouse the next day had the fire had not happened, walked inside with Chotu, looking like homeless and nervous, the latter informing them he had seen one Man entering the warehouse and walking away after the fire had begun. He sat with sketch artist, the team excitedly talked about this latest breakthrough, and she was pi*sed.

Again.

And to end the day in most spectacular way, Liza finally ID'ed the last remaining dead body with the help of Shree, both of their faces identical mask of accomplishment and beaming when she would like nothing but bang her head in wall, the disaster in near future so evident in front of her eyes.

"Nasir Jamal." They both said in unison, and she cursed her luck in mind.

Sameer ran to give this good news to the Director, and she decided it will be a good time to pay a visit to the liaison officer and vent out her frustration. She took a cab and headed for IB, stopped only for visitor's pass and security checking.

Vir obviously was not pleased with her arrival. He made the mistake of dragging her to the same interrogation room where they first met, when she would like nothing but create a scene in front of his workers and yell at him.

So she punched him. Barely escaping his lips but leaving a nice red bruise under his jaw.

"What the fu*k is wrong with you?" He yelled, shocked and infuriated at her audacity.

"Same question." She snarled, "That was for crossing me twice."

"What are you talking about?" He nearly shouted, one hand cupping his jaw as he winced in pain.

"How on earth that guard saw the arsonist? And why I was not informed about it?" She asked quietly, "Do I need to remind you I was there, not too many days ago, when he was kept there? Do I?"

He glared, "You don't need to know everything."

"I am not asking for top secret missions in overseas. Just the case where I was involved and now working behind my team's back for some development. I didn't keep in touch with you so that I look stupid when you send surprise packages like that."

"I sent the guard there for your case." He argued.

"I needed to know about it. Which part of I was involved in the case you don't understand?" She crossed arms.

"You were not important enough to know what we found."

"If you talk about ranking crap one more time, I will strangle you." She warned. He glared at the threat, and then exhaled sharply, running fingers in hair.

"I get it. You should have known about it." She arched an eyebrow as she sensed a 'but' coming, "But we follow some protocols. Information like these are not supposed to go out of here."

"Why involving ETF then?"

"So that we can monitor your progress and help."

"And swoop in when it threaten to touch you." She mocked, "You can't have everything. You need to give something to get back."

He took a deep breath to calm myself down, "The order came from Higher authority."

"I don't care. Next time, just send a SMS." She replied, "How the Guard saw the arsonist? Or it's another of your surprises to divert the case?"

He looked shocked at the accusation, "His information is authentic. We need to know who this culprit is just like you.''

"Forgive me for my suspicion." She gave a tiny smirk, eyes cold, "For I don't trust you."

He sighed, "Riya, we are all in this together."

"Doesn't look like." She uncrossed arms, "Whatever. You should know that we ID'ed him. Soon they will know he was about to flee city but was missing for days. Now what?"

He went silent with thoughts, "Carry on your work. We may find something useful."

"The Director will be on my neck soon."

"Deny your involvement, whenever that comes."

"What about when they find out about your agency's involvement?" She asked, judgment evident in her voice.

"We are usually discreet." He replied cautiously, "Even if we left some loopholes . . . "

She gave a cold smirk, "I should leave, for both of ours sake."

And she did.

He looked on as she left, tearing apart the visitor pass and dumping it in a dustbin. He touched his jaw where she punched and winced, how come such a tiny person held so much strength?

Then he sighed.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Commissioner Raghu Ram loves day time. He loved the rising Sun, how the sky become red, then orange, and then become blue and a new day starts. He loves the slow breeze in the early morning and liked to walk, taking in the warmth.

It's the only time of day when he push aside all work related thoughts and concentrate on enjoying beauty or nature and his well being.

But clearly, it stopped as soon as the hurricane ACP Mukherjee re-entered his life and the whirlwind around her started. When he had went through her records and the decision to bring her back, a part of his mind had thought maybe things won't be so easy and so normal when she will arrive. His sixth sense was never wrong, and this time also it didn't prove wrong.

He would like to think he know about things around him. But even he admit he knows very little to none about her. In his mind this whole situation with the ACP is divided into two parts, where she works and keeps in touch with him, and when she does something of her own. He never complained, after all, post her arrival he got plenty of big fishes and cleared some scumbags from the streets of city.

Looks like he was missing the third part.

Last night the ETF Director arrived in his house, which was unexpected to say the least, and dropped some bomb. The thoughts destroyed his sleep and now occupied his daily morning walk. She informed him the fire case they were handling, one of the victim turned out to be Nasir Jamal, the same guy the ACP was looking for and very effectively denied to him.

He was dead.

He knew how it looked. It's not the first time it happened that someone she came in contact with died and her own department had to work on it. But many things were missing, there were several other victim and someone shot them first, the fire was added only to destroy evidence. She might not be involved with the death, which she was not, but she might know something about it. Aisha was pi*sed that the ACP won't open her mouth to her, which was true. She had taken an oath not to involve her in any mess, though he can't see how she is not already involved when she knows some things, and why she can't be involved.

Nonetheless, he needs to find out.

The ACP sat quietly beside him on the bench, the exact time he had asked her to. They were both silent for a while, looking ahead but not quite looking.

"Is there something your co-workers need to know about the case?" He asked.

"Good Morning to you too." Came the sarcastic reply.

"I asked something." He was never this blunt with her, in fact with anyone, but he could not help it. He needs to know.

"Other than the fact I was looking for him? No." She replied.

"Do you have any idea who were those victims with him?"

"No."

He turned to look at her and clearly saw she was lying. He could have called out on it, but decided against it. It's as good as banging head. Instead, he handed over a brown envelope to her. He looked ahead and heard as she ripped open the envelope and shuffled the documents inside, taking sharp breath.

"You can't keep grudge when you are not truthful to me." He said softly. He noticed her tapping foot and looked at her once again, eyes hard and jaw clenched.

"Your men were following me." She said quietly.

"What were you doing in the warehouse before it was burnt down?" He asked. She took deep breath and slowly started putting the pictures back in envelope.

"I found Nasir." She started speaking, "I asked some questions."

"How?" He wondered.

"I had some help."

"Of this man?" He pointed at one picture, the Man's back facing the camera. She stayed silent.

"He didn't answer what I wanted."

"Any idea who might want him dead?" He asked.

"There are many, but the question is," She finished her work and looked right into his eyes, "who found out about the location?"

He hold her gaze, "Why you went to IB?"

She shrugged, "They somehow find out I was interested in him. Gave me warning, not to look into it much, just like they did to our Director. They had no idea that he was in that location."

He shook his head in amazement, "Now I think even if I didn't bring you back in Department, you would have been fine on your own."

"The ID really helps." She remarked lightly, leaning behind, "You Men are really good, I never realized." He mimicked her and leaned back as she asked, "When they started?"

"After our last meet."

She hummed, "Just because you find nothing on your own so you decided to send men after me?"

"Am I hearing judgment from the person who keeps piles of secret from everyone?" He arched eyebrow.

"Touché." She smirked, and then became serious, "Remove them."

He sighed, "Already did, after the blast." He paused, "Did you pi*s off someone dangerous who wants you dead?"

"I am not dead." She answered flippantly.

"It's not the first time someone died whom you were after."

"Last time it turned out to be a stupid love triangle." She reminded.

"It's becoming awfully a series of co-incidence, eh?" He tilted head. She mimicked his action.

"I am not even half close to anyone dangerous."

He sighed at the answer as she went on, "Any progress on your side?"

He shook head, "But we are not the only one asking around. Recently someone else too showed some interest, even if they are awfully discreet."

She frowned, "Do we know a name?"

He shook head again, and she frowned, deep in thought. Abruptly she stood up, ready to go.

"Remove the dogs."

"Already did." He replied, and then added, "Be careful."

She grinned as she turned her neck, walking away, "I have lifespan of a Tortoise."

He scoffed at that.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

She could have been shocked at the audacity, even offended at the tailing, but really, how could she? Like he said, she can't keep grudge when she is being truthful. She was surprised that she missed some people who were tailing her for weeks. She needs to look around be more careful.

As soon as she was out of park, she called that SOB Rahane, who mumbled a 'Good Morning' instead of Hello, still pis*ed about the punch and rightfully so, even though in her eyes he totally deserved it, "I need favor."

"Can't you at least learn to greet properly?" Came the irritated reply, laced with sleep.

"I need you to find out if someone is following me, or tapping this number." She calmly informed. She could hear the shifting on the other side.

"Anyone you know?" He asked, totally in business.

"Ask me a Name." She replied, half irritated, half amused, "Mumbai Commissioner."

"Why on earth he . . . " His question was cut by her.

"Dysfunctional family." She dismissed, "He know I paid a visit in IB."

"What else he knows?"

"That I was the one who kept him in that warehouse." She looked around her, and heard him holding breath, somehow unable to trust her.

"You high ranking officers will surely know if anyone is up your asses." She said and heard him sighing, finally giving in.

"I am on it." He replied, "Bye." He ended the call.

By afternoon she got a SMS from him and sighed in relief.

PHONE IS SAFE.

At least she won't have to worry about this cell or the number.

The team made quite a progress in that day. They even had a name for the Man of sketch, and find out he was a Bangladeshi anti-social arsonist who is wanted in that country for several arson cases. He was in this country on the day of crime, and left on a 2 AM flight for Dhaka.

"It makes no sense." Director threw the file on table, "Bangladeshi citizen coming here and killing someone? Why?"

"His M.O fits though." Rawte said, "He shot his victims first, and then kill them."

"Nothing about this case makes sense." Sameer spoke, "Nasir Jamal, a guy who made money from making fake passports and selling girls in South Asia. Why he was in that abandoned warehouse? Who are those people with him? Who found him there and why killed him? Why bring someone outside the country, when many hit man in this city is available?"

"Bringing him in would take a lot of time." ACP Mukherjee said quietly, and others nodded.

"That's why we need to focus on why and who contacted him." Director said.

"Maybe those guys with Nasir, were his bodyguards." Sakshi said, "Protecting him."

Close, ACP Mukherjee thought, but not for the reason you are thinking.

"He is not that much important that he made his own gang or will walk around with guards." Chotu replied to her, "In fact, he was about to flee country."

"Really?" this came as surprise, to everyone and mostly to the ACP.

"Yes." Shree chimed in, "I was monitoring him before he ended up in that warehouse, but his last footage was weeks before his death. He was in VT station."

"Then?" Asked Sameer.

"Then he just vanished. There was simply no trace of him in any CCTV in VT, or traffic cam, Shopping Mall or any parking lot in the city."

IB, the ACP leaned back in her seat as she thought, effective and discreet as he*l.

"He entered but there was no trace of him afterwards?" Director asked.

"This is not possible." Sakshi replied.

"Maybe his entering in VT, it was just to keep the scent off him." Rawte said, mostly to himself, and then he met others, "If he knew someone was following him."

"I got words from my people." Chotu said, "Some high profile law enforcement was after Nasir. He was hiding."

"This is weird." Sameer said, "He decides to flee country, but he doesn't?"

"Maybe he saw Police at VT." ACP Mukherjee said, "So he escaped."

"If police knew he was about to flee, they will keep an eye on bus stops, railway stations and airport, but not in the city itself." Chotu said.

"Like we never look into our houses." Shree said excitedly, linking dots, and the duo beamed at each other.

"So the picture looks like this: Nasir gets words that Police is after him, so he decides to flee, but then changes plan and hide in that warehouse which is our crime scene. Now the questions are, who were those other people? Who ordered that arsonist and why?"

The team went over some possible answers as the ACP sent a quick SMS to the liaison Agent.

HE WAS ABOUT TO FLEE COUNTRY.

His reply came 2 minutes later.

CITY. HE HAD TICKETS FOR DELHI.

She sighed slowly and gave a quick glance around her as she typed.

COUNTRY.

"How we know he was about to flee country?" She asked mostly to Chotu, "Do we have anything from crime scene?"

"Not anything, even a rug, except the victims. But he discussed with some of his friends." He replied. She nodded slowly at it, "He was supposed to go to Sharjah."

"Typical Middle East fleeing." Sakshi remarked.

Later that day Shree found something.

"Even though we found no cell from the crime scene, Chotu's informers came up with several of Nasir's contact numbers and I traced them. Turned out, one number was active till his escape from VT and was switched off since that day." He typed something in his computer as the team hovered over him around his desk, "He made many calls from that number, mostly to Delhi."

"To whom?" Rawte asked.

"A Burner phone. It's untraceable, but if we get permission from the service provider I can hack it."

He was bound by protocols and rules, but she knew someone who was not.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Delhi?" Vir Rahane frowned as he took in every bit of digging ETF did from ACP Mukherjee as they stood in front of each other in the darkness of night, "Are you sure?"

She gave a look, "Shree doesn't do mistakes."

The frown was still there as he let it pass, "He was going to flee country, but we got tickets for Delhi. It all points to Delhi."

"Someone in Delhi must be helping him."

"His whole network is here." He shook his head in negative.

"Maybe one of his client? Returning the favor?" She provided. He thought about that.

"I will tell my team to look over it." He met her eyes, "Why are we here?"

They were standing in front of an abandoned one storied house, it looks like none lives here. The front was hidden with grown up grass and branches of tress.

"We need to trace the burner phone." She started walking and he followed, "Someone lives here who can help."

"Lives here?" He looked suspicious.

"I am not going to kidnap you and demand ransom." She joked, to which he rolled eyes, before looking suspicious again.

"Doesn't look like someone stays here."

They walked at the back of the house, which was devoid of any over grown tree or grass. There was a small box near the door where the ACP put some digits.

"What's that?"

"Our entry code." She replied, and the door in front of them opened automatically. As they entered, his hand automatically reached for hers as he had difficulty to sense anything because the darkness was too much. She guided him to a direction.

"Is coming here necessary? My team can trace it." He said in irritation, and heard her sighing.

"But it will do no help to my team."

"If you give them any info about that burner phone won't they ask you how you got it?" He wondered.

"They are used to magic tricks like this." She dismissed.

Finally they reached near a staircase which took them down, where he could see one guy, at least of 40 years with beard and overgrown hair, sipping coke and typing furiously in his keyboards. He didn't even turn around as they stopped near him.

"Why you bought a government agent in my humble abode?" The Man stabbed a finger at them, still not turning, "That too, someone from IB who works with RAW? Do you want to kill me?"

She rolled eyes as he looked stunned, "How . . . "

"There is camera outside and he hacked." She answered him and looked at the Man, "I need something."

"Did you too join people like him in conspiracy? Is this my hour of death?" The Man went on.

"What conspiracy?" Vir asked, but both overlooked him as if he was not present there.

"No I didn't join conspiracy. It's not your hour of death. I need you to hack something for me."

"Why should I?" The Man crossed arms over chest as he grumbled.

"Because you will get money, and as soon as you finish my task we will be out of your hair and he will forget the existence of this place."

The Man seemed to think about it and finally turned, asking in sugary sweet voice as he threw a suspicious look at him, "What can I do for you today?"

She handed over a piece of paper, "This is a burner phone. I need you find a location, if possible who bought it and the location of calls made from it."

He nodded absent mindedly and turned his chair to get back to work, "This may take a while."

"We will wait." She answered at the same time Vir was thinking to leave this shadowy basement. He looked around, every bit of floor was filled with gadgets, computer parts, wires, screw drivers, pen drives and hard drives. The wall was decorated with Comics, and not too surprisingly, of Superman's.

"You never bring someone." The Man turned his neck quickly to give them a glance, "Boyfriend." He concluded.

Vir opened his mouth to tell him off, and then realized he never left her hand. She seemed to notice it, and slowly removed it, to which he made a face, "Just a fan of yours."

The Man smiled to himself, but then frowned "Why this hand-holding then?"

"Upstairs was too dark."

"Why there is no light?" Vir wondered, and instantly realized it was the wrong question to ask. The Man jumped from his seat and nearly ran to him.

"Why no light? Are you trying to kill me? I may be under surveillance. Light is the best way to track me. Then they will lock the target and DHISKAOOOO!" he dramatically paused, "I am dead. In a second. The voice of reason, who was about to unveil the conspiracies and dirty secrets, silenced forever!" He looked at him again, "No light."

"Fine." He tried to answer with straight face and the guy went back to work, after looking at thoroughly from top to bottom. Beside him ACP Mukherjee gave him a look which said 'Ignore him.'

"For someone who work at IB and communicate with RAW, you are really thick." The Man said from his chair. He glared at him, and beside him she chuckled quietly, clearly enjoying this.

1 hour and some minutes later The Man finally got a hit, the location of burner phone and person who purchased this.

All traces of humor vanished from him as he looked into the grainy picture.

This whole thing just pointed them towards he*l. 

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