The Web of Intrigue - 2

3 months ago

Mikky

@MidnightLibrary

The Web of Intrigue - 2

Zunaid and Zoya were already on the way , following the shared WhatsApp location. Ravindra’s incoming star flashes out , breaking the shrill of the air dense with tension.

“ Sir, it's a mistake. Might be trapped, but we can’t do anything. The man said he was heading towards his home . He isn't Nishant Ranawat “

Zunaid's eyes shut as frustration gripped him so strongly. “Ravindra , take him into the lockup “

“ But Sir, we haven't any evidence against him?”

“ Ravindra, put him into the lockup and give me special treatment all the truth will come out”

“ But Sir, we have already checked on him . He was telling the truth, his wife is sick so he came to take her to the hospital. If We do anything Nishant Ranawat can take a legal action against us “ Ravindra suggested.

As Zunaid listened to his words over the phone call , his expression went tightened. He punched on the steering . His nostrils were flaring in rage.

Zoya understood the gravity of the situation. She can read dissatisfaction and disappointment in his demeanour.

After disconnecting the call Zunaid shared a conversation with the Junior officer.” Nishant made a fool out of Us, Zoya . He was successful in fooling me , and fell into his trap.” He punches on the steering wheel

“ I'm damn sure , he took the opportunity of his man’s private life as his game. And made us dance on his tone “

However , Zoya confirmed his senior officer by saying “ don't lose hope Sir. Overconfidence is oftentimes tangled the person in their own trap, Nishant is also doing the same right now “ she passed as he voice softened " . I believe in you , Sir. You can crack the mystery this time like usual!”

Zunaid didn't look at Zoya.. suddenly she said something which made him look at her.

“ Sir, is it possible someone else is behind Mrs Malhotra’s disappearance? “ As she asked , her tone was laced with skepticism. “ I believe it's a strong possibility . Given her role in helping Miss Riddhima and her family file a FIR against Narayan Rao's son . it's plausible someone connected to him might seek revenge?”

Zunaid's expression turned thoughtful as he leaned back in his seat “ I also try to connect the dots by considering the deeper involvement of Babhi into helping Miss Riddhima. But all those accused are still in custody , and Narayan Rao's doesn't come out of coma and his all black business has been banned In India. So his son has less chance to get a bail “ Zunaid replied

Zoya's voice took on a note of frustration “In that case, who is behind this? Rishi Chawla is also in Jail. And Adhiraj is also in Jail . So who can be behind this?” she asked

The air was thick with tension as the two officers grappled with the mystery. They return to the police station. Whole night has passed .

Next day in the morning,

Zunaid gaze fixed on the wall in front of him, his eyes scanning the blank space as if searching for a hidden clue . “ Ravindra , one thing still puzzles me . “ he said, his voice low and contemplative.

He also added “ How did Bhabhi Know these men would gather In the club for the party , when Mr. MALHOTRA himself was unaware about everything?

Ravindra's eyes met a senior officer, curiosity occupied in her eyes “ Sir , do you think someone else might have tipped her off ?

Zunaid snapped back to Ravindra . His mind was foggy with umpteen questions. “ Who could that be? he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.

Without hesitation, Zunaid instructed Ravindra to obtain the call detail records (CDR) of Sanyogita's phone.. Get the telecom company to provide us with the details immediately. ” The urgency in his voice is palpable.

The wait was agonizing, but within an hour and a half, the CDR details arrived. The police obtained a comprehensive list of caller and receiver phone number, dates, times, and also duration of each call including incoming, outgoing, missed call .

A young representative from the telecom company informed the police that on the night of Sanyogita's disappearance , she had received a call from a number. Earlier it was difficult to track down the location of the source . But gradually Police tracked the location by using IMEI number.

The revelation sent a jolt through Zunaid's body: the number was registered under the name of Gautam Desai.

Zunaid went flabbergasted. “ What?” exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper. "How is this possible?"

Before he could further process the revelation, his phone rang, shrill in the silence. The caller ID flashed the DIG's name, and Zunaid's expression turned formal as he answered, "Yes, Sir.”

After that what he heard from the other side of the phone, erect every hair of his nape .

“Gautam Desai , dead body has been found in a villa in Lonavala. Pune police are on scene , but unfortunately , the Media had already caught wind of it.”

Zunaid's grip on the phone tightened as the DIG continued, "Abhiram Malhotra, Mr. Prithviraj Malhotra's father has requested that his daughter-in-law's name be kept out of the investigation at all costs.”

The implication hung in the air like a challenge, a testament to the Malhotra family's influence and power.

Zunaid and Ravindra arrived at the villa , they were Pune police who had already investigated . They briefed them on the situation. The crime scene was already buzzing with activity, and a TV reporter was questioning a man outside. When the reporter spotted Zunaid and Ravindra from the Mumbai Homicide Crime Branch, she quickly drew her attention to them.

Zunaid quickened his pace, with Ravindra following him closely behind.

As they entered the luxurious resort room where Gautam's body was found.

The room was the story of a life spent in luxury, with all the amenities one could possibly need for an extravagant holiday.

There were two wine glasses on the floor. There was a single table in the corner of the room with two glasses, one nearly full, the other empty, a plate occupied by fried chicken leftovers, suggesting the presence of someone with the victim at night.

As Zunaid's eyes landed on the horrific sight, a shiver ran through his body. Gautam's lifeless body lay over the massive plush bed, his naked form a brutal incongruity to the opulent surroundings.

There was no piece of clothes in his body apart from mouth gagged . His hands were cuffed on either side of the bed .

Ravindra stood frozen, his legs rooted on the marble floor beside Zunaid , his eyes unblinking as he took in the horrific sight.

The piercing gaze of Gautam's wide-open eyes seemed to freeze time, as if capturing the moment of his final breath.

Zunaid's training kicked in, and he approached the victim with caution, careful not to damage any potential evidence. When he drew closer, he noticed there was no visible trauma, no injury on Gautam's body.

The only striking feature was the frozen terror in his eyes, wide open and unseeing.

Zunaid reverie was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps coming out from the Bathroom. He grew consciousness, it was then Zunaid met Dr. Naina Joshi,the Forensic expert .

With an Instant older incidence thrown back through his mind . She had helped the police department to investigate a back to back psychological mind game . Poor children kidnapping and murder case in Mumbai. A school teacher who used to bring children by lurking them for chocolate and toys . It does not end here. The babies were cut into pieces, kept in the fridge and cooked and eaten. A cocktail of pedophilia, multiple murders and cannibalism. The Mumbai Police took the help of a forensic expert to perform mental profiling of the criminal in the given case .

Also another case of a man who used to kidnap women and after killing them , sexualt abused them . Necrophilia case . Dr. Naina helped Zunaid once again to crack the case.

The smell of antiseptic hangs in the air. Naina crouched near Gautam’s body.

Crime scene tape fluttered at the door, a stark reminder of the investigation's gravity

Naina went startled for a brief moment, finding Officer Zunaid Yusuf Imam Mallick, standing before her . A friendly smile radiated Over her face which was replaced instantly with curiosity.

Zunaid told her everything related to Mumbai Homicidal sudden interruption into the scene .

Hearing his words Naina’s eyebrows also drew down , “ Okay , I see!”

Zunaid asked in his serious note “ What have you understood , Doc. Have you got any clue ? He really died like this?

After collecting the samples in a zipper and sending them to the forensic lab , Naina looked at him and let out “ hmm.. I found semen over the skin of the victim . And apart from that there is no sign of any physical injury”

Zunaid's eyes locked onto Naina's as he asked, "Could it be an autoerotic asphyxiation gone wrong?"

“ Maybe , but here the victim's both hands were handcuffs so that might be preposterous. Unless victim had a masochist streak “

Zunaid's mind flashed back to Ayesha's statement about Gautam's sadistic tendencies, “ NO, that's unlikely “ he said . His voice was low and measured.

Naina's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "So, what do we know about the victim's personal life?"

Zunaid filled her in on Gautam's reputation, “ He is a sadist, according to the dictate of his wife “

As they stepped toward the door, Naina added more to reflect onto the mystery, "My inner instinct is telling me this is a murder for a revenge"

“ Have you found the weapon of murder? Zunaid asked with curiosity

“ Not yet . Until , given into waiting for the autopsy report to come, I can't reach the conclusion .”

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Outside the house, they saw a middle aged man standing nervously . He was wearing a simple shirt and knee- length trouser , with a towel draped over his shoulder.

Zunaid approached him, his expression firm. The man’ s eyes darted around, betraying his fear.

“Who are you?" Zunaid asked, his tone direct.

"I'm Sushil, the caretaker of the house ," the man replied, his voice trembling slightly.

“Sushil Sir. And I'm the caretaker of this house”

Zunaid's questions came swiftly. "Where's your hometown?"

"Meghalaya, sir. But I visit once a year," Sushil responded, his eyes fixed on Zunaid.

"How long have you been working here?" Zunaid asked, his gaze piercing

Sushil's voice was steady. "I've been with Gautam Sahab for seven years."

Zunaid's tone turned sharp this time . "When did you find the body?"

Sushil's voice cracked as he recounted the events. "I found him this morning, I came at quarter past ten . I knocked on the door several times but no reply came . Then I noticed the door was open so I stepped into the bedroom and found Sahab’s body” his voice cracked , even his eyes grew mosisten.

He paused, collecting himself. "I called the police immediately. It must have happened between 10:00 and 10:30.”

Zunaid's eyes narrowed. And his voice was still sharp and formal "When did you last see him alive?"

Sushil hesitated, “ Shahab asked me to arrange everything in their bedroom and then told me to leave . Yesterday night there were severe thunderstorms with loadshedding across the eye area. I …I stay in my room which is outside of this house “ His voice suddenly trail slow

Sensing something suspicious , Zunaid eyebrow deepend “ There was a large imperative and you didn't bother to check upon your master?

Sushil's eyes dropped , his hands folding timidly before he answered “ Yesterday night I drank . Shahab gave me money , whenever he came here in this house he gave me bakshih ( bonus) for handling all the arrangements for his vacations “

Zunaid's expression turned cautious, his eyes locked onto Sushil. "You know your boss well, don't you?"

Sushil remained silent, avoiding eye contact.

Zunaid pressed on, his tone measured. "How often did your Shahab visit here ?"

Sushil's voice trembling "He used to come every weekend, but after his marriage, it became less frequent – once in every month."

Zunaid's eyes never left Sushil's face. "Did he bring anyone with him?"

Sushil scary gaze met Zunaid's, then he nodded slowly, keeping head bow down “ Yes, sir “

“ Who ?”

Sushil's response was hesitant. "Women only."

Zunaid's eyes narrowed. “ Did he come with women last time ?”

Sushil nodded again “ Yes , Sahab!”

“ How many days ago? Have you seen her?”

“ Three days ago , Sir . I didn't see any girl face , as whenever Sahab came with girls they hide their face under veil “

Zunaid's expression was unreadable “ Okay. That's enough for now . But you may need to come in for further questioning in case if it necessary “

Sushil's eyes widened with shock , and he folded his hands. "Sahab, I didn't know anything. I'm innocent."

Zunaid's warning was clear “ That's our duty to find Out . don't leave the city until this investigation is over , unless you know the consequences “