PART-22
"Sure ma'am. I'll do all I can. But I want to tell you something... Something you once told Captain Huda."
"What?"
"Captain Naina Singh... You are doomed now!"
Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him in horror. She was taken aback to hear that.
'How did he know about this?' She had said that right before she shot Huda. If he knew then it meant that..........
He knew it all. He was smiling at her, enjoying her terrified state. She closed her eyes tightly and lowered her head. If he knew everything then she knew he was right.
He pulled out a chair and sat next to her.
"What happened Captain Singh? It looks like... you are scared."
He emphasized on the last three words filled with sarcasm. He was talking to her in a tone she had never heard him talk to anyone with... not even his subordinates. There was an air of arrogance surrounding him. She looked up at him. She was as confused as she was in shock.
"Don't look so confuse Captain Singh. I hope you have realized that I saw you killing Captain Huda. And now, may be, you want to know why I kept quiet all this while."
"Yes."
"Naina... I think I can call you that now.... So, Naina... I have been watching you very closely off late and I have understood your game just perfectly. Almost an year back you came here with your own plans. You took some time to adapt yourself here and familiarize yourself with the chain of command. Then you started your game. In the first place you wooed Major Rastogi and when he fell for you completely, you used him to reach the ammunition room and gradually started sneaking out the weapons to sell them. Then through your lover, Captain Rajveer, you came to know about the inspection. Just by chance he happened to be the man chosen to undertake inspection here. Then you removed Major Rastogi from your way and trapped Captain Huda next. You created situations where fingers can be pointed towards you, though you made sure that there were no proofs. On one hand, Captain Rajveer suspected you, as planned, while you assured Captain Huda of your innocence and made him stand for you. And, of course, you wooed him too. Then eventually he found out your truth and you killed him as well. Then you and Rajveer conveniently framed them for everything you two did. But now what I don't understand is why the hell you killed Rajveer?"
"I didn't."
"Cut the crap... we both know that you did."
"No, I didn't." She shrieked.
"But still you will have to accept that you did."
"What? But why?"
"Because I am saying so."
She stared at him furiously.
"Stop staring at me like that. It won't help you. Right now there is a lot of pressure on our seniors to solve this case and come up with an explanation for the entire matter as soon as possible. Media is creating a whole lot of pressure and before defense ministry intervenes, obviously our bosses at Delhi Head Quarters would like to end the matter. And they won't mind even if the case had to be shut down unsolved. In that case all they will need is a scapegoat and I think you have got a hint that it's gonna be you. So if you want me to help you, you do as I am saying."
"I didn't get you... You are trying to say that you want to help me."
"Precisely!"
"You are kidding me..... Right?"
"Wrong... I am serious. I can bail you out of this."
"How?"
"Very simple. You accept that you killed Rajveer....."
"No I..."
"Let me finish." He told her in a stern commanding voice. He continued.
"You accept that you killed Rajveer. We both know that he wasn't as innocent as everyone think he was. If you help me, we can prove that he was amongst the ones who were involved in the scandal. I am sure you know how to prove that. And then we can claim that to be our planned move. Now when you kill a traitor you don't get punished... Rather you win medals. Am I right? Besides in that case we can convince Lieutenant Colonel Prassana not to reopen the previous cases since that can raise a few eyebrows."
Naina looked pensive. He had a point. But she didn't know if she can actually trust him on that.
"But why do you want to help me?"
"I believe in fair deals Naina. If I help you out of this you'll have to give me share in your future deals. The share that Rajveer used to get till now."
"But how do I trust you?"
"Oh stop thinking so much. Besides you don't have a choice."
"Fine. But don't you dare double cross me."
A wicked smile ran across both their faces.
"So tell me where can I find all the proofs against him. And remember we don't have much time... Or to be precise, you don't have much time."
"Okay. There's a key in his cupboard in a key ring with the alphabet 'R'. It's the key of a bank locker in Mumbai. It has all the proofs against him... Cash in Indian and foreign currency, couple of our deal papers signed by him and the papers of his undeclared property in Bangalore."
She gave him the details of the bank locker.
"Looks like you both have earned quite well."
"So what? Now on even you will be earning that equally well."
"Correct. Then I am taking the first flight out to Mumbai. And you refrain from giving any statement till I come back."
"Okay."
"Good. I'll see you soon then."