Chapter 36 - Just a Hunch
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"Hey guys did you find out anything?" asked Sam, as she met Preet and Gaurav at the door.
"Your guess is as good as mine", sighed Gaurav, as he followed Preet into the bedroom.
"Preet! You drove back here like a maniac. What happened? What did Mr. Singh say that suddenly set off alarm bells in your mind? Do you know where Meher is?"
"I don't know where she is right at this moment", said Preet, as he pulled out a bag from his closet and threw some stuff together. "But I may have an idea as to where Viren is taking her".
"Do you mind filling us in?" asked Sam.
Preet was about to say something when his phone rang. It was Prem. "Hey PB...what have you got for me?"
"My friend Vishal and I went to see Mr. Bedi today like you asked", said Prem. "He wasn't saying much at first, but as soon as he found out that Meher was missing with Viren being the prime suspect, and that Vishal was in fact, ASP Vishal Saxena from the Delhi police department, client confidentiality went right out the window. He admitted to receiving a phone call from Viren earlier today. And get this, Viren told him to have all the necessary papers pertaining to his inheritance drawn up right away because he and Meher were getting married within the next 48 hours!"
"Did he say anything else, like where he was?" asked Preet.
"No", said Prem. "Mr. Bedi swore he had no further information. Viren refused to come and see him in his office, but told him he'd be nearby and would let him know where to bring the papers when the time was right. He seems to be keeping everyone at an arm's length and a need to know only basis. Mr. Bedi did however agree to keep my visit a secret and to get in touch with me right away should Viren contact him again. I'm sorry I couldn't find out more Preet, but at least that's one more person on our side. We'll get to the bottom of this soon. I'm sure of it".
"Yeah...", sighed Preet.
"I also called the security company", added Prem. "Ma's going to kill me if she finds out, but you can tell those guards to go home whenever you want to be free of them".
"Thanks PB", said Preet.
"Listen Preet", said Prem. "Ma has been asking about speaking to Meher again. Meher's Chacha called and voiced his concern about not being able to get in touch with her either. I've confided in Heer, but I don't know how much longer we can keep this from the rest of the family".
"Don't worry Prem Bhaiya", said Preet. "I'm leaving Mumbai right away. I'll be home soon to talk to Ma myself".
"Well...what happened?" asked Gaurav, as Preet put his phone away and resumed packing.
"It seems like Viren was in a chatty mood today", explained Preet. "He got in touch with his lawyer. He expects to be married and claim his inheritance all within the next 48 hours. That means I have less than that to find Meher".
"So you do know where she is", said Gaurav.
"It's just a hunch, but if they're not in Mumbai, Viren may have taken her to Ambala", said Preet.
"Ambala?" echoed Gaurav.
"It's the farm Mr. Singh was talking about", explained Preet. "Viren always seems to go there whenever he's in trouble and needs to recollect himself. You remember when Meher and I went up to Ludhiana and she went missing. I found her at a farm in Ambala. Viren had her brought there. It was the same farm in his childhood picture...I'm almost certain of it. Mr. Singh said something about finding what you're looking for in the last place you'll look. That's the exact same thing Viren said to me, that I'd never find him, because he'd be in the last place I'd ever think of looking. I don't think it would ever have crossed my mind that he'd take Meher back to the very same farm he almost kidnapped her from once before. It's also just the right distance from Delhi. Far and small enough not to be in the public eye, but close enough for him to easily get to Mr. Bedi".
"Well I'll be darned", said Gaurav.
"Preet, what if you're wrong?" asked Sam.
"I better not be", said Preet. "I just can't be".
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Preet went to answer it. It was Inspector Khan.
"Inspector Khan...what are you doing here?" asked Preet.
"I was expecting you to come by and file a missing persons report Mr. Juneja", said the policeman. "When you didn't I..."
"I...uh...don't intend to file a report Inspector Khan", sighed Preet. "In fact, you have to call off the investigation altogether. I mean...I'm taking all my complaints back".
"Oh really?" said Inspector Khan with a raised brow. He pointed to the back-pack Preet was holding. "You going somewhere Mr. Juneja?"
"Um...no...", Preet said as he tossed the small bag to one side. "This is just..."
"See...what I find so strange is that up until this morning you were literally jumping down my throat about being a stickler for procedures and not finding a clue to your wife's whereabouts and now you're asking me to simply back off", said Inspector Khan. "Why the sudden change? Have you been in contact with Meher?"
"I...uh...", stuttered Preet. "I don't see what the problem is. I'm the one who filed the complaint, don't I have the right to take it back? It's a personal matter, that Meher and I will resolve between ourselves. The police need not be concerned any more. If you want me to come down to the station and sign some papers, I'll do that and then let's just call it a day, okay?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that", said Inspector Khan. "This is no longer just a kidnapping case. This investigation is now about murder".
"Murder?!" cried Preet. He exchanged surprised looks with Gaurav and Sam.
"The pandit that you claim performed your wedding ceremony apparently went missing this morning", explained Inspector Khan. "His body was found this afternoon, burned beyond recognition. No one knows who did this or why. Strangely enough the other 2 witnesses to your marriage, also had no information to give to the police, not even the pandit's personal assistant, but they were both scared out of their skulls. Both had their hands bandaged, with index fingers missing from their right hands. Both claimed to have had accidents. Pardon the pun, but it looks like someone was making damn sure they wouldn't point a finger in his direction. And now, all of a sudden you want to call off the investigation. Something is definitely wrong".
"Nothing is wrong", insisted Preet. "And just what are you implying? That I'm behind all this? That's insane!"
"Is it really?" asked Inspector Khan.
"Of course it is! Why would Preet have filed a complaint wih the police if he was guilty?" cried Gaurav. "Besides he has multiple alibis. He was with his brother all last night, and with me at the office this morning. Not to mention that he has 2 bodyguards following him all the time, because his own life is in danger. How could you possibly think he would harm Meher or anyone else? It's Viren Kashyap you should be looking for. He called Preet and..."
"Gaurav!" cried Preet.
Gaurav gave Preet an apologetic look.
"Ah ha! So you are withholding information from the police!" cried Inspector Khan. "Look Mr. Juneja...Preet...I genuinely like you, and I want to help you as much as I can, but I won't be able to if you don't cooperate with me".
Preet thought for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Okay...I got a call from Viren late this afternoon. He told me that he has Meher. He threatened to hurt her if I don't call the police off. He also said that he had made sure that I could never prove that Meher and I had gotten married. I didn't understand what he meant at the time, but with your news of the pandit's death...everthing is becoming crystal clear to me. Viren got in touch with his lawyer today too. He plans to marry Meher and show up on his door within the next 48 hours. I have to go get her before it's too late".
"So you know where they are?" asked Inspector Khan.
"Perhaps...", said Preet, as he picked up his bag. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
"Wait Preet! I can't just let you go running after Viren on a hunch", said Inspector Khan. "Any rash action on your part can mess up the case".
"So what do you want me to do?" asked Preet. "Sit here and twiddle my thumbs?"
"Have patience. Let the police gather up all the evidence we can find and nail the jerk", said Inspector Khan.
"Oh really?" said Preet. "Aside from my accusation, what evidence do you have against Viren? And if my hunch is correct, and Viren is on his way to Ambala...that's out of your jurisdiction. In fact, if Viren is having someone keep an eye on my place, just your being here is going to prove detrimental to Meher's safety".
Inspector Khan frowned and looked at the ground. He hated to admit it but Preet was right. He had no solid evidence against Viren.
"Look Inspector Khan...I can't force you to shut down your investigation", said Preet. "It wouldn't be fair to the Pandit's family. And maybe I'm wrong and Viren is still in Mumbai. In that case, Sam and Gaurav are here, and you can keep them updated and they'll know how to get in touch with me. But you have to let me leave town. This isn't a game. People are getting hurt...killed even. I can't let anything happen to Meher. I have to make Viren think that he has me right where he wants me, and some how still manage to pull the rug right out from under his feet".
Meanwhile...
Meher sat quietly huddled up in one corner of the room she was being held captive in. She still couldn't believe Viren had actually killed the Pandit. She closed her eyes tightly as visions of the flames still burned brightly in her memory. She had been so distraught after the incident that she hadn't even been able to speak to Preet properly. Not that Viren had really intended to let her speak to him anyway. He was just using her to control Preet, and force him to comply with his demands. Viren was desperate. No...Not desperate...he was crazy! Well...he could do whatever he wanted, she decided. She wouldn't cooperate with him, and she would certainly never marry him.
Just then the door opened and Viren entered the room. He had a duffle bag with him, which he let drop from his hands at Meher's feet. Meher took a deep breath and slowly stood up and faced him determinedly.
"Well honey, I'm all packed and ready to go", Viren said, giving her a crooked smile. "Will you behave or do I have to resort to other interesting ways of transporting you to our next location?"
"Go to hell!" hissed Meher crossing her arms over her chest. Suddenly she felt a stinging sensation on her neck, and before she realized what it was, she fell unconscious into his arms.
"That's what I thought", sighed Viren, as he watched Gurinder slide the tip back onto the small syringe he had just used.
The next day...
Meher came to slowly. How long had she been asleep? She wondered. Her head hurt, and her neck muscles felt sore. Still groggy from her sleep, she raised her hands to rub her neck, but found them bound. Exasperated, she looked down and found her feet tied up too.
"So...you're finally up", chuckled Viren. He was driving.
"Where are we?" Meher asked looking around. "Where are you taking me?"
"Well...we're not in Mumbai anymore", chuckled Viren. "And in answer to your question...I'm taking you home Meher. My home".
Meher looked down at her hands again. They were bound, at the wrists, but she could still use her fingers. She glanced behind her. Viren's friend Gurinder was fast asleep in the back seat. In a quick movement, Meher undid the lock and pulled the latch of the car's door. It swung open and she tried to jump out.
"What the hell?!" cried Viren, as he hit the brakes. The car swerved sharply and came to an abrupt stop as he yanked Meher back inside by the arm.
"Wha...What happened?!" cried Gurinder as he woke up.
"She tried to run away...what else!" growled Viren.
Both he and Gurinder exited the car. Viren pulled Meher out roughly and glared angrily at her. "What are you crazy or something?! If you've got a death wish Meher, I don't mind fulfilling it, but not before I get my money! You got that?! Tie her hands behind her back you idiot!" he barked at Gurinder.
Later in the afternoon, they pulled onto a small deserted roadside dhaba. "If you behave", hissed Viren, "I'll get you some food, and let you use the restroom. But you have to promise that you won't try to run away again. I don't want to have to drag you back to the car and be rough with you Meher".
Meher nodded quietly.
Viren got out, and opened her side of the door and undid the rope around her wrists and feet. Meher rubbed her sore wrists, grateful for the momentary release, and quietly followed him to the food stall. She waited patiently for Viren to give an order of food, before he led her to use the washroom. A short while later, they returned. Viren tossed her a bag of chips and a bottle of water, while they waited for their order to be packed. Meher immediately downed the bottle of water greedily. Viren then took her by the arm and walked her back to the car. He motioned for her to take her seat in the car, then he tied her up again. Just then his phone rang. A look of worry immediately sprang on his face as he spoke to the person on the other end of the line.
"Yes...yes everything is under control", said Viren. "No! I told you, you'll have your money by the end of the week. No nothing is going to go wrong this time. Yeah...just a few more days..."
This was her chance, thought Meher. Viren was occupied by the phone call, and wasn't paying attention to her. She could escape. She could run away into the field nearby and maybe find a house, where she could call someone for help. God knows what he had planned for her. Meher began to squirm around in her bindings. If she could get her feet free somehow, she figured she could at least make a run for it. She wriggled and pried her feet apart as far as she could. After much effort she felt her bindings start to loosen against her ankles, leaving red marks in their wake. But at least she could set her feet apart from one another. With her hands tied behind her back, opening the door would be no easy task, but she had to try. She had just turned to reach for the door, when she saw Viren staring back angrily at her through the window. He was shaking his head. Meher exhaled loudly in frustration. She stopped trying to get free, because she knew it was of no use.
Viren opened her door and tightened the restraints on Meher's feet roughly making her cry out in pain. Just then Gurinder joined them.
"I think we have enough supplies now", he said as he placed bottles of water and other items he was carrying in the back seat, then began to rummage through the packages of food. "Man I'm starving. You want to untie her so she can eat?" He asked.
"No", said Viren flatly. "She just earned her right to stay hungry".
Later...
"Come on Viren", whined Gurinder. He was in the backseat trying to make himself comfortable, while Viren was driving. "We've been taking turns driving non-stop for hours, and I'm exhausted. My back is killing me, and I need to lie die down. This backseat is no replacement for a bed. Can't we stop somewhere, just for a couple of hours? I'm sure you both are tired too", he said glancing over at Meher.
"Alright fine", agreed Viren. He was tired. "The next time we pass a motel or something I'll pull over".
It wasn't long before they came to a small rundown motel.
"This place looks like a dump", complained Gurinder.
"Yeah well, what's important is that no one is going to come looking for us here", said Viren. "Besides, this dump is all we can afford right now". He turned towards Meher. "We're going to rest here for a few hours. We're pressed for time, but I'm not about to get you or myself killed by falling asleep at the wheel. Gurinder, keep an eye on her, and I'll go check if they have any vacancies".
Gurinder nodded.
Minutes later, Viren was back. "They only have one room", he said as he untied Meher's feet and pulled her out of the car. "That's just right for you and me".
"What about me?" Asked Gurinder.
"You can sleep in the backseat", chuckled Viren.
Gurinder rolled his eyes.
"Chalo (let's go)!" Viren ordered Meher, as he dragged her inside with him.
Minutes later...
Meher stood warily on one side of the dingy hotel room. The tiny room was sparsely furnished, with nothing but a queen size bed, and a lamp whose bulb flickered as if it was breathing its last breath. She gasped as Viren locked the door, pulled the curtains closed on the window, then came and stood before her.
"I'm afraid I can't untie you. We can still share the bed though". He grinned.
Meher wanted to hurl insults at him and give him a piece of her mind, but she bit her tongue, realizing she was in no position to test the limits of his temper. She looked the other way instead.
"Suit yourself", Viren said shrugging his shoulders. He bent down and tied Meher's feet, then plopped down on the bed and let himself shut his eyes.
Meher sank down in one corner of the room and began to weep quietly to herself, until her tired body gave way to slumber.
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