Till Human Voices Wake Us: Last Part: Page 175 - Page 83

Originally posted by: Water.

Is it someone linked to the detective agency?

Maan knowing about this case when Mal gave it to the agency...

What was Maan's background before he became ACP? Is he somehow connected?

N what about Satya?

Any one of those two?

Chapter 26:

-- Saturday 9 AM, Police Station --

"I know that this is extremely insensitive of me, but am glad Geet got that letter thing last night." Emily said. A tired Main raised eyebrows, Deshmukh didn't care in his exhaustion and Satya sniggered. "Since you decided that Satya and I should stay with Geet we didn't have to walk around and stay out till our darling politicians make new party agendas. So we had time to read through Mal's diary, drink warm chocolate and actually get some sleep too," Emily chirped unnecessarily. Maan rolled his eyes while Deshmukh shot dagger from his eyes.

"What about the diary?" Maan asked.

"First of all, it makes a fascinating read. She wrote about everything sir ji. She had backup plans for everything she and Geet planned for the stalker. And there were backup plans for backup plans. She wasn't really paranoid. She liked being control of that situation and like Geet said she did write everything. It looks like her biggest paranoia was that she was going to forget things at some point of time. That's why the writing," Satya said and placed the books given to them by Geet.

"What's the guarantee that Geet didn't write about all these?" Maan asked.

"It's Mal's handwriting. I compared it with few of the written reports, which I believe were her personal notes, for her work. I have asked David to give me an official statement but my best guess is – its Mal's. She was extremely careful in the way she has planned everything." Emily said.

"When you read her diary and look at the chronology of incidents, police statements and witness reports, actually there isn't much she has lied about. Mal's meeting with him was real. The statement was real. Geet's meeting was real. Only that they fabricated things a bit. They actually left lots of clues for police to pick up. Like you, if some other cop had managed to get that college's events pictures and paid little attention, he would have seen the same pattern like you did. She was extremely intelligent in ensuring that she left enough hints for others to pick up but the leads never could be traced back to her." Emily continued.

"Has she written if she killed that stalker?" Maan asked again.

"Not in so many words. But she does mention about ending the whole thing once and for all." Emily finished. Maan was thoughtful for moments.

"Shouldn't there be more diaries given how she writes everything she plans? Why haven't we found any other diaries then?" Maan asked looking at the itinerary of Mal's apartment as prepared by David.

"Maybe she keeps them some place that isn't too obvious. David's team wouldn't really look for hidden places inside cupboards. We need to think like her to get evidence against her sir as she wouldn't have left any." Emily replied.

"Could it be in a bank locker or her office space?" Satya asked.

"No, it cannot be a bank locker or a place where she cannot access on a daily basis. Sure, her archives or her backups maybe stored there but she ought to have a working copy with her all the time." Maan said.

"Or she could have moved to virtual world. She can access it anytime and anywhere and there is not too much worry about archiving." Emily said. Maan didn't respond.

"It is possible yes. I think she would have had some material after she hired detective agency before moving her material to internet." Maan said.

"Could she have destroyed the written evidence sir ji?" Satya asked.

"It is possible. But I am sure there is a backup of it all somewhere." Maan said looking thoughtful.

"When is Varun coming in?" Maan asked Deshmukh.

"He will be coming here within an hour or two sir. Last night he confirmed his appointment." Deshmukh said. "He has been awfully cooperative in this case," Deshmukh remarked.

"And when are we getting the footages? Without that we may not have a case." Maan said looking straight at Satya.

"They should be here soon sir ji. Our people are picking it up from the club. Since the club starts operations late, their AV technician sifted through the tapes and prepared material for us." Satya said.

"What about last night's evidence?" Maan asked. Emily and Satya glanced at each other grimly.

"You saw the picture right? It was anything but romantic. The sketch is hauntingly beautiful sir and the artist, whoever he is, has captured sadness and tragedy very well. Geet's face is accurately pictured there and is covered in a black robe." Emily said.

"What about the coin?" Deshmukh asked.

"There were no prints on it and came clean. It's an ordinary monitory coin without any significance." Satya said.

"Is it a rare coin or something?" Maan asked.

"There is nothing special about the coin as per David's team. Its run of the mill one rupee coin minted last year." Satya replied. "I don't know what the killer wants Geet to buy from that," Satya added.

"A ride," Emily answered. Everyone looked at her.

"As soon as I saw the coin, you know what I remembered first? A book I read in college and also recently because our killer left those little lines from Eliot's poem," she replied.

"What is that story?" Satya asked.

"It's a fascinating story actually. In ancient times it was believed that placing a coin on the mouth of the deceased would help pay the toll for the ferry to cross the river Styx which would lead one to the underworld. If they didn't pay the fee to ferryman, then they would never be able to cross the river – the river Styx. River Styx has swamp like water and is the fifth circle of Hell as per Dante. This is where the wrathful fight each other on the surface and the sullen ones lie gurgling beneath the water. After the fifth circle comes the city of Dis which comprises of sixth to ninth circles of Hell. The walls of Dis are guarded by the Furies – Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone." Emily explained and fell quiet. She looked little troubled.

"What is it Emily?" Maan asked. Emily had a blank expression he couldn't decipher.

"Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone are three primordial deities who guarded the city of Dis. Alecto punished those whose crime was related to anger, Megaera punished the ones who committed marital infidelity and Tisiphone punished crimes of murder." Emily said slowly.

The silence in Maan's cabin was deafening.

"It's just a coincidence, right? The three primordial deities personify anti-thesis of Sasha, Anjali and Mal in that order," Emily asked Maan sounding urgent.

"It may be a coincidence but you never know," Maan shrugged. "But that's not it, is it?" He asked again. Emily shook her head.

"The three lines from the poem left by the killer are from the same poem as I told you before. That poem actually has a prelude taken from Dante. The prelude roughly translates to – If I thought my answer were to one who could return to the world, I would not reply, but as none ever did return alive from this depth, without fear of infamy I answer thee. The lines are said by a man in Eighth circle of hell but that is not important in the context of the poem. This verse actually explains about the man himself – a man who is in an extreme state of dishonor and feels that his current situation is one that of Hell. It's not a coincidence he picked that poem Maan. The killer knows exactly what he is doing." Emily finished.

"Where is the motive in this story? And where does the killer fit in?" Satya asked.

"I have no idea Satya. I don't know if this is what killer is even thinking. It something that triggered my mind when you said what can Geet buy from the coin," Emily shrugged.

"Come to think of it, Geet doesn't fit in this story," Emily answered a moment later.

"Are we sure it's the same person who killed Mal is also now trying to kill Geet?" Satya asked.

"It's the same guy. He made his knowledge about Geet known in Anjali's murder scene. She is different from the story. And she is the only one who can now lead us to the killer," Maan said. "Do we have anyone at her house right now?" Maan asked. Deshmukh nodded and provided details of the personal that were stationed outside Geet's apartment.

"Was there a coin left as an evidence at any of the earlier crime scenes?" Maan asked. Emily shook her head.

"It's new to Geet." She said.

"What about blood in Geet's drawing?" Maan asked.

"The blood doesn't match any of the victims." Satya said. Maan was quiet for moments.

"Emily, how is Geet doing?" Maan asked. Emily and Satya looked at each other and exchanged a smile.

"You sound concerned. Developing soft corner for the woman now are we," Emily said amusement evident in her voice.

"I was only thinking if she could handle having Vikram and Varun in same interrogation room as hers," Maan said flatly ignoring Emily's remarks. The three of them were startled and exchanged surprised looks.

"You want to put the three of them together in one room? That should be entertaining. I will call Vikram," Satya said walking out.

"I will call Geet," Emily said following Satya.