FF:Murder Mystery-'The Hidden Cat';Ch6;Pg:14;8/9 - Page 9

ACP Anand n Ayush reached to the Boutique of Sameera. A middle aged shabby looked lady came and asked them "R u here for Mrs. Sameera?" Ayush nodded. "U can find her in the back yard of the garden." She showed them the way.

When ACP Anand found Sameera, whose face flushed, and her hair untying, stood looking at him in a startled fashion.

"Good morning, Mrs. Sameera. I'm sorry if we startled you. I'm ACP Anand n this is SI Ayush. I wanted to have a word with you."

"I think it's reg. last night incident. Will it take long? Shall we -" ACP Anand indicated a fallen tree trunk.

"It's just for the record. You came in from work at what time last night? And which door did u use to enter?"

"At about half-past five. I entered from the side door as always. I'm in rather a mucky state sometimes."

"The door was unlocked?"

"Yes. During the summer it's usually wide open. This time of the year it's shut but not locked. We all go out and in a good deal that way. I locked it when I came in."

"What did you do when you came in?"

"Kicked off my muddy footwear and went upstairs and had a bath and changed. Then I came down and found that a kind of party was in progress. I hadn't known anything about this funny advertisement until then."

"Now please describe just what occurred when the incident happened."

"Well, the lights went out suddenly. I was by the mantelpiece. I was searching for a candle which I thought I had put down there. Then the door flung open and this man showed a torch on us and hold a revolver and told us to put our hands up. But I didn't, actually. I thought it was just fun, and I was tired and I didn't think I needed really to put them up."

"In fact you were bored by the whole thing?"

"I was, rather. And then the revolver went off. The shots sounded horrifying and I was really frightened. The torch went whirling round and dropped and went out, and then Maya started screaming."

"Did you find the torch very dazzling?"

"No, not particularly. It was quite a strong one, though. It lit up Mrs. Bharti for a moment and she looked quite like a ghost - you know, all white and staring with her mouth open and her eyes popped out. I should say. It was all confusion. Anmol and Prateek switched on their lighters and they went out into the hall and we followed, and someone opened the dining room door. The lights hadn't fused there and Anmol gave Maya a terrific slap on the cheek and brought her out of her screaming, and after that it wasn't so bad."

"You saw the body of the dead man? Was he known to you or had you ever seen him before? And what's ur opinion on his death - accidental or deliberate?"

"Yes I saw the body but never seen him. I haven't the faintest idea how he was dead."

"One more thing, you haven't any valuable jewellery - Rings, bracelets, anything of that kind?"

"My engagement ring n a couple of ear rings."

"Thank you, Mrs. Sameera."

********************************************

Vasist's Place

"It was dreadful," said Mrs. Aarti happily. "Quite - quite - dreadful, and what I say is that they ought to be far more careful what advertisements they accept at the Local News paper office. At the time, when I read it, I thought it was very odd. I said so, didn't I, Anmol?"

"Do you remember just what you were doing when the lights went out, Mrs. Aarti?" asked Ayush.

"All standing about and wondering what was going to happen. And then, you know, the thrill when it suddenly went pitch black. And the door opening - just a dim figure standing there with a revolver and that blinding light and a menacing voice saying 'Your money or your life!' Oh, I've never enjoyed anything so much. And then a minute later, of course, it was all dreadful. Real bullets, just whistling past our cars! It must have been just like the Commandos in the war."

"Were you standing or sitting at the time, Mrs. Aarti?"

"Now let me see, where was I? Who was I talking to, Anmol?"

"I really haven't the least idea, Mom."

"Was it Miss Sunidhi or was it Mrs. Sanskriti? I think I was just talking to Mr. Suraj."

"You don't remember if you were sitting or standing?"

"Does it really matter, Inspector? I was somewhere over by the window or near the mantel piece because I know I was quite near the clock when it struck. It was such a thrilling moment. I was waiting to see if anything might be going to happen."

"You describe the light from the torch as blinding. Was it turned full on to you?"

"It was right in my eyes. I couldn't see a thing."

"Did the man hold it still, or did he move it about, from person to person?"

"Oh, I don't really know. Which did he do, Anmol?"

"It moved rather slowly over us all, so as to see what we were all doing, I suppose, in case we should try and rush him."

"And where exactly in the room were you, Mr. Anmol?"

"I'd been talking to Pranavi. We were standing in the middle of the long room. Sameera was over by that far mantelpiece. I think she was looking for something."

"Have you any idea as to whether the third shot was suicide or an accident?"

"I've no idea at all. The man seemed to crumple up and fall - but it was all very confused. You must realize that you couldn't really see anything. And then Maya started yelling at the place down."

"I understand it was you who unlocked the dining-room door and let her out? The door was definitely locked on the outside?"

Anmol looked at him curiously. "Yes! Certainly it was. Why, you don't imagine -"

"I just like to get my facts quite clear. Thank you, Mr. Anmol."

**************************************************

Varma's Place

ACP Anand n Ayush reached to Varma's Place. He had to listen to a long speech on the psychological aspect of the case.

"The psychological approach - that's the only thing nowadays," Mr. Suraj told them. "You've got to understand your criminal. Now the whole thing is simple. Why does this fellow put that advert in? He wants to advertise himself - to focus attention on himself. A girl has turned him down, perhaps. He wants to get her attention on him. Very well, he will be a tough guy and he learns all from movies. Robbery with violence, a mask, a revolver. But he wants audience too. So he arranges for an audience. And then he's more than a burglar. He's a killer. He shoots - blindly -"

ACP Anand caught gladly at a word: "You say 'blindly,' Mr. Suraj. You didn't think that he was firing deliberately at one particular object - at Miss Pia, that is to say?"

"No, no. He just did it off, as I say, blindly. And that's what brought him to himself. The bullet hit someone. And so he panics and turns the revolver on himself ."

Mr. Suraj cleared his throat appreciatively.

"It really is wonderful," said Mrs. Supriya, "the way you know exactly what happened, Suraj."

Her voice was warm with admiration. ACP Anand thought it was wonderful, too, but he was not quite so warmly appreciative.

"Exactly where were you in the room, Mr. Suraj, when the actual shooting business took place?"

"I was standing with my wife - near a centre table with some flowers on it."

"I caught hold of your arm, didn't I, Suraj, when it happened? I was simply scared to death. I just had to hold on to you."

Mr. Suraj nodded and ACP Anand n Ayush took a leave from them.

********************************************

Kaur's Place

ACP Anand n Ayush rached to Kaur's place.

Sunidhi welcomed them warmly. "Well! I hadn't the least idea who the man was. Never seen him anywhere in the."

ACP Anand proceeded with his inquiries. "Where were you exactly when the incident took place?"

"I think I was near the Mantel piece. Sameera too was there. replied Miss Sunidhi promptly.

"Do you think that the shots were fired blindly, or aimed carefully at one particular person?"

"You mean aimed at Pia? Its difficult to say. All I know is the lights went out, and that torch went whirling round dazzling us all, and then the shots were fired and I thought to myself, 'If that damned young fool Prateek is playing his jokes with a loaded revolver somebody will get hurt.'"

"You thought it was Prateek?"

"Well, it seemed likely. Anmol is intellectual and doesn't care for such cheap play, and old Mr. Suraj wouldn't think that sort of funny thing. But Prateek is a wild boy."

"Did your sister think it might be Prateek?"

"Suhasi? You'd better talk to her yourself. Not that you'll get any sense out of her."

Miss Sunidhi raised her voice and called her sister "Suha..."

"Coming..." responded back a thin cry.

"Hurry up its Police." Miss Suhasi arrived quickly.

"Is it CID?" she asked breathlessly. "I'd no idea. Or I wouldn't have been in the garden."

"I'm ACP Anand n he is SI Ayush."

"Well, that's very nice " said Miss Suhasi. "Have you found any clues?"

"Where were you at the time of the crime, that's what he wants to know, Suha?" said Miss Sunidhi.

"Oh, dear," gasped Miss Suhasi. "Let me see, I was just with everybody else."

"You weren't with me?" said Miss Sunidhi.

"Oh, dear, Di, wasn't I? No, of course, I'd been admiring the flowers. And then it all happened and all so awkward in the dark, and that dreadful screaming. I thought Maya was being murdered. I didn't even know there was a man. It was really just a voice, you know, saying, 'Put them up, please. It's so terrible to think that until Maya started screaming I was actually enjoying myself. Only being in the dark was very awkward. Is there anything more you want to know, Inspector?"

"No," said ACP Anand.

"I'm sure, Di," said Miss Suhasi, "that I'm only willing to say anything I can."

As they watched ACP Anand and Ayush leave, Suhasi said breathlessly: "Oh, Di, was I very awful?"

"Not at all." Miss Sunidhi smiled. "On the whole, I should say you did very well."

********************************************

Vaatsalya's Place

Sanskriti welcomed ACP Anand n Ayush with a big smile.

"I will try my best to help u in this regard sir."

"Thank u Mrs. Sanskriti. Just say what all u saw and where were u then?"

"I was beside Mrs. Bharti. Oh, my goodness. I was scared. There was plenty to hear in that dark. Doors opening and shutting, and people saying silly things and gasping and old Maya screaming like a steam engine - and poor Bunny squealing like a trapped rabbit. And everyone pushing and falling over everyone else. However, when there really didn't seem to be any more bangs coming, everyone was out in the hall with candles. And then the lights came on and suddenly it was all as usual I mean we were ourselves again."

"I think I know what you mean, Mrs. Sanskriti."

Mrs. Sanskriti smiled at him. "And there he was," she said. "All pink and surprised looking - lying there dead - with a revolver beside him. It didn't seem to make sense, somehow."

It did not make sense to ACP, either... The whole business worried him. They both left from there...