by Preeti Singh
Kinjal felt defeated and was sobbing at her failure. She had found her mother’s killer, her father, who was lying crippled in the other room, but she had failed to catch the serial killer, who was still walking the streets free. Vikash had just used her to find his father and once found, he had got him killed as well. He had won and was smiling behind bars, while she had lost and was defamed by the police department.
In between her tears, she was getting ready, as she was summoned by the new SP to hand over the case files and each detail about the serial killer, so far.
“Wait, KJ. You will not accept failure. No.” Amber said, firmly, pawing her to sit beside him. “You are Kinjal Joshi, the best agent of the CBI. You will not accept defeat. You are not alone, hottie, we are with you and we will find him. Vikash will not win, KJ, we will find the UnSub.” he said reassuring her.
“Yes, we will, Ma’am”, Milan joined them. He had come to escort her to the Police HQ. “Ma’am, all our efforts will not go waste,” he said, warmly touching her shoulder, but withdrew when Amber barked, slightly.
“But Milan, I have been asked to surrender the case files to the SP. How can we find him when we have nothing with us...no data ..no authority..nothing ?”, she asked confused.
“We have the fire still burning within us, KJ. We need not give all our data to the SP, KJ, we will give him only some of it”, Amber winked.
“Yes, Ma’am, he is right. It’s time to be a bit intelligent now. We can’t trust anyone in the police department too. I will also take a few days leave and we will find him, at our own level, Ma’am, without the police involved”, Milan said.
“I don’t know what you guys are planning. It’s impossible, but yes, I admit, the fire in me has not died. And am sure, the killer will not sit quiet till he tries to kill me, Amber. But let me meet the SP and then we will plan our next move” She said, sounding a bit determined.
While she got ready, Milan and Amber divided the main file into 2 parts. Few insignificant clues were to be given to the SP and few would be kept at home.
“Let’s go Milan...move it..move it....move it..!”, she said, sounding motivated once again. Amber and Maggie stood at the door bidding her flying kisses. Lately, Amber preferred staying at home, enjoying the loving devotion being showered upon him by dainty Maggie.
An hour later, Kinjal was back after handing over the file to the new SP. She was now posted in the administration department on a desk job, being politely told, she should focus on lighter duties being a woman, as her inefficiency had caused the DIG his death. This sentence by the SP, further ignited the fire in her to find the killer herself and prove her mettle to him. She was to resume duty of her new post, by next week.
I have enough time to find that jerk, she thought to herself as she reached home and began studying the case again.
***
By evening, Milan joined them after duty with the details she had asked him to gather. Apparently, Vikash had tipped the prison sweeper and used his mobile to send a message to Kinjal. Yet, that message was not proof enough to reprimand Vikash, as the mobile was registered in the sweeper’s name.
“Milan, don’t confiscate the mobile from the sweeper. Most likely, Vikash will use the mobile again to speak to the UnSub. Here is the number I got the message from; and we will keep a watch on all activities made from this number. It’s the only mistake Vikash has made and this mistake will lead us to the killer”, she said and Amber jumped at her with glee. His Kinjal was back in full form and in complete charge of herself.
Meanwhile, Kinjal hired a full time nurse to take care of her ailing father. She knew Dad had killed her mother but he was already suffering in regret. Least she could do to repay him as a daughter was, to take care of him in his hapless condition. Moreover, she knew the killer would attack her father or her someday. Someone needed to be by him, constantly.
Yet, all the planning to find the killer was discussed in her office with only Milan, Amber and Maggie. No servants or the new nurse could be trusted now. Even the milkman was told not to come, hereafter, as the family had decided to get milk on their own. No one now had access to her home. If Vikash could manage to monitor the DIG’s murder from inside the prison, he was capable of anything.
“Now, we will play a game with him, guys. So far, we were chasing the killer but now we will make him chase me. Just watch what I do!” Kinjal said with a spark in her eyes.
***
The next day, Kinjal and Milan went to the local TV channels in Chandigarh. She gave an interview to the media that she was very upset with the DIG’s murder and now was retiring from the CBI, as it was beyond her. She praised the SP, saying he is competent enough to find the killer and she would prefer not to handle any more criminal cases as the DIG’s death, has shaken her tremendously. Instead, she preferred to pursue her passion of studying political science, along with resuming her duties soon, as an administrative officer.
One of the media persons asked her, “So, Ma’am, are we to understand that you have left the CBI department? Do you plan to marry and raise a family instead?”
Kinjal put on her most subtle smile and replied, “Well, yes. I think this field is best handled by my male colleagues of the Police Department, as I do not wish to be attacked again by a criminal. I have an ailing father to take care of. And marriage maybe on the cards soon, who knows?” she smiled looking at Milan, ensuring he also ample coverage on TV.
By evening the news flashed all over Punjab. The SP, with a sarcastic smile watched it and muttered, “Women!”
The Hindi channel flashed the news and the killer also saw it in his Zirakpur flat. Barely in his late teens, he gobbled his favourite Dominoes pizza with a chilled beer and laughed at his success. Now, she was a lamb without the police to help her and now he would have her by hook or crook. Oh Yes! Last time when he almost raped her, she smelt good. This time he would make her his.
The news also flashed in the dining hall of the prison and Vikash watched it as well. He was a wee bit jealous seeing Milan standing so close to her. But he smiled that he had finally won. Kinjal Joshi had accepted defeat. His motive was complete, as he gobbled another dry piece of bread.
Well...that’s what she made him believe.
Kinjal received another call too, which she took in the other room, Amber noticed and frowned.
Kinjal switched off the news and turned to her team in her office. “Milan, please don’t mind, I am using your name to portray we are together. I trust you, so you are here but I don’t love you. Please do not misunderstand me”, she said as gently as she could.
“I understand, Ma’am. I love you but I have never asked to be loved back in return. You can use my name anywhere, I don’t mind. For me, your trust in me is more important than you having feelings for me”, he replied, smiling.
Kinjal thanked him and left to check on her father. Somewhere in the back of her mind, doubt still lingered about Milan too.
Seeing Milan’s lost expression, Amber said haulle haulle ho jaayega pyaar..Modi ji..haulle haulle... he winked at him. Both had started liking each other now, especially since Maggie had entered Amber’s heart. He was kinda okay with Milan eyeing KJ; he had Maggie to pamper him.
Kinjal knew she just had one week to resume duty. But this was all the time she had, to find the killer who was walking free. This time, she owed it to DIG Uncle.
Carefully, she Milan, Amber and Maggie chalked out their plans for the entire week. That day itself, she decided to meet Vikash in jail and admit her defeat, thereby letting him believe that he had empowered her.
Now, he had to watch out for the real steel in Kinjal Joshi.
Chapter 12
The Watched Shadow
Prison Cell
Police HQ
Sector 9, Chandigarh.
“I have failed, Vikash. I lost DIG Uncle who was like my father figure and I learnt my father only killed my mother. You refuse to bail yourself out and I feel so lost,” Kinjal cried in fro
nt of Vikash.
“But you have Milan with you, don’t you?” Vikash asked, not willing to believe her tears.
“Milan is a married man, Vikash. The media wanted some masala and I gave it to them. That’s it; I have no feelings for Milan. I have only loved you all my life and I will wait for you to come out, unscathed. We both know you did not kill all those women. So why don’t you appeal to the court, come out and make a life for yourself?” She put on her best act.
“Yes, Kinjal. I did not kill anyone. I am a doctor and I save lives. But maybe someone felt they didn’t deserve to live.” Vikash said, carefully watching Kinjal.
But she was smarter this time. She played her cards well and left her emotions home when she came to meet him. What she showed him now, was just pretence, hoping he would buy it.
“I am off the case now, Vikash. I just want to take care of my father. Let the police find the culprit and justice will be done. But the way he tried to rape me, has really scared me and I have quit the CBI too. No more homicides for me; I have had enough.”, she deliberately used the word ‘rape’ because she was sure Vikash didn’t know that his so called ‘shadow’ had tried molesting her too.
“Rape you? I thought you were just attacked?” asked a shocked Vikash.
Kinjal then vividly described how the killer had unbuttoned her blouse, licked her cheek and was about to rape her, had Milan and Aunty not saved her, in time.
Vikash’s knuckles turned white in anger and he was tight lipped, trying to hide his emotions.
“Anyway, that is the past Vikash. If the police find him guilty, he will be sentenced. As for me, I shall wait for you, as long as life permits me”, saying that Kinjal kissed him on his cheek and left.
She knew now she had got him thinking. And she sure did.
Vikash was fuming in anger walking up and down in his cell. He disliked most women for using him all along his life, but Kinjal was special. Why wasn’t he told that he tried to rape her? Vikash was just told that he only tried killing her, but was unsuccessful.
As expected, by 4pm in the evening, when the sweeper came on duty, Vikash took the mobile and made a call. Kinjal was waiting for this moment. The number beeped on Milan’s laptop and within a minute, they tracked the killer’s exact location at Zirakpur.
Meanwhile, Vikash was scolding the man on the other end, for assaulting a woman. This was not their plan. They had just decided to kill his mother’s friends and the DIG but not molesting Kinjal. Vikash tried his best to counsel the man to leave Kinjal alone now, as their main aim of killing the 4 women and the DIG was achieved.
But Vikash didn’t realise his shadow was a devil. The man sleazily replied, “Bhai, no matter what you say, she is hot. I have tasted a bit of her once and till I don’t have all of her, I will be restless.” And the phone went dead.
After that, he would not take Vikash’s repeated calls. Vikash then requested the jailor if he could meet Kinjal Joshi once again but he was refused, as she had just met him today morning itself. The next meeting would be allowed after a month. Vikash was in panic and didn’t want her harmed. At that moment, he realized, he really, really loved her.
But he didn’t realize, he had already lost her.
***
As soon as she got the call location, Kinjal called the jailor from a booth informing him about the sweeper sneaking a mobile into Vikash’s cell. The jailor didn’t believe initially, but soon discovered the truth and the sweeper was thrown out and Vikash was put in solitary confinement, away from the rest of the cell mates.
Milan also discovered that the last call made to the DIG, was made from Zirakpur, itself. Kinjal wondered, if DIG Uncle allowed him in his home, shared a drink with him; then probably he knew the killer but never doubted him?
Could it be Milan ?
They had traced the calls to a society in Zirakpur. But finding which flat was the one, amongst the many in the society, was like finding a needle in the haystack. But Kinjal was not going to give up, not now. She knew the society, now she just had to wait for him to step out.
“KJ, we know he has a bike and a helmet and he is fond of Dominoes Pizza, so let’s take a lead from these clues!” Amber suggested.
Sure enough, while they waited outside the society that night, a Dominoes Pizza delivery man arrived. He was carrying with him 5 pizzas to be delivered in that society, that night. Milan showed his badge and the young boy, nervously handed him the addresses of the pizza deliveries. Milan didn’t want to confront the killer, yet, but just wanted to know his flat number, for future use.
After the 5 pizzas were delivered to families and young girls staying as PGs, the 6th delivery was most likely the UnSub’s. Milan stood by with his loaded gun, while the pizza man delivered the pizza and awaited payment. Only a hand came out from the door to take the pizza and offer a generous tip. The door had no nameplate, so the killer’s name was yet unknown.
“Sir, this customer always gives me a good tip but I have never seen his face or spoken to him.” the pizza boy answered nervously when questioned by Milan later.
“Do you know anything else about him? Do you remember anything at all?”Kinjal asked.
“Yes, Madam. One day he had ordered the pizza but when I reached, he was in a hurry. He paid me more than the bill, took the pizza and left hurriedly. I wanted to know what he looked like, but he was wearing a helmet even when he emerged from the flat. He is tall and slim. I have never seen his face but he wears a black watch which I always see, as he takes out only his hand while taking the pizza and paying me”, the scared boy replied.
Yes ! He’s our man, thought Kinjal, remembering the image in the CCTV coverage also wore a black strapped watch.
“Okay, thank you. You may go now but you will not leave the city as we may need you for further questioning. I have saved your number. The next time this man orders a pizza, you will call me. And listen, you will not tell any cops you spoke to us.”Milan said as he handed over a crisp 500 rs note to the beaming boy, who nodded happily and slipped into the night.
The society name was Ashiana Enclave and the flat number was 445/C on the First Floor. Time was less and now the team planned their next move.
The next day was spent in securing Kinjal’s home by activating the security system 24x7. There was no way anyone could enter her house now, without her knowledge.
But she was sure the killer and she would meet soon.
And he surely was planning to meet her. He was enjoying life with the DIG dead, the police still hunting for him with hardly any clues, and Vikash’s life’s savings in his bank account. Life couldn’t have been better. Though almost daily he had a woman over in his apartment, he could not get over tasting Kinjal once more, completely.
He planned his move. That afternoon, he drove past Kinjal’s house and saw a truck loading some boxes. Bewildered, he asked the dhobi nearby what was happening? He learnt, Kinjal had sold her house, quit her job and was moving abroad for her father’s better treatment. She was flying tomorrow, itself.
Furious, he sped back home. No. She can’t go like this. I will not let her go without tasting her creamy skin, once. Tonight, she will be mine, he said gulping down his whiskey.
And Kinjal was waiting too. With her loaded gun, her black track suit, her alarm system on; she was eagerly waiting for him.
She had hired a truck and few labourers for two days and spread the word in the neighbourhood and to her maid too, that she would be leaving by tomorrow morning. The stuff being loaded in the truck was mere empty boxes. The maid had told the dhobi and the killer had bought her plan.
As soon as it was dark, Kinjal switched on her bedroom light and let the killer watch her. She lay in bed pretending to read. Maggie hid behind her but Milan and Amber were watching her bedroom window from the corridor.
And then they saw him. Dressed in black, wearing a helmet, he came to his favourite bedroom window and was watching her. Kinjal could feel his dirty eyes on her, but this time she was pr
epared and waiting for him.
But now she felt reassured that the killer was not Milan, at least. Milan was in the hall corridor and the killer was outside and she could watch them both. It was a relief to know Milan was on her side and helping her.
He had planned to enter from the window itself and rape her, seeing she was all alone at home. He knew she was now powerless without police support and completely vulnerable.
But when he touched the window, the alarm system went off, shocking the killer himself. Last time there was no alarm system? He stepped back and watched Kinjal’s reaction.
Pretending to be terrified, Kinjal jumped out of bed and screamed, making him believe he had her scared. Satisfied that she was petrified, he started his bike to go home. Now, he planned to come again in two hours, but after learning how to disable the alarm system. He will not let her take the flight tomorrow, before raping her once at least.
He needed to think and plan fast. He quickly called the pizza boy to deliver the pizza before he reached home. Only a pizza and coffee helped him plan shrewdly.
While he was placing the order, Kinjal, Milan, Amber and Maggie quietly locked their house and stepped on the road behind him. The killer knew Kinjal had a jeep but he didn’t know that since the last few days, she had learnt to ride a bike as well. Kinjal was already wearing her black suit. Quickly she wore a helmet and slowly rode Milan’s bike behind the killer, keeping a safe distance. Maggie was sitting in her bag pack, navigating her.
Milan and Amber followed Kinjal and Maggie in her jeep. Even if the killer would look behind, he would only see a bike rider with a helmet. Nothing to be suspicious about; after all, Kinjal only knew how to drive a jeep.
Milan had switched off his mobile, not wanting to be disturbed during this operation and Kinjal had deliberately left her mobile switched on, at home. It was time to use the killer’s tactics on him only.
