The COMPLETE Siya Rajput Crime Thrillers (Books 1 to 4)

by UD Yasha

  ‘You’ll have it in five minutes,’ Vivaan said. ‘Is there anything else you need?’

  ‘That’s it for now. I’ll call you if there’s anything more,’ I said and hung up.

  I sat quietly for a spell, remembering Vivaan's tall frame and curly hair. I could vividly picture his smile. There was a charm in his conduct. I was grinning again. I had never felt so light while talking to someone I had known such a short time. Was it because I had not met anyone for a long time? The only men I had interacted with in the previous year were either students who were at least five years younger than me or other professors who were almost twice my age. Something told me that was not the only reason for the butterflies in my stomach. I pushed the thought away. Guilt crept up inside me the next second. I could not afford to think about anything else right now but the case. Time was ticking. There would be plenty of time once I saved maa. I snapped out of my daydream when my phone buzzed.

  I checked the notification on my phone. It was an email from Smart Tech’s HR manager. I opened the PDF file on Anil Verma. It had a detailed summary of his life, including his CV and other certificates. I scrolled down all the way to his schooling days. He attended a school in Delhi and then came to Mumbai for college. His first year in Mumbai coincided with Zakkal’s last year in Mumbai. Did they meet then? Zakkal was ten and Anil Verma was eighteen. They lived in different parts of Mumbai as well. It was improbable, but not impossible.

  For now, I moved Anil Verma to the ‘cold’ suspects list. I was waiting for Rathod’s officers to find Shaam Pundlik. Manoj Bedi and Hardik Karve remained under ‘warm’ suspects. I thought back to my conversation with Ranjit Kadam. I began thinking about my theory that Supriya Kelkar was not the first victim of the Bedroom Strangler and that he had killed before. In that case, I wondered why he had chosen Supriya as his first public victim. I felt answering that question could lead us to his identity. We could then work backwards to know how he knew Zakkal.

  After thinking for a while at my desk, I went back to my murder board. I made a list of what we knew about the Bedroom Strangler.

  He’s friends with Zakkal and trusts him deeply

  He’s smart

  He’s manipulative

  He’s physically strong to strangle a woman over and over again

  He appears to be normal

  He has killed before (?)

  I remembered what Dr. Sonia had said about the change in sedative that was given to maa. A layperson would not know about the usage of Propofol. Sonia had said that it could be obtained from the black market at a higher price. I looked up Propofol's price in India. There were generic equivalents to it available as well. The cheapest generic substitute you could buy in India was for one thousand rupees. That fact that he had at least spent that kind of money for five years week in week out, told me the Bedroom Strangler was financially comfortable. Was he using the same drug on other victims as well? I wanted to call Sonia and ask her. But she was already swamped with work. Instead of calling and disturbing her, I left her a text asking the same once she got to know.

  Obtaining Propofol was one aspect. Having the knowledge and expertise to administer it was another. I also remembered that the killer had drawn blood from Supriya using an IV and how it had been a clean process.

  I looked at my list and added three more points.

  He’s rich

  He has medical knowledge

  He’s a doctor (?)

  One of the four suspects was a doctor. Shaam Pundlik. He had lied about his whereabouts to his family and was still missing. I called Rathod.

  ‘Has Sonia performed tests on the items we recovered from Zakkal’s house?’ I said.

  ‘Not yet. She’s busy with everything we found today morning. The ACP wants to know who is still alive amongst those women.’

  ‘What has she found so far?’

  ‘Hair of two women Zakkal had not claimed to take is also there. We're exploring if the Bedroom Strangler took them. We're trying to find a match for one of them. We've located the other. Our officers are heading there right now. She went missing eighteen years ago.'

  ‘Same profile as the others Zakkal took?’

  ‘Yes. She also disappeared in thin air like the others.’

  ‘Can you please ask Sonia to check the jewellery against Zakkal’s known victims?’

  ‘I will do that. But it’ll take time. She’ll only do that once she finishes testing all the hearts and hair we found today morning.’

  ‘Then at least let me meet Zakkal before. He’d be dying to know we’ve found his treasures. I want to see his reaction when I show him one of the earrings he picked from his victim.’

  ‘There’s a high chance he’ll try to make a barter of some kind. The ACP is talking to authorities higher up to see what we can offer him. They’re discussing.’

  ‘What's on the table right now?'

  ‘Just some upgrades to his cell. But he’ll want more. They’re deciding what our upper limit is. Meanwhile, we’re also broadcasting a public advisory. The new killer is on the offensive so we’re advising all women to stay safe, even if they’re indoors.’

  ‘That’ll cause havoc and spread panic.’

  ‘I know but it might also save a life. Better to be safe than sorry.’

  ‘While I wait, can you please send me Zakkal’s movement logs within the prison from the past year?’

  ‘I’ll ask Warden Shetty. He’s cooperating with us so you should have it soon.’

  ‘He has no choice. His prison has been breached,’ I said and hung up.

  I sat in silence for a spell. Shadow noticed that I was free so he walked up to me and made me pet him. I gave him a treat from the jar I kept next on my desk.

  My eyelids became heavy. It was just six in the evening. I saw the sunset through the half-open garage window. The curtains fluttered ever so slightly. I felt like sleeping for a while. My head had become numb from exhaustion. I wondered if a twenty-minute power nap could energize me.

  I was suddenly wary of stepping out. I peeked out and then ran to the door. I immediately locked the doors after me. I sat in the living room for a spell to get back to my senses. I do not know what had scared me.

  Radha and Rahul were both probably sleeping. I went to my room and drew all the curtains to make the room dark. I collapsed on my bed. I pulled the quilt up to my neck and snuggled a pillow. I set an alarm for thirty minutes. Before I knew it, my eyes shut into a dreamless sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Shit, I thought as my eyes opened. What time was it? How long had I slept?

  It took me a few beats to realize that my mobile phone was ringing. I flipped in my bed as my hands searched for my phone on the side table. I covered my face for one last time before I would have to wake up. I eventually found my phone. I realized then that it was not my alarm.

  I was getting a call.

  I squinted my eyes as I looked at the bright screen. The harsh light blurred my vision, but even then, I could make out the name of the person calling me. Kapil Rathod.

  I jumped out of the bed, answering the call. Rathod said, ‘An earring that Manasa had picked has DNA of a victim on it. Her name is Swapna Kiran.’

  ‘She’s the one whose hair we found today morning.’

  ‘Exactly. And Sonia just confirmed that Swapna was alive when her hair was cut. Just like your mother.’

  ‘Are we meeting Zakkal right now?’

  ‘Yes. That’s why I called.’

  ‘I’m coming now,’ I said, shrugging off my quilt and jumping out of bed.

  I opened the curtains and stared at the dark night outside. I was only supposed to sleep for twenty minutes. I slipped into a T-Shirt and pulled a jacket over it. I checked the time on my phone while I pulled up my jeans.

  Ten thirty.

  Shit.

  I swung my tote bag over my shoulder. I went to my cupboard to get something. A return gift for Zakkal. I wondered how he would react. Ranjit had talked abo
ut how Zakkal thrives on being in control. I wanted to catch him by surprise and make him feel he did not have any control, even if it was for just a second. I wanted to see how he reacted. I knew I would not be allowed to carry it inside. So, I put on two pairs of underwear and put Zakkal’s gift between them.

  Radha’s room was dark as well. I guessed we had all been exhausted from the past four days. I knocked on the door once. No response. I turned the knob and went in. I patted her on her back.

  ‘Hey, we need to leave. I’m meeting Zakkal, I said. ‘It’s ten thirty in the night.

  Radha sat up straight on hearing Zakkal’s name. ‘We’ll be down in five minutes,’ she said.

  I went to the kitchen and buttered some bread, folded it and started eating it. I sensed it was going to be a long night. I felt my toes tingle. By now Shadow had realized that we were going to head out every time my phone rang and I began pacing the floor fast. He was sitting by the door, holding his leash in his mouth.

  Radha and Rahul came downstairs soon. I was ready with the car keys. We all stepped out into the cold night air. Rahul took the wheel.

  ‘Are you doing alright?’ Radha said as we reached the CID building.

  ‘I’d be lying if I say I’m not nervous. But I know Zakkal has been looking forward to this particular meeting since he hatched this plan,’ I said.

  We went upstairs. The waiting room was locked late in the night so Radha, Rahul and Shadow went to one of the cabins. I pushed the door open and all eyes turned to me. ACP Shukla, Manoj Bhalerao, Rathod, two other CID officers and one man I had only seen on TV were in the conference room. I recognized him as Sanjay Patil, the Governor of Maharashtra. I took an empty seat opposite him. I sensed a cocktail of anticipation and tension in the room that probably stemmed from the keenness around my meeting with Zakkal.

  Shukla got up from his chair at the head of the table. He squared up to face me. He put his hands on the long desk and leaned forward. ‘You’ve to follow everything according to the plan today,’ he said. ‘Sanjay Patil will take over from here.’

  Up until then, Shukla had been kind towards me. I could tell something had changed. Or was he just charged up because of the circumstances?

  Sanjay Patil stood up. He had the body language of a seasoned politician. He addressed everyone in the room by shifting his gaze. He said, ‘Zakkal would know that we’ve found out some of his victims are still alive. He’s probably going to try to strike a deal with us in exchange for information about them. I had a meeting with the Assistant Superintendent of Maharashtra Police earlier in the day. He was very firm on his stance that the women’s safety is of prime importance. The trust in police and public servants will drastically go down if any one’s safety is compromised. At the same time, we cannot be lenient on Zakkal. That would again erode public confidence in us. Zakkal himself would not expect us to go easy on him. He might ask for his death sentence to be waived off. But we won’t be able to do that. Not under any circumstances.’ Patil looked me in the eye and said, ‘The most we’ll offer him is maybe one extra month to live. Warden Shetty told me that Zakkal doesn’t like his cell. He might ask for a new one. A cell with a different view. Maybe one with better neighbours. We cannot give him that either.’

  ‘Why not?’ I said, furious. ‘The man will still be in the jail. He’ll just see five more trees through his window.’

  ‘We don’t bow to the demands of criminals. It sets a bad precedent. Even right now this situation is far from ideal.’

  ‘He’s not likely to take your best offer. He’ll spit on it. He loves to control. We don’t have a choice but to be controlled by him. He’ll probably have his partner kill one of the women he’s holding captive to prove his point. Only God knows which body part of hers will be put on display. And when that happens, we’ll have to bow down to his demand, which will be something more than just a room with a different view. That’ll make the CID and the public servants you’re talking about look much worse.’

  ‘I hear your mother was taken by Zakkal and that she’s still alive. There’s also a chance that your father could be the Bedroom Strangler. You cannot deny it. He’s still missing, isn’t he? Please don’t let your emotions run this investigation,’ Patil said.

  ‘We’re dealing with a crazy killer here, sir. With all due respect, this is not a game of egos or a battle of who can last longer. It’s about saving lives. There are five of them at stake here. There could be more women who are in danger. I’ll give him your offer and we’ll see what he says. If he wants a different view, I’ll grant it if it’s going to save the lives of the women he’s holding. If he promises to give us solid and real leads in finding the five women who we know are alive, I’m even going to let him have the extra one or hundred months before he is hung till death. In that case, you better sign that goddamn agreement,’ I said and walked out of the room.

  I could feel heat emanating from my face. Time was critical. I was not going to be a puppet in their politics. No way. Never. Especially not now. It was one of the advantages of working privately and I was going to hammer down on it. I watched the conference room. Rathod came out and broke step for me, shaking his head.

  ‘Well, you pissed off Patil,’ he said. ‘He wants to take you off. But he can’t. Bhalerao and I told him that Zakkal made it clear the first time around he would only speak to you. Let’s get going before the Governor changes his mind.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chamber Number Twelve was a dark, cold place at night. I had put a jacket to feel warm and also to have an extra layer of clothing on while meeting Zakkal.

  The stillness magnified every small sound. I was conscious of my own breaths. Warden Shetty gave us the same instructions as the previous time. I had come prepared. I put all my belongings in a small bag and handed it to Rathod. Warden Shetty called upon a female constable to check me. I could feel the gift I had got for Zakkal lodged between the two pairs of my underwear. Once my check-in was complete, Rathod handed me an evidence bag that had Swapna Kiran’s earrings after Warden Shetty checked it himself. I tucked it in the pocket of my jeans. I stared at the dark chamber, lit by a flickering light. I turned to Rathod before heading inside. He gave me an acknowledging nod.

  I buttoned my jacket all the way. Warden Shetty had told Zakkal I was coming. Zakkal had told him that he would fall asleep to an image of an actual woman after many years.

  Like the previous time, everything around me dissolved as I walked towards Zakkal’s prison cell. Nothing mattered. Maa’s smiling face flashed in my mind again.

  Zakkal was again sitting with his back to the corridor. Yet, he somehow sensed I had arrived.

  ‘Siya?’ he said, his back still towards me. ‘Has anyone told you that your beauty is an impeccable piece of art?’

  ‘I had only heard stories of the romantic that you are. I’m witnessing it first-hand myself,’ I said.

  ‘There’s no fun in just witnessing. If you’re lucky, you might even experience it. And don’t worry. Your mother will tell you stories about it all day, every day.’

  I had decided I would not be affected by him talking about maa. I had expected the worst. It was already being hurled in my direction. Right then, I knew this was going to be hard. He was still talking with his back to me. For as cold and cruel as his face and eyes were, I was feeling uneasy by not being able to see his reactions and emotions.

  ‘What do you want, Zakkal?’ I said.

  ‘Why don’t you tell me about your past few days?’

  I chose my words carefully. ‘Your protégé killed one more woman—’

  ‘Just one more?’

  I stopped. Were there more murders we hadn’t found out about?

  Zakkal said. ‘I’m giving you a fair warning. Pass it onto the CID. You’re going to be in for many surprises in the coming days. I’m sorry I interrupted you. Go on, please.’

  ‘We located the place where your pollen came from.’

  ‘Did you enjoy my little
birthday present?’

  Silence.

  Zakkal said, ‘You see someone had told me never gift objects. Always gift experiences. They’ve a far bigger and a more long-lasting impact. I loved that advice. That was the day I had stopped buying gifts. I realized gifts aren’t supposed to be bought over the counter but curated with special care and love for the one you’re giving it to.’

  He was still not facing me.

  ‘Am I making you uncomfortable by not looking at you directly?’

  ‘How did you know?’ I said, wanting to feed his ego.

  Zakkal turned around. The sparse light from the corridor slanted on the top half of his face. Even the glow of the light failed to spark his eyes with life. He looked different. Something had changed.

  ‘Hello,’ he said, narrowing his eyes. His lips curled. ‘Forget that. Tell me about how you liked your birthday present.’

  ‘Are the five women alive?’ I said.

  ‘They’re supposed to be. I don’t know if they still are. My protégé at times lacks self-control. He gets too eager to fuck them after they die. He had once told me the best time to nail a woman is twenty minutes after she’s dead. That’s when she’s still a little warm and just the right amount of hard. He had complained about how later on, women get too cold and either too soft or too hard. That’s why he likes to kill them on his own. There are days though on which he has to make do with those who’ve been long gone.’

  For the new killer to have told that to Zakkal, he would’ve killed someone before Supriya Kelkar to share his experience with Zakkal. I was making progress. I said, ‘How did you choose him to be your protégé?’

  ‘I did not. It happened on its own. Fate, luck. Whatever you like to call it.’

  ‘Why did you trust him with your secrets and treasures?’

  ‘He adores me. He knows I’ve shaped him. He would never go behind my back. I know it. I’ve seen his loyalty to me in action many times.’ He paused. He stepped forward and his entire face was revealed.