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

by UD Yasha

  We went downstairs and as Rahul put a kettle of water to boil on the stove, the doorbell of the house rang.

  Neeraj Gujre was sweating profusely. His hands shivered as he held the steering wheel of his car. He knew he was doing the wrong thing. But what choice do I have?

  He had pulled over in the lane that led to the safehouse where Siya's family was staying. He could still walk away from all this and come out clean to the CID. They would understand, right?

  He was not sure. Zakkal had taken Sudha Barve, who was practically one of their own. The entire office had been on edge since that day. He looked back at the choices he had made. As an eighteen-year old man, he had lofty dreams of becoming a police officer. He had appeared for the prestigious Indian Police System exam when he was twenty but had failed. He believed in hard work and had cleared the exam on his second attempt two years later. His rank was nothing to be proud of, but passing the exam was a big deal. Seven years down the line, six months ago, he had been asked to join the CID. It was a dream come true. He was elated and his parents were proud of him. Through an arranged marriage, he had met the woman of his dreams. He had never been happier in his life.

  Until Zakkal stomped on all his dreams and happiness.

  Neeraj’s fingernails clawed into the steering wheel’s rubber. He had always considered himself to have a strong moral compass. In fact, that’s what had drawn him to becoming a police officer. But all that had been tossed in the water when Zakkal had taken his wife. The moment Zakkal started blackmailing him, he knew he would have to do some nasty things.

  It will all be worth it if I get back the love of my life.

  As he sat in his car, watching the safehouse, to some extent, he felt glad that he was not a part of the core investigating team—so, his actions had not compromised the investigation. Up until that point, he had felt less guilty.

  But now, he was about to do something that would put the lives of three people in danger. What made it worse was that they were all family members of a colleague.

  Neeraj patted himself on his cheeks a few times. He needed to move his body in some way to calm the nerves. Once he was sufficiently sure that he could hold himself together, he took his car closer to the safehouse. He killed the engine, pulled out an umbrella and stepped out.

  Shubman Dhawan was sitting in the shade of the patio of the cabin in the garden of the house. Neeraj knew he was a tough nut to crack, but he was going to rely on the element of surprise to get him. He waved at Shubman, who recognized him right away.

  ‘Siya and Rathod asked me to join you for the night,’ Neeraj cried over the heavy rain from beyond the gate. ‘Strength in numbers, right?’

  Shubman walked towards the gate with an umbrella in hand. He greeted Neeraj with a grin and unlocked the main gate. ‘Rathod didn’t say anything to me,’ Shubman said, checking behind Neeraj.

  Is he suspicious?

  'They're neck-deep in trying to find Zakkal as it's nine forty-five right now. He has threatened to kill again in two and a half hours, right?'

  Shubman held the gate open and then locked it after them. They walked to the patio where he had been sitting.

  ‘Everything alright so far?’ Neeraj said.

  ‘Yes, all under control,’ Shubman said.

  ‘I think we should let Siya’s family know that I’m staying here for the night. They might get alarmed seeing a stranger in the garden,’ Neeraj said.

  ‘I didn’t think of that,’ Shubman said. ‘I’m going to call Rathod once to check if everything is okay.’

  The expression lasted for a flash, but it was enough for Neeraj to realize that Shubman had a whiff of suspicion. As he pulled out his phone to call Rathod, Shubman looked down at the screen for a fraction of a second.

  That’s why he did not see the first blow that hit his head. He saw the second blow smash his face. Blood oozed out from his head as he fell to the ground.

  Neeraj had put on brass knuckles so he was mindful not to take the blows too far. He wanted to knock Shubman out, not kill him. He bent down and checked his pulse. He was breathing but was unconscious. To be sure, he took out the bottle of chloroform from his pocket and sprayed it on Shubman’s face.

  Neeraj checked the time. It was nine fifty. He had to be fast. After making sure there was no blood on his clothes and face, he ran to the patio and rang the house bell. He knew they had a dog and he might be a problem, so he had got something for the dog too.

  Radha opened the door, confused to see Neeraj Gujre. She remembered him from the previous night since he had taken them to CID's guest quarters. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask what was happening.

  Neeraj scanned the positions of his targets inside. Rahul was in the kitchen, Siya’s mother was on the couch and their dog was next to her.

  Neeraj had no time to waste. He pulled out the chloroform bottle and pressed the trigger to spray it on Radha. In one quick motion, he put a handkerchief that had some more chloroform on Radha’s mouth and nose. He held her by the back as she collapsed in his hands. He placed her on the floor.

  The dog next to Siya's mother started barking having realized that Neeraj was not a friend. Neeraj's hand was already reaching out for a stun gun that he got especially for Shadow. Neeraj pointed it at him and pressed it thrice, hoping at least one dart would hit him. And it did. Shadow could only move a few steps before he collapsed on the ground.

  Neeraj wasn't concerned much about Siya's mother. She wasn't going to be able to outrun or out-power him. So, he headed for the kitchen where Rahul was standing. He was already on alert because of what he had seen. He armed himself with a knife.

  Neeraj had a better weapon with him. He pulled out his gun and ran up to Siya’s mother. She was too stunned to see what was happening in front of her, which made her an easy target. He pressed the same chloroform handkerchief on her mouth and felt her body loosen in his hands as she became unconscious.

  ‘Drop the weapon now,’ Neeraj said. ‘Or else, I’ll shoot her. Good luck telling your fiancé and Siya that you were responsible for their mother’s death.’

  Rahul seemed to consider Neeraj’s offer. ‘You’re not going to kill her,’ he said. ‘Zakkal wants them, not you.’

  'Zakkal wants Siya. They aren't as valuable to him,' Neeraj said. 'You have to make an easy decision. I can shoot her and then kill you too. I just have to press the trigger twice. I can take just Radha with me. While that's not what Zakkal wants, he wouldn't mind that. It's either that or you cooperate with me and we can all make it out alive. I have no intention of harming you. I haven't hurt the dog either. I shot him with a tranquillizer so he's only been knocked out. That bastard Zakkal has my wife. He's going to kill her if I don't take you all with me.'

  Rahul didn’t move for five seconds. Then, he put the knife on the floor and raised his hands.

  ‘Wise choice,’ Neeraj said. ‘Now lay on the floor with your hands spread out on top of you.’

  Rahul did as he was told. Neeraj sprayed some more chloroform on the handkerchief and tossed it to Rahul. He said, ‘You know what to do.’

  Rahul froze once again. Neeraj could tell he was thinking if he had a choice.

  ‘He’s going to kill your wife regardless,’ Rahul said with his head on the floor.

  ‘You think I haven’t thought about that? By following his orders, there’s a small chance that she lives. I’m done. I know that. The CID will somehow find out and my life, as I know it, is going to end. But Seema, my wife…she’ll be able to live. There’s still a chance that it’ll happen.’ Neeraj paused. ‘You’re wasting time. You’ve three seconds.’

  Rahul stretched his hand and reached for the handkerchief on the floor next to him. He looked at Radha, lying on the floor.

  ‘I love you,’ he whispered and inhaled into the handkerchief.

  When the world around him faded away into the darkness, all Rahul could think about was how he wanted to have the chance to marry Radha in six months.

  Chapte
r Forty-Six

  At five minutes past ten, Rathod turned the steering wheel hard and we screeched to a stop outside the safehouse. My heart sank as we noticed that the gate was open. That was the first bad sign.

  I swung the door and bolted to the house. The front door was open too. I shot a glance at the garden and saw Shubman Dhawan lying motionless on the lawn, his body soaking wet in the rain.

  As I entered the house, my eyes searched the house, I saw Rahul lying on the kitchen floor and Shadow next to the couch. I could see Shadows’ chest rise and fall but Rahul was not moving. I rushed to him and put a finger on his neck.

  He’s breathing.

  Rathod entered the house.

  ‘They’re both unconscious,’ I told him. ‘I think he has taken Radha and Maa.’

  I ran upstairs, knowing they wouldn't be there, but wishing they were. I peeped into the two rooms and balcony. All were empty. I checked the bathrooms of both rooms. Neither had blood sprayed all over them. I was relieved but the feeling lasted a fleeting second.

  Rathod came upstairs. I shook my head when I looked my way.

  ‘They’re not here,’ I said.

  ‘Rahul is coming around,’ Rathod said. ‘He might be able to tell us something. Let’s go down.’

  The world around me seemed to shrink. All the sounds faded away into the distance. My vision blurred. Thoughts stopped forming in my brain. I held on to the railing as we went downstairs.

  Rathod was giving Rahul a hand as he got up from the floor.

  ‘That guy from CID…I’m forgetting his name. He took them away. I thought of stopping them but he threatened to shoot Maa so I couldn’t do anything,’ Rahul said, panting.

  Rathod got him some water. He also handed a glass to me. ‘You need to sit down for a second,’ he said to me.

  I blindly followed his advice and sat on the couch. I massaged my temples. I had feared this day would come—when Zakkal ripped apart our family once again. I knew I had to rise to the occasion. I needed my best version to get back Radha and Maa. I sat silently for a few more seconds. I remembered my dad. He had passed away but I knew he was a brave man. I knew I had to make him proud and not led Radha and Maa down. I glanced at Rahul and pictured him and Radha sitting by a saptapadi, the Holy Fire, to get married.

  I got up with a renewed vigour.

  Just then, Rathod’s phone rang. He answered it right away. He nodded once and said, ‘We’ll be there.’

  He turned to me and said, ‘They have found Neeraj Gujre lying by the road. He’s badly injured but still alive. His car’s still there but there’s no sign of Radha or your mother either.’

  ‘What the hell?’ I said.

  ‘Zakkal would have used Neeraj to get inside the safehouse and take Radha and your mom. Once that was done, Neeraj would have been useless to him. Someone else, or Zakkal himself, would have taken over after that,’ Rathod said. ‘He managed to issue an SOS, so the CID patrol car found him. They’ve taken him to CID’s Emergency Room. Let’s go. We might get a chance to speak to Neeraj. It sounded like he doesn’t have much time left.’

  Apart from feeling drowsy, Rahul was alright. So, we left him at the safehouse and called for an ambulance. Rathod once again drove like his life was on the line. We got to the CID office at ten-thirty. We went straight to the Emergency Room which was in the basement, next to the Forensic Department.

  Dr Sonia ushered us inside.

  ‘What’s the status?’ Rathod asked her.

  'We found him near the University Road. His throat has been slashed. But we could revive him partially. He's very critical. I think you have a few minutes with him. He needs to go in for surgery. His system may collapse if we keep him up any longer,' Dr Sonia said as she guided us into the room where Neeraj Gujre was kept.

  Neeraj was awake. An IV was connected to his wrist and an oxygen mask was strapped to his mouth. There was a thick bloody bandage around his neck. His eyes followed us as we stood next to his bed. I could tell he was terrified. But I didn’t care. The guy had sold us out.

  ‘Two minutes,’ she said, removing Neeraj Gujre’s oxygen mask.

  I felt rage boil inside me. I was sure my anger would have uncoiled on Neeraj’s face had he not been injured already.

  ‘Where did he take them?’ I asked him.

  Neeraj gulped hard. He shook his head.

  ‘Speak, goddammit,’ I said, controlling the urge to hit him.

  'I don't know,' Neeraj said in a soft and low voice. 'I was only asked to kidnap them.' He heaved loudly. 'Zakkal asked me to wait in the area where he eventually attacked me. He took them away.'

  ‘Which direction did they go in?’ Rathod said.

  ‘I don’t know. I was on the ground, bleeding, when he left. He had got his own car.’

  ‘Do you remember which car it was?’

  ‘No, I don’t know. Even the place he had asked me to wait is a blind spot for the cameras,’ Neeraj said, opening his mouth wide open to take in more air.

  Sonia stepped in and put the oxygen mask back on. ‘That’s enough. We won’t be able to bring him back again.’

  We stepped out and walked through the corridor where Dr Sonia had given me the information about Neeraj’s wife’s DNA being found in the wigs.

  ‘I don’t think he knows where Zakkal is,’ Rathod said.

  'I agree. As you said, he was used for a specific reason.'

  I glanced at my phone screen. It was eight minutes to eleven. I felt resigned.

  ‘I should call Devaki Sharma and tell her that I’m surrendering myself to—’

  ‘Don’t even think about that,’ Rathod cut in.

  ‘How do I get them back, Rathod? They’re everything that I have. I can’t lose them. I can’t,’ I said.

  We went back to the ground floor and stepped into the conference room. It was empty.

  ‘Bhalerao, Shukla and Mathew are going through the CCTV footage of the area where Neeraj was asked to wait by Zakkal,’ Rathod said.

  I put my head on the conference table desk. Various papers from the case had been spread out on the table. There was a picture of a woman on top of all the papers. I didn't remember seeing it before so I picked it up instinctively. It was of Aarti Lunkad, the woman whose remains we had identified—Zakkal's most recent murder.

  ‘Hey, Rathod, where did we get this picture from? We didn’t have it before, right?’ I said.

  ‘Aarti’s parents had come some time ago. I think they forgot it in the morgue. Poor folks were shocked. Srestha Vishwa brought it up when she noticed they had left it behind.’

  I stared at the picture. Something about it drew me to observe it closely. It seemed familiar. And then hit me why.

  ‘Rathod, I think I know who Zakkal’s lover is,’ I said.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  The time was ten forty and we had exactly one hour and forty minutes left to stop Zakkal from killing again.

  ‘What?’ Rathod said. ‘Who is it?’’

  ‘Tanya Thomas,’ I said.

  ‘She’s.. she’s Anita Thomas’ sister?’ Rathod said, surprised. ‘Anita Thomas, the woman who wrote to Zakkal and died from cancer. How could her sister—’

  ‘We need to go to her house. I’ll tell you on the way,’ I said and started for the door.

  I wasn’t sure who else was spying on us for Zakkal so I waited before we were out of the CID building. We made a dash for Shukla’s car because it was pouring down hard again.

  Once we got inside the car, I showed Aarti Lunkad's picture to Rathod. 'See the pendant that Aarti is wearing. I remember Tanya Thomas wearing the same pendant when we visited her. Zakkal is known to take trophies from his victims and gift them to the woman he's with.'

  ‘Oh yes, I remember all the jewellery he had gifted his wife—all stuff picked up from his victims,’ Rathod said.

  ‘What Tanya Thomas had around her neck earlier today was once owned by Aarti Lunkad,’ I said and paused. ‘We’ve found the lover. Now, it’s time t
o get that son of a bitch too. Now what he wrote in the letter makes sense. He had written that he has realized that love is a much more powerful emotion than lust. It was a strange thing to say. But it now makes sense. I first thought his male pen pals who wanted to kill were helping him out. But they only lusted after him. I think Zakkal realized that a woman who loves him is far more valuable.’

  ‘The woman gives him things he doesn’t have. Those men were just trying to be his replicas,’ Rathod said and paused. ‘Do you think we should call for backup?’

  'I doubt Zakkal's actually living with her,' I said, before thinking a backup was a good idea. 'How much time will it take to arrange for one? Because we're already halfway through.'

  ‘Ten minutes to call for it and another ten more for it to arrive.’

  ‘We’ll reach in the next five minutes so they’re probably going to get there late. But you never know if we might need it. Please call for it.’

  Rathod made the call as we entered Kothrud, the area in which Tanya Thomas lived. In the next two minutes, we had pulled into her lane and were staring at her house. We bolted up the shallow patio step and Rathod rang the bell.

  As the door opened, Rathod’s right hand hovered over his gun holster.

  ‘It’s you again,’ Tanya said on seeing us.

  She was still wearing the pendant. It was silver in colour and had a small red ruby dangling in the middle.

  She said, ‘Is everything okay? It’s quite late.’

  'Can you let us in, please? We have some more questions regarding your sister,' I said.

  Tanya looked behind her and then opened the door for us. We didn’t sit down. I moved in closer to Tanya while Rathod stood at the door.

  ‘Why don’t you tell us where you got that pendant from?’ I said, pointing at her neck.

  Tanya narrowed her eyes. Her expression changed for a beat. 'I don't remember,' she said, shaking her head.

  ‘Stop lying to us,’ I said.

  ‘Why are you in my house so late at night to ask me stupid questions like this?’