Killer in the Shadows! (9 page)

“This is great,” Naina said, admiring the ambience of the restaurant. “I’ve heard about this place, but I’ve never been here before. “Turning to Girish, she initiated conversation,” Why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?”

Girish had already ordered a scotch for himself which he gulped down in one shot. “My life’s an open book. I’m
sure you’ve read all about it in the papers,” he said through a grin.

“Yes, but tell me about growing up. Are you and Uncle Chauhan close?”

Girish’s smile faded slightly. “As close as a father and son can be. There’s always that parent-child thing.”

Naina studied his face, wishing she understood the parent-child thing.

“I’m sorry,” Girish looked contrite. “That was insensitive of me. Father said you don’t remember your childhood.”

A wave of apprehension rippled through Naina. “That’s right. At least not the first five-six years.”

Girish pushed his stylish glasses up on his nose. “Is that why you came back here? Hoping to remember?”

Naina picked at her food. “That’s part of it. I hoped moving here would bring back memories, but so far it hasn’t.”

Girish gulped down another glass of scotch.

Bewda! How could a politician openly drink in the afternoon?
Naina wondered. She looked around and saw that the restaurant was empty. This was probably his den for his afternoon drinking sessions.

“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Naina said, “I know a lot of my father’s stuff was confiscated by the police. I think some of it may be with your dad too as he was a great friend.”

Girish arched an eyebrow. “I don’t think my father has anything. Do you think it’s a good idea for you to pursue all this? I mean, what possible reason would you have to look into your father’s old stuff?”

Naina sipped her water and decided she’d said enough. “Anyway, maybe I’ll talk to Uncle Chauhan about it.”

A muscle tightened in Girish’s jaw. “I doubt father would remember anything. He’s getting up there in age now, you know. And he is really busy with the campaign.”

Girish’s barrage of excuses made Naina uncomfortable. She studied his easy smile, and she was sure that he was putting her off. She checked her watch. “I need to get back to the office. I have an appointment at three.”

Girish paid the bill, and Naina stiffened when he placed his hand on her back and guided her to the car.
Kamina
.

When he dropped her at her office, he tried to kiss her, but Naina quickly stepped away. He frowned and as he walked back to his car, he said, “Maybe next time.”

Ya right! On your death bed
,
loser
, Naina thought as she watched him drive away.

A
bhay drove down the winding road to State Bank of Allahabad to meet Devender Singh. Although Naina had insisted she had no enemies, after studying her client list, he’d noted a couple of possibilities. Devender Singh topped the list. Abhay parked his jeep right outside the bank, music blaring in his stereo:

“
Yahan bhi hoga wahan bhi hoga, ab to saare jahaan mein hoga Kya… mera hi jalwa…jalwa…jalwa..jalwa
.”

He was surprised to see that there was no security guard at the gate of the bank. That seemed out of place. Just when he had taken a step or two towards the gate, the guard in a shabby uniform and
danda
in his hand came running from the nearby
paan
shop and greeted daroga babu with a salute.

He ignored the guard and dashed into the bank; he was here for something else.
Guard ki class kisi aur din
, he thought. The staff told him that Chief Manager Devender Singh had been on leave for a few days. So Abhay entered Devender’s room and examined the man’s desk, skimmed the papers on top, searched through his files, then rummaged through the top drawer. While he was searching the files on his desk, a piece of paper slipped to
the floor – it was a familiar news clipping about Naina’s past. Her home address was scribbled in red ink across the top.

Within seconds, he’d ordered a search on Devender Singh. Maybe he’d been wrong to suspect Naina. Both her prior boyfriend and Singh had possible motives to harm her.

Abhay summoned courage to knock the door of his police service quarter. He knocked and waited.

He could hear footsteps and then he heard the door unlock. The door opened and his mother stood in front of him. An old lady, with grey hair, sincere eyes, wearing a cotton sari. Before Abhay could say anything, she welcomed him with a light slap on his left cheek.

“
Time milgaya ghar aaney ka? Hotel bana ke rakha hai ghar ko
.” She chided. “Why didn’t you come home yesterday? I was waiting for you.”

“
Woh Maa kya hua ki…
”

She cut him off saying, “Don’t start any of your stories and come inside.”

Abhay came and sat on one of the chairs along the table.

“I have made your favourite Paneer Pasanda
aur namkeen paranthey
. Quickly wash your hands and come.” His mother said, as she entered the kitchen.

Abhay smiled. “
Kya baat karti ho maa tum bhi, gussa bhi aur pyaar bhi
.”

Ria had left for the day and Naina was packing her stuff to leave for home.

“Naina?”

She recognized Abhay’s deep husky voice immediately. It sounded so different from Ashish’s wimpy voice, and it was much sexier and more masculine than Girish’s fake polished speech. She closed her eyes, trying to tamp her emotions.

He came in and walked towards her. “I went to see Devender Singh today.”

“You did?”

“Yes. Apparently he’s skipped town.” Abhay pulled the scrap of newspaper from his pocket. “And I found this on his desk.”

Naina took the paper and saw her name and home address. She saw the article about her and gasped. “He knew about my past!”

“That’s right. About your parents…and your amnesia.”

“Do you think he’s the one who’s been taunting me?”

Abhay shrugged. “It’s possible.”

The telephone rang, interrupting the strained silence.

“Naina Sinha speaking.” She heard deep breathing, then a fuzzy, unrecognizable voice.

Abhay must have read the distress on her face, because he punched the speakerphone button immediately.

“Leave the past alone,” the voice said.

“Who is this?” Naina asked. Her hands began to tremble.

“Someone who knows all about you. Someone who wants you out of Allahabad.” The phone clicked into silence.

Abhay had to believe her now; he’d heard the man’s voice himself. “We’ll find out who the caller was,” Abhay said, pressing the button to show the caller’s number.

As the phone number blinked before her, Naina covered her mouth and gasped.

“What happened? Do you recognize this number?”

Her voice came out in a choked whisper. “It’s…it’s my residence number!”

She raised her fear-stricken face to his. “Someone made the call from my house!”

Abhay put his hands around her arms. “Even if we rush now, the person would have left. We are dealing with a very smart mastermind here.
Bahot chalak hai sala
.”

Naina nodded. Her face was pale as a sheet. “I don’t understand why this is happening.”

“Someone is certainly using your past to hurt you,” Abhay said, thinking of the range of possibilities that existed.

“My past has always controlled my life. I have to face it and bury it so I can go on,” Naina said exasperated.

“What are you talking about?” Abhay asked.

“You know, I can understand why I blanked out that night,” Naina said in frustration. “But why the rest of my childhood? I don’t even remember living here.”

“Maybe there’s a reason you can’t remember. Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

She looked into his eyes, its dark rich colour drawing her in with its tenderness. “I had these nightmares as a child,” she finally said. “I still have them sometimes.”

“What happens in them?
Batao mujhe
.”

“I see a shadow suffocating me to death. I try to escape from the clutches of the shadow but it suffocates me,
tearing the life from my lungs as someone thrusts a bloody knife into me. I open my mouth to scream, but the sound gets caught in my throat. My parents… They are going to die and there’s nothing I can do to save them. I want to run for help, but something blocks the doorway. I crouch into a ball and hide in the darkness, biting my lip until I taste my own blood, covering my ears to drown out the pain of my parents’ cries. I couldn’t save them. The sharp sound of someone’s shoes scraping along the floor makes my flesh crawl. A loud thump follows. I’m in the bedroom with my parents lying on the floor…but there’s someone else there. I can see a shadow.”

Abhay traced his fingers along Naina’s hand, opened her palm and twined her fingers with his. “Then what happens?”

“I don’t know,” Naina says, her hands clenched in frustration. “I can’t see the person’s face. I try and try but I can’t and the doctor said it was just a figment of my imagination.”

“The police didn’t find evidence of anyone else being there that night?”

“My grandmother said they didn’t. That’s when they ruled it out. But I know there was someone. I mean I think–” She broke off, unable to finish the sentence.

“I know,” Abhay whispered. He rubbed her shoulders and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Do you believe me?”

Abhay chewed his lip. “I want to help you find the truth. Isn’t that what you want?”

Naina nodded and lowered her eyes. He hadn’t exactly said he believed her.

“Let me drop you home so you can get some rest,” he suggested, fighting the urge to take her into his arms.

When they were home, Abhay continued his questions. “I know you’re shaken, Naina, but I have one last question. Does anyone else have the keys to your house?”

“Yes, but that’s just Ria. She needs to get papers and things if I am ever out for a meeting, you know.”

Abhay dialled Shukla’s number and briefly told him about the threatening call. “Shukla, I need some fingerprint assistance. Get here quickly with the expert. Also you need to do a background check on Ria Sood, Naina’s assistant. I want to know everything about her.” He then turned to Naina and said a bit reluctantly, “I’d like to talk to Ria.”

“Sure…” Naina dialled Ria’s phone and told her about the phone call.

Abhay heard Ria’s shriek.
Drama queen huh!

“I’m fine,” Naina said. “But Inspector Abhay Pandey wants to talk to you.” Naina handed him the handset.

“Ria, have you given your set of keys to Naina’s house to anyone? Or lost them?”

“No, I haven’t!” Ria was baffled by these questions.

“
Kya baat kar rahi ho!
It’s so strange,” Abhay said. “Naina’s house has been broken into twice, and on both times there were no signs of a forced entry. It’s almost as if the intruder had a key and you say that you have no idea.
Ek lady constable bhejoon tumhare paas kya
?”

“No, no, Inspector. I don’t know anything about that,” Ria said, sounding slightly defensive.

Could Ria be involved?
Abhay wondered.
What motive would she possibly have? Kaatil type lagti toh nahin hai
. The doorbell rang and Naina went to get it. Shukla and
a young, uniformed officer were at the door. He saw the wide frown Shukla gave Naina and noticed her posture go rigid in defence.