have shifted my focus. It was a junior inspector who actually discovered these shadow dealers. No one believed him except Mr Arvind. He insisted and with his seniority and influence, he organized a task force to track those shadow dealers.
I looked at that girl again. She was just swimming towards my end. She came out from water slowly. Her dynamic sensuality was heightened by her toned curvaceous silhouette and chunky hips in black stockinet bikini bottom. It was Sunaina. It took me few seconds to look away and acted like I was not watching her. She wrapped the towel on her body and sat on the chair beside me. I acted like I just noticed her. I shared my thought with her. Meanwhile Tamble sir came and asked us to get ready.
We went to Burdez police station it was 20 minutes’ drive from our resort. We wanted to meet Rama Rao, the junior police, who was first to crack the concept of shadow dealers. We could not find him there. According to Bardez police station, he never came back after he joined Mr Arvinds team; they heard that Rama Rao was promoted. So we have started to inspect those properties owned by these shadow dealers. We found nothing after 4 hours search. We have searched 3 out of 8 properties. Everyone was feeling fatigue. Then suddenly Sunaina found a hidden door on the floor of fourth house owned by James DeCosta, Who was also a suspect as shadow dealer and was missing since last year. When I saw the floor was looking new rather than its construction and beside that the misplaced furniture made us all curious about the floor? We dug the floor and found another dead body. Tamble sir called local police to identify the body. We moved to next property and yes we found another body there too. But it was not of a shadow dealer. This man was wearing a police belt buckle with a symbol of Goa Police. That day we found another body in total count of three dead bodies. One of them was Rama Rao, the junior police who exposed the shadow dealers. Tamble sir started to think that Mr Arvind was right that it was a gang war of drug mafia. That night Mr Arvind called us and congratulated for exposing three murders related to drug mafia. This would give him a better grip on mafia investigation. Before end of that night I requested Tamble sir that tomorrow morning I would visit Rama rao’s family before our flight back to Mumbai.
24 Hours before
Rama rao had a 4 years old kid. When his wife asked me that if he died in peace or in pain?, I couldn’t answer. I had no idea how to answer. I let Sunaina to do all talking with her. Then Mrs Rao gave us his investigative file which led him to the shadow dealers group. Rama Rao never submitted this original file. She looked at Tamble Sir with stone cold look while handed over the file and asked for justice. Tamble sir assured her with a fatherly touch on her head.
I was studying the file on the flight. Rama rao meet a girl named Ramona and though there was nothing much about Ramona but it was Ramona who helped him. There was a picture of Ramona in the file but it was a bit early days picture. I gave the Picture to Tamble sir and Sir promised to find info about Ramona as soon as we would reach Mumbai.
I was relaxing at home. Sunaina called me.
Sunaina – You are more famous now. I mean we are.
I – Since When?
Sunaina – Are you sleeping?
I– Nope just a bit tired.
Sunaina – Check today’s newspaper. We become famous and also target.
I – what?
Sunaina – Mr Arvind is now added to your fan list.
I– Let me check it.
Sunaina was right. Mr Arvind gave statement to press about our involvement of exposing four unusual murders. Yes this would make us target as well because we only found those bodies but not the murderer.
Tamble Sir called me to inform that he found Ramona. She was working for a high profile escort service these days and only available on booking. I noted down the escort service website and started to search on my laptop.I felt that it was not a gang war but more like a closure. Someone was closing all loose ends perfectly until I found the body or Ranojoy and now we had three more bodies. “This person is technically invisible”. Even the shoe we found, came clean. There was a partial print but didn’t match with any criminal fingerprint as per database. No proof. No Police record. So we had no idea who that person was. Only Ramona might help us. So without wasting any more time I booked Ramona through the escort website. Here her name was Jessica. She looked different now though its due to my perception and profession that mostly I can identify a person with and without make up. I did not inform Tamble Sir and Sunaina about this little meeting of mine.
I met Ramona at Hotel Orchid on Nehru Road. Our meeting was fixed at room no 202.
I have reached at exact 7 pm. Ramona opened the door. She had fine dark brown silken hair brushed straight back from a tall brow and falling heavily down almost to the shoulders, there to curl slightly up at the ends, a good, soft pale skin with an ivory sheen at the cheekbones; wide apart, level eyes of the deepest blue under straight natural brows. Apart from her face, she had a tall firm, attractive body, which slowly moved towards me. I gave her the cash envelop. She slowly started to unbutton my shirt. I touched her hand to stop. She pulled my arm slowly towards her and started to lick my finger. I went close to her and whispered into her ear “Rama Rao is dead Ramona.” She moved few steps back. She was scared. But then again came towards me and acted like she knew nothing.
Ramona – I don’t know what are talking about. Let’s make love.
I – Ramona I know who you are.
Ramona – You are mistaken. I am Jessica, your slave for tonight.
I – Ranojoy and James are also found dead.
Ramona did try her best to hide her fear and uneasiness. But she already started to look pale. She came close and unzipped my trouser.
Ramona – Are you scared mister, are you married? Come on I can keep secret.
I– I know you can but I don’t want to be the one.
Ramona– Are you Police?
I – No.
Ramona – Who are you?
I – I am the one who found bodies of Rama Rao and all shadow dealers. I need your help. I know you helped Rama Rao and I need you help because someone very dangerous tried to bury all but now everything is exposed.
Ramona – I know nothing. You can leave now.
I – Ramona just tell me if there was anyone more than those shadow dealers.
Ramona – I told you. I know nothing. I am Jessica not Ramona and you leave now or I will call security.
I left hotel Orchid but gave Ramona my contact number; so that if she wanted to speak then she could contact me any time. Tonight Regina would be back from conference and I drove to Airport to pick her up. I was uneasy. In my mind I was trying to recreate all incidents to find something. I just noticed that Sunaina called me two times. I have decided to visit Sunaina after I would drop Regina at her hotel. I picked Regina from Airport and while driving I was discussing all these things with Regina. She knew about my latest hobby as truth finder besides being an ad director and she thought it was sexy. Suddenly I got a call from an unknown number. I picked up phone. It was Ramona. She wanted to meet me now if possible. I asked Regina for permission that before we would be at her hotel, I had to meet Ramona for few minutes. She might remember something. So I drove to Hotel Orchid. I told Regina to wait there inside car I would be back in minutes. I went to room no 202. It was open. I slowly entered into the room without touching anything. I called for Ramona but she was not replying. I entered into the master bedroom. Something happened here. The room was messy; her make up set was on the floor. Talcum powder was spread all over. It looked like Ramona had a fight with someone. My phone rang all of a sudden. It was Regina. While I picked up the phone I saw two shoe print impressions on the spread talcum powder. One was Ramona’s as she was wearing high heel and another was a male shoe, may be size 10.
Regina on phone – Indra, are you fine?
I – Yes Regina. I am coming down now.
Regina – Be careful, I think someone followed you when you entered into the lift. A tall well build man.
&n
bsp; I – Don’t worry I am fine.
When I was talking with Ramona, I noticed that the footprints ended at the closet behind me. So I put off the phone and opened the closet. It was Ramona, senseless but alive.
B A N G ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I could only feel intense pain behind my head. I was numb. I was on the floor on my face. I heard a voice was heavily breathing. Someone was trying to move something heavy. I was blind folded. I could not see anything. I tried to move but I could not. Slowly I was losing my sense. Before I lost my sense I heard him whispering into my ears “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious”
THE END [Last moment]
So this is my story and I will be dying soon in the 7 feet by 4 feet box. I know I am somewhere underground. So even if police are trying to search still they may not find me in time. This is his way, his style to burry men live. That’s how he killed all of them and now it’s my turn but I have to be alive. He was Right. The victorious will know when to fight and when not to. I am not fighting. I am …… [Fading]
After Life
I opened my eyes slowly. I could smell jasmine. Everything was blurry, bright.
“Welcome to afterlife” – “How are you feeling Mr Indra? “
I looked left. I could see clear now. It was Sunaina. I was never so happy before seeing Sunaina. She smiled