Five faces - Part three

Amit kept the phone aside. He was confused now. He opened his emails and refreshed it twice. Amy came into his cabin. 

"You haven't left. You were going to arrest Shehnaaz. Don't you have to go ?" Amy asked.

"No. Leave all that and tell me what you have found till now. I had told you to search everything about Shabana and her ex-husband." Amit said.

"Yeah. We found some strange things. We found CCTV footage of the metro in which Shabana travelled. She went to the farthest corner of the city. Then she was seen in another CCTV of a restaurant. She went to the ladies washroom of the restaurant and came out wearing a burqa. We recognised her due to her purple luggage bag. After that she was seen in another CCTV footage of the metro. She went into a nearby locality. And then she disappeared. We tried finding her in every CCTV footage of nearby areas but she was found nowhere." Amy said.

"What ? How is that possible ? No one can disappear like that. You should have tried harder to find her." Amit said.

"Let me finish. After some time we got to know that Shabana's ex-husband had a rented apartment in the area where Shabana was last seen." Amy said.

"But he left the country two months ago. Why would she go to his house ?" Amit asked.

"Well, I don't know but something is very fishy. Abbas had given the rent of this apartment for an entire year in advance." Amy said.

"Then ?" Amit asked.

"We asked the neighbours but all of them are working people. And weren't at home when Shabana was in that area. We searched Abbas' apartment and found the bag that Shabana was carrying. But it was empty. We tried searching everywhere but nothing was found. There isn't any CCTV footage of her. She hasn't boarded any flight or train. Also apart from this apartment thing, nothing suspicious is there about Abbas." Amy concluded.

"This is becoming very nasty." Amit said.

He checked his email again. He opened an email. But he was shocked and disappointed.

"What is going on ?" He said to himself.

"What happened ?" Amy asked.

"This morning I got a phone call from India. A lady officer told me that she read about our case. She said that the same thing had happened two and a half years ago in India. A Bengali businessman was robbed and killed. The family blamed it on the housemaid. She went missing. The police tried finding her. They investigated the family members too. But nothing was found and the case was shut." Amit said.

"Oh. The same case, there is only one common factor- housemaid. So, it is clear now that Shabana is the killer. We have to find her soon. She has killed two persons and also robbed them. Although she gives away the money in charity. Such a weird case." Amy said.

"What charity ?" Amit asked.

"Oh! Sorry! Forgot to tell you that somebody left the money and gold at the doorstep of the Gurudwara where Shabana used to live. I'm telling you she is mad." Amy said.

"Not she, they." Amit said.

"Who else ? Is her ex-husband also involved ? " Amy asked.

"Don't know how many people are involved and how many people are going to get killed by them. Don't know what their mission is." Amit said.

"What are you saying Amit ?" Amy asked.

"I had told officer Tripti to send the picture of that girl who was a home maid at that Indian businessman's house. And this is the picture. She is not Shabana." Amit said while showing Amy his laptop.

"Oh. So, is there an entire gang ?" Amy asked. 

"I don't know. We have so much information but somehow the dots are not connecting. It is as if something is missing." Amit said 

"Tell that Indian officer to send all the files related to that case." Amy suggested.

"I told her but she said she is not allowed to do that. She can't send all those documents online. That is risky. If some higher officer finds out she will be in trouble. She can only send it if I can get the permit. She just managed to send this pic." Amit said.

"So, what now ?" Amy asked.

"I'll have to go to India." Amit said.

"What ? Are you in your senses ? Why do you always get so involved in every case ? Just send all the information to higher officials. They will take care of everything else." Amy said.

"Do you want this to be the first case that I've not been able to solve ? I am going to solve it no matter what." Amit said 

"You and your obsession. But just take the permit so Tripti can send you documents. Why do you want to go ?" Amy asked 

"It is not just about documents. One common thing about the two cases is that both the victims were Indians. So, the root of this case is somewhere in India. Also, do you think that that Indian officer would be as smart as me ? There will definitely be something that she would have missed while investigating. I will go and find out everything." Amit said. 

"Yeah! You are the only intelligent person in the entire world." Amy said sarcastically.

"And what excuse are you going to give this time ?" Amy asked 

"Well, I'll tell sir the truth. He will allow me as always and give me a holiday. And if we want to give an excuse to the media then he could say that my mom is ill. Everyone knows that she lives in India." Amit said jokingly. 

"Joking about your mother's health is not funny, Amit." Amy said 

"You know my issue, right ? Then, why are you so concerned about that selfish woman ?" Amit asked. 

"It has been 20 years, Amit. Grow up." Amy said 

"Will you just shut up and get out of here ? Do your work and don't tell me what to do." Amit said arrogantly.

"Sure, sir." Amy said and left the room.

Amit called his boss and convinced him to allow him to go to India for his further investigation in the name of holiday. Then he called Tripti and told her that he will be coming to India. And he would go through the documents and would like to meet the victim's family. He told her to arrange everything accordingly. 

Amy was going through a report. But his mind was somewhere else. He was upset because of Amit. 

Amit entered his cabin.

"I'm going to India. And I've told sir that in my absence you will be the main officer of this case." Amit said.

"As you say, sir." Amy replied sarcastically.

"First of all stop calling me sir. We are childhood friends first. Come on Amy. Fine. I'm sorry. But just don't ever take my mom's side. Also, even if I solve the case you will get the credit this time. You are the commanding officer this time." Amit said 

"I don't want your credit. And don't try to bribe me. My friendship is not for sale. Do you understand that ? I just want you to be safe and happy." Amy said.

"I know, my friend. And don't worry. I'll be safe. And I'll be happy when I solve the case." Amit said

Amy rolled his eyes. "You will never change. Anyways, all the best." Amy said.

"Thanks, bro. And until I come back, keep searching for Shabana and also keep an eye on Shehnaaz and her family. And help them if they face any problem." Amit said.

"Sure. " Amy replied 

Amit booked his tickets and packed his bags. He completed all the official formalities and got official approval for his fake holiday. 

He boarded his flight to India. He called Tripti to tell her that he had boarded the flight so that someone could come to pick him up at the Kolkata airport.

Tripti assured him that someone would come to pick him up on time. She smiled after cutting the call. 

"I wanted you to come to India Mr. Amit Sharma. But little did I know that you would agree so easily. Finally, I'll be able to fulfill my promise. Welcome to India Amit." Tripti said to herself while smiling.

To be continued…

What is officer Tripti up to ? Which promise she has to fulfill ? Will Amit's decision to go to India turn out to be correct or will it be a trap ? Where is Shabana ? What is the motive of the killer ? Will Amit find out something in India ? Stay tuned to know. Next episode will be released soon.