Five faces - Part two

Precap: A London based Indian businessman has been robbed and killed. His wife and maid are prime suspects. His maid is missing. 

Chapter - 2 

Amit decided not to disturb Sarfaraz's family for the next one week or two. But he ensured that someone kept an eye on the family members. Amit got to know that Shehnaaz's son was just 12 years old. The only suspects left now were Shehnaaz and Shabana. The son was at her aunt's house on the day of murder. One thing that really hurt Amit was the condition of that little child. He had to suffer without any fault of his.

He told one officer to ask neighbors if they could give any insight on the case. He went to a Gurudwara with Amy. Shabana had stayed there for some months before she started working at Khan residence. The Gurudwara provides shelter and food to the needy people. They went to the man who was in charge of providing shelter for people. Amit told him "Hello, sir. I'm officer Amit Sharma. We want some information about a girl named Shabana who lived here 2 years ago." 

"Let me check the register." the guy said.

He checked for a few minutes and said "Yes, Miss Shabana used to live here. We allow people to live here only after checking the documents. Is there anything wrong sir ?" The guy said. 

"Yeah actually, she has gone missing." Amit did not reveal much.

"Oh." The man replied.

"Do you remember anything about her ? It would be really very helpful if you could recall something." Amit said. 

"So, many people come here daily, sir. So, it is a bit difficult. Do you have any pictures of her?" He said.

"Yeah, we have a sketch. Now, can you recall something ?" Amit asked while showing him the sketch.

"Yeah, I've seen her before." He said. He again looked into his register and tried recalling. 

"Oh yeah, that little young girl. She had gone through so much and now this." He continued. 

"What are you talking about ?" Amit asked. 

"Two and a half years ago she had come to our Gurudwara at night. She looked tired. She said that she wanted to stay here as she didn't have any place to go. When we asked her what was wrong she said that it was her first day in London. Her husband was going to come to the airport. But he didn't. She waited for 4 hours. She tried calling him many times but he was not picking her call. She said that the address that he gave her is wrong. But she remembers the name of the company where he works. She had heard it once when her father in law was talking to him on a phone call. So, she will go there the next day. But she wanted a place to stay at night. We checked her documents and let her stay." He said.

"What happened the next day ? " Amit asked.

"She came back in the afternoon. She was devastated. We asked her what had happened. She said that her husband told her that he already had a girlfriend in London. He never wanted to marry Shabana. But his father did not agree for his marriage to his girlfriend as she was from a different religion. When he came to India for holiday, his father told him that if he won't marry to a girl of his choice he would not get anything from his property. He agreed for property. Her family did not know much about him. But the fact that he was from a rich family and was settled in a foreign country made them happy and they fixed the alliance even before asking her.

Soon, she was married. Her husband stayed until all the property was in his name. They didn't ask for dowry but told her father to arrange money so that she could accompany him to London. All the process was done. They were to leave together for London. Her visa was going to come and then they were supposed to go together. But just after one week of marriage her husband told that his boss wanted him to come back immediately for an important project. He left earlier. And when she went to meet him at his office, he told her that he doesn't want her in her life and now that she is here he wants to file for divorce. " he said. 

"We told her not to agree to a divorce. But she said that she didn't want to marry a guy who was in love with someone else. We told her that she should inform her family and should go back. She said that her father spent a lot of money on marriage and for sending her here. Also, she has two more siblings who are dependent on her father. She didn't want to be a burden. She said she would find a job and will work. She requested us to allow her to stay in Gurudwara for a few weeks until she finds a job. She said that she would inform her family once she starts earning and would have saved a good amount of money. She was a woman with high self-esteem, sir." He concluded.

"Do you remember the name of the company where her husband used to work ?" Amit asked. 

"I have it in the register". The man gave Amit the name of the company. 

"Let's go there. Let's find out if there is any truth in this tragic story or is it just a drama." Amit told Amy, laughing.

Amy rolled his eyes. He knew there was no point in arguing. Amit trusted no one.

They enquired at the office and got to know that there was a guy called Abbas whom Shabana had mentioned to the man at Gurudwara as her husband. He used to work in that company. But he left the company two months ago. He didn't have any friends in the office. He was a workaholic and never talked much. Also, he was a bit aggressive. The receptionist also told them that he had a big fight with a woman who came once to the office. The girl was Shabana. The receptionist identified when they showed her sketch. He left as he was moving to the United States with his girlfriend. She had got a job there and he was moving there with her. Amit asked for his number. It was unreachable. He must have changed it after moving to a different country, he thought.

"What a loyal boyfriend! " Amy joked when they were returning from his office. 

"Yeah. But this proves that Shabana was telling the truth. Everything that she had said until now is true. And the kind of self-esteem that she had points to the fact that there isn't much possibility of her being a thief or murderer. " Amit said. 

"She could have robbed them because maybe her family needed money for some kind of emergency." Amy said. 

"Yeah, that could be a possibility. But then why would she kill Sarfaraz ? There is no reason for her to kill him." Amit said. 

Amit got a call. It was from the forensic officer. 

"Sir, post mortem reports have come. Sarfaraz was given strychnine. Strychnine is a poison and causes respiratory problems and death if given in high amounts." The officer said. 

"How much time does it take to affect ?" Amit asked. 

 

"Fifteen to thirty minutes." Officer said.

"Do you know how he would have been exposed to it ?" Amit asked.

"It is observed that he used to smoke a lot. So, what I suspect is that someone mixed the powder in his cigarette or hookah." Officer said.

"Great job. Thank you so much." Amit said.

"You know what.." Amy said as soon as Amit kept his phone aside. 

 

"What ?" Amit said. 

"I just got a call from another officer. I got to know that the insurance policy has Shehnaaz's name on it. So, Shehnaaz will be getting all the money. Also, neighbours said that Sarfaraz sometimes used to beat Shehnaaz. They used to fight a lot." Amy said.

"Also, according to post mortem reports Sarfaraz was given poison 15-30 minutes before his death. But Shehnaaz had told us that Shabana left at 8 a.m and Sarfaraz died at around 11:30 a.m. " Amit said

"So, the case is solved. Shehnaaz has killed her husband." Amy concluded.

"Yeah, but we would need confession. I will go after 2-3 days to Shehnaaz's house. Let her have her fake mourning for some days. Till then you try to find Shabana's whereabouts. Try to find her in every CCTV of the city. Also, try to gather information about her husband." Amit said.

"As you say, officer." Amy said. 

Amy and his officers searched everything. Amit went to meet Shehnaaz at her house after 2-3 days. When he entered her house, Shehnaaz's son was also there in the living room. Amit told him to go with a lady officer in another room. She would give him chocolates and would play with him. But the boy denied saying that he will sit there with his mom. Shehnaaz told him to go and he agreed half-heartedly. 

"Now, tell me, officer. Did you find Shabana ? " she said.

"No, but we will find her soon. Why do you want to find her ma'am ?" Amit asked. 

"What do you mean ? Don't you want to ? She has killed my husband." she said.

"Ma'am, according to reports your husband was given poison at around 11 a.m and you said Shabana left at 8.a.m. How can she kill him" ? Amit asked.

"I don't know. But nobody has entered our home since she left. If she hasn't done that then who that person could be.." Shehnaaz stopped while speaking.

"You are not doubting me right?" Shehnaaz asked suspiciously. 

"No, ma'am I'm just asking you general questions. Anyway, leave that. I will figure that out. I want to ask some other questions. Can I ?" Amit asked.

"Sure." Shehnaaz said. 

"How was your relationship with your husband ?" Amit asked.

"What do you mean ? Why are you asking such questions ? " She asked.

"It is part of my job, ma'am. The neighbours said that you guys used to fight a lot ." Amit said

"What happens between me and my husband is none of anyone's business. Yes, we had our share of fights like any other couple. But that doesn't mean that I would kill him." Shehnaaz said angrily.

"Absolutely ma'am. But the thing is that there is a difference between normal fights and domestic violence. Also, you may not have complained against him as you were financially dependent on him. But now I hope you are able to survive without him. Oh, I forgot you will get insurance money." Amit said.

"Enough, officer. You think I've killed my husband for insurance money! You have said too much.  How can you accuse someone like that without any evidence ?  Get out of my house." Shehnaaz said at the top of her voice. 

"Ma'am, on the basis of all that I have found I have the right to interrogate you. I thought that I should ask you peacefully first. But no problem if you don't want it done so easily then fine. I will come tomorrow with legal notice. " Amit said.

Shehnaaz's son came out of the room hearing the loud voices. Amit felt pity for the child. He had already lost his father. If his mom is also proved guilty then he would be left alone. Amit came out of the house. He talked about whatever had happened in the Khan house with Amy on phone.

"What would happen if Shehnaaz is proven guilty ? What about her son ?" Amy asked. 

"We can't let go of a criminal. I will adopt him if her mom is proven guilty." Amit said.

"What ? Are you serious?" Amy was shocked. Amit never got emotional. It was true that Amit was very kind towards kids but he never imagined he could adopt a child. 

"Yes. Very serious." Amit said and cut the call.

There is darkness. Shehnaaz's son is crying and is accusing Amit for taking away his childhood. Then there is one more kid crying for his mother and accusing her for taking his childhood away in the same way like Shehnaaz' son.

Amit woke up from the nightmare. He was sweating. Sarfaraz's son somehow  reminded him of his own childhood. 

Next day, Amit took the legal notice and decided to go to Shehnaaz's house. As he was about to leave from his police station, he got a call. A girl spoke from the other side. She said that she was from the Indian Embassy. She said that a police officer from India wants to talk to him. He told her to transfer the call.

"Hello, sir." a girl said.

"Yes."  Amit said.

"I'm officer Tripti Banerjee from Kolkata. Am I speaking to officer Amit Sharma ?" she asked.

"Yes, Amit here ma'am. How can I help you ?" Amit asked.

"I heard about a murder of an Indian businessman in London. And I like to know about different types of cases around the world. So, I read about the case. You are the main officer in the Sarfaraz Khan case, right ?" Tripti asked.

"Yes." Amit said getting bored now.

"Sir, I want to tell you that I know something about the case. In fact I think I know the killer." Tripti said.

Amit was shocked.

To be continued...

What happens next ? Do Tripti really know something about the murderer ? Is Shehnaaz the real killer ? Where is Shabana ? Which past event is haunting Officer Amit ? Stay tuned to know more. Next part will be released soon.