The wait was killing me – why couldn’t Sid have a simple one-sentence conversation instead of chit-chatting with the guards?
Finally: “Any guesses, guys, whose guest the man was?” I could sock him; Sid could see we were exploding with curiousity. “He was Moshin uncle’s guest.”
Silence. After what we’d seen, nothing came as a shock. Each of the PharmaGlobal researchers and the ISIC professors seemed to be walking crime lords.
“We’ve done enough detecting. Sid, call up Venky sir,” Raima ordered. I wasn’t so sure if that was the smartest thing to do. Venky sir would panic and call in the police. That would definitely hinder Sarla’s investigation. On the other hand, we could be in serious danger. And then, there was Raima’s and Sid’s adamant, firm-set look.
“Let’s wait for Anna. She should be here in another hour. We’ll ask her.” Raima readily agreed to my proposal.
With Anna around, Raima was sure to get her way! I was hoping Sarla would turn up by then. Plus, there was something else I wanted to do right now. “Remember the mail I read on NL sir’s computer about the 3:30 meeting behind the students’ old canteen? Let’s go.”
“Kavya,” moaned Raima.
Varun stood up. “We’re not going to do anything, Raima. Simply listen. Promise.”
“You’re going to get me into serious trouble,” muttered Sid, as we huddled behind the students’ old canteen.
Varun’s watch announced 3:30:00 pm, Indian Standard Time. I leaned around the side of the building. No one. Faint rustle of dry leaves. I peeped again. NL sir was pacing in front of the building. He would go two feet to the right, then retrace his steps and walk two feet to the left. Like he was trapped in an invisible cage. He set each foot down delicately, trying to minimize the sound and erase his presence.
“He definitely doesn’t want to be here,” whispered Raima. Abruptly, NL sir broke out of his jail, striding towards the edge of the building. I yanked Raima, Varun and Sid back. We stopped breathing. Would he continue walking well past the edge of the building? If he spotted us, what excuse could we give? Playing hide and seek? That sounded very lame.
My lungs were about to burst.
Lots of footsteps, like a horde of drunk hippos.
“Give me a few days. I’ll return the money,” said a thin, high-pitched wailing voice. NL sir was pleading. He sounded as though he was right next to me. I didn’t dare to peer again. Clearly the other person, or people, with NL sir must be scary. The words were all garbled but there was a definite gruffness in the air as someone else spoke.
“Yes, but sometimes real life doesn’t work out like a Maths formula. Those casino owners were scoundrels. They cheated. I’m certain they didn’t include all the cards in the deck.”
The other voice again: a low metallic hum, like Darth Vader – menacing without even trying to be so.
“Trust me. There’s been a development. I’ll return twice the amount. A little patience is all I ask. Please.”
A development – we knew only too well what that was. Even a baby would get that hint. The four of us stared at each other. Sid shook his head, his face saddened. Don’t blame him. When you’ve known someone forever, you learn to ignore his weird habits, especially if he’s your father’s friend. But this revelation took NL sir into a totally different league.
We waited behind the building till the footsteps shuffled away. Peering around the corner of the building, I beckoned. “Let’s go.” The coast seemed clear.
As we walked away, Raima clutched my arm. Putting a finger to her lips, she swung her eyes to the left. Sid and I stole a glance. Partially hidden between the trees, a tall, well-built man, wearing a khaki coloured baseball cap, hurried along.
“The man NL sir met,” said Varun softly.
“Maybe, but could just be a coincidence that he’s here,” replied Raima.
“Coincidences don’t occur,” declared Shakespeare Sid sagely.
Anna arrived 15 minutes later. We pounced on her before she could even set down her bag. Somehow, she managed to understand the goings-on, despite all of us trying to fill her in at the same time. We even argued over what to tell Venky sir.
“Okay, first things first. Venky sir needs to know about the attack on Raima. We’ll tell him about Sunil Mahapatra after speaking with Sarla. But, Kavya and Varun, breaking into someone’s room is absolutely not done.” Anna gave us a stern glare. Despite that, I was so glad to have her around. It was like knowing that whatever happened or whatever you did, you’d be okay.
“Dr. Patel, this is Venkataraman. I need you in my office. Now,” Venky sir had dispensed with any niceties such as ‘hello’ or ‘please.’ His voice was dry and contained, though from the deep red on his face, it was clear he was an about-to-explode volcano. There was something in Venky sir’s tone that made Moshin sir literally run to his office, on the ground floor of the Faculty Block.
“Gate security informs me that you had a visitor named Yatin, earlier today. Who is he?” Venky sir shot out even before Moshin sir could catch his breath. I noticed Venky sir didn’t bother asking him to sit.
“A friend,” gasped Moshin sir, his eyes downcast.
“Your friend,” said Venky sir, emphasizing the word ‘friend,’ “assaulted Raima. You have 30 seconds to explain yourself before I call the police. And have both of you arrested.”
“Please Dr. Venkataraman, please don’t call the police,” Moshin sir pleaded. “Yatin is a private detective, investigating the theft of the Nizam’s jewellery. He obviously went overboard, became over enthusiastic.” Moshin sir’s voice turned whiny and his eyes watery.
Venky sir was unmoved. “On whose authority did you employ a private investigator?”
“Reddy’s sister,” Moshin sir barely managed a whisper. Venky sir’s nostrils flared as he glared at the shuffling man in front of him. Moshin sir was lying – no doubt about that.
Instead of confronting Moshin sir, Venky sir astutely picked up his phone. “Dr. Reddy, where are you?” An even, no-nonsense tone. I had once overheard my principal use that with a teacher and I swear the teacher turned into jelly. “Stay there. We’ll come to your room.”
Wordlessly, Moshin sir and the five of us followed Venky sir to the VIP guest house. I could see Moshin sir was desperately trying to say something, but not a whimper emerged. Each step he took was forced, out of his control, dragged by a mega-magnet. Moshin sir was dying to disappear from the scene.
Venky sir knocked on the door and pushed it open without waiting for an answer from Reddy sir.
A tornado had hit Reddy sir’s room. Clothes scattered all over – on the bed, chair, writing table, side table.
Books and papers piled alongside the clothes. An iPad popping out from between the clothes, laptop lying on the floor. A large suitcase lay unzipped, both halves thrown open. More papers heaped inside.
“Dr. Reddy, your private investigator cannot enter ISIC without my permission. Immaterial of what has transpired, that is unacceptable,” Venky sir was polite but curt. You definitely don’t want to get onto the wrong side of Venky sir.
Reddy sir stared blankly. “Private investigator? For what?”
“Your sister…” Venky sir narrowed his eyes as he turned to Moshin sir.
“No, no Dr. Venkataraman,” Moshin sir’s words tumbled out. “I engaged the private investigator after speaking directly with Reddy’s sister. I called her two hours back to seek permission and she was more than willing. Reddy doesn’t know about any of this.”
“So, my sister put you up to it,” more statement than question. The spite in Reddy sir’s voice was obvious. “She wants to grab the jewels. Although, I don’t understand why you are so obsessed with them.”
“She said the same thing about you,” said Moshin sir defiantly, his voice gradually becoming stronger and increasing in volume. “She said you will slime out of giving her, her share of the jewels. And yes, I am concerned, rightfully so. Those are national treasures and every attempt should be made
to find them. Of course, I’m not suggesting we call in the police. But I fail to understand why you object to a discreet private investigator.”
“Those are my jewels and I will do as I please.”
“Gentlemen,” cut in Venky sir, giving both of them an icy look. “Let me reiterate. If Yatin or any other private investigator enters this campus, without my permission, or if either of you assaults anyone on campus, I will call in the police. Are we in complete agreement on that?”
Reddy sir and Moshin sir nodded meekly. “Dr. Reddy, I suggest you keep your valuables in the cupboard, which also comes equipped with a safe for especially valuable items.” Venky sir had clearly lost patience with them.
Reddy sir opened the cupboard. What a mess! Forget Raima’s OCD mom, even my mother would have grounded me for a month if my wardrobe was like that. Badly folded clothes, toiletries, socks, all stuffed together on every shelf. Some hangers were empty while others had 2–3 trousers on them. Even his small carry bag, secured by one of those flimsy external locks, was stuffed in the cupboard.
Total contrast to Sunil Mahapatra’s super neat room, with clothes meticulously piled, suitcase stored above the wardrobe, books and papers neatly stacked on the writing table.
Reddy sir shoved his laptop and iPad in the cupboard. It was obvious what Venky sir was thinking. The same as the five of us. Why didn’t Reddy sir have the sense to keep the jewel box inside the cupboard that day, instead of on the writing table?
“Anna, it’s good to have you over,” said Venky sir with a smile as we stepped out of Reddy sir’s room. I suspect he guessed we’d told him about the incident only because Anna insisted. “I have to get onto a call, which should take an hour or so. Let’s have tea together, after that. Hopefully Sarla will also be back by then.”
“Moshin sir is a mega liar,” I burst out as soon as the five of us entered our room. “He said he engaged the private investigator only two hours ago, after speaking with Reddy sir’s sister. That’s not true. Remember, I overheard him this morning after the argument with Reddy sir. I am certain he made that call to the detective. Why is Moshin sir so desperate to recover the jewels, I wonder?”
“I don’t believe a word of that those-are-national-treasures crap,” said Varun.
“I agree. That’s total nonsense. And Kavya, Venky sir needs to know about that conversation.” I nodded. It was absolutely great to have Anna around. Apart from being one of my favourite-est people, she also knew what to do.
“What makes someone so anxious to recover stolen items that don’t belong to him?” Sid crumpled on the bed, although his eyes were alert.
My brain started churning in all sorts of directions. This was me, at my best! Okay, so that was sort of immodest, but even Raima and Anna say I am an ace conspiracy theorist. “Do you think he’s made a deal of some kind with Reddy sir’s sister? That would explain his desperation to locate the jewels and taking the trouble to call her.”
“But Kavya,” I knew from that gentle tone that Raima was going to totally burst my bubble. “The dragon tattoo detective said he wasn’t interested in the Nizam’s jewels. There’s something we’re missing.”
We were silent for a few minutes, trying to make sense of it all. I was certain of one thing: this was more than an ordinary case of theft.
Sid broke the silence. “Feels like we are in play. All the world’s a stage that we know or understand nothing of. Apologies to Shakespeare for misquoting.”
“Sid, seriously even at a time like this, you’re thinking of Shakespeare?” moaned Raima.
“Oh, what else should I be thinking of? You?” One more red card from Raima to Sid’s already humungous collection. Red card? Did I just think red card? Gosh, Varun’s football obsession was rubbing off on me. I have to admit, though, Sid had phrased it perfectly. That’s exactly how I felt. You had lines to say, actions to do but no idea what the play…
Play? My body tensed. I sat up.
“Kavya?” Raima’s eyebrows shot up.
It was like watching a basketball shot. Your breath stopped as the ball spun around the rim of the basket. Will it go in or not? Does the moronic notion make any sense at all?
The ball goes through the hoop.
“Guys,” I cried excitedly. “Remember, the detective’s golden rule: if something appears too easy, think again. That’s what yesterday was.” Our escape from the vampire kidnappers was way too easy. One of the blood-thirsty butchers drops a knife next to Raima and then they all conveniently disappear, leaving us enough time to escape. Seriously? “This doesn’t happen even in fairy tales.”
Then, Sarla’s rescue. “I think the guards let us escape. It would have been natural for at least one of them to check the entrance once they discovered the smoke-bomb.”
“None of that seemed easy to me,” said Raima.
“Kavya, why would anyone go through so much trouble?” asked Anna, not entirely convinced.
“They realised Sarla wasn’t giving them any information. That was because she genuinely didn’t know where the vaccine was hidden, but Manish Bhasin didn’t believe her. So he gets Sarla to think that we’ve rescued her. He then follows her, hoping she will lead him to the vaccine.”
“That sounds far-fetched to me, Kavya,” said Anna.
“Yes, it sounds too fanciful to be true,” agreed Raima.
“But what if it is? Then Sarla could be in danger,” I countered “We should warn her.”
Anna took a deep breath; she was torn between my crazy idea and the nano-chance that I might be right, implying Sarla could be in danger. “Okay, let’s call Sarla and tell her to be careful. You can explain the logic once she gets here.”
Sarla took my call immediately. Honking and the sound of engines being revved. Sarla was on the road. “Sarla, listen, I’ll explain once you get back. But I think yesterday – our escape and your rescue – was a setup.”
“What? A setup? That’s a completely new angle. I absolutely have to hear about this. Don’t do anything till I’m back,” Sarla was shouting to be heard over the roar of traffic. “Hey, and I have some news for you guys. About a theft in the Hyderabad lab. Speak once I’m back. Stay safe, Kavya.”
Sarla hung up.
A theft in Hyderabad? I couldn’t wait for Sarla to get back. But the delicious lunch we had gorged on - enough to last an inter-galactic trip - won over the rush of anticipation and danger. Drowsiness hit us. Anna curled up and slept. Varun’s PSP lay on the floor. I shut my eyes.
Khrrr…khrrr…khrrr.
I jerked upright with a start. Our doorbell was ringing…khrrr.
No one in ISIC rings the doorbell more than once. In fact, no one rings the doorbell at all. They merely tap on the door, lightly and tentatively.
Khrrr.
“Who on earth is that?” Varun wrinkled his nose in annoyance. He opened the door and took two steps back, startled.
Chapter Twelve
I make one wrong move and the others will die
“There’s no one there,” said Varun slowly.
“Is this a prank?” asked Anna doubtfully.
No one in ISIC plays pranks. I doubt they even know what the word means!
Tring…tring. A phone rang at full volume. None of our phones.
Tring…tring. “Whose is that?” asked Sid, looking around “It sounds like it’s right here, in the room.”
“It is,” responded Varun, bending down to pick up a Samsung Galaxy. “Someone left us a phone.”
The irritating ring continued. We looked at each other, unsure what to do.
“Answer it,” I said finally. Varun shrugged his shoulders, swiped the green icon and said “Hello,” turning on the phone speaker.
“Put the call on video,” the voice at the other end commanded. A rough male voice. We crowded around Varun as he followed the instruction.
Two faces stared back at us. Strained and scared.
Sarla and Venky sir. They were seated, their hands pulled behind their bac
ks.
“Read,” said an unseen voice in the background.
Sarla took charge. “Dr. Venkataraman and I are being held captive by…” the barrel of a gun came into the frame. Sarla took a deep breath. “Dr. Venkataraman and I are being held captive. Our kidnappers will release us only after we hand over the vaccine.”
Venky sir gathered courage. “They are certain we have stolen it, even though we’ve tried hard to convince them otherwise.” The butt of a gun flew across the screen. A sharp shriek. Unseen had hit Venky sir. I gasped. The five of us crowded closer together.
Sarla cursed. A bulky fist placed the gun between her eyes. “Trust the children, Dr. Venkataraman. They’re smarter than you think and now, Anna’s with them too.” Her eyes turned to the screen. “Unless we hand over the vaccine to our kidnappers, they will harm you. And that, I completely believe. It’s not an empty threat. If you go to the police or inform anyone else, the kidnappers will harm us.” Sarla paused. “Trust is a rare commodity these days.”
“No extra words,” barked Unseen, forcing the gun to dig into her skin. “Now tell them what they need to know.”
“We’ve told our kidnappers the truth: that Dr. Venkataraman and I know each other for the last ten years or so. My posting at the PharmaGlobal Lab was god-sent. I provided the security details, based on which Dr. Venkataraman developed a plan. My access card was used to enter the Lab. Of course, Dr. Venkataraman didn’t enter the Lab himself; in fact, he made sure he was in a meeting during the theft, so that he would have an alibi.”
Venky sir took over. He had engaged a trusted man from his native village in east Tamil Nadu to carry out the theft. The man was to pick up Sarla’s access card from a pre-decided spot, and enter the Lab during the two-day conference. He was to immediately place the vaccine in a refrigerated pack; otherwise, the vaccine would become ineffective. The man would then store the refrigerated pack in the safe in Venky sir’s office.
However, as an extra precaution, the man was to change the combination of the safe, since some of the senior ISIC professors knew the code. This way, by sheer fluke, if the vaccine were traced to Venky sir’s safe, he could truthfully say someone used his safe and even changed the combination. The man was to then disappear into interior Tamil Nadu, destroy his SIM and, under no circumstances contact Venky sir for two months.
The Case of the Vicious Vampires Page 8