The Cat Hunter

by Krishna Ahir

  The Cat Hunter

  By

  Krishna Ahir

  This book is dedicated Aneef, Naina, Love, Kush, Khushi, Kaavya, Mom, Dad, Di, Jiju, Bhai, Bhabhi, my friends, my guardian angel and my friends who believed in me and helped me pursue my dream of writing and last but not the least to all the wonderful readers.

  Special thanks to HydRAW members (Hyderabad Readers and Writers Club) for giving me the confidence to write more. Grateful and honored to have Arun Sir and Sudheendra write the foreword for my first book.

  The Cat Hunter

  Table of Contents

  FOREWORD By Arun Sir & Sudheendra

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  EPILOGUE

  FOREWORD By Arun Sir & Sudheendra

  When Krishna asked me to write foreword, initially I was reluctant, when I thought about that felt I got a chance as a reader and why not use the opportunity as a as a privilege given to the reader. I accepted and here I am writing one. And a gamut of thoughts surrounded in my mind what to mention. Let me take you to the journey in foreword….

  My generation when the buzz of internet heard, some of them were about the “book” vanishing from the shelves and death to the physical form of the book. Even after more than 30 years the physical form of books existing, and the rapid growth of publishing numbers is the evidence that “book” stays. May be people due to convenience use kindle, audio, eBook etc., at the end of it I see it as a book. One advantage of the present age is that multiple platforms are available online where one can attend webinar, masterclass or take online course. Various platforms where one can post their work and critical reviews, feedback that one receives brings out effective work. As a result, I see many authors flourishing and taking writing as a full-fledged vocation.

  I know Krishna as a story writer during the HydRAW meetup. HydRAW for the “Advent: Anthology” launched a story writing contest I was one of the members who curated the anthology. Two stories that Krishna wrote evoked much discussion in the meetup along with other writers. I met her during regular meetups and earnt about her qualifications and saw her works coming through. In social media and in various writing platforms where she posted her stories or poems regularly, made me look forward for her writings. When Krishna announced her wish to write the debut fiction (full length) I was curious.

  I took the draft without enquiring to feel the pulse of the book and to give honest feedback as the story progressed, I realized it’s the psychological thriller. I also contemplated if is it really a good idea to venture into writing a psychological thriller. I started wondering, as writing thriller even for that matter any genre of fiction is difficult. The reason being in the age of short span of attention one needs to be creative and engaging storyteller to keep the attention span of the readers intact. As the reader unconsciously, looks up to the earlier masters or living legends when one reads. If it is debut writing more burden on the writer. By the time I finished reading I realized I concentrated on the story without getting into comparing any other writer I read. I am sure readers will find it interesting those who like thrillers, if you are not a thriller fan try and may be this book will make you one.

  -Aruna Kumar Gadepalli

  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9717536-aruna-kumar-gadepalli

  Blog: http://arunaschoolib.blogspot.in/

  I know Krishna madam through HydRaW, a sanctuary for all the readers, writers and thinkers. Her analysis of the books that she has read and her command over the language mesmerizes me, and she is a great conversationalist too. She is always very encouraging and radiates positivity. Hence, I could not say no, when she asked me to write a foreword for her.

  This novel I must say has been gripping from the very beginning. It has been an intense read for me. And, it has encouraged me to fall in love with fiction again, as I realize that you can discover the truths of the human nature more by reading the gems like this one. Because no matter how much ever we advance in terms of technology, human nature shall always remain a mystery. The writers and the story tellers do a better job at decoding the human nature than psychologists.

  I am a non-fiction reader to the core. Believe me after so many years I am reading a thriller, that too a psychological thriller. And, the breadth of insights that Krishna madam has about the human nature astonishes me. You would get to know the abysmal cruelty of human nature more by reading this novel, than by reading psychology books.

  This book is a mixed bag of intense emotions. On one hand you have cruelty and dread, and on the other hand you find friendship, camaraderie between the colleagues and dedication towards the duty very beautifully captured. And, that is what the readers get to learn. Because, that is what life is all about-a rainbow of emotions. Though this book qualifies as a thriller, the author has done a very good job at explaining the facets of cruelty that one cannot even imagine.

  There have been so many instances where in this thriller has given me goosebumps. The turn of events is beyond the reader s expectations. Going by the name The Cat Hunter, would make the reader s think, why would somebody kill the innocent cats. What one must gain by it. But the story starts taking some ugly turns and keeps the readers hooked. You would feel sad, shocked, a sense of thrill and at the end would have the satisfaction of having read a great thriller.

  So, why wait? Just read on. Happy reading!

  -Sudheendra Fadnis

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31175254-sudheendra-fadnis

  Blog: https://fsudheendra.blogspot.com/

  Chapter 1

  Christopher Douglas woke up to the sonic beeping of the alarm clock seated beside his bed.

  Awaken from his sleep by the harsh beeping sound, Christopher opened one eye and checked the time. Half-heartedly sighing to himself, he moved one hand from beneath his bed sheets and struck the top of the beeping device, silencing the yawning.

  Getting up from bed, he moved about his room slowly before opening the door to the bathroom. Taking a towel, he made his way to the bathroom and showered quickly.

  Once he was done with his shower and dressed, he made his way downstairs, checking his watch as he went.

  Satisfied that he had enough time, he switched on the radio and made his way to the kitchen. Sifting through the cupboards, one of his hands drumming to the tune of the song currently playing as his other searched for food.

  Settling on a jar of strawberry jam, Christopher made up his mind and began to prepare his toast; all the while listening to the radio.

  As he ate, he felt a movement near his leg.

  "Never too early to bother me, is it Crystal?"

  Reaching down absent-mindedly, Christopher scratched the top of the cat's head. Pushing its head up into his fingers, the small feline creature began to purr.

  Finishing his breakfast, Christopher scooped up his plate and set it down in the sink, before fixing the cat his own bowl of food.

  "See you later," Christopher said, waving at the cat as he made his way to the door. "Try not to get into too much
trouble while I'm gone."

  The street outside his house was moderately empty. Every so often a car would pass by him on his left-hand side, apart from that and the occasional pedestrian; Christopher had no company on his walk.

  Above his head the sky was a clear and crisp blue, white clouds crawling sparsely across it like lone swimmers in an empty sea. Darting through the air, a Robin settled down in the branches of an overlooking tree and peered at the young man.

  Readjusting the bag slung over his shoulder, Christopher again checked his watch. He was running almost perfectly on time.

  "I could almost set my watch to you, you know that?"

  Barbara Beatrice was standing just past the bend of an intersecting road, leaning against a low garden wall. Dangling from one of her ears was the wire from a pair of headphones.

  "I like being on time. There's nothing wrong with that."

  "How are you holding up on your own?"

  Christopher's family was away on holiday, having left the previous morning. Not wanting to miss any of his classes, he had elected to stay behind and look after the house.

  "Better than I thought. I actually like the peace and quiet."

  "Surviving? If you want, I can come around and make you dinner some time."

  Christopher laughed. "Thanks, but I'm gonna have to pass on that. I've seen you cook. I'm not about to go down that road again."

  "You're such a Jerk." While her words were harsh, her tone was lighthearted.

  "I try."

  Christopher and Barbara had been friends for so many years that casual insults like those had become commonplace. It had gotten to the point where he hardly noticed them anymore.

  "How's the boyfriend?"

  Barbara grinned and interlocked her fingers behind her head as she walked. "He's doing okay. I still haven't put him through the ringer yet, though."

  "I feel sorry for him. He still doesn't know how much of a nightmare you can be."

  "Well aren't you chirpy today."

  "Sarcasm is unbecoming of you."

  "I can think of plenty of things about me that are unbecoming, and you're picking sarcasm?"

  "Honestly, I take what I can get."

  "Speaking of, you going to Eric s party on Thursday?"

  "Ugh, mind out of the gutter." Christopher peered out of the corner of his eye at the dark-haired girl to his right. "That was one time, alright. Why do you bring it up every chance you get?"

  "Because you torture me. It's only fair."

  Christopher allowed himself a silent smirk.

  "You still haven't said if you're going to Eric s. Come on, it's not like you must give your parents an excuse. And you don't have a curfew to stick to."

  "Yeah but it's the night before a MONDAY."

  "I swear to god, you don't even need parents. You do a damn good job of policing yourself as it is." Barbara began to walk backwards so that she could look at Christopher while she talked to him. "Tell you what... I'll drive you there and take you home. Then all you have to do is play designated drinker."

  "Why are you so up for getting me to go out?"

  "Because you need to live a little."

  The pair reached the gates to the college building. Passing through the wrought iron structures, they entered a gaggle of students. Fragments of conversations could be heard as they maneuvered their way through the herd.

  "-I watch a lot of it but, like, I'd never actually do it."

  "-It's obviously coming back for another season. Plus-"

  "-And who the hell does he think he is, saying that to-"

  "-is their best single. Give it a listen, man."

  Christopher dipped between the swarm of bodies, all the while replying to his friend; raising his voice to be heard over the crowd. "I live plenty, thank you very much. You seem to be forgetting that time when-" His speech pattern was broken momentarily as he bumped into the arm of a younger girl. "Oh, sorry about that- That time when I jumped out of Allison's window."

  "That was like a year ago," Barbara replied. "I haven't forgotten. It's just nobody cares anymore."

  "So, what you're saying is I need to do something crazy to spice up my rep?"

  "Pretty much."

  "Why do I get the feeling that this is going to somehow end very badly for me?"

  "You don't know that. This could be exactly what you need."

  Finally settling into a steady pace, and falling in line with the other students, Christopher half groaned under his breath. "If I say I'll go, will you get off my back?"

  Barbara's face brightened. "Almost definitely."

  "I do not like the sound of that 'almost' out there."

  "Well I always have to be on your back about something. That's the rules if you want me as a best friend."

  "I don't recall ever saying that I wanted you as a best friend in the first place."

  "Oh, shut up. You love me and you know it."

  Christopher said nothing. He merely smirked and shook his head.

  _________________________________________

  Constable Byron sat at his desk, spinning a pen around his thumb. The tendons of his wrist rose up as he finally stopped and gripped it tightly.

  Scattered across the surface in front of him were numerous different files and folders of paperwork, all in varying stages of completion. A mug of tea, long since turned tepid and cold sat on the corner of one such file. A dull ring of moisture was left clinging to the brown paper as he lifted the cup to his lips and attempted to force down the liquid.

  His eyes were bloodshot, from where he had been rubbing them. Snatching up a packet of allergy medicine, set down next to where his mug had been placed, Byron took out the pills and swallowed two of them.

  "Damn..." he muttered under his breath, grunting from the back of his throat.

  "Mornin' Officer."

  Leaning back in his chair, Byron's dark brown eyes fell on the upside-down form of Drake Gregory. "Morning Drake."

  "Pulling another all-nighter again?"

  "Got it in one." He swiveled his chair around so that he could talk to his co-worker face to face. "Tryin' to pack in as much overtime as possible."

  "I'd hold back on it if I were you. Don't want you making the rest of us look bad." Drake smirked. "Gotta say though, the overtime pay is pretty cushy."

  "Not doing it for the pay. I'm takin' the hours in lieu. Looking to get a bit of time off at the end of the month; take Annabelle somewhere nice."

  "I was gonna say," Drake half-laughed. "It did seem strange to see you actually getting some paperwork done. All things said, I thought you enjoyed running the beat."

  "Name me a single Constable in this station that likes paperwork and I'll eat my fuckin' hat," Byron replied.

  "Point taken. So, anything interestin' happen in the early hours?"

  "Not really. We got a drunk and disorderly in Three, but that's about as exciting as it gets. Caroline brought him in. Apparently, he mistook a park bench for his ex-wife."

  "I take it that didn't end well?"

  "Kicked the absolute shit out of it. Got a fine for the damages."

  "Good thing I wasn’t there."

  "Whys that?"

  "I would have probably laughed at him," Drake said, grinning and leaning back against the desk behind him.

  "That's why we keep you locked up in here most of the time," Byron chuckled in reply. "Can't be trusted out there, you'll stop people takin' us seriously."

  "So, where you thinkin' of taking Annabelle?"

  "Old friend of my Dad's has a place out in Mary s Lagoon. Said I could have it for a couple of weeks, if no-one's renting it."

  "Oh nice."

  "Yeah, I thought so. Love a nice bit of hot weather."

  "It's out by Spain, innit?" Scratching the side of his scalp, Drake tilted his head to the side.

  "Maybe," Byron shrugged. "They speak Spanish out there, but I dunno if it's near there. They speak Spanish in New Beach and that's all the way down by Africa."
/>   "Fair enough. The Detective's Spanish, isn't he?"

  "Who, Harold? Yeah. He doesn't speak the lingo very much, but it tends to come out when he's had a few."

  "I still find it weird that you go out drinking with him."

  "Hey, he's nice enough. Plus, it helps to be in close with the boss."

  "Yeah but has it even once worked in getting you a favor?"

  "Well not yet." Byron laughed. "But hey, you wait. Sooner or later all those whiskeys are gonna add up."

  "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."

  "Don't you have anything productive to be getting on with? Or are you just makin' it your mission to pester me?"

  "I actually wanted your help with something."

  Byron took note of this. Very rare was it that Drake would admit he needed help with anything.

  "What is it?"

  "Cats."

  "Come again?"

  "Over the last few weeks, a load of cats have been going missing from Grand Stone Bay. It's not isolated to one spot either, and it's too high a number to be coincidence."

  "You know this isn't usually police business, right? There are dozens of lost pet agencies that should be able to find them. Not to mention nowadays, almost every animal is micro chipped."

  "Yeah, you'd think that but all of them are turning up zip. It's weird. Usually with a high number of pet disappearances like this, most of them would have ended up in shelters. But the report I got yesterday says that the number of cats picked up by these places has actually been going down."

  Byron had already lost interest with the conversation, however decided to humor his co-worker. At least that way he would be able to say he tried to help. "Maybe they were just hit by cars or something?"

  Almost two hundred and thirty thousand cats had been killed in motor collisions in the UK, the previous year. It was a fair assumption to believe that the happenings had something to do with adding to that figure.

  "See at first I thought that too, but no. I went and asked around the council, to see if the street cleaners reported higher levels of roadkill, but no dice."

  "Is this actually a case you've been assigned?" Byron didn't want Drake to be getting into something off the books. It wasn't that they were busy, and his time could be devoted elsewhere; far from it in fact. Harold, the Detective in charge of their station, didn't approve of officers spending excessive amount of time on things that didn't concern them.