Stella's Corpse- Investigation Begins

by Samuel Kris

  He was on duty until ten o’clock that night. About eight and a half o’clock Dr. Mrinalini came out, with a patient sitting in a wheelchair. He wasn’t certain if it was a woman, because the patient’s face was covered with a mask. A bed sheet was simply thrown through the body. The head was also covered with a surgical cap.

  “Did the patient alive?”

  “Sir, what are you asking? What did that doctor get hauling a lifeless body in the car?”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “No. It was a living person. I remember the patient shook his hand when he got into the car.”

  “Did you notice anything else?”

  “The patient’s nails appear to have been painted in blue.”

  “Do you remember anything else? Did the doctor transfer the patient alone in the car?”

  “No. I think someone else assisted her. I clearly don’t remember.”

  “Someone with a mustache and six feet tall?”

  “I think he had a beard and a mustache. I didn’t notice the height, though.”

  Chapter 08

  After questioning him more, I realized it didn’t matter. However, I spoke with the security at the front gate. He remembered Stella had been using the blue nail polish that day. Stella was surely induced to him that much. He had noticed even the nail polish of his love. He certainly prays she would come back.

  Under those circumstances’ things became almost convincing. Mrinalini knew where Stella was. The guy who kidnapped Stella was someone she knew very well. Only just next, Sajan called me. Mrinalini sought the questions again. She inquired what was meant by the clobber among the corpses. And she agreed for a secret meeting.

  After telling Sajan to carry out the plan, I sat down behind the staircase near the mortuary. There, I can clearly see the mortuary gate. It was locked. After a while, Dr. Mrinalini and Sajan came there arguing about something. After making sure no one was coming, she opened the mortuary with the key she had hidden in her waist. After looking around, Sajan went in with her. He also took care to place the keys outside. But like I instructed, he didn’t send the message.

  I locked the mortuary outside to make sure no one else was coming. If I don’t provide him at least a moment to receive her kiss, it would be disrespect for him. After a while I opened the mortuary without causing any noise and went in and kindled the light. Seeing the light Dr. Mrinalini stood up shocked.

  “Five minutes isn’t enough for you, you moron. I just started getting things on my way.” Sajan lamented.

  Tactically Sajan was kept guarding outside the mortuary and when I interrogated her, she revealed everything. Mrinalini had no other choice when I pointed out that, Meenu- the cleaning staff had seen Mrinalini and the man with her. And that the security guard had confirmed the patient in the wheelchair was Stella herself. But she did not tell who her companion was and why she did it. She offered me she would do the same as she did with Sajan or more if I release her. I told her that she could give that in some other convenient place, she went along with me. Upon arriving at the police station, she realized the deception.

  Mrinalini’s statements were officially recorded. She never revealed about her companion. I was sure he was someone she loved deeply. Immediately, the evidence to prove it was obtained. It was recognized whom she had telephoned earlier and that they had been communicating to each other regularly for a long time. After some time, I got the information from the passport office. I arranged inquiries into the Airport.

  I didn’t notice it’s already seven O clock. It was Dr. Augustine’s call that prompted me. After advising him to get to the station as soon as possible, I started doing some other work. In the meantime, Sajan called several times. I didn’t pick up the phone.

  Dr. Augustine arrived directly. I could see he was tired of a long surgery.

  “Did you persuade the accused? Oh, my Stella, is she alive? Tell me, did you find her?”

  “My hope is Stella is still alive, Augustine. We secured the accused. The defendant befalls a woman. But she didn’t utter a word about Stella or her boyfriend.”

  “Thank God. You deserve a big salute Inspector. The defendant was seized so fast. Just a moment. You say Stella has a lover. I received the SMS saying she was with him. Thence what did this defendant say?”

  “Oh, I forget telling. It is true Stella has a boyfriend. But Stella did not go with her boyfriend. She went with the woman’s lover whom we took custody of, but not in her own will.”

  “What are you talking about? But this SMS I got says.”

  “I hope to get an answer soon.”

  Then the constable came in with some fax paper. He placed it on the table and went off. The ultimate proof I had hoped for has arrived.

  “Mr. Augustine, do you want to see that woman?”

  “Definitely.”

  Chapter 09

  When he saw her, Augustine produced no expression? Mrinalini looked at us like a hopeless woman.

  “Where is my Stella?” Augustine asked her.

  “It is you, Mr. Augustine to declare it,” I said impatiently.

  “Me? What are you talking about?”

  “I can say with all the evidence that you remain the one who kidnapped Stella. Mrinalini supported you.”

  “Don’t make false accuses. I don’t recognize this lady.”

  Hearing that, Mrinalini cried. Those words seemed to grieve her heart.

  “You can’t simply wash your hands by saying that Mr. Augustine. I have been collecting evidence against you since it became coherent that you are the accused. These fax copies prove it clearly."

  “What proofs?”

  “Would you refuse to tell me you had never been to France?”

  “Didn’t I already show evidence of my departure?”

  “I can assure you that it was absolutely bogus. However, the proof is in these papers.”

  “I refuse.”

  “I know you are exceptionally clever. So therewith, I’ll describe your moves sequentially. Just be willing to fill in the gaps. According to your passport documents, we were convinced you did not follow the immigration procedures for moving to France. If you say you went to France illegally, the case will be otherwise. It is likely to be more complicated than it is right now. After convincing everyone, especially Stella that you were going to France, you headed directly to Dubai. It corroborates the documents you presented us earlier and the evidence we got. Upon arriving in Dubai, you returned to Bangalore by the connecting flight. Since you didn’t step outside from the Dubai Airport, there was no way for the exit stamp to be imprinted on the passport. You reached Thiruvananthapuram by road. There is no way you can remain in a hotel. You lived in the desolate house of Dr. Mrinalini. From there, you arrived at Stella’s college in the car, in disguise with Mrinalini in the morning. You were delayed, because by then Stella went to college. When you started to return, saw Stella coming back. After perceiving no one else watching, Mrinalini went to Stella and told her about her corpse affair. And asked to come to the mortuary alone if she didn’t want to spread the rumor. Mrinalini had earlier learned there would be no study and no employees at the mortuary that day.

  Stella cried in the car for a while, afraid of the humiliation she was going to suffer. Next, she collected the bag and went to college. She must have thought about what to execute when she went to the toilet. She must have thought that she would do as she was ordered, for fear that Mrinalini might tell others. Subsequently she decided to tell her lover, Ajith, before any danger might arise. That’s how she came up with the Leave application. Conceivably it’s because you threatened her to do so. However, she does not have time to discuss to Ajith. By then, Mrinalini arrived there and Stella had to leave. That’s why she considered the classroom. All the more when she was in class, she occasionally looked at her mobile to see if Ajith was calling. She did not dare calling him, because of fear of Mrinalini being there. Meanwhile, Mrinalini seduced Ajith and cleverly hide his mobile.<
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  “No woman is worthy,” Augustine murmured.

  “What a man is you? I did all this for you,” Mrinalini cried.

  “Mr. Augustine, don’t accuse her. She might feel that to succeed in your plan she must compromise. Didn’t you Mrinalini?”

  She stood there without muttering a word.

  “When my inquiries were completed, I received the proof that Mrinalini had gone there and spent some time there when I got agitated with Ajith. Nothing but next he revealed the hidden truths. Anyway, Mrinalini, who had been taken care of Ajith, had to follow Stella as quickly as possible. That’s how she went looking for her in the classroom. She was clever to take Stella away without anyone seeing. Concurrently, two students had seen Mrinalini. If it had known, she would have been able to eliminate the evidence by tempting them too. Allow me also say that then this case would never have been solved. One or more persons must have seen the Mrinalini in the staff room. As soon as the police start investigating, they obtained their remedies, isn’t its Dr. Mrinalini?

  She looked elsewhere.

  “If women behave this way, then the world will be filled with people like me, God.”

  “I’m not finished, Augustine. You got into an argument with Stella at the mortuary, assaulted her and then with her...”

  “You got it wrong. I can admit you were right about all this. Mrinalini wouldn’t have told you what happened at the mortuary. I know she won’t assert anything about me because she desires me so much.”

  Upon hearing it, her eyes widened. “If you had possessed this courage a little earlier, our lives would have been beautiful. Did that demon had come into your life? What a shame for me! I undertook all those embarrassing things on behalf of you. Nonetheless, this inspector remains a gentleman. He acted more sensibly. Oh God, if there were many people here with such understanding.”

  “Inspector. I am not suppressing anything anymore. Confidential things to you, I’d reveal. But Inspector, before I tell you my part, on what basis you asserted that I was the one who kidnapped Stella? With passport documents alone, I know that doubt will never shrink to me. Conspicuously since Mrinalini didn’t disclose anything about me. Not only that but I am equally interested to know how you came to Mrinalini. I know you cannot trap her just with the words of a student.”

  “Traditionally, we don’t have to explain how everything was discovered before the culprit. But I can brief you with absolute conviction that you remain a devoted husband.”

  “No, it’s not. Not for a long time.”

  “I still believe that way. Whatever it is. Do you recall what I mentioned when you came here with the complaint? Initially, I fell into the trap you set. I was sure Stella would go with her boyfriend because she was disappointed in the marriage. But it was Stella’s actions on the other day that pressured me thinking. When I got her call history, naturally I focused my attention to Ajith. When I disproved the evidence that they possessed an intimate relationship, he agreed. But there was no answer to where Stella had gone. I was terribly hindered when I didn’t elicit any information from the ATM card. What bothered me was that how Stella disappeared from medical college without anyone knowing. The thought of seeing Stella’s imported car speeding past three o’clock that day prompted me to think otherwise. The statement that the car was maneuvered by a man represent an even greater possibility. Only an experienced one can manage that advanced car so quickly. Next the person who steered the car should have been accustomed to driving the car early. I know that people who drove such a foreign-made car would be few in this capital city. And the evidence from the security showed how and when Stella was taken out. When I confirmed a man was in the mortuary with Stella, I narrowed the man who drove the car and smuggled Stella was the one. It was the tension and over suspicion caused Mrinalini in trouble. She reckoned that Sajan, like all men could stay in her control. But I must say that Sajan helped me and received his wish fulfilled.”

  Augustine looked at Mrinalini. She barely narrowed her eyes.

  “When I received the details of the outgoing call, Mrinalini made at the hospital, things became clearer to me. As soon as I realized it was your number, I arranged to check out the call history of you and her. In the days when you claimed to be in France, I got a vague idea of where you were. Why did you lie that you were in France? Why did you lie to say you got the SMS in France, even though it was in Thiruvananthapuram? It has been discovered that you and Mrinalini have been having a long telephone conversation in the recent past. Next the necessary information was secured from the Airport. That’s the fax papers on this table.

  Meantime an inquiry was carried out about you and Mrinalini. It was perceived that the two were studying simultaneously. It was reported that the day before Stella’s disappearance, Mrinalini had arrived at her locked house. Augustine, if you hadn’t turned on your mobile, you’d definitely have loopholes to escape.

  “I won’t conceal anything more. What you said is accurate. You are a skilled police officer. Your name may be filled on newspaper pages.”

  Chapter 10

  “Mrinalini and I practiced medicine together. We were in deep love. But the family of Mrinalini was opposed to me, being a Christian. She got married to another man. She offered to come along with me, but I didn’t have the courage. When she left, I realized how big the loss was. Then, Stella’s proposal came. While studying medicine, the family decided her marriage. When I was assured that my heritage was the only thing they were looking, and they offered a cumbersome amount as dowry I accepted. As a result, our wedding took place. Not to blame, we celebrated our honeymoon with immense joy. Stella was someone who was unusually active in the bedroom. Gradually I felt she possessed some kind of addiction. By the time I realized that it was some kind of perversion, things had been getting out of hand. It was routine for us to quarrel over that. I was aware of such perversions. I was devastated when she told me she was in a hurry to get married because her parents knew this behavior. It was only later her family opened things up.

  While practicing medicine, she frequently performed things that no one would ever implement with dead bodies. It was extremely late when the authorities found it and informed her parents.”

  “Doctor. I did not understand.”

  “She possesses a type of perversion called Necrophilia. A dirty mentality that tries to intercourse with corpses.”

  “Is that possible? Will a male body in particular be agile for it?”

  “She had her own way. I’m ashamed of saying the procedure. Do you realize what an abominable act it is? Anyway, it was not long before I went abroad. She continued studying medicine. With the abundant money she retained, she passed without any other trouble. When I returned, she came with an apology and promised to be a good wife. I could not avoid her because it was her family who spent most of my study abroad. As an only daughter, Stella remain the heir to a great deal of wealth. But I hated touching her again. She knew that.

  When she got the lecture post in medical college, she left without summoning a word. One day I had to go there. That’s how I met Mrinalini. What she said about Stella genuinely shocked me.

  I devoted more attention to her when she insisted that Stella and Ajith enjoyed unusually intense relationships. I felt that Stella regularly talked to Ajith during the night. One day I unexpectedly came home and discovered it. At three o’clock in the morning, I was shocked to see Stella engaging in telephone sex without a single piece of cloth. More than that, it was the material that she utilized made my mind hurt.

  Subsequently I got furious about eliminating her. But I returned from there. It was then that I got closer to Mrinalini and shared my misfortunes. We both had plans for punishing Stella. After a few days of observation, it was discovered that Stella would go to the mortuary often in the evenings. And when it became explicit that Ajith was also present, things got easier. From Shenoy’s custody, Mrinalini tricked to (He looked at her suddenly, as if he was thinking something. She hastily turned he
r face away.) get the key of the mortuary and hid inside. Oh, right now I get things clear, you must have had an assistant there, who locked the door. I don’t want to know who it was.

  I persuaded what I coveted anyway. At the mortuary, Stella and Ajith were doing awkward things with corpses. I found out that she equally involved Ajith in her perversion. Though unwillingly, he engaged in shameful actions with the corpses. But I felt he was ultimately doing it to please Stella. That’s why I left him without any harm.

  Then as you said, I made a definite plan, and I went to Dubai. From there, after landing in Bangalore, everything is as you said. Tuesday day, oh it is clear to me now, it was Mrinalini who asked Shenoy to replace the mortuary staff. When we arrived the next day, Shenoy joined our play without knowing the plot. But Stella was already gone. When we thought the plan could be amended to other day, she came back. Mrinalini went to her side and showed her the video footage of her perversion with the corpse on the camcorder. She threatened to come to the mortuary after forty-five minutes if no one should know anything about it. And if she would tell Ajith or anyone else about that everything would be made public. Stella collapsed when she was notified that many copies of the video were ready in many places and could be seen at any moment by the outer world. Thereafter, Mrinalini went the hospital to prepare. I was hiding and was delighted to witness Stella’s downfall. When she went to college, I followed in a distinct path. Mrinalini accompanied me from there and took another route to the mortuary. And then I waited. Stella was the first to get in. I snatched her by her waist and punched her on the cheek. Mrinalini to be following her, injected Stella with the drug and put her there. At three o’clock she opened the doors and released me. She had somehow secured the key of Stella’s car. Regardless, I got out of there in a way that no one else had any doubts about. In the night according to Mrinalini, I got in another car and took Stella.