Killer Moves

by Varsha Dixit

  “Shit! Ow!”

  “You okay?”

  “I stubbed my darn toe.”

  Kiara switched on a lamp and helped Aisha sit in the retired Judge’s chair.

  “Let me get some ice.”

  “Can you get some coffee too along with the ice, Kia, please!”

  “Fine,” Kiara flounced away toward the kitchen.

  Aisha shook her head and sat back, resting her foot on the table. Parth’s ugly words still loomed over her head.

  “Stupid CBI!” Aisha rubbed her head. Bending down, she took out a notepad from her bag. Mostly, she used it to jot down story plots or ideas that came to her. This time it was more specific. Aisha flipped to a new page and started writing.

  KABIR

  No painkillers or antidepressants or drugs in the medicine cabinet, bathroom. Only a big fat ghost. Why is she still here?

  No suspicious looking things or documents in his bedroom. Need to search more in there? How? HECK, YES!

  Find out more about Lavina’s death. How were husband-wife relations? Where was Kabir then?

  Why he is so damn irresistible? I am falling for him Help!

  Any other suspects?

  Make a trip to Sirsa. Soon!

  Parth is an ASSHOLE.

  “Damn!” Aisha shut the notebook and slipped it back in her bag. As she rubbed her head, Aisha’s gaze fell on the folded newspaper her father had left on the coffee table. She read the headline. Demolition of fraudulent ACT University building to cost the Government crores.

  “Aha! That’s how Parth found out.”

  Carefully keeping her father’s reading glasses on the side, Aisha picked up the newspaper. She scanned the article. It talked about ACT University and its practice of falsifying credentials and handing out fake degrees. How a body of students had sued the university and the Court had shut it down, causing much embarrassment to the sitting Government as a few of the high-ranking politicians or their relatives sat on the University’s Board of Directors. There had been a flurry of arrests and resignations. The university campus built on a prime five-acre state-owned land within the Capital was to be demolished, costing the Government crores in labor and hardware.

  “I was a freaking victim too, Parth!”

  An article below caught Aisha’s attention. She was about to read it, but Kiara came back with a tray.

  “Coffee and ice, dear Boo!”

  “One more favor and I will will everything to you.” Aisha pleaded.

  “You will will everything to me willingly?” Kiara narrowed her eyes.

  “Very willingly, I will will everything to you. If you will put the tray on my bedside table.” Aisha’s said with a face straighter than a foot ruler.

  Kiara snorted. “I will willingly if you will will—”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake, just put the damn tray in my room.” Aisha giggled, and Kiara joined in.

  “Keep it down, girls!” Her father called out in a heavy sleep-laden voice from his room.

  “Sorry, Papa!” Limping, Aisha trailed Kiara.

  “Thank you, kiddo, you are the best. Good night, darling.”

  “Don’t forget the will.” Kiara gave an exaggerated bow and exited the room.

  Chapter 67

  Aisha locked the door and hobbled to the bed. Sitting down on the bed, she read the article under the one about the university. Something in it had pricked her mind. The article spoke about rising prices of chemicals, but one chemical caught her eye. High test calcium hypochlorite.

  “Where have I read this term before? Where? Where?” Pursing her mouth, Aisha shifted on the bed restlessly. She closed her eyes thinking, centering her thoughts. A few seconds later Aisha opened eyes that positively shone.

  Hastily, Aisha turned and opened the drawer where she kept the victim’s files.

  Going on her knees, she spread them out on the bed. Next, she limped to the desk and brought her laptop to the bed. She was working in a frenzied state.

  Logging in, Aisha kept the laptop aside. She scanned the files on the bed for the term in the article that had caught her eye. Aisha did not have to look for long. She tilted her head and read the sentence that was common to all the victims. High test calcium hypochlorite residue found inside and around the vagina, on thighs, under the buttocks and on the breasts.

  Narrowing her eyes, Aisha pulled her laptop closer. In the search box she quickly typed, ‘What is high test calcium hypochlorite’ and pressed enter.

  The search engine opened links to several pages. Aisha clicked the first one and perused it carefully. She hit the back key and went to the search page. She opened the second article and read it. She closed it and went back to the third article. She did it multiple times until she had nearly scrutinized fifteen pages within twenty-five minutes.

  Aisha sat back and straightened her foot. “Ow!” Her toe stung. She turned to the tray on her bedside and lifted the ice pack that had left a sizable puddle on the tray.

  The ice is warm and the coffee’s cold. Ironic!

  Aisha slapped the pack on her toe and sipped the coffee, resting her back comfortably against the pillows.

  So, hypochlorite is most commonly found in industrial bleach. Aisha chewed her lips. He was removing all evidence. She shuddered. Must have been so painful for the girls. Monster. She blinked her eyes rapidly and rubbed her head.

  Bleach, bleach. What am I forgetting?

  Aisha’s laptop went into sleep mode and began running a preset slideshow. She had recently uploaded Goa pictures from her phone and camera to her laptop. Aisha saw the pictures of dolphins framed against the sunset. She jerked up and the ice pack slid to the side.

  “Holy cow!” her eyes glimmered with excitement. “Where is it? Where is it?”

  Aisha picked up Dr. Lorso’s notes she had clicked pictures of. She skimmed to a line and read it aloud. “Lack of blood on the scene where the body was found points to the fact that the victim was killed somewhere else and her body was transported to the site where she was discovered.”

  Aisha brought her laptop out of sleep mode and opened the recycle bin. She scrolled through all the images she had deleted. “Yes!” Aisha squealed, double clicking on an image.

  The image was that of the green van, the one Aisha had chanced upon on her hike to Lopez Point, the one that strongly smelled of bleach.

  “Shit! This where he kills them. It is only after I touched the van that the names of these girls came to my mind. Oh God! Were they trying to reach me?”

  Aisha, for first time, felt scared for herself. She remembered the faces with black holes for eyes, mouths with sharp teeth open in agonized screams. She was used to a ghost or two connecting with her and moving on. But this was an entire crowd of angry spirits in pain.

  What did I get myself into? This might damage me beyond repair!

  Aisha broke in cold sweat.

  Chapter 68

  For the next few days, Aisha immersed herself in what she knew—writing for television.

  “Good night, Veena. See you tomorrow.” Aisha tidied her desk, smiling at her assistant dialog writer.

  After connecting the van to Dr. Lorso’s deductions, Aisha had sent a text off to Parth, asking him to investigate it, along with the pictures of the van.

  Parth had never responded to her text. Even though the suspense was killing her, Aisha did not reach out to him again.

  “Night, Boss! We have a late shift tomorrow. Twelve-to-nine. Will you be here?” Veena asked, following Aisha’s example, and logging out of her machine.

  “For the first half definitely!” Aisha reached the office and opened it. She stopped short on seeing who waited at the door. “Oh! Hi!”

  “Hey!” Kabir waved.

  “What are you doing here?” Aisha asked, trying to act casual even though she felt happy enough to sing upon seeing Kabir.

  “I was looking for a ride.” Kabir replied casually. “Can you drop me home?” His face creased in a boyish grin that lit up his
eyes like he was upon a secret.

  Aisha nodded slightly dazed. “Sure. But how did you get here?”

  “By my car,” Kabir tapped his foot against the soft soil, drawing out the suspense, his face full of mischief.

  Aisha sighed resigned. “And where is your car now?”

  Kabir shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe the driver took it back?”

  “Really?”

  “You haven’t called or made any efforts to meet for the last few days, so I dropped by.” Kabir crossed his arms and looked down.

  “Wow, you are a needy bo—” Aisha swallowed. “Friend.”

  Kabir leaned down, causing Aisha to take a step back self-consciously. “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

  “Stop it!” Aisha laughed nervously. “Let me introduce you to my team member, Veena.” She pivoted and stopped. “Veena this is—”

  “Whatever you want him to be.” Veena rolled her tongue against her cheek, her expression coy as it winged between Aisha and Kabir.

  “Very funny. Let’s go.” Aisha beat hasty retreat from the room. “I’ll drop you to your place.”

  Kabir put an arm on her elbow, stopping Aisha. “Technically, you are dropping me at your home. Kiara called. Your dad wants to play chess with me and treat me to whatever has been cooked tonight.”

  “Oh!” Aisha stopped. Kiara and her dad were not the kind to have impromptu dinner guests over.

  They are playing matchmakers for me.

  “Oh good or oh bad?” Kabir teased.

  “Oh, very good!” Aisha blurted. Her cell beeped. “Excuse me!” She rummaged in her purse and checked her cell. It was a text from Parth. “Google Panaji news.”

  “Everything okay?” Kabir asked upon seeing Aisha’s puzzled expression.

  “Parth just texted me.” Aisha replied absentmindedly.

  “Why is he texting you?”

  “Something related to Kiara’s attack.”

  “Did they catch the guy?”

  “We are working on it.” Aisha replied, putting her cell back in her bag.

  Kabir halted mid-step. “We?”

  “As in them, we all, the police . . . whatever . . . we can do to catch the creep.” Aisha stuttered.

  Kabir simply grunted.

  Aisha gazed at his profile; it appeared unyielding.

  Does he not want the man caught?

  “Do you want to drive?”

  Kabir glanced at her, his expression distant, all trace of humor and mischief gone. “Sure, if you want me to.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t!” Aisha handed him the car keys.

  #

  Kabir drove Aisha’s car out of the studios. Except for the constant noises from the road, there wasn’t much conversation between them.

  Why did she smile in that happy and excited manner when the cop texted her? Is there something going on between them? Is she like Lavina, stringing men?

  He honked with more force than required on the vehicles in front of them. Kabir felt Aisha turn and cast him a look but he kept his eyes on the road.

  I was so excited at the prospect of seeing Aisha. I was missing her more than I would miss anyone I had met merely ten days ago. She is not anyone.

  Kabir sighed. “Sorry!” He admitted gruffly. “All this is new to me.”

  “More than it is to me?” Aisha asked in an amused voice.

  “Touché!” Kabir replied, his expression wry. He reached out and took Aisha’s hand that lay in her lap. “I missed this.”

  Aisha’s fingers curled around his. “Me too,” She confessed softly.

  Kabir turned and watched a face that he had started obsessing over. “You are beautiful, sweet Aisha,” he said, his voice husky.

  Kabir felt himself get hard as he saw the color rise in Aisha’s cheeks. The things that I could do to her would make her feel hot enough to explode. He gave her a hand a last squeeze and let go.

  “Aisha, you remember that clause about taking us to the next level, right? Maybe I did not make myself clear, but you can do that anytime.” He watched the mischief bring a sparkle to her eyes.

  “Even at 2:00 am?”

  “Yes.”

  “What about 3:00 in the afternoon?”

  “Yes.”

  “What about 6:00 in the morning?” Aisha continued to tease.

  “Oh God, yes!” Kabir groaned.

  Aisha was boggled at Kabir’s response.

  “I’m imagining you and me having sex at all those times.”

  “Oh!” Aisha’s voice was a squeak and he saw the answering desire in her eyes.

  Why is she holding back if she wants me too?

  Kabir observed Aisha swallow. “I promise to be gentle and very, very thorough,” he said, his voice low and silky.

  “Just shut up and drive!” Aisha muttered, crossing her arms and legs tightly.

  Kabir could not help the laugh that rumbled out of him.

  Chapter 69

  Next day, Aisha woke up feeling like she ruled a country. She went into the bathroom and hummed right through the morning ablutions, breakfast, Pinky and Kiara’s everyday argument about the taste of food and her father’s grumbling about the neighbor’s teenage son who played rather loud music late into the night.

  Kabir is a big part of how I’m feeling today, no denying that. Parth’s text also has me thrilled. I’m such a tart!

  Once Kabir and Aisha had arrived home, Aisha had disappeared in her room on the pretext of taking a shower. In her room, she had opened her laptop and done as Parth asked. She had typed Panaji and then hit search.

  Aisha’s eyes glowed like embers when she opened the first page the search engine threw back. The article showed the picture of the green van surrounded by a few constables. The headline was: How the Killer Moves? The killing machine found.

  It then went on to report that Panaji police, assisted by the CBI, had received a tip from a credible source that had led them to a hidden van at Lopez Point. An anonymous but official source had told them that it was too early to say anything conclusive but inside the van they had found industrial strength bleach and stains on the floor that could be old blood. The article also mentioned that the van was missing number plates, so it would be hard for the police to track the owner of the van.

  “Boo, are you listening to any of us?”

  Aisha shook her head, coming back to the present. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

  “Kiara was asking what your plans are for today.” Her father replied, half-hidden by the newspaper he was reading.

  “I have an appointment at the Vision TV corporate office.”

  “You looking to move to another channel?” Her father put down the newspaper.

  “Nope. Just networking.” Aisha demurred. She had taken an appointment with Shreya’s ex-husband for today morning. Aisha was known in the industry well enough to get meetings with other channel heads.

  She left her house a few minutes later and drove herself to the Vision TV’s corporate office, which was a glass building comprising of several floors. She did not have to wait long and was shown to the room of Mr. Sudhir Vyast, Shreya’s ex.

  Gosh, he is such a sleaze ball.

  Aisha diplomatically pulled her hand out of Sudhir’s clammy palm. They chitchatted about a few common acquaintances. Aisha let him think that she was planning to jump ship. After ten minutes or so, she put a bag in between them.

  She was tired of Sudhir staring at her breasts. They don’t squirt rainbows, lecher!

  “We have another connection.”

  Sudhir’s face lit up.

  “Kabir Rana, the Ad maker.”

  Sudhir’s mouth twisted like he had tasted something bitter. “How well do you know him?”

  Aisha shrugged. “Bumped into him last week.”

  “Stay away from that man.”

  “What do you mean?” Aisha’s expression was nonchalant.

  “He is a fucking psycho! He broke my marriage.”

  Aisha
’s fingers gripped the arms of her chair. She struggled to keep her expression neutral. “Really?”

  “Yes, absolutely! All the time hovering around my wife umm . . . ex-wife. We all have friends but who takes such liberties? Buying Shreya expensive gifts for no reason. My wife’s birthday and he throws a big surprise party for her. And guess who that asshole forgets to invite? Me, the husband. Convenient, right? All the time, he would drop by our house unannounced.” Some spit pooled at the side of Sudhir’s mouth for he was speaking forcefully.

  Aisha could not help but remember how Kabir had showed up at her work without informing her.

  “Shreya and he would talk for hours late into the night. And my wife would be always, Kabir this, Kabir that. Those two are a match made in hell.” Sudhir sat back, his expression far from pleased.

  “I’m sorry, I was told that you cheated on her.”

  Sudhir grunted but did not deny it. “It happened much after. I was fed up, man!”

  Aisha nodded somberly. In her ethics book, cheating was a big no-no, but Sudhir was showing a very troubled side to his marriage. And even if it were fifty percent true, Kabir did seem to be at fault.

  Sudhir leaned forward. He wasn’t finished. “And when Shreya asked for divorce, this Kabir hired the best lawyer money can buy and wiped the floor with me. Shreya got everything! If that asshole had his way, I would have probably been left with only my underwear.” Sudhir smacked the table. “Thankfully, Shreya stepped in, so I have at least one apartment and one car. But the other two houses, my three-acre farmhouse, my four cars . . . everything went to her.”

  Aisha genuinely felt contrite. “I’m sorry. That must have been awful.”

  “And if that wasn’t enough, he got a restraining order against me. I can’t go anywhere near Shreya or him. As if I would want to go anywhere near those two.”

  Aisha processed the information. Her heart dove straight to her feet. After another fifteen minutes, during which Aisha had no recollection of what they had discussed, she finally got to her feet. “Thank you for meeting me.”

  “Of course, the pleasure is all mine.” Sudhir got the door for Aisha. “Maybe we can meet for dinner sometime this week. I can tell you more about the opportunities here.” He placed a hand on Aisha’s back and stroked her through the blouse.