The Cursed Shell

23

Detective Ritesh Dhawan packed his bags and started walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Lamb asked.

Dhawan stopped and turned for a few seconds. "I know where the killer is. And it's my mission to stop him from whatever he's doing."

"Then I'm coming too," Brute declared. "I'm also a part of this mission."

"It's dangerous," Dhawan said. "I can't take you. You're a child. I'm going alone." He walked out of the door.

There was silence for a moment until Dhawan faded from Brute's sight.

Brute rushed out of the door. He saw Dhawan walking towards the main–gate. "It's not fair! You have to take me with you. You adopted me for this reason only!"

Dhawan stopped and rolled his eyes. He turned towards the snapping adolescent. "Look, boy, I don't want to put your life in danger."

"Why did you adopt me then?" Brute argued.

"After I saw your wisdom in this case, I  thought that you could help me in this", Dhawan said.

"I can still help you", Brute said.

"You've helped me enough", Dhawan said.

'Helped him enough?' Brute thought, 'What have I done for this case? I just translated a few pages of Sanskrit which could be done by Mr Lamb too! I'm also a part of this case! This detective can't do this alone. He must take me with him or I'll punch on his face and kick him on his butt and on his private part and force him to take me with him.'

Brute started shouting at him but Dhawan couldn't hear anything anymore as he covered his ears with cotton balls. He sat inside a car.

'I shouldn't take this boy with me,' he thought. 'There's a series of dangers in this case still waiting to come. This case is not solved yet. And it's only me who has to solve it. I know dangers very well and have ability to face them. But this boy is only fourteen or fifteen year old. Can he face the incoming situations? No. He's not mature enough to do so. I have all the abilities I need in this case. I'm a wise, clever, intelligent, cunning, handsome and heartbreaking detective. I know several martial arts. My speed is good, actually very good. I'm good at science and math. I can hack phones and CCTVs. I've enough knowledge to solve this case. Am I missing something? This case is filled with contents of history and ancient languages. I'm not good at either of them. I know only two people who could probably help me in the history of this case. Mr Lamb, I don't think it would be safe to take him with me. My mission is to protect him after all! The another one I know the youngest one who knows about this case. No. No, Dhawan, no. You can't risk that kid's life for the case. But I've no other option left.'

He stepped out of the car, took the cotton balls out of his ears, and cupped his palms around his mouth. "Brute, you're coming or not?"

Brute was already beside him. "Why're you shouting?"

Dhawan jumped back as he realised that Brute was already standing there.

"What were you doing?" Dhawan asked.

"I was going to throw these rocks on your car, because you weren't listening to me", Brute said.

Dhawan gazed at his hands. They both were holding a brick. He raised his right eye–brow.

"So," Brute said, tightening his backpack, "what are we going to do now?"

Dhawan smiled. "Ever been to London?"