Deadly Games

|14|: It Ends Here

Tiara, along with the team scurried to the auditorium, passing through the horrified group of people gathered there. They entered the crime scene, where Nikhil Deshmukh lay dead, his throat slit, blood splattered across the sink, wall, floor and his clothes.

She recalled Hrithik's words, You would do the right thing if you care about saving people's lives, because I intend to do the same, even though my path is not like you.
Would she be a fool and trust him or she would be honest enough to have faith on him. That was a leap of faith, she had to take.

"That bastard escaped, again" Siddhanth hit his fist on the wall, exerting his rage.

"Nikhil Deshmukh was his last murder victim. We failed, I failed to save their lives." Tiara said with a pinge of guilt settling in her heart

"Tiara, we are law enforcement officers, not superheroes. Our main aim is to catch the killer and let the law decide his punishment." Siddhanth argued

"What kind of law enforcement officers we are, when we cannot uphold our law. We caught him, but he slipped under our noses. It's our fault, we have to..." She recalled the important bits of her and Hrithik's memories and then it struck her. "We still have time, we can catch him."

"Dr. Tiwari didn't give us order to--"

"I don't give a fuck, what Dr. Tiwari says anymore. I lost my brother because of some bullshit order. C'mon we have to catch a criminal." She explained, her phone started ringing. She picked up the call, it was Dr. Tiwari. "Hello?"

"Tiara Malhotra, you are immediately taken off from the case." Dr. Tiwari said

"But, sir why..I.." Her breathing became shallow.

"Tiara, there is a lot of frenzy in public and media with all the revelations. The opposition party has put pressure on our government and we have been made the scapegoat. Someone has to take the downfall for the careless work and failure. It would be better, if you do it"

Her grip on the phone tightened, mind battling with the volcano of anger. "Why, because I am some timid young woman."

"No, Tiara. These things happen all the time in our field of work. It's better, if you understand it. Siddhanth would lead the remaining case, from now on."

She ended the call and replied, "Congratulations Siddhanth Sinha, this case is now yours"

Near the port, lied an empty warehouse full of explosives, illegal arms. CBI earlier raided the adjoining area near port, but were unsuccessful in retrieving anything, since the gang had an informer. Hrithik made a deal with the gang in exchange of money, he needed some men to assist him in his escape plan.

He dawdled inside the warehouse, a stack of explosives covered in white cloth and arms including machine guns, AK 47, Assault Rifle in huge barrels, examining all of it.

"How long would you stay here?" One of the henchmen asked

"Not much longer" Hrithik said, he intended to get out, as soon as the sun rises. Unaware with the possibility, that he might get caught.

The sun reached its horizon, casting warm hazy orange hue in the sky and reddish yellow hue on the sea. Ships and boats swarming the docks, the Crime Investigation Team reached the warehouse, surrounded it by all sides. Siddhanth gave the signal and they stormed inside the warehouse. The thugs readily jerked up and ran to pick up guns.

"Crime Investigation Department, Hands behind and on your knees now!" Siddhanth ordered

One of the thugs started firing at the team, and soon, the others did the same. The police and thugs engaged in an encounter, that is when Siddhanth's sight caught Hrithik escaping. Taking few of the police men with him, he sought to follow Hrithik.

They started to chase Hrithik passing through few alleys, lanes and a forest. He hit few of the police men unconscious, the police man strangled Hrithik's neck from behind, he knocked his elbow on the man's stomach and stomped on the man's stomach. He spitted blood and left, Siddhanth who was silently following Hrithik's route, fired a bullet at him. He narrowly escaped the bullet and ran, to a hiding spot.

He took shelter behind a tree, his face caked with blood, fingers shaking irretrievably, he pulled out his gun, checked the bullets in magazine.

"I know, you are there. Hrithik Mathur, IT ENDS HERE!" Siddhanth shouted. "Come out, if you want to live"

He started to laugh, stood up taking a look at the number of men and then aimed the gun. The police started firing at him, he took cover and fired few bullets. When he realised he was running short of bullets, he expelled a defeated sigh

"Siddhanth Sinha, I surrender." He waved the white flag and decided to give up

Siddhanth directed his men to rest their guns. "You are most welcome to surrender."

Hrithik gave a cynical smile, pulled out a chemical explosive, the expression faded on everyone's faces.

"Goodbye!" Hrithik lighted the chemical explosive, threw it around him, a normal magnitude blast took place and he was gone.

"It is reported that Hrithik Mathur, the serial killer from JSC Gray Corporation, recently died in a chemical explosive blast. Fortunately, no police men were grievously injured...." The anchor announced the headlines in the news show.

Tiara processed the news with all the might she was left with. She paid the bill of her drink, picked up her purse an stumbled out of the bar, tears spilling from her cheeks. She didn't know, why was she crying, but it felt like, someone ripped her heart. She lost everyone, everyone dear and near to her, even though, it all were lies. She loved him and the betrayal didn't hurt her as much as the news of his death did.

She got inside her car, and started driving out of the city with memories of her and Hrithik rolling in her mind. The drinking made her hazy, but she could see the truth crystal clear, what he wanted her to do, what was he trying to explain.

Just then, someone came running in the road, getting hit by her car. She pressed the brakes, climbed out of the car and saw the injured guy getting up. But what she saw next, maybe the drinks made her crazy.

It was Hrithik, bruised, burnt and injured laying on the road. He slowly at her and got up. "Hello Tiara, didn't expect you"

She wanted to hug him and pester whim with kisses, she was relieved he was alive. But instead, she pointed the gun at him, the moral dilemma ensued.

He raised his hands, with an innocent look crossed over his face. "But, first, you need to listen to me. I am ready to die at your hands"

"Why, so you can again fake your death again and escape?"

"Point to be noted" He pursed his lips, " I was not lying when I said that"

She glared at me, with tears glistening her eyes. "Which one? Our relationship was built on lies. I can't even trust you and your words"

"Not everything was a lie. I swear, I.." Tears moisted his cheeks and he replied, swallowing the lump in his throat, "I loved you. I swear, I fucking loved you. Look at my eyes, if you don't believe me."

"Why...Why did you kill my brother?" She stifled the upcoming sob.

"I didn't, we got into a fight and he slipped from the ledge." He told, he knew the truth would hurt her more than the lies.

"How am I supposed to believe you, after all this."

"Then, don't. You decide it for yourself." He moved few steps forward, towards her. "Shoot me, if you don't believe me, if you do believe me that I know you would, because you love me and the....." He gasped for air, as Tiara shot a bullet, aiming at his leg.

She knelt down and whispered in his ears," Underestimating me, was your biggest mistake"

He struggled to catch his breath, he whimpered in pain, blood seeping out of his wound, causing more damage to his injured body.

A/N: The story will soon come to an end. Don't worry, I am already planning a sequel. Thank you for all your love and support till now