Trust in Shadows

Chapter 3: Cracking the Ice

Days turned into weeks, and Vineet continued to push forward, determined to prove himself despite the lingering doubts of his colleagues. With each case, he threw himself into the work, staying late to review files, offering insights when he felt they were valuable, even if they were often ignored.

But there were small signs of progress. Once in a while, Freddy Sir would acknowledge his presence with a nod. Daya Sir , though still distant, had stopped giving him the cold shoulder quite as often. And though they never spoke of it, Vineet sensed that Abhijeet Sir was keeping an eye on him, subtly guiding him without drawing attention to it.

Then came the case that changed everything.

It was a kidnapping—high-profile, with media attention bearing down on the CID team. A wealthy businessman’s daughter had been taken, and the clock was ticking. The pressure on the team was Immense, and every lead they followed seemed to result in a dead end. Tensions were high, and Vineet could feel the weight of the team’s stress pressing down on him. This was the kind of case that could make or break a career.

It was during one of their strategy meetings that Vineet noticed something. He had been quietly going over the details of the case, trying to stay in the background while the senior officers discussed their next move. But something about the timing of the ransom note didn’t sit right with him.

“Sir,” Vineet said, speaking up tentatively, “can I point out something?”

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him, and he could feel the weight of their scrutiny. But he pressed on, his mind racing as he explained his theory.

“The timing of the ransom note—it doesn’t match the timeline of the kidnapping,” Vineet said, pointing to the files in front of him. “The note was delivered three hours after the abduction, but based on the traffic patterns in the area, the kidnapper couldn’t have made it back in time to deliver the note personally. Someone else had to have delivered it.”

Daya and Freddy exchanged skeptical glances, but Abhijeet leaned forward, his interest piqued.

“What are you suggesting?” Abhijeet asked.

Vineet swallowed, his nerves on edge. “Sir, I think the kidnapper has an accomplice. Someone on the inside, close to the family.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Daya spoke, his voice laced with doubt. “That’s a pretty big assumption.”

But Abhijeet didn’t dismiss the idea. “It’s worth looking into,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “If there’s someone on the inside, it could explain how the kidnapper knew the family’s routine so well.”

Freddy, who had been silent until now, raised an eyebrow. “You really think Vineet, the family’s involved?”

“I don’t know for sure Sir,” Vineet admitted, “but it’s a possibility. I think we should investigate the people closest to the family—servants, drivers, anyone who could’ve had access to their daily schedules and movements,” Vineet finished, his heart pounding as the room fell silent again.

For a moment, no one spoke. Vineet felt the weight of Daya and Freddy’s skeptical gazes, their distrust palpable. But to his surprise, it was Abhijeet who broke the silence.

“He’s right,” Abhijeet said, nodding thoughtfully as he looked at the files in front of him. “It makes sense. If there’s an insider, they could have orchestrated the entire kidnapping.”

ACP Pradyuman, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Abhijeet and then back at Vineet. His sharp, calculating eyes studied the younger officer for a long moment before he finally spoke.

“Look into it,” Pradyuman said, his tone decisive. “Investigate everyone with access to the family. But I want solid proof before we make any moves. No mistakes.”

Vineet blinked in surprise. The ACP had accepted his theory. His heart soared for a moment, but he quickly suppressed his excitement, knowing this was only the first step. Still, it was progress—his first real breakthrough since joining the team.

Abhijeet gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod as the team dispersed to follow up on the new lead. That gesture, small as it was, meant more to Vineet than words could express. It wasn’t trust—not yet—but it was something, a crack in the wall that had been built around him since day one.


The Investigation moved quickly after that. Vineet worked closely with Abhijeet, pouring over the details of the case and interviewing the people closest to the businessman’s family. Bit by bit, they uncovered subtle clues—tiny inconsistencies in alibis, strange financial transactions, and suspicious behavior that pointed to one of the family’s trusted staff members, a driver who had been with them for years.

It was during one of these late-night investigations that Vineet found himself alone with Abhijeet again, working side by side as they pieced together the final parts of the puzzle. The office was dimly lit, and the only sounds were the rustle of papers and the occasional scrape of chairs as they moved about the room.

“You’ve been doing well,” Abhijeet said suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost casual, but there was a seriousness in his tone that caught Vineet off guard.

Vineet looked up from the files, blinking in surprise. “Thank you, sir.”

“You don’t have to call me ‘sir’ all the time,” Abhijeet said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Just Abhijeet is fine.”

Vineet hesitated, unsure if this was a test or if Abhijeet was being genuine. But there was something about the way Abhijeet was looking at him—something softer, more open—that made him feel like maybe, for the first time, he was seeing the real man behind the cold exterior.

“Alright… Abhijeet,” Vineet said, the name feeling strange yet comforting on his tongue.

Abhijeet nodded, returning his attention to the files in front of him, but there was a shift in the atmosphere between them—something unspoken, but unmistakable. It was as though the walls that had been standing between them were beginning to crumble, brick by brick.

“Why did you defend me back there?” Vineet asked after a few moments, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer.

Abhijeet didn’t look up from the papers, but his voice was thoughtful when he responded. “Because you were right.”

“That’s it?” Vineet pressed, feeling like there was more to the story.

Abhijeet paused for a moment, then looked up, his dark eyes meeting Vineet’s with a quiet intensity. “You remind me of someone. When I first joined CID, I had to prove myself too. It wasn’t easy. But I’ve learned to trust people by what they do, not by what others say about them.”

Vineet felt a knot in his chest loosen at Abhijeet’s words. It was the closest thing to an olive branch he’d received since joining the team, and it meant more to him than he could express.

“I’m not here for DCP Chitrole,” Vineet said quietly, his voice filled with earnestness. “I don’t know why he put me here, but I’m not working for him. I just want to do my job.”

Abhijeet studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I believe you.”

It was just three words, but they carried the weight of everything Vineet had been fighting for. For the first time, someone believed him. Someone saw past the suspicions and the accusations and saw him for who he really was.