Beneath the Surface

Chapter 6: The Perfect Cop

Inspector Akilesh lived his life like a well-oiled machine. Every day followed a precise, unbroken routine. His small, tidy apartment in the heart of Hyderabad was a reflection of the man himself-spotless, organized, and calm. Each object had its place: the polished shoes neatly by the door, the meticulously folded clothes in the wardrobe, the row of case files lined up on his desk, arranged by priority.

Akilesh was known throughout the city as a relentless, no-nonsense officer. He had earned his reputation through hard work, discipline, and an unwavering sense of justice. In the bustling chaos of Hyderabad, where crime and corruption could easily swallow a man, Akilesh stood like a rock. He lived alone, but it wasn't loneliness that defined his solitude. It was choice. He kept his focus sharp, his life simple. There were no distractions-no family, no romantic entanglements, no social commitments. Just his work.

Tonight was no different. He had spent the day poring over the details of the murder case that had now gripped the entire city. The brutal killings of the three young girls had the media in a frenzy, and the public was growing restless. But Akilesh remained steady, unfazed by the noise around him. His mind worked like a machine, breaking down every detail of the case, searching for patterns, for any crack that would lead to a break.

Sitting at his kitchen table, the soft hum of the city outside his window, Akilesh flipped through the latest reports. The first two girls had been found in such horrific conditions that even the most seasoned officers on his team had been shaken. The third was still missing, but Akilesh feared the worst.

The way the girls had been murdered haunted him-not just the cruelty, but the precision. There was something calculated about it, something that made him believe this was no ordinary killer. The pattern, the specific way in which the bodies were found-it gnawed at him. Whoever this was, they had done it before, or had learned from someone who had.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple as he considered his next move. So far, every lead had led to a dead end. No suspects. No witnesses. The killer was careful, methodical. A ghost. But Akilesh wasn't the type to let ghosts slip away. Not when he could feel them so close.

His phone buzzed on the table, breaking his thoughts. A call from an unknown number.

"Inspector Akilesh," he answered, his voice steady, professional.

"Inspector, this is Sub-Inspector Rajan from Kanniyakumari Police Station. We received the request for case details regarding murders with a similar pattern. There's something... you might want to see. It's an old case, nearly 25 years old. Thought it wouldn't be relevant, but, well, you should look at it."

Akilesh's interest piqued immediately. "Go on," he said, sitting up straighter in his chair.

"There were a series of killings, almost identical to what's happening in your city now. Young girls, mutilated in a similar way. It was never solved, but the prime suspect back then was a 16-year-old boy. He was arrested, but... well, he was released after serving a minor sentence."

Akilesh's pulse quickened slightly. "A 16-year-old boy? What happened to him?"

"His name was Raju. He vanished after his release. Changed his life, we assume. No further incidents since. But, Inspector, the way those girls were killed... it's too close to ignore."

Raju. The name echoed in Akilesh's mind as he quickly scribbled it down. This was the first solid lead in weeks, and his instincts told him this wasn't just coincidence.

"I'm sending you the full case file," the officer continued. "You'll want to take a look at the details. It's eerie how similar it is."

"Thank you, Sub-Inspector. Please send it over as soon as possible."

When the call ended, Akilesh wasted no time. Within the hour, the documents from Kanniyakumari arrived in his inbox. He printed them out, feeling a chill as the pages came to life before him.

He spread the papers across his desk, scanning through the yellowed, timeworn reports. There it was-three victims, all young girls. The brutal way they had been killed mirrored the current murders in Hyderabad almost exactly. But what really caught Akilesh's attention was the photo attached to the first page of the file.

There, staring back at him, was the mugshot of a boy. A 16-year-old, with dark eyes, an expression that seemed both scared and hardened.

It was Raju.

Akilesh felt a strange, unsettling chill creep down his spine. This was no coincidence. He was sure of it. Whatever had happened 25 years ago in Kanniyakumari, it wasn't over.

And now, the name Raju had resurfaced-older, hidden in plain sight.

Akilesh leaned back in his chair, the weight of this discovery pressing down on him. He didn't yet know what role Raju played in this, but it was clear that this case wasn't just about the present. The past was coming back, and the puzzle was far from complete.

But now, Akilesh had a new lead-a crucial one. And he wasn't going to let it slip through his fingers.

The next move would be his.