D-MINGO

Chapter 4: The Cop

Scene: Bardez Police Station

Sub-Inspector Aditya steps into the buzzing Bardez Police Station for his first day. The place is hectic, with officers scrambling to handle a recent drug case. As he approaches the reception desk, a rugged, dishevelled constable, Constable Desai, glares at him.

"Hey, guy," Desai barks, "this isn't the place for random complaints. We're already knee-deep in a mess thanks to some drug fiasco." He turns, dismissing Aditya with a wave.

Aditya raises an eyebrow, steps forward, and clears his throat. "Listen... Constable," he says, tone dripping with sarcasm. "I'm SI Aditya, newly appointed by the way, so I'm not here to lodge a complaint. Just to report in."

Desai's face goes pale. He stammers, giving a hasty salute. "Uh, sorry, sir! It's just... this drug case has us all on edge. There were three boys involved, but... er, sir's keeping them at his home."

Aditya raises an eyebrow. "And when is 'sir' coming back?"

Desai shrugs, scratching his head. "Don't know exactly, sir, but you might find him at the forensic department."

Scene: Forensic Department

Rajdeep, the ACP of Bardez, stands beside his friend Mervin D'Costa, a genius but slightly clumsy forensic expert. Mervin peers through his microscope, then looks up and points to a report. "This stuff... purest form of methamphetamine I've ever seen. Probably too pure. Their bodies just couldn't handle it."

Rajdeep frowns. "Meth this pure isn't common around here. You're sure?"

Mervin shrugs, smirking. "I'm sure, but it's your job to figure out where it came from."

Rajdeep shakes his head, sighing. "Great. Now we know exactly whose mess we're dealing with." He leaves, muttering under his breath.

As Rajdeep exits the forensic lab, he pulls out his phone, quickly making a call. The moment he hangs up, he nearly jumps as Aditya appears in front of him.

"Who are you?" Rajdeep asks, visibly annoyed.

Aditya straightens up, giving a salute. "Sir! I'm Aditya, the new Sub-Inspector. Here's my joining letter."

Rajdeep scans it, then looks at Aditya. "Alright, you can join right away. Do you even know what kind of mess we're dealing with here?"

Aditya nods, his tone steady. "Yes, sir. Drug case. Got some details on the way."

Rajdeep's expression shifts, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Good. Let's go; your duty starts now."

Scene: Rajdeep's Home

They arrive at Rajdeep's house, where Rajdeep's mother, wife, and son greet them. Also present are Aditya (the CM's son), Prateek, and Vivan, all looking pale and worried. Rajdeep waves them to the terrace, speaking firmly. "Come on, I need a word with you three."

Once on the terrace, Rajdeep turns to Aditya (the CM's son) and, barely containing his anger, says, "Why the hell were you guys using drugs at the party? Do you realize what you've dragged us into?"

He clenches his jaw, muttering, "I'm only helping you because your father once helped my brother back in Maharashtra. But don't think this means you're off the hook." He glares. "Now, tell me where that drug came from."

Aditya (the CM's son) hesitates, then points to Vivan. "He brought it."

Rajdeep's eyes snap to Vivan, who's practically trembling. "Vivan," Rajdeep growls, "start talking. Who gave you the drugs?"

Vivan stammers, "I... I don't know his name, sir."

Flashback: Vivan recalls pulling up to a club when a shady guy approached him, offering a "special drug." At first, he brushed him off, but when the guy gave him a free sample, he was intrigued. The deal went down, and he bought it.

Back in the present, Rajdeep narrows his eyes. "Do you at least remember what he looked like?"

Vivan nods, fumbling through his phone. "Actually... I have a photo." He shows Rajdeep a selfie with the shady guy in the background.

Rajdeep snatches the phone, cropping the stranger out of the photo and sending it for immediate circulation with an arrest order. Turning to Aditya (the SI), he says, "Call the station, have them escort these morons to Baga Helipad. A chopper's waiting to get them out of here."

Aditya fumbles, "Sir, I don't-"

Rajdeep cuts him off. "Right. I'll take care of it."

Scene: Pintos Restaurant, Majorda

As they drive, Rajdeep tells Aditya they're heading to a place called Pinto's, a well-known but discreet spot run by Alex, a "fixer" Rajdeep knows all too well. Alex is the head chef and owner of Pinto's, known for his connections and his own shady dealings.

At Pinto's, Rajdeep is greeted warmly by the hotel staff. A bouncer notices Rajdeep and radios upstairs, "ACP of Bardez is here."

They're ushered into a dimly lit upstairs lounge where Alex is waiting. He's dressed in a chef's jacket, but there's an unmistakable edge in his demeanor. Rajdeep doesn't bother with pleasantries. "Alex."

Alex leans back, grinning. "Rajdeep. Long time. What brings Goa's finest here?"

Rajdeep cuts to the chase. "I need information. This guy." He shows Alex the cropped photo.

Alex glances at the photo, nodding slowly. "Haven't seen him personally, but I might know someone who does."

Rajdeep's eyes narrow. "I don't need mights, Alex. I need answers."

Alex chuckles. "You know how it works, Rajdeep. I can't just go around spilling names. And you wouldn't want to cross too many boundaries yourself."

Rajdeep's jaw tightens. "I'm not here for games, Alex. I need this guy found. You owe me."

Alex sighs, examining the photo once more. "Fine. I'll make some calls. But remember, Rajdeep-I do this one, you'll owe me next time."

Rajdeep glares, pocketing his phone. "Just get it done, Alex."