Let's End Your FEAR

Chapter 16

Nakuul frowned, stepping deeper into the room, his eyes scanning the scene with a professional detachment. But the quiet emptiness of the house felt heavy, like the weight of the past lingering in every corner. "The TV on... that's odd. Like she was expecting someone to be there."

"Or they were watching something when he came in," Viraj added, his eyes narrowing. He stepped closer to the TV, his fingers brushing the remote. "But why leave it on?"

Jimmy shrugged. "I don’t know, man. We got some more evidence upstairs, but nothing that stands out as a clue. You’re gonna want to take a look at the body, though. It’s a mess."

Nakuul nodded. He wasn’t eager, but it was part of the job. He glanced at Viraj, who nodded back, and the two made their way upstairs to the bedroom, where Ruchi Mehta had been found. The air was thick, the smell of death mixing with the faint scent of lavender from the candle on the nightstand.

Ruchi lay motionless, her body cold and still, an unsettling quiet hanging in the room. Nakuul’s gaze fell to the bloodstains on the carpet—dark, dried, and soaking through the fibers.

"Stomach shot first, then the chest," Jimmy had said. "Sadistic."

Nakuul bent down to examine the body closer. The first shot had definitely been the stomach, the entry wound deep, consistent with a point-blank range. The second wound was to the chest. It was clean, no sign of a struggle, just precision.

He stood and looked around the room, focusing on the details that were usually overlooked. The bed was made neatly, not a wrinkle out of place. The closet door was slightly ajar, revealing a few garments—just a couple of everyday dresses, nothing that stood out.

"What the hell is it with this place?" Nakuul muttered under his breath. There was something off about it. There always was. It was too... perfect. Too clean.

Viraj, who had been looking through some papers on the nightstand, glanced up. "You think it’s someone close to her?" he asked, his voice low.

Nakuul straightened. "Could be. But it’s the method that doesn’t sit right. This isn’t a random attack. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing." He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "And we’re missing something. Maybe the way she was found, maybe the way the house is laid out. It’s like the killer wanted us to notice something. Or maybe... they wanted to make sure no one would."

Viraj looked around, clearly not following. "Make sure no one would what?"

Nakuul gave him a sharp look. "Make sure no one would care enough to look too deep. They wanted to hide it under the surface. Like it wasn’t even worth investigating."

Before Viraj could respond, the soft sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. It was Officer Suraj again, looking more anxious than usual.

"Hey, uh, Nakuul," Suraj said, his voice tight. "We’ve got another report. It’s... it’s from a neighbor. They heard someone arguing earlier, just before the granddaughters showed up. They didn’t see the person, but they heard something. A heated exchange."

Nakuul’s brow furrowed. "That’s new information. Why didn’t we hear about this earlier?"

Suraj looked uncomfortable. "I didn’t think it was important at first. But now... I think we should check it out."

"Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go," Nakuul said, his voice steady, but there was a spark of urgency behind his words. "Viraj, stay here. Go through everything again. Check the neighbor’s statement. See if there’s anything that ties this to the other cases."

As they made their way down the stairs, Nakuul’s mind raced. The neighbor had heard an argument? That was new. And it was the kind of thing that could shift everything they thought they knew. Could it be another lead in the pattern?

The trio made their way outside, the air thick with tension as Suraj guided them to the next house. It wasn’t far—just a few yards down the street. The house was similar to Ruchi’s: quaint, with a well-maintained yard and a white picket fence. The owner, an elderly woman in her seventies, greeted them at the door.

"You heard the argument?" Nakuul asked, his tone polite but direct.

The woman nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "Yes, officer. I was out in the garden. It was just before the girls came home. I thought it was strange at first. They sounded... angry, like someone was arguing with her. But I didn’t think to call in."

Nakuul exchanged a glance with Suraj. This was important. They needed to know who had been in Ruchi’s life—who might have had a reason to hurt her.

"Did you hear any names?" Suraj pressed.

The woman hesitated, wrinkling her brow. "No, I didn’t catch any names, but the voice... it was male. Rough, almost like he was... frustrated? It sounded like they were arguing about something serious."

Nakuul’s heart rate picked up. "What time did you hear this?"

"About... maybe half an hour before the girls arrived. I can’t be sure, but it was right around that time."

"Thank you," Nakuul said, stepping back. The pieces were starting to fall into place. Someone was trying to cover their tracks. But they had made one mistake—leaving a trail for the detectives to follow.

As he walked back to the car, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the verge of something big. The quiet of the neighborhood, the argument, the lack of clear motives—it all pointed to something darker, something deeper than just a series of random murders.

Nakuul wasn’t sure where this case would lead, but he knew one thing: the killer was out there, and they weren’t finished yet.

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New Chapter on Friday
I still don't have my perfect ending yet so hold onto this story alongside me

Love,
Simran