Not Again

Chapter 14

Time - 11 AM

"This one sir..." ADC Shivraj pointed a house on his left. DC Suresh Babu who was driving the car, slowed down the jeep and parked it to the left of the house's compound wall. Both started walking towards the tall gate and it was tall enough to hide everything behind it.

There was a name board at the top of the gate pillar "David Prabhu - Retired Chief Secretary", written in dark black marble engraved in a white background. The security outside stood up and looking at their uniform, immediately pushed open the gate for them to enter.

There was a small green area with a few trees on both sides of the entrance. Before they are about to enter the door, a person emerged from inside. He looked at their uniform and started walking towards them. Suresh babu walked first and Shivraj followed him.

"Yes sir?"

"Is David Prabhu sir at home?"

"Oh yes sir... He is available now"

"How about Mr. Robinson?"

"He is available too"

"We want to meet them"

"Sure sir... Please come in", and he guided them through the door. They entered the hall and he pointed to a couch.

"Take your seats please".

While Shivraj and Suresh Babu had their seat, the person moved to the intercom in the hall and spoke to someone.

In a minute, David Prabhu and Robinson walked down the stairs. Shivraj and Suresh Babu stood up.

"Good Morning sir"

David didn't respond back and was seen with a grim face. He was around 60+ years old, dressed in a collared tshirt & a pajama and with a neatly combed her. Because of the workouts, the tummy was missing.

"Looks like you guys weren't satisfied even after yesterday's detention and frisking. Did you come to raid him again?"

Suresh Babu lowered his voice than the usual.

"Extremely sorry about that sir. We thought the news that we got is authentic. We came to say sorry for whatever has happened"

"But you frisked him even after saying that he is my son"

"Sir... Hope you are aware of the airport customs rules and regulations. We will have to act upon any calls we receive without ignoring it. As per the rule, we have to frisk anyone, even if he or she is a VIP. We did our job and our intention was not to insult him"

Robinson intruded the conversation.

"Now, can you tell us why you are here?"

"Shall we sit before I answer that?"

He signaled using his hand to have their seat. Everyone occupied their seat and Suresh Babu continued the conversation.

"Mr. Robinson. A guy named Mr.Honest called us from a telephone booth outside the airport, to convey the information that you are carrying two crores worth of diamonds from Singapore. We acted on you hearing that tip. But after our search, we came to know that it was a false information. Once you left the airport, the same guy called us and told that we weren't capable enough to grab the diamonds from you.

"

David Prabhu shouted in anger.

"Who the hell is Mr. Honest?"

"He is not alive anymore. After talking to us, he was killed by unknown men who entered the airport in a SUV" and Suresh Babu pulled up some pictures that he carried along. He placed those before Robinson and David.

"This is the guy...Do you know him?"

Both had a close look at the pictures and nodded their head.

"We haven't seen this guy before"

"This guy has been to 'Images' magazine office last week. He had met Sanjeev, the editor of the magazine and was looking for a chance to publish an article"

"What is his real name?"

"He didn't reveal his original name to Sanjeev too"

Hearing the conversation, Robinson took a deep breathe.

"Sir... From whatever I heard from you now, I suspect that this guy wasn't doing this alone. There should be someone else behind him. Their key motive would be to target the VIPs and blackmail them. Why should this guy call you with a wrong information that I'm carrying diamonds? Why did he want me to get insulted? I can't understand the reasons for that"

"Don't worry Robinson. We have already started our investigation on Mr. Honest. We will soon nab the person behind him. Sorry again for scrutinizing you at the airport. "

Suresh Babu and Shivraj stood up and started to walk towards the door. David didn't look convinced with the statements from them. Just when Suresh Babu reached the door, David spoke authoritatively.

"Though you have apologized, I still cannot digest the insult that happened to my son. I was a secretary to the Chief Minister and will take this issue legally"

Suresh Babu turned back, walked over to him, smiled at him and looked straight into eyes.

"Sir... If you are not satisfied with our statement and apology, we are ready to face any legal action you are going to take against us"

Suresh Babu and Shivraj started walking towards the gate. Once they got seated in the Jeep, Shivraj looked a bit uneasy after the conversation.

"Sir??"

"Yes Shivraj?"

"I think this Robinson stuff is a big mistake"

"Mistake?"

"We shouldn't have taken the word of an anonymous phone call seriously. Even after knowing that Robinson is ex-chief secretary's son, we had acted on him. How can we face the issue if David takes this legally?"

Suresh Babu smiled at him.

"Don't worry... He definitely is not going to report this anywhere"

"But sir... How do you say that?"

"I will repeat again. He is not going to report this. Have you ever seen someone complaining after a crime or wrongdoing?"

"What crime or wrong-doing did Robinson do?"

"Is smuggling two crores worth of diamonds, not a crime?"

"But Robinson didn't do that"

"He did"

"Sir??"

"Yes... We are the one who were cheated"

"I didn't understand what you are talking"

"We will go to the airport again. You will understand then"

The Jeep took speed on the street.