Truth Amidst The Lies

Prologue

The room was dark. His eyes couldn't find anyone else. But he wasn't alone. There were people watching him. Judging him. Murmurs trickled through. They were discussing him. They had reached a decision.

One that he wouldn't like.

"ACP Pradeep Kelkar," a baritone voice spoke. "What happened, cannot be ignored. You are being relived of your duties. Permanently."

His eyes snapped open. He was covered in cold sweat, heart thumping in his ears. His eyes stared at the ceiling. He was home. In his bed.

He turned to his side. His wife was still sleeping. He sighed. The clock by the bedside read 5:00 AM. Time for his exercise session. He gently climbed out of the bed and headed outside.

He was already feeling on the edge thinking about today.

***

"Father! Come quickly!" Jayant heard Sundar call from the deck, excitement evident in his voice. "Father!"

Jayant chuckled as he walked on to the deck.

Sundar was standing holding the lever controlling the fishing net, bouncing on his toes.

"I think I caught a big load," he smiled brightly not caring about the fallen milk teeth.

"You are a born fisherman," Jayant ruffled Sundar's hair.

"Pull it up! Pull it up," Sundar urged.

Jayant shook his head with a smile but turned the lever raising the load out of the water.

Sundar ran towards the center of the deck watching it emerge from the water.

"Watch out! It is heavy!" Jayant warned lowering the net onto the deck.

When Jayant turned around, securing the gear, he found Sundar was standing away from the load. He was quiet. Too quiet. Jayant rushed over to him.

"Sundar?" There was no response. He stood frozen, gazing at the load.

Jayant followed Sundar's gaze. Panic shot through him. His head jerked to look back at this son. He turned Sundar around, away from the net.

"Everything is going to be okay. I have you," Jayant whispered holding Sundar close.

His heart was still beating wildly as his gazed at the net and the load that it had caught. His eyes stuck on the hand that was showing through the fish and prawns caught up in the net.

Human hand.

***

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pradeep Kelkar fastened his belt hooking his holster on. He stared at the empty holster.

"Put this jacket on," his wife suggested.

Kelkar looked at her for a minute. She barely looked her 45 years. He on the other hand looked years older, "I will still know its empty."

"You will have your gun back today," his wife reminded him. Always the voice of reason.

He complied, looking at himself in the mirror one last time.

Today was his first day back at work. Back after his six-month suspension. Back after being shot while solving the last case.

That last case.

He would never forget it.

For the first time in his twenty-year career, he felt apprehension in his gut and not the anxiousness of a new case.

His phone shrilled flashing 'DCP Sujoy Roy'. His new boss.

"Coast guard called. They found a body," DCP said ignoring all pleasantries.

"Where?"

"30 miles into the sea. Captured in a fisherman's net. Coast guard will arrange for you to see it. Talk to them," Roy instructed.

Kelkar ignored the condescension lining that instruction, "I will call Lobo and inform him," He frowned as he spoke. He hadn't figured out how he felt about his new deputy, Senior Inspector Joseph Lobo.

"He is aware. He is on his way there as we speak," Roy put in bluntly.

Irritation and anger shot through Kelkar. He squeezed his eyes shut taking deep breath as he trying to reign his reaction, "Anything else?"

"Yes," Roy said gruffly, "This case belongs to Mumbai Police. Not the Coast Guard. I don't want that to change."

"Yes, Si–"

Roy had cut the call already.

Kelkar stared at the phone, "Asshole!"

"Pradeep!" his wife cut him, "Don't rub DCP Roy the wrong way. I know him. He is not someone to mess around with," she warned, "Don't lose your temper."

This is an upgraded slightly changed version of 'Clueless' which I was writing before. I thought that it needed to be made a lot more punchy and the fast flowing. I hope you see that momentum pick up with this cleaner story. 

Hope you enjoy it as much as you have my other short stories and the Dare.

If you like this story, do add it in your library so that you can know when I post the next part. All comments, feedback and suggestions are always welcome.