Truth Amidst The Lies

Chapter 3

Mohit rubbed his hands together, moved his arms in circle working his shoulders before hitting at his keyboard, "What are we searching for?"

Kelkar watched the entire ritual with curious eye. "Look for males between the age of 40 to 60. Start with cases in the city and then expand it steadily."

As Mohit started punching more keys, Lobo relaxed into his chair, leaning his head back against his palms and resting his legs on the desk in front of him.

"Lobo, what are you doing?" Kelkar asked.

"Keeping an eye on the 'hero' here?" Lobo titled his head towards Mohit.

Mohit looked up from his desk staring at Lobo once, before going back to work after a quick shake of his head.

"What happened to the task that I had assigned you?"

"Which task?" Lobo asked scrunching his face.

"Finding out where the body entered the water from," Kelkar reminded crossing his arms

"I don't understand why we have to do this. Suicide cannot be ruled out until the forensics say so," Lobo complained.

Mohit looked up from his computer screen. "It is a suicide case?" he asked frowning.

Kelkar looked at him. "No. While we cannot rule out anything until the autopsy is done, I don't think it can be suicide." He turned to Lobo, "Don't tell me you seriously think that this is suicide."

"Even if it isn't suicide, that doesn't make it homicide" Lobo pointed out, "I don't see the point in rushing the investigation before we know what we are even dealing with."

"We don't choose the case that comes our way, Lobo," Kelkar said, "But I choose how we deal with it."

"Like you did in your last case," Lobo muttered under his breath.

Kelkar's head snapped to meet Lobo's eyes. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Lobo muttered, "I will see if I can get a list of possible locations inland."

"Look for secluded places."

"Why?" Mohit asked.

"If anyone saw this man jump or get thrown, they would have raised alarm. The body would have been recovered long ago. Since we haven't heard any such news, it means that wherever this happened is secluded enough that no one saw anything."

"Not everyone raises alarm even if they see something. Most don't want to get involved," Lobo said.

***

As Vir, Maria and Vinay entered the small autopsy room, the scent of formaldehyde and death overpowering their senses. There was a certain coldness to the room that had nothing to do with temperature. Their sight froze on the white sheet at the center of the room, hiding the body from their eyes.

A metal door clung open. Their eyes snapped towards the source of the noise to see Suresh Talwar walk in dressed in a blue overall.

"You must be from ACP Kelkar's team," he said seeing them.

Vir stepped forward extending his hand, "I am Vir. This is Vinay and–"

"Do you have the crime scene photos?" Maria cut in firmly.

Vir shot her look that Maria ignored as she walked to stand in front of him.

Suresh pulled his head back, watching her with curious eyes.

"The evidence," Maria reminded him in loud firm voice.

Suresh shook his head and pulled put a brown paper envelope from one of the drawers. "It wasn't exactly crime sc–"