Truth Amidst The Lies

Chapter 7

Day 2: 9AM

"Drink this," Kelkar said putting a glass of water in front of Mahesh Rao.

The man had lost all colour of his face. With his head full of grey hair and the glazed expression in his eyes, he looked like walking dead. He roused only after hearing Kelkar,  drinking a few sips before pushing it away. 

"That was ..." Mahesh twisted his face, shaking his head vigorously. 

Kelkar and Vir watched him silently.

"Was that really ...? I don't know what to think," Mahesh slumping into his chair.

"Do you think that is not Vishnu Rao?" Kelkar asked cautiously.

"His face is practically missing," Mahesh spluttered, waving his hands around.

"Dinesh Hebbar thinks that body is his brother," Kelkar said, "But we could get Mrs Hebbar to confirm, if you have concerns."

"No!" Mahesh warned, "Not Sadhana. She will not see this. Is that clear."

"We might not have a choice–"

"She will not see ...that!" Mahesh snapped, jabbing his finger on the table in front of them, "You have Dinesh confirming. That is good enough for me."

Kelkar leaned back watching Mahesh indulge in a staring match. Vir watched them from the sidelines, standing at one corner of the room. 

"When can we have the body?" Mahesh asked

"We are still investigating. It will take some time."

"Why? What more do you want to know? Are you looking to make some money out of this?" Mahesh jumped out, knocking the chair bank, leaning forward resting his palms on the table.

Vir rushed forward, placing a firm hand on Mahesh's shoulder, "We understand this is a difficult time for you, but you need to calm down."

Mahesh glared at Vir and then shot a look to Kelkar who was watching the man calmly, staying rooted to his chair. 

"Please, sir. Sit down," Vir said in a firm voice, that had traces of order in it.

Mahesh looked at him again, before sliding into the chair. "I am going to call my lawyer. I will get the body released."

"We are in the middle of active investigation," Kelkar said leaning forward, "That body is the main evidence we have. We cannot release it just yet. Your lawyer will tell you the same thing."

"Evidence of what exactly? Do you think I don't know the ways of you ...you police? How you make up things to weasel out money," Mahesh spat, "How much money do you want?" 

"Sir, in case you have forgotten, bribing is a crime," Vir warned in a hard voice.

"Look here–" Mahesh started.

"You seem really desperate. Desperate to the extent of bribing us to get the body released. Why is that?" Kelkar asked fixing his stare on the man, "Aren't you interested in finding out what happened to your brother-in-law? How he died?"

"What do you mean by that?" Mahesh snapped rising out of his chair again.

"What I mean Mr Rao," Kelkar said in a firm voice, "Is that at best someone threw your brother-in-law into water after he was dead. At worst, someone killed him," Kelkar leaned back in his chair, "So I will ask you again, is there a reason you aren't interested in finding out what really happened to him?"

***

"I cannot believe he is gone," Dinesh said wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.

"Were you close to your brother?" Lobo asked.