Memories Of Dawn

Chapter 5: The Investigation

"Another murder!!"said Pandey looking up from his desk. He didn't want to work today but something about Karan's murder didn't seem right.
"Yes sir. It is her assistant Maryam."said Sana handing over the pictures of the body. Maryam was in her pajamas laying on the bed. The bedspread was stained in deep red blood and her clothes near her chest had a deep cut.
"And the same style sir. Half drunk bottle, three times stabbing and nothing else missing."said Sana."But this was in Priya's Apartment."
"What was she doing there?"
"Don't know sir. Priya wasn't present and I don't think she knows the news yet!"
"Well she has some important questions to answer. Let's go!"
"Sir sir sir... "screamed Arjun as he entered the room. "What is it Arjun? We are in a hurry right now!"said Pandey agitated. He was annoyed in the progress he was making in the case and already another murder had taken place. He had to solve this ASAP. "Sir,I checked with Karan's college records. But the school and college institutions don't have any record of a Karan Singhania studying in their place around anytime specified in the certificates that we got in his place. And when I checked them today. They turned out be FAKE!!"
"Whaattt? So we have no records of his studies. Great. This is going to be the perfect lead to our case now!"said Pandey obviously irritated. This was the worst case of his career. He really didn't want to end his 30 years of career on such a feeble case without solving it.
"Sir we have hurry to catch Priya before anything else happens!"said Sana irritated by the turn of events.
"Arjun you should accompany us. And also ask questions about the Karan records. Maybe she will know something."said Pandey taking out the car keys.
"Okay sir."said Arjun.
This was going to be his first field work. To work with such a senior officer was indeed a great opportunity.
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Priya sat down looking at Maryam's pictures. She was the one who had sent Maryam to her house to sleep so she can come in early.
"Oh My God! This means that the killer was trying to kill me?"said Priya out loud. She looked at the picture and something flashed in her mind. It was Maryam's face- bright,smiling and happy. But someone else was there too. Someone familiar. But she didn't know who!!

"Priya Priya... Can you hear us??" Someone in the distance was calling out her name. Priya jolted and looked up. She was sweating and her eyes were blur because of the tears. She looked and saw Pandey,Sana and another young handsome inspector. "How do you know that Priya?"asked Sana taking out her notebook.
"Know what?"asked Priya rubbing her eyes. She didn't want to appear weak. She was strong-atleast that's what she told herself.
"That the killer was trying to kill you and not Maryam!!"said Arjun speaking for the first time.
"It all makes sense. First he went to Karan's house to ask about me,then when he didn't tell him anything he killed him. Next he targeted me and went to my room to kill me. Unfortunately or fortunately I wasn't there and he misunderstood Maryam for me and killed her. So it makes perfect sense. Now he will get to know that I wasn't killed and I'll be the next bait!!!"
"Wow. That is not what I thought!" Said Pandey.
"What do you mean sir?"
"I mean that Priya, I know it's you who is playing games with us and I will surely find out the plan. You can fool everyone here but not me! Don't you see, every victim here is related to you and you were the last person to speak to them before their murder... Now this is what makes sense" Said Pandey. He was fuming. "Now I want you to answer the questions that Sana and Arjun ask and please answer them correctly!"
Priya was intimidated. She never thought the inspector would think that way. And now she was even more determined to prove Inspector Pandey wrong. She had to do it!!
"Okay. I will answer all the questions!"
Arjun started first.
"Did you know anything about Karan's education and where he studied?"
"He told me he had studied in Bengaluru till his graduation and then came to Mumbai for his work. "
"Apparently he hasn't studied in Bengaluru till his graduation. And did you know that your boss and your fiancee went to the same college for 2 years?"asked Arjun.
"Veer and Karen knew each other?? But when I introduced them they acted like strangers though there was an awkward silence between them. I assumed it to be nothing as Karan is an introvert. I didn't know they had a past together!" Said Priya. She never thought Karan had lied to her and even Veer...
"And Miss.Raj what was Maryann doing in your apartment yesterday?"asked Sana.
"Ummmm I sent her there. We had to start work today by 8 and she told me she will be able to come only by 10 due to the traffic near her place. So I asked her to sleep in my apartment as I was going to my parents place to spend the night. And obviously it was a bad decision. "
"Maybe that's what you wanted!"said Pandey looking up from the photo on Priya's desk. It was picture of her standing with her parents in front of Taj Mahal. It was weirdly odd because there was no garden in the picture. "What do you mean sir?"asked Priya. She had anticipated such comments from him after his outburst.
"Nothing Priya. This is you right with your parents in front of Taj Mahal?"asked Pandey pointing to the photograph. Priya nodded in agreement. She didn't know how it was related to the 2 murders.
"Oh don't you find it odd that there is no garden in front of it!!"said Pandey and walked out of the room. He now knew where to go for his next clue.
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Priya stared at the picture. "OMG. How could I not notice such a major fault" thought Priya. Her parents had told her about how they had been to Taj Mahal after her college. Their words was all she remembered of the incident. Unfortunately, she didn't have memory of the incidents before her college.

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"Papa where am I? How did I end up here? Why can't I remember anything from yesterday??"shouted the 22 year old Priya. She was in her house and after a long long nap she had woken up. Now she was panicking. She didn't know what to think or what to say. Her memory seemed to have just vanished into thin air.