Dharmesh took a last look at the roof. He inhaled the whole scene, and then made his way downstairs and climbed inside the elevator.
“Where was everybody when you met them in the building next door?”
“Everybody was already gathered downstairs.”
Dharmesh sighed. It was going to be very difficult to figure out the killer without saying a word to any of the suspects.
Dharmesh had already eliminated one of the suspects even before he met them. He knew that the killer had accompanied the victim to the roof. After ‘doing the deed’ he/she ran downstairs and pressed the elevator-summoning button, but couldn’t wait for the elevator to come up. So the killer ditched the lift and hurried down the stairs, and then most likely dashed directly back home.
Dharmesh’s train of thoughts derailed as the elevator doors ringed open on the ground floor. He turned towards Rajiv.
“Whom do you think did it?”
Rajiv was amused at the question. A professional member of the Investigators was interested in what he thought.
“I think it was the brother. I didn’t like the look in his eyes.”
Dharmesh looked at the Inspector.
“He was pushed by his wife for sure. I saw a similar scene in a daily soap yesterday. The wife must have taken some inspiration from it.”
Dharmesh envied both the men. They were free to follow their instincts and bake baseless theories, but he had to approach the case like it was a mathematical problem. He couldn’t go after instincts or what his ‘heart’ told him. He was not called a Brain for nothing.
“What about you? Who do you think is responsible?” Rajiv chipped in.
“They are all suspects for me. All except one.”
Inspector Sharma was about to ask him who that was, but the victim’s wife rushed towards them. She tripped over her high heels and crashed in the ground beside them, and broke into hearty sobs.
“Why would my husband do such a thing? Why?”
The victim’s brother and Rajiv rushed beside her and helped her to get on her feet.
“He told me that he was going out for a jog and would be back in an hour and then drop me to my friend’s place near his office.”
The one who Dharmesh considered was the victim’s friend stepped forward.
“He called me here so that we could go to office in his new Nano.”
The victim’s sister also commented. “Bhaiya told me in the morning to cancel my Taxi as he would take me to my Salsa classes while going to work.”
Dharmesh knew a colleague who lived near-by who had joined Salsa classes in Hauz Khas Village. His colleague was more interested in losing weight than learning the art form.
The victim’s brother stated. “He even promised me that he’ll let me drive the car on the way.”
Dharmesh looked at the elder brother. “Is your workplace near his office?”
“Yes, we work for the same company.”
The victim’s father saw Dharmesh in the eyes.
“Why would he make promises to so many people and then kill himself?”
Dharmesh made a mental note of that. The victim had promised many things to too many people before being killed.
After about 15 minutes, Dharmesh had opened a Google Map on his mobile and was checking the surrounding areas. The murder had occurred in Vasant Vihar. The offices of the victim were in Sector 5 of RK Puram.
He looked up and saw the victim’s brother standing in front of him.
“I think that our mother is responsible for my brother’s death.”
Dharmesh was stunned for a full second. He made sure that nobody was around them before turning to the brother.
“Why do you think so?”
“Because my sister has been constantly reminding me of our mother’s growing dislike for her daughter-in-law.”
Dharmesh glanced at the sister and caught her staring distastefully at her mother. This case was turning into a television drama.
“There is nothing one can do about it now.”
Rajiv walked towards Dharmesh and saw the victim’s brother scowl at him and leave.
“What was that about?”
“Nothing. This case is pretty messed up.”
Rajiv thought about what he was going to say for a while, and then finally spoke, “You know, it took me a little while to reach the position where I could cover the exits.”
“So do you think that someone could have used them before you got there?”
“Yes, but if one was starting from the top floor and using the stairs it would require great deal of speed and stamina. Even then the victim would barely get enough time to reach home.”
After a while Dharmesh signaled the Inspector to join him. The Investigator escorted the family back to their home and then jogged towards him.
“You have any idea who did this?”
The answer was ready in Dharmesh’s mind even before the question was asked.
Solve the mystery before Dharmesh, and win a free e-book (Halo:The Fall of Reach). Mention the reasons that you suspect a particular person or just take a wild guess in the comments box before 48 hours after the publication of this post. The best answer will win the amazing e-book Halo:The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund which is the official prequel to the epic Halo 1:Combat Evolved Game.
Best Of Luck!
Contest is closed now.
Go to Episode 5
Solve the mystery before Dharmesh, and win a free e-book (Halo:The Fall of Reach). Mention the reasons that you suspect a particular person or just take a wild guess in the comments box before 48 hours after the publication of this post. The best answer will win the amazing e-book Halo:The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund which is the official prequel to the epic Halo 1:Combat Evolved Game.
Best Of Luck!
Contest is closed now.
Go to Episode 5
