Revenge is divine

Chapter 6

Kurien walked outside with the piece of paper. He read the number multiple times. A landline number! His brows twitched. Who uses landline number these days? Unless he wants to go unnoticed and invisible. This could be from any of the pay phones. There would be no calling booths available nowadays. This is the age of smart phones.

Most landlines are replaced by mobile phones and others would probably be dead. Rarely in some offices one can find the old fashion phones but it would be untouched. Very rarely people use landline.

Kurien, a 56 year old veteran sensed something odd. A new additional Commissioner, within few minutes after taking charge has given him a number to track down. Is she taking advantage of her designation? He thought so. She is trying to find someone or something. Never in his 35 years of service, has a superior officer given him his first assignment to track a number.

He decided to call himself and find out. He took out his cell phone from the pocket and dialed the number. All he got was a busy tone. The line is alive!         

So the person must be talking to the Commissioner. He could now sense that there is something very significant is going on.

He was awakened by a pat on his shoulder followed by some words. “Kurien sir, are you daydreaming?”

Kurien looked back and saw it was Aravind, an Assistant Commissioner in district crime branch section much younger to him. Aravind was in his mid forties with thick black hair and dark complexion, heavy built and red eyes while Kurien was short and plump, huge belly protruding out and his head lost all the hair. Though Aravind is much superior to Kurien in ranks he used to call him ‘sir’ because of his age. Kurien was only a head constable but ten years elder and a lot senior in service. Kurien was his mentor and Aravind usually seeks guidance from the veteran.

Kurien smiled at him weakly. “Our new Commissioner gave me a number to track, a landline number.”

“Landline number?” Aravind’s brows trembled with confusion.

I know how you will react. Kurien nodded and he showed the number to his superior. The handwriting was neat, perfectly scribbled which Aravind admired at once.

Elegant, he told himself.

“I think she is talking with this person right now. Looking at her face I could sense something is about to happen. She was confused or afraid, I don’t know.”

“We can find it soon. Come with me.” Aravind took the yellow colored piece of paper from Kurien.

Before they moved, the door opened and Shivadha came out. She directly walked towards the cabin of Commissioner of Police, Raghuram I.P.S.

Raghuram was an athletic build man in his mid thirties. He had a wheatish dark complexion and already started losing his hair in front of his head. He had an elegant posture but his eyes looked like lifeless. Both ends of his moustache were twirled upwards.

He looked fearless and carefree as if he was the king of Kochi. In his 10 years of service, he already had 8 suspensions and 5 transfers yet he hasn't changed a bit. He will question any wrong doing that happens in front of him, no matter even if it a superior official or a politician. Because of his arrogant attitude he made more enemies than friends. He’s been secretly called tiger for his bravery. He had been attacked three times in the past but lucky enough to survive them, one of those attempts almost took his life. But the wounded tiger's fury only doubled. His reputation only increased.

He was deeply immersed in a file when he heard the knock at his cabin door.

“Yes come in.” He invited the person without raising his head or wavering his concentration from the file, not knowing who was knocking. Whoever it was he had time for that person.

To his surprise it was the new additional Commissioner of police. He didn't expect a visit from her. She looked confused as well as troubled. He looked straight into her eyes.

“Something wrong?” His brows rose, eyes affixed sharply on his colleague.

She nodded. “Can I sit?” She asked politely as if she was a commoner about to file a petition.

“Oh sure.” He gestured her to sit with his hands and closed the file.

She pulled the chair and seated herself in. She stared into his red eyes. Sober? She thought. She had never heard of ‘the tiger’ of Kerala Police. Shivadha kept quiet, not sure how to say.

“What happened?” Raghuram asked calmly. I can see you are shaken.

“I got a call from an unknown person.” She commenced. She went through the details with clarity.

Once she finished he asked. “Are you sure it wasn't a prank call?” His fingers twirled the ends of the moustache upwards.

Shivadha shook her head. “Yes, the man sounded absolute. I lack experience but my gut says it is definitely not a prank call. He wanted the body to be found.” 

There was an eager in her words as if she trusts the unknown caller completely. “He said he was waiting for you to join. What do you think about that?”

“I have no idea.” She never thought of it.

He frowned at her reply.

"There is a body preserved to keep you guys awake and rolling. It would be followed by more." She recalled the words. A body preserved, she was not sure what he meant by that. The first thing that went through her mind was someone would have been held hostage in one of those apartments. “I think we should move soon. Maybe we can find the person alive.” She suggested.

Somehow he doubted that. “There are five buildings. To check out all five would take more time than we expect.”

“I know. He mentioned Holy Faith first. I think the victim must be in that building.”

Raghuram was studying his new colleague. This was not the start she would have expected when she joined the force. And the caller specifically wanted her to find the person. Why?  Is he challenging her or is it a cat and mouse game between them? Am I the bait? I have to keep an eye on her. He decided. “Okay. Let's move. We will take five teams and check all the five buildings. What more surprises will be waiting for us, let us know. Hope it won't be a fatal encounter.”

Kurien dialed again and this time he got a dial tone. He heard the bell ringing.

Pick up. He muttered. But after a full minute of ringing the line went dead. He dialed once again expecting someone to attend the call. The result was the same. The line went dead after ringing. That person must have abandoned the phone. Or he is purposely not picking up the call.

He was thinking about dialing a third time when the Commissioner and the Additional Commissioner rushed out of the cabin. Shouts and instructions filled the atmosphere. And within a few minutes at least fifteen of the cops including the superiors were running out. Engines revved and the wheels were set in motion.

That’s when he understood that tracking the number is a top priority. Panicked, he diverted his gaze at the Assistant Commissioner Aravind.