The adventures of David Roy

Case #1 : The Investigation

Back at the station, Dinesh has finished the autopsy. He asked the three officers to meet him in the medical examiner's office. When they came, he said," both of the victims are killed by the same murder weapon, probably a sharp kitchen knife. Tez Bahadur is killed with one stab, but Priyanka is stabbed thirty-two times. It is evident that the killer wanted to kill Priyanka only. Maybe, Tez was present at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe, he saw something or heard something. That's why the killer killed him.

David " And the wound on the back of the head on Tez? Why didn't Priyanka fight back?"

Dinesh " The wound came from a heavy cricket bat. Priyanka was on a strong sedative."

David " Was she drugged?"

Dinesh " No. I checked her medical history. She had a sleeping disorder. So its safe to say that she took the sleeping pills on her own. There's no sign of drug overdose."

David " What about the killer?"

Dinesh " Two different males, one left-handed, another right-handed, probably in their thirties, six feet height, muscularly build, stabbed them."

David " So we're looking for two killers?"

Dinesh " Unfortunately yes."

David " Is there anything else?"

Dinesh " Not at the time."

David"Thank you."

David asked Smriti to gather information on Priyanka. He also asked to check the backgrounds of the household help, the employees, anything from her personal life, virtual life, to see if anyone held a grudge against her. He asked if Tez Bahadur's family is notified about his death. Smriti said his family in Nepal have been informed, they asked Bahadur Singh to cremate the body when the body will be returned.

Smriti went to David's office to share some information. She has some vital information about the case. When they came, she said, "I have something to tell you. Priyanka was a grade A student, excellent at both academics & sports, especially martial arts. If she didn't take the pills, maybe she would be alive today. She became the sole boss of her company, Dream Land at twenty-one. Nothing illegal about the company. I had talked to Nilesh, he had sent the papers. She filled the taxes regularly. She didn't have much of virtual life. No one is suspicious at the company, except a guy named Harsha Mehra, who was arrested two years ago, for dealing drugs, later fired. He is released six months ago. The backgrounds of the servants are clear. A guy named Abhishek Kumar had proposed to her while they're in college, but she refused. I tried to reach him, but his phone is turned off. I have asked the telecom company to track it."

Smriti went on, " I talked with her physician, she did have a sleeping problem, she is suffering from it for a very long time. I also checked with the family lawyer Mr. Dayal, she had made a will, rather secretively, to hand the company to Nilesh, the house to Mrs. Dsouza along with the collectibles, in events of her untimely death. The lawyer said only him & Priyanka knows about this."

David " When was this? And why did she made a will? She's only in her thirties, she had a perfect physical & mental health except for the sleeping deprivation. Is she afraid that someone is going to kill her? Is this about the letter?"

Smriti " The lawyer said Priyanka's parents died untimely, so she decided to make a will give years ago in case she died untimely too. She made the will six years ago. I don't think Priyanka gave any importance to the letter. Mrs. Dsouza said that too."

David " What do you know about Mrs. Dsouza? Does she have any family?"

Smriti" She worked for the family for twenty years. She had a husband, Timothy Dsouza, who was an alcoholic & wife beater. She left him when her son Joshua died of fever to live with her employees. He died a year ago. She took care of Priyanka when her parents died, I think that's why Priyanka left the house to her."

David " Why did she leave the company to Nilesh?"

Smriti "According to the lawyer, Nilesh is a very honest & hard-working person. She believed him with the business & her family. She cared for him as her brother. He doesn't have any bad habits. He knew about the letter. He is single, lives with his mother in a flat close to the office. His father died many years ago. And I quote the lawyer " No one can be more deserving than him".

David to Ahmed "Did you find who sent the letter?"

Ahmed "Yes, it is Ritesh Ahuja, & although he typed the letter, his DNA is all over the letter. He was not very careful with it at all, I must say."

David " Why did he send the letter?"

Ahmed " Nilesh told me that the Ahujas are family friends, but they are also business rivals. Turns out it is Ahujas who had lost the bid on the tender of the project Priyanka is working on. They also knew that the CCTV at the back gate was not working. Their son Ritesh is on his thirties, his height is above six feet, & he played soccer at school & college, &/he is muscularly built. So, on a hunch, I accused him of murder. I also told him that his DNA is all over the letter. He said that he didn't kill her, he just wanted to scare her. And I think he is telling the truth because he is not a left-handed person. And he said that he asked her to go on a date with him & she said yes. He said, "it was a stupid decision to send her the letter. I checked he is telling the truth."

David " Really! OK, I think you are right about him. He is not her killer. He may have sent the letter, but he never wished any harm to her. If he is really meaning to kill her, he wouldn't leave his DNA all over the letter. But none at the mansion or the office had any grudge against her. Who could have killed her?"