STORY NO 3
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Chapter 1
"Spinderella! Good length delivery from Sanjog Kanitkar down the leg side. Debney tries to cut it straight back, but fails to connect well and sends it soaring straight to Vijay Samuel at the mid-wicket fence."
The crowd was still cheering, its yells and chants tinny over the TV's speakers. The atmosphere in the penthouse, however, was a somber one laced with a contented certainty. The faces of each of the three men seated around the television lit up with abhorrent smirks. The one seated in the middle fingered his slick iPhone ' one of the thirty-odd mobiles in a black box on the desk ' and lazily dialed a number.
"Having fun, my friend? We call a group of cows a herd, a group of fish a school, but a group of ducks? Australian batsmen." He threw back his head and laughed.
"You've done something, Tigris!" came the retort on the phone. "How is every single friggin' thing coming along exactly as you said?"
"Manners", crooned the man called Tigris. "You signed up for it, and there ain't no backin' up now."
Without waiting for a reply, still smirking, he slipped the phone into his jacket. One of his companions leaned forward with a frown. "Do you think there could be trouble?"
"If anyone is foolish enough to do so, they'll wish they were never born", said Tigris, pouring himself a generous measure of Scotch. "Lighten up, or you'll miss Carter's exit."
On the TV, the silence was absolute. Australia needed four runs to win with a single ball to go. The men watched Sanjog Kanitkar sweep back his curly locks, charge forward, and'
"OUT!!" boomed the commentator, as the crowd in the stadium went wild with glee. "Kanitkar bowls a deadly yorker to Carter, who tries to smash it high but ends up clipping the leg stump. India wins by four runs! This, people, ensures their well-deserved entry into the finals of the WMV Tournament in Mumbai!"
The three men held their glasses high over the cheers now ensuing, not only from the TV, but the streets below the penthouse they were seated in.
"Four cheers for Yogi and Mars", boomed Tigris, and the room resounded with the collective clink of three glasses. "Everything went as planned, my friends. *He* will be pleased. There's no stopping us now."
Chapter 2
The smell of vanilla filled the bureau as the door burst open; Fredericks rushed in excitedly, carrying an enormous cake. "Celebrations!" he called joyfully as everyone looked up. "It took me ages to get here ' the streets are filled with people reveling! I don't think anybody expected our boys to get past the Aussies, but they did! And how! We're in the finals against Pakistan now!"
Abhijeet, Daya, Purvi and Shreya smiled. There was nothing like seeing Freddy's enthusiasm when it came to cricket.
"I was surprised, though", said Abhijeet, accepting some of the cake. "The odds seemed to be heavily against us, with Gaikwad and Ankola both injured and Sahil Nehe looking terribly out of form."
"This victory was a bit too much of a cakewalk", said Daya thoughtfully. "New Zealand and England I could understand, but this was Australia we were dealing with. Doesn't it feel a bit too good to be true?"
As if in answer, the phone rang. Daya hurried forward to answer it. "C.I.D, Mumbai. Senior Inspector Daya speaking", he said.
"Good evening, Inspector", said a plain female voice from the other end. "I apologize for interrupting the omnipresent post-match euphoria."
"Get to the point. What is the matter?" pressed Daya shortly.
"I have something valuable for you", said the caller calmly. "If you visit Room No. 302 of Hotel Omega Regency at 10:30 sharp tonight, you will discover something of paramount importance."
"What?" exclaimed Daya. Behind him, Abhijeet and Fredericks exchanged concerned looks. "Exactly what is going on there?"
"You'll see when you get there", answered the woman. "If done right, I'm sure your department shall earn some well-deserved props from the media."
Daya exchanged a quick glance with Abhijeet; the caller's deliberate ambiguousness was suspicious. "Who are you, and how did you come to know about this?" he asked sharply.
"My identity is irrelevant, Inspector", said the woman tartly. "Why bother about the tree when you have the fruit? 10:30 PM, Hotel Omega Regency, Room 302. I'd go for it if I were you."
And she disconnected. Daya paused for a few moments before lowering the phone. "What do you think?" he asked Abhijeet. "Sounded pretty suspicious to me."
"Same here", said Abhijeet, frowning. "It could well be a trap or something. But we can't just ignore it."
"I'll inform ACP sir", said Daya. He tried calling him, to no avail; the senior had been away working on a separate case for the past few days.
"I guess we'd better go and have a look at the hotel", said Abhijeet. "But be cautious, and let's try to get past unnoticed. Who's up for it?"
Fredericks, Purvi and Shreya volunteered immediately.
"Let's get on with it, then", said Daya grimly. "And Freddy, track down our mysterious caller as well."
Chapter 3
The tenth of May. 10:00 PM, Hotel Omega Regency. Daya and Purvi posed as tourists and booked rooms on the second floor of the hotel, conveniently below Room 302 while Abhijeet, Fredericks and Shreya provided over-watch from the rooftop of a nearby building. Eventually, the clock struck 10:27 PM. Abhijeet watched a taxi drive up to the hotel. A man with a cap got out, walked into the building and conversed briefly with the receptionist before taking the up elevator. Abhijeet contacted Daya at once.
"Daya, someone just took the lift with no luggage or payment; I reckon they're here to meet someone."
Daya and Purvi edged along to the elevator and saw that it was heading to the third floor. They went upstairs, and watched the bearded and capped man exit the elevator and walk straight to Room 302, knocking the door. He nodded at the sight of whoever opened it, and entered without invitation. The lock clicked. The two cops sneaked like shadows over to the door and listened to the conversation inside.
"I've told you already, Rocky" said an indignant voice inside. "If that damned Coulson didn't let me in, it's not my fault. I helped you people with the contacts. If Bubba here gets his share, I want mine too!"
"You know the rules, Raja; your share is in proportion to your contribution", replied a gruff voice. "You get ten and this chick, of course."
"Hell" snapped the man called Raja. "Fine, then. Get it ready. Are you sure she must not live?"
"She knows too much", said Rocky. "I had a hell of a time smuggling her here. If you hadn't insisted'"
Suddenly, there were sounds of struggle and chaos erupted within the room. They could hear the muffled screams of a woman, along with crashed and cries of pain from one of the men.
"She'll get us caught!" roared Rocky. "Shoot her, Bubba!"
"Daya, Purvi ' move in!" came Abhijeet's voice from the earphone.
Gun drawn, Daya struck the door with the force of a hurricane and smashed it off its hinges. They saw two men holding a bound and half-gagged young lady on the floor while another pointed a gun at her. They looked up at the cops and drew their own weapons as well. Daya and Purvi ducked behind tables as gunfire roared, shattering windows and china. Bullets ricocheted off furniture and walls. With a well-aimed shot, Purvi disarmed the first gunman. Daya sir shot down a chandelier on top of the other two, and rushed to capture them. He pulled off the caps and false beards, and saw who they were.
"Sahil Nehe and Tarun Sabnis! I'd have expected you to be celebrating your team's victory right now. Try to keep playing and you'll end up in the morgue", he growled.
Purvi rushed to the young woman's aid, untied her and helped her sit up. It was then that she got a proper look at her. She paused, looking shocked.
"Tanya?" she exclaimed.
The girl looked at her, and went even paler. "P'Purvi di?" she muttered, blanching.
Daya looked from her to Purvi in amazement. "You know her, Purvi?"
"I do, sir. She was a junior of mine in college", answered Purvi quietly, not taking her eyes off Tanya.
Daya sir looked at Tanya. She was barely in her early twenties. Her face almost resembled a death mask. "What are you doing here, Tanya, with these thugs?" he asked.
But Tanya was shaking so badly that Daya thought she was about to faint. There were footsteps outside; the hotel staff had been attracted by the gunfire. They paused in shock at the scene in the room.
"The CID is handling this", said Abhijeet shortly as he and the others came up from behind, guns drawn. "Daya, Purvi, are you alright?"
"We're fine, Abhijeet", said Daya. "Let's start by arresting these gentlemen here. Purvi", he said pointedly, gesturing at Tanya. Abhijeet was slightly confused, but a brief observation of Daya and Purvi's expressions helped him understand. All of them were taken out of the room.
*****
"Here, Tanya", Purvi said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You are safe now. Sit down here, and have water. Now tell me, what's going on? How did you end up there?"
Tanya twitched uncomfortably. "I' I can't tell you that."
Purvi paused, and her tone became stronger. "We've been questioning those men, Tanya. And Freddy sir has found out that the tip-off we had received was from your mobile. Normally, you should be taken into custody at once. But I'm giving you a chance to speak openly. Please co-operate with us."
Tanya looked up at Purvi, whose eyes showed concern but also determination. She remembered the last time she had met Purvi, how she was fresh out of school then with a top rank in board exams, how Purvi had hugged her and said to her family that she would make them proud, whatever she did. A sob welled up in her throat; she could not bear to meet her earnest eyes anymore.
"It's my fault, all my fault!" she cried.
"What is it? What happened?" asked Shreya quietly, sitting down next to her.
"I'd have felt better to say I ruined my own life", said Tanya shakily, looking down at her knees. "But I betrayed my own family!"
She went on to explain that she fell into bad company and failed to gain entrance into any good college. She got addicted to drugs and squandered away her money, including the family savings. She joined an escort agency in desperation to earn her daily fix, which had eventually led her to the dark gates of betting and match-fixing.
"The match tonight was fixed, as were the previous two", she said heavily. "When I got a lucrative sum of money from this Rocky guy for luring cricketers into the racket, I accepted. I roped in Salil and Tarun. I thought the job would be tolerable, but they betrayed me, they held back my pay and attacked me when I protested. I couldn't take it anymore. When Tarun asked me to accompany him to the hotel, I decided to inform you and expose them, but they found out and captured me'"
Purvi looked at Tanya and felt a mixture of pity and disgust. "You could've risen so high, Tanya. Why did you never share everything with your parents? With me?" Tanya remained silent, looking ashamed. Purvi continued, "There is still time. We will stop this disgraceful racket."
*****
Several miles away, the man called Tigris fingered his chin absentmindedly. He felt uneasy, not due to guilt but anxiety. With two cricketers and one of their bookies arrested, there was great danger of their syndicate being exposed. But he was determined not to mess up their magnus opum' fixing of the final match ' at any cost. He was determined to consolidate the groundwork they had laid so meticulously.
His phone rang, and he gulped at the caller's name. It's HIM! He answered, hands trembling.
"I hear that Rocky, Bubba and Raja have been arrested by the CID", said the caller. He had a rough, throaty voice.
"Yes, sir", stammered Tigris. The official version was that the cricketers had been detained for doing drugs, but this man always seemed to be omniscient. "But don't worry. Everything is under control!"
"Eyes wide shut, I see", said the caller quietly. "Must I remind you, Tigris, that the finals are crucial for us and the tiniest of holes will lead the cops to us? I, Xerxes, will handle this personally. Abort all meetings. Catch will be set up at Villa Royale. I will be closer than you think, and you'd better not screw it up."
"I' of course, sir", stammered Tigris. The line disconnected, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Xerxes hadn't handled a case in person for the past four years. This was only their second "Catch" ever. All talks were normally done via encrypted phone or Internet calls; none of them even knew their boss' identity. His rewards were generous, but wrath was terrible. With the CID hunting them at the other end, Tigris felt trapped between Scylla and Charybdis. We cannot afford to mess up this one, he thought.
Chapter 4
Rocky, Sahil Nehe and Tarun Sabnis were both interrogated thoroughly. They were forced to reveal that this was one of the many meetings between bookies, punters and cricketers covertly taking place all over the country for the purpose of spot-fixing, headed by a dominant kingpin known only as Xerxes. They were paying obscene amounts to cricketers for manipulating the matches, and then took advantage to exploit betting groups which didn't know about the fixing. Sahil and Tarun confessed to having accepted money and favours for the fixing. Betting was mostly done online via software like PPH, and masked routers were used to block I.P addresses.
"My informer says that these syndicates use linemen to stay connected globally", said Abhijeet to Daya, before rounding on their captives. "Spit out names if you know any."
"We only know that Xerxes uses a solitary lineman who handles everything single-handedly", said Rocky quietly. "His location is unknown. Our boss is unnaturally sophisticated and wants to leave no openings. He does not use public Internet or email. He doesn't encourage us to meet in ordinary places either. All money transfers are done via the Swiss bank with extreme secrecy."
"It indeed seems almost impossible to detect", remarked Daya. "Once the transaction is done, we cannot hope to obtain any evidence." He glowered at the three crooks. "You'd better make yourself more useful."
"I know that Rishabh Saxena, Sanjog Kanitkar and Joshua Singh are involved in spot-fixing!" blurted Sahil. "I'm sure that Ankur Jain and Udit Bhatt are also a part of it!"
"Very well", said Daya. "But your word is not proof enough for us to apprehend these high-profile men."
"And this Xerxes must've been alerted after we arrested these three", said Abhijeet. "He won't be foolish enough to conduct more any meetings in the open. We need to think of something else to capture them."
*****
ACP Pradyuman walked into the unusually silent bureau. Everybody had been occupied with their work. They looked up as he entered, and rose from their seats at once.
"That was a reckless move", he reprimanded as Abhijeet and Daya approached him. "You received an anonymous phone call and went on without informing me? Goodness knows what you could've faced!"
"Sorry, sir", said Daya. "We tried to contact you, but'"
"What you're dealing with is more serious than you can think", interrupted the ACP. "The coach of the Indian cricket team, Hans Coulson, has been found dead in his hotel washroom this morning. His neck was brutally snapped. The news is being shielded from everybody for now, and we've carted the body off to Dr. Salunkhe. His mobile was clutched tightly in his fist, and look what we found in it."
He inserted a USB drive into the computer on his desk, where an audio file began to play at once.
"'where did you come from? How did the lights go off?" exclaimed a voice Daya recognized as Hans Coulson's. He had heard the coach on the TV previously.
"That's off-topic" answered a throaty voice in the distance, echoing around the washroom. "I have warned you multiple times not to interfere in our work, Coulson."
There was a pause. "So, you're that creep Xerxes! Don't have the balls to face me? You think I'll let you people pollute this noble game as long as I'm alive? I'll never, ever give in to you!" cried Coulson.
"So be it, Coulson", growled the throaty-voiced Xerxes. Coulson let out a scream which was abruptly muffled. Grunts, sounds of scuffle, and a crash. Coulson tried to yell again, but there was a vicious struggle and then came the unmistakable sound of bones snapping. A dull thud. "My arm'" hissed Xerxes in the background. Footsteps rose and faded soon, and silence fell again. The audio file ended.
The ACP glowered at the captured cricketers, who admitted that their coach had grown suspicious of them being involved in spot-fixing and had been keeping an eye on them. When his interference got too severe, Xerxes felt the need to contact and negotiate with him, but the move failed and Coulson was on an active lookout for the syndicate, necessitating his death.
"I think he was alert and switched on the recorder as soon as the lights went off", said Abhijeet.
"He must've been a great threat if Xerxes had to murder him in person", said Daya. "And this recording reveals that Xerxes' arm is injured. That could prove to be very useful."
"The final match is just two days away, and they'll certainly try to exploit it", said Fredericks darkly. He seemed to be taking the disgraceful racket as a personal insult.
The ACP said, "We cannot do anything unless we catch them red-handed. How can we do it?"
Standing next to Purvi, Shreya cleared her throat. Everybody looked at her inquisitively.
"Actually, sir" she began quietly, "I think I do know of a way to accomplish this."
The ACP looked at her grimly. "Go ahead, Shreya."
"I came to know from a' friend' that the BCCI has just announced a special function tomorrow at Villa Royale, the sports minister's residence, on the eve of the finals. Nearly all the Indian and Pakistani cricketers will be attending and meeting various noted personalities. The guest list is highly private and access is being granted by extremely rare invites only. I find this highly suspicious."
The ACP considered this. "A private function on the eve of the big match, just after the syndicate risks being exposed, is indeed fishy. This could be a golden opportunity for the cricketers and bookies to do their dealing in peace and seclusion, with nobody to catch them."
"But if the party is off-limits to everyone except invitees, how do we get in?" said Daya. "We cannot get a search warrant without sufficient evidence, and it will likely alert the syndicate."
"We could try securing an invitation somehow", said Abhijeet. "But that's nearly impossible, and I doubt that it'll enable us to get close enough to the cricketers or bookies to collect any crucial evidence."
Shreya spoke uncertainly. "I think there may be a way, sir. You see'" She paused.
"Go ahead, Shreya. What is it?" said the ACP.
Shreya hesitated, but went on to tell him what was on her mind. Everybody in the bureau was shocked.
"Are you insane, Shreya?" said Daya incredulously. "You two will go there as escorts??"
"You're not doing this", said Abhijeet firmly. "Shreya, these men are merciless and cunning. They've already murdered a very powerful man. I know we've done many undercover missions, but this is insane!"
Shreya and Purvi were silent. The ACP's expression was unfathomable, but when he finally spoke, his tone was determined. "This is a unique situation, and I know it demands a unique solution. I have faith in the two of you. But tell me honestly, do you believe you're up for this exceptionally perilous mission?"
Shreya nodded determinedly without hesitation. Purvi spoke, "We're ready to do it, sir. Not only for the honour of our game, but for Tanya."
The ACP looked at them for a long time before nodding his assent. "I want you to think deeply about whatever you do. None of us knows what you'll be facing ahead."
Chapter 5
The Saturday morning was shimmering with sunlight falling in fragments through the thin layer of clouds above. Chattering people slowly filled the outdoor caf as Purvi and Shreya settled down at one of the tables, waiting for their contact to arrive. The clock had barely struck 9:15 when a young woman in incredibly dense makeup arrived at their table and greeted Shreya, who introduced her to Purvi as Nancy.
"Exquisite", said Nancy with an overly broad smile, shaking Purvi's hand. "Now Shreya, darling, I think you remember me saying that I won't have much time?"
"I certainly do", said Shreya, stopping herself from rolling her eyes. Drama queens.
"For Purvi's benefit, here's a brief preamble", said Nancy. "I used to work at the same escort agency as your friend Tanya for about three years, and have come to know that this fixing racket has been using our ladies to lure in cricketers. I got to know about this function early because many of the cricketers have used the agency's services regularly. This time, three of them have been booked escorts for tonight."
"Is there any way we can get in?" asked Purvi.
"I've arranged for that", said Nancy. "An assistant there is my friend and has created artificial profiles for you two. To qualify as escorts", she added, as the girls looked confused. "He's given the two original ladies a leave and set you up with Sanjog, who apparently demanded this for his spot-fixing in yesterday's match. The agency is trusted, so you should have no problems in getting inside."
"Thanks", said Shreya, looking rather unconvinced. "So we're going with Sanjog Kanitkar, correct?"
"Only if you want to, of course", chuckled Nancy. "I tell you, dear, those two original gals must be blessing you. One little bas***d he is, Sanjog Kanitkar. I don't think you'll be having a pleasant time."
"We'll handle that", said Purvi grimly. "So, what's the procedure now?"
"Here are your fake IDs", said Nancy. "Learn that information by heart. You need to meet the manager of the agency for confirmation; keep your Shakespearean skills ready. From there, it's pretty straightforward. The privacy of this function is too secure, but I think there's no better way to get in than this."
"Many thanks, Nancy. And props for finally choosing a new career. I say that befits you", said Shreya. They thanked and bid her goodbye before contacting the ACP.
*****
They arrived at the cramped office of the agency at 12:00 PM sharp, as instructed. The obese manager looked up at them queerly. Shreya moved forward and produced her ID.
"Vanessa", she introduced herself, smiling.
"Jenny", said Purvi, mirroring Shreya's actions and grinning even more broadly.
The man eyed them closely. "Funny, you two don't look experienced", he said suspiciously.
"We'd been told that our talents should be reserved for clients alone", said Shreya, raising an eyebrow.
The manager smirked. "You're quick, missy. Well, your IDs seem fine and it's not like our client knows who was originally coming. Remember our rules; we'll check back with Mr. Kanitkar to know how your services were. As for the rates, you'll have the standard Rs. 10,000 per hour for special clients. Savvy? "
Purvi and Shreya left after earnest assurances and fake smiles. You'll get what's coming to you, mister.
Chapter 6
The twelfth of May, 7:45 PM. Fifteen minutes left to go for the function.
Purvi put down her phone after talking to her seniors. Looking into the mirror, she reluctantly applied a tad of lip gloss and a streak of flowery perfume while distastefully eyeing her skimpy, strapless red dress. She felt thoroughly uncomfortable, but it had to be done. Carefully, she put on her earring, into which was inserted a minuscule, fly-sized camera. Over her shoulder, she saw Shreya in a similar lilac dress, smiling mischievously from the doorway.
"Better be aware. I bet Mr. Kanitkar will pop the question after one glance at you" she chuckled.
"Oh, drop it", said Purvi, though she smiled back. "At least you've got the better dress. Just look at mine!"
"At least it's just for the night", said Shreya placidly. "I've just received a call from the agency ' Kanitkar is arriving. Let's go wait for him. Don't forget to keep your guard up!"
*****
They met Sanjog Kanitkar, the famous Indian leg-spinner, outside the enormous garden gates of Villa Royale where the function was being held. A curly-haired young man, he looked them up and down through his wire-frame glasses as though examining a delicious buffet.
"You two are from the agency, seriously? They don't get hotter than you!" he exclaimed.
"Thanks", said Shreya in a falsely honeyed tone, repressing the urge to break his jaw. "Myself Vanessa, and this is Jenny. We are most honoured to be with you, Mr. Kanitkar."
"The pleasure's mine. And just call me Sanjog, Vanny dear", replied Sanjog with a toothy smile and unconvincing bow. "Let's proceed, shall we? You're in for a hell of a time!"
He grabbed their hands in each of his and led the way through the magnificent gates. Men and women in lavish suits and gowns were streaming in from all ends. The guards shook Sanjog's hand enthusiastically and let all three of them through. Villa Royale loomed ahead of them ' a bungalow of epic proportions, shimmering with lights and various ornaments, splayed around with lush gardens, trees and fountains.
"Impressive, isn't it, Jenny? It's owned by Dr. Narasimha Reddy, our honourable sports minister. Close family friend of my dad", said Sanjog haughtily to Purvi. She gave him a quick smile before moving on.
As they neared the Villa, several people made a beeline to greet Sanjog. First was a host of media-persons, whose questions Sanjog answered with ill-concealed impatience. Then came several well-known cricketers including Avinash Gaikwad, Rishabh Saxena and Joshua Singh. There was a round of greeting and hugging, giving the two lady cops chance to observe the cricketers up close. They reached the mammoth bronze doors of the Villa, and the guards blocked out everyone except the invitees. They walked into the grand auditorium of the Villa. Guests were moving along each of the two indoor balconies under the magnificent chandeliers above. A piano tinkled serenely in the corner.
"Many would die to be in your place right now", said Sanjog pompously, eyeing his "escorts"' expressions. "Ah, here come our resident hosts ' Dr. Narasimha and Tapas Reddy! Come on!"
The sports minister greeted them politely. Tapas Reddy turned out to be a tall, vain youth in his late twenties wearing a brilliantly grey suit. Sanjog greeted him enthusiastically and introduced him to his "escorts", explaining that Tapas was co-hosting the party tonight. Purvi and Shreya shook hands with him.
"Nice to see a different side to you, Mr. Kanitkar", said Tapas, giving the girls an amused look.
"Don't we all have one, Reddy ji?" said Sanjog with an unpleasant wink.
"I'm sorry to hear about Sahil and Tarun. Drug addiction is sadly growing", said Dr. Narasimha.
"Indeed, sir", said Sanjog stiffly. "Come along now, girls!"
As the father and son moved on, Purvi observed Tapas tenderly nursing his left arm.
Chapter 7
"It's all going as planned", said Daya. "Their cameras are working. We can see and record everything in the surroundings."
ACP Pradyuman, Abhijeet, Daya and Fredericks were in the bureau's control room, observing the image feed from Purvi and Shreya's concealed cameras.
"We're on the right track", said the ACP. "If all goes as planned, we'll have these people in prison by the morning."
"I'm worried about Purvi and Shreya, sir", said Fredericks quietly. "They're right in the lion's jaws. And seriously, what an embarrassing situation to work in'"
"They're CID officers, Freddy. They can handle it", said the ACP firmly. "Entertaining a thought without succumbing to it is an essential part of every disguise. Their hearts are clean, and so will they be."
*****
The introductions were like a blur to Purvi and Shreya; they did their best to focus on each of the people they were meeting. There was the captain of the Indian team, Jatin Ankola. Ankur Jain, the umpire. Nishant Irani, the irritable Villa manager. Khalid Asfoura, a tycoon from the UAE. Livian Francis, a "cool" upcoming actor. There were several well-known musicians, businessmen, politicians and commentators.
"And this is Mr. Bhaskar Mittal, chief of the BCCI and our co-host tonight", said an stressed but excited Sanjog, taking them up to a tall, willowy man with deep blue eyes and elegant silver hair, neatly dressed in a hoary Armani suit.
"Haven't you two considered better jobs? You certainly deserve much more", he said, smiling graciously at the girls. "Have a great time tonight; this is a rare opportunity."
They thanked him and proceeded to take seats in the hall as both the co-hosts ascended the rostrum to deliver their welcome speeches. Applause shattered the air and everybody got to their feet as the stage lit up and a song-and-dance performance began.
*****
The man called Tigris leaned back against the wall, fingering his chin and eyeing Sanjog with distaste. We're here on a key assignment and this idiot is hanging out with a couple of hookers,he thought acidly. He couldn't bear to think what Xerxes would do if they bungled their job. Not only was their boss present at the function, but they didn't even know who he was.
As if on cue, his phone rang. Xerxes. He shuddered as he answered it.
"Having a bash, Tigris?" said the throaty voice. "Sorry for interrupting to know about the status of Catch."
"No' no, sir", whispered Tigris hastily, making sure he wasn't overheard. "Catch will begin in thirty minutes as planned. It's all going fine! We were just concerned about Yogi wasting time'"
"Don't whine about labour pains; I'm only interested in the baby", snapped Xerxes. "They know the goddamn rules. If they don't play, let me know. I have my eye on you all." And the line went deadly silent.
*****
Out of the corner of her eye, Purvi watched Nishant Irani wiping sweat off his forehead. She had been observing his behaviour for five minutes now. She caught Shreya's eye and nodded meaningfully. Soon, the music faded and applause rose again. Mr. Bhaskar Mittal announced an enactment of Othello by a theatrical group. As all guests took their seats, Purvi saw Sanjog have a few words with his teammates before approaching her.
"Cool, wasn't it", he grinned. "This looks boring, though. Shall we go up to get refreshed, dears?"
There was a dirty look in his eye that made his intentions clear to the two ladies. It was time. Steeling themselves, they rose from the chairs and made their way across the auditorium and up a maze of stairs to the guest rooms. They saw Sanjog check his watch and mutter "twenty" absentmindedly. He led them across the glowing hallway to door no. 210 and stepped aside to let them into the lavishly prolific room.
"I hope you know I'm not partial", he grinned, closing the door. "You're both my favourite girls."
Shreya and Purvi did nothing except smile at him.
"To hell with the shyness! Make yourselves comfortable and let's get' closer to each other", he smirked.
"And what are we supposed to understand by 'closer'?" snapped Purvi suddenly.
Sanjog looked taken aback. "Why, Jenny, that's the reason why we're here! You and I' and Vanessa here, of course' in each other's arms, and then'"
He produced a crude expression that made both the ladies cringe exaggeratedly.
"I hope you do know, Mr. Kanitkar, that we are respectable, professional escorts", said Shreya angrily. "I believe what you are looking for are prostitutes!"
She put as much contempt as she could into the word. The cricketer was gaping at her with his mouth open. Shreya was uncertain, but this was necessary. They needed to earn some trust.
"Eh' of course not' I understand", he said in a voice of forced calm. "But I'm sure you won't mind a little' upgrade? How about 50 more for the night?" He clearly thought they wanted to bargain.
"Well' we have a deal, then", said Purvi with a forced smile, batting her eyelashes and taking his hand in hers. "Did I mention you look like a Greek God tonight?"
"I always do, sweetheart", grinned Sanjog, grabbing both of them and toppling onto the sofa. "Now'"
"I'm thirsty", interjected Shreya, snuggling up to him. "Nothing like a swig to crank up the heat, right, darling?"
"Right you are, Vanny!" remarked Sanjog, who seemed to find the idea highly appealing. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the shelf and poured each of them a generous measure. He toasted them with a perverted smile and drained his glass. Purvi and Shreya mirrored his actions, but only pretended to take a sip. Smiling seductively, Purvi poured him three more glasses. She remembered him checking his watch and muttering "twenty". Was the fixing about to begin in twenty minutes? Seven had already passed'
Sanjog drained his fourth glass of the strong wine and looked up with a bleary grin. He was intoxicated. At once, Shreya threw herself on top of him and slowly ran her hand through his thick, curly hair.
"My, this looks like a mighty expensive suit", she wondered loudly, fingering it with false admiration.
"Dormeuil *HIC* Royal Qivuik worth' *HIC* 50 crore rupees, Vanny", he grinned drunkenly. "Just' stick with me and I will make you *HIC* experience heaven'"
"Of course, honey", smiled Purvi. "But what if we get caught? That Raja and Bubba might spill everything to the police."
Sanjog looked up drunkenly. "You' *HIC*' know about him, Jen?"
"All of us know about him, darling", said Shreya firmly. He was too drunk to see through the lie.
"Well, yes! He's *HIC* a f***ing moron!" bawled Sanjog. "Got himself *HIC* caught! But don't you' *HIC* worry! This time, HE is' *HIC* handling it all. He is here, he has our *HIC* bank data and nobody can touch it! Just come along, and *HIC* play!"
"Very good", smiled Purvi. "Uhm' excuse me'bathroom."
She ran her hand along his suit one last time, and quietly attached a minuscule camera onto his bowtie, along with a small microphone under the collar. Leaving the drunken Sanjog daydreaming on the bed, Purvi and Shreya exited the room. Time was up. As soon as they rounded the corner, Joshua Singh walked up to the door and started pounding it. "Yogi, where the hell are you? Catch is about to begin!"
"Never again. That was the worst experience of my life", breathed Shreya. "All done, Purvi?"
"Perfectly", replied Purvi, twirling her earring camera, looking revolted but determined. "Everything is transmitted over to the bureau. They're calling this meeting 'Catch'. Xerxes himself is here and has their bank data. I think we should get ready to rain hell on Mr. Tapas Reddy."
"Tapas Reddy?" repeated Shreya curiously. "You think he's Xerxes?
"Who else can it be?" said Purvi darkly. "It's his father's Villa, his people, his plan. Nobody can raid the sports minister's residence so easily; it's perfectly secure. I saw him nursing his left arm. Remember, Xerxes' arm is injured! I think Tapas is running a very neat deal under the table behind his father's back."
*****
Xerxes excused himself and began to proceed for the meeting coded "Catch". He had to do his part quickly and return to the party, or his absence would be noticed. As he walked towards one of the many stairs, he saw the two girls he'd seen with Sanjog heading towards the auditorium. He flashed a falsely warm smile at them, which they returned apprehensively. He smelt a whiff of fine perfume as they walked past him, and turned back to glance at them. Stale hookers, he thought scathingly. But he observed their powerful body language, and surprisingly never recalled seeing it in an escort before. Intriguing.
Chapter 8
"Excellent work, you two", said Abhijeet, watching the images now being displayed on their computer screen. He adjusted the speakers' volume. "I see Joshua Singh helping Kanitkar out of the room. He's not pleased that he got drunk right before their meeting. I'm sure he'll lead us right to the meeting room."
"Purvi reckons that Tapas Reddy is their boss Xerxes", said Daya. "Sounds incredible."
"Yes, but it makes sense, Daya", said the ACP. "We'll find out soon enough, anyway."
The fumbling camera now showed first-person images of Sanjog stumbling upstairs, towards a door marked "501" and entering a small room with a handful of circularly arranged tables and chairs. Dark shadows fell like serpents across the sparse yellowish light. They saw more men gathering around.
"Look at them, sir. All well-known people", said Abhijeet darkly. There was Nishant Irani as expected. Rishabh Saxena, prominent batsman in the Indian team. Aziz Khan, bowler from the Pakistani team. Livian Francis, debutant actor. Ankur Jain, umpire. Udit Bhatt, a rich businessman. "And there's Khalid Asfoura, the dealer from Dubai! There are more of them, but not everyone is visible from this angle."
The men sat in near silence, talking in almost inaudible whispers. Within a minute, there came the sound of a door opening to Sanjog's left. The cops watched Joshua Singh, Livian Francis and Wasim Ahmed spring to their feet, folding their hands and looking both excited and surprised.
"Though we're in complete privacy, as per our etiquette, I request you gentlemen to continue using our chosen names", said a throaty voice.
Everyone nodded. Sanjog was apparently still drunk, for he sat still facing straight ahead. There were muffled footsteps, and a tall man in a grey suit entered and sat on the chair a few feet away from Sanjog, tenderly resting his left arm on the cushion. His face was in shadow and completely unidentifiable.
Waving aside Sanjog's half-drunk apology, Xerxes spoke."We normally conduct our deals at various five-star venues, but you all know why our Villa was chosen. The Bubba-Raja incident is no coincidence, and I'm sure the CID is on our trail. Fortunately, they cannot do anything without actual evidence, and there's no safer place than here. Thanks to Gumbo for helping me arrange this function, solely for our safety."
Abhijeet, Daya and the ACP looked at each other. The fixing began at once; Khalid Asfoura explained how bookies were all betting on the Indian team's victory following their apparently miraculous wins in three consecutive matches, and therefore the syndicate would benefit by having India lose. Rishabh Saxena obtained ten crores for going out on a duck, while Joshua Singh was offered fifteen for allowing someone called "Goatee" to LBW him. Aziz Khan accepted ten for every over he bowled. Sanjog was instructed to sweep back his hair as a signal for one "Lakha" to hit four sixes in an over. Ankur Jain received twenty for agreeing to declare three false run-outs.
"Very well", said Xerxes with satisfaction in his voice. "Tigris will shortly be here with the others for formalities. Push every fear from your mind, gentlemen. Your valuable data resides with me, and I'll now proceed to transact your advance payment. After tomorrow, we will be among this world's richest men."
He got to his feet with a few others. The camera shuddered as Sanjog stood up shakily, and suddenly stumbled forward onto one of the tables. The image flashed with static and vanished.
"Damn it", cursed the ACP. "Looks like he accidentally damaged the camera. Why couldn't this Xerxes move forward so that we could see his face? Nevertheless, we've got much evidence now. We need the bank data that he mentioned. Update Purvi and Shreya at once!"
*****
Xerxes watched Joshua Singh struggle with the half-drunk Sanjog, making a mental note to never let the leg-spinner near an inch of alcohol again. Singh roughly threw off Sanjog, who stumbled right onto Xerxes. A bolt of pain shot up his injured arm. As he angrily pushed Sanjog aside, Xerxes' hand slipped onto the cricketer's bow-tie and felt a slight bulge. Surprised, he pulled it back and saw a small black object dangling from it. He saw that it was a miniature camera, complete with microphone. Rage flooded his brain; had Sanjog betrayed them? But why would Sanjog shoot himself in the foot? Slowly, he again examined the camera. Even from a distance, he could tell that it smelt of lady's perfume.
*****
The Othello play was in full swing at the crowded auditorium, complete with flashy lighting and loud chamber orchestra. Purvi and Shreya had received updates from Abhijeet. They were still feeling sickened by the twenty minutes they had spent in Sanjog's room, but tried to push it from their minds.
"Do you not like the play?" asked Mr. Bhaskar Mittal good-naturedly as he passed, arms behind his back.
Purvi and Shreya shook their heads distractedly, their eyes fixed on Nishant Irani leading three more cricketers out of the hall. Purvi adjusted her earring camera to capture them. Suddenly, Khalid Asfoura and Joshua Singh descended from the stairs, looking grave. The girls crept behind a pillar to eavesdrop.
"Change of plans, Tigris", Shreya overheard Wasim whisper to Nishant. "Xerxes says that Catch is concluded, and transactions are in order. Formalities will be done later."
Shreya looked at Purvi with a terrified expression. "Xerxes concluded the meeting? Right after Sanjog accidentally broke the camera? Could he possibly have found out about us?"
"I don't see how", said Purvi quietly. "But this does look suspicious. Wait' look! There's Tapas coming!"
Tapas Reddy came shuffling down one of the staircases, looking harried. "Tigris, over here", he whispered. "You got the message, right? Transaction is in order. Make sure Basement 2 is off-limits; they'll certainly try to get there. Start looking for them."
Purvi and Shreya felt their hearts hammering with fear. They had been discovered. Making sure no one was watching, they slipped out from behind the pillar and tiptoed into a dark storeroom under the stairs.
"What do we do now?" whispered Purvi. "We need to get that data before they transact and delete it. And it looks like our disguise is blown now!"
"I don't understand", said Shreya. She was confused: how had Xerxes discovered their identities so fast? It didn't matter: there was work to be done. "At least we know the data is in Basement 2. The problem is getting there' but I have an idea."
"What idea?" asked Purvi.
Shreya remained silent. Disguising themselves as escorts suddenly felt like a small thing in comparison.
Chapter 9
Shreya took only a minute to inform their seniors about the plan before proceeding. Their words of alarm and caution didn't do much to deter her from what she felt was a reckless but essential move. They sneaked out and moved unnoticed to a corner before turning to each other.
"I really hope this works", said Purvi uncertainly.
"It will. Stay close, and stay strong", whispered Shreya boldly. She turned and crept towards the fire alarm placed at the corner. She removed the axe held over the alarm box and raised it high, breathing deeply. "One' two' THREE!" She crashed the axe onto the box with great force.
A continuous high-pitched ring echoed all around the hall. There was utter pandemonium; everyone ran around screaming and looking for imaginary flames. "NOW!" screamed Shreya. The basement elevator beeped to life under the stairs. Purvi ran for it, but Shreya was separated from her by a wave of panicked guests. As she struggled to catch up, she glimpsed a man in a grey suit darting in the opposite direction, holding his left arm gingerly. XERXES! But why was he running away from his precious data room?
She fought her way through the commotion and followed the man. Finally, she saw him stop in one of the deserted, dark hallways and gingerly push aside a shelf along the wall. She peeked around the corner, and saw to her surprise that he was gone. In a minute or two, footsteps rose again and he walked out of the hallway. Shreya waited until he was past, and then proceeded to rush towards the shelf.
*****
Purvi rushed towards the elevator, hurled herself in and closed the door. She was pretty confident that nobody had seen her. She pressed the switch down to Basement 2 and waited. The elevator hummed and finally opened into what looked like a dark and dusty cavern. She proceeded slowly, drawing her gun.
*****
The alarm was still ringing, and the hallway was deserted. Shreya carefully pushed aside the shelf and saw a thin door behind it. She entered and made her way across a serpentine passage into a small, dark room filled with computers, modems and a large server. A balding man sat in front of the console, typing away. Shreya crept up from behind, clapped a hand on his mouth and thrust her gun onto his head.
"You're Xerxes' lineman, aren't you? You've also been doing transactions to the Swiss bank accounts", she said menacingly. "If you want to live, tell me how to install this bug into the computer. NOW!!"
The trembling lineman did as told, Shreya's gun pressed hard on his skull.
*****
In the bureau, Abhijeet concentrated on the screen and suddenly exclaimed with joy. "Sir, the firewall is down! The router's unblocked and we have full access to the syndicate's server now!"
*****
"I want a backup copy of all the transactions you've done for these people so far. And I'll blow your brains to a mist if you try to scream", snapped Shreya.
The lineman copied everything she requested onto a USB drive and handed it over. Shreya knocked him unconscious with the butt of her pistol and proceeded to sneak back out, contented but mystified. If this was the gang's control room, what was there in Basement 2? The alarm had stopped; Tapas Reddy was trying to restore calm and reassure the panicked guests. "It was just a false alarm!" he called out at large.
"Aren't ya pleased, Gumbo?" whistled Sanjog near him.
"Shhh! Just call me Tapas here", hissed the other. "And yes, it's bad enough being burned once!"
Shreya paused. Gumbo?That was Tapas' nickname in the gang? She watched as the sleeve of his arm fell back, revealing a black burn. She remembered that Xerxes' arm was supposedly bruised, not burned. Who was Xerxes, then? She pictured the man she had followed to the control room, recalling the grey suit, injured arm, the silvery hair' the hair!! With a jolt of understanding, she realized it all. Oh, no!
*****
Purvi walked carefully across the dark room, which was littered with cobwebs and dusty cartons. For a secret control room, it looked remarkably nondescript. She found the lack of security measures ominous. As she edged along, gun raised, she finally saw an apparently blank sheet of paper lying upon a high desk. Curiously, she turned it over and read the simple message consisting of two words.
"GAME OVER"
Purvi felt a sudden chill, and felt someone moving in the dark behind her. She spun instinctively, but it was too late. A crackling blow fell down upon her neck and sent white-hot pain across every inch of her.
"Looking for Xerxes, dear?" whispered the throaty voice over her.
Lights flashed in front of her eyes as Purvi looked up and saw who her attacker was. Before her mind could process anything, she lost consciousness.
*****
As Xerxes stood over his victim, Sanjog Kanitkar scrambled down the stairs up to him.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, looking at Purvi. "I knew something was wrong with these two!"
"Like hell you did, you idiot", snapped Xerxes, holding up a small black object. "Look at what I found on her: a CID badge. There was a camera in her earring. You led a goddamned CID officer into our midst!"
Before the stunned Sanjog could answer, a breathless Nishant stumbled into the room. "Sir' we found Jacky unconscious in the control room. He says the other girl forced him to plant a bug on our server and took a copy of the contents with her! Apparently she was the one who set off the alarm."
Xerxes let out an inarticulate snarl of rage. "She cannot escape. Find and terminate her. Destroy the copy and make sure to eliminate all evidence." He stared down at Purvi. "Meanwhile' I'll attend to our guest."
Chapter 10
"What are you saying, Shreya?" exclaimed the ACP in shock.
"We made a terrible mistake, sir", cried Shreya's voice over the phone. "It was a trap! I don't know where Purvi is, or what he's done to her!"
"We're coming over there at once", said Daya forcefully. "Whether we catch them or not, your safety is the priority. Shreya, keep your head down and get out of there at once. Wait for us!"
"I swear I'll rip apart those creatures if they harm Purvi or Shreya", snarled Abhijeet.
"They can't", said the ACP firmly, springing to his feet. "Summon Sachin and the others. Let's go!"
*****
Shreya moved across the auditorium, her heart thundering with terror. How could she miss such an obvious clue? Where was Purvi? Had she escaped? She needed to find her and leave immediately. But before she could think further, she saw three men ' Sanjog, Nishant and Rishabh stalking her like wolves. Guns glinted behind their belts. She knew they wouldn't dare to attack her in a crowded auditorium, but it was only a matter of time. She hastily took a detour and moved towards the entrance.
*****
The world slowly came back to focus. Purvi opened her eyes, her head pounding painfully and body aching all over. She realized that she was in a foully over-decorated room lit only by an eerie red light, filled with ornaments and vases. She tried to move, only to discover that her limbs had been tied to the corners of a large bed upon which she now lay. She struggled hard, to no avail.
"You're hurt enough, Purvi", said a throaty voice from the shadows. "I advise you to relax."
Purvi felt a surge of loathing as she saw the man's shadow moving near the door. "Afraid to show your filthy face, Tapas?" she cried. "Can't fight like a man, so you attacked from behind?"
"Tapas?" repeated Xerxes with an odd laugh. "I can see why you think so. I'm sorry, but you're wrong."
He moved forward, a powerfully built body in a grey suit, and light illuminated his features. Purvi found herself looking up at the once smiling face of Mr. Bhaskar Mittal, head of the BCCI, his expression now akin to that of a starving beast.
"I smelled your perfume on the camera you planted on Sanjog's bow", he whispered, and his voice didn't sound throaty anymore. "I knew he had gotten drunk in your presence. I ordered Nishant to stage that conversation about Basement 2. I wanted you to overhear it and walk into my waiting arms, away from the crowd, beyond help. You're clever, but I am cleverer. Bravery without experience is suicide." He paused, ruffling his matted silver hair. "Sometimes we enter into unfortunate conflicts which could be avoided. But now, you've seen the glory and power of my fraternity. Why don't you consider joining'"
"I'll join you when hell freezes over", said Purvi with as much defiance as she could muster.
"Very well, then", said Mittal with a sadistic smile. "You're an enemy, and mine are granted nothing but death. But it's such a waste to have you die without reaping your' treasures'"
He now loomed over her and stared down at her body with a demonic glint in his eye. Purvi shuddered with horror and revulsion as she realized that the monster was picturing the hideous deed he was about to commit. She fruitlessly struggled as hard as she could against the ropes. Mittal removed his shirt and threw it aside; Purvi saw the blackish bruise on his left arm. "You were so eager to step into an escort's shoes. Now, I'll let you experience it for real'" he growled. And he attacked.
*****
Breathing hard, Shreya took a detour to the entrance with the three men hot in pursuit. Sanjog shouted, "She's an assassin! Shoot her down!" Before Shreya could protest, the guard at the door aimed his gun at her. Shreya ducked behind a marble statue just as a bullet whizzed past her. Adrenalized, she sprinted across the room, taking cover behind pillars as the men opened fire. She leapt out of an open window and crouched behind a fountain. People inside probably mistook the gunfire for fireworks. She drew her gun and returned fire as the pursuers started approaching. A bullet grazed her shoulder and she felt blood trickle down her arm. Her gut clenched in terror as she thought of Purvi.
*****
Purvi fought back with all her strength, but it wasn't enough. Mittal's face was an inch from hers. One powerful hand held her down while the other obscenely fingered the bare skin of her arm. His hot, greedy breath was nauseating in her nostrils. She pushed with all her might, but the ropes held on.
"You're nothing but a tool of pleasure", he hissed in her ear. "It's time you learned your rightful place."
Suddenly, Purvi realized that the ropes were not tied very securely over her wrists. Gathering all courage, despite the vicious beast savaging her, she concentrated on slowly, patiently, slipping them through the knots. Her hands were free after ten nightmarish seconds. She landed a dim-mak strike on Mittal's groin and smashed a bedside vase on his head. He stumbled off her, grunting in pain, and Purvi tore herself from the bed. She dashed over to the door, but it was firmly locked. Nobody could hear her over the loud music in the auditorium. Mittal turned to face her, bleeding, and Purvi saw murder in his evil eyes.
*****
It was a losing battle. Shreya found herself outnumbered and outgunned. Her injured shoulder was throbbing. Her attackers were slowly closing in upon her, and she was running out of ammunition. Sanjog was now only a few yards from her. Just as she braced for imminent death, more gunshots rang out from the far end. With a leap of joy, she saw Daya and Abhijeet enter the scene with guns blazing. ACP Pradyuman, Sachin, Rajat and Fredericks appeared behind them as well. The guards were mowed down with bullets. Rishabh and Nishant fell screaming as the guns were shot out of their hands.
Daya snuck behind Sanjog and seized him. "Come here, you perverted creep", he snarled, bodily lifting the yelling leg-spinner into the air and whirling him around like pizza dough.
"Shreya, are you alright?" asked the ACP, approaching her.
"I'm fine, sir", replied Shreya, though her voice was shaking. "I have the data. Sir' Purvi' it's Bhaskar Mittal, he is Xerxes! He must've gotten to her!"
All of them turned grave at once. Daya held Sanjog at shoulder level. "Where is she? ANSWER ME!!"
*****
Purvi knew she was fighting for her life. She blocked Mittal's attacks and landed a flying kick straight to his jaw, knocking out two teeth. He completely lost control and made a deadly lunge for her throat. Purvi deflected his momentum and sent him steering into a bookshelf. She sprinted for the window, but before she could open it, Mittal charged at her like a maddened rhino. She dodged and he crashed through the window onto the balcony. Before he could strike again, Purvi threw her entire weight upon his backside. Bhaskar Mittal was knocked over the marble railing and landed 30 feet below with a sickening thud.
Chapter 11
The CID team tore past surprised guests and rushed upstairs to Bhaskar Mittal's room. Daya smashed open the door and they hurried inside to find Purvi standing near the balcony, staring down below as though in a trance. She looked at them, and colour and relief blossomed in her expression.
"Purvi! Thank goodness you're alright", said the ACP, rushing to her side.
"Where's that jackal, Bhaskar?" asked Abhijeet furiously.
Wordlessly, Purvi pointed over the railing where Mittal was lying spread-eagled on the ground far below. "I only just managed to stop him, sir. He tried to' to kill me." She quietly picked up a stack of files and held it out to ACP sir. "Sir, these are the records of all international betting syndicates and bookies that Mittal and his men were in contact with, and exploited after the fixing. I just found it before you arrived."
The ACP took the files, but continued to look at Purvi with concern. He realized what had nearly happened, and knew that she was deeply shaken. Slowly, Shreya walked forward and hugged her.
*****
"What is going on here?" exclaimed Narasimha Reddy as the CID team walked into the auditorium. Everybody was looking at them with curious expressions.
"You should ask that to your son, Dr. Reddy", said the ACP, glowering at Tapas. "Ask him why he's got a secret control room with masked routers providing contact and transactions between bookies and cricketers. Ask him why there was a spot-fixing meet at your Villa tonight. Ask *them* as well."
He pointed out all the people they had seen spot-fixing in the camera feed.
"What proof do you have against us?" barked Ankur Jain. All others cried in support of him.
"You'll have it in the CID bureau", smiled the ACP as a wave of policemen turned up to arrest them.
*****
After being subjected to a lavish buffet of pain by Daya sir, the criminals confessed. Tapas admitted that he joined Bhaskar Mittal's racket and secretly turned Villa Royale into a control base for the syndicate, behind his father's back. Small meetings were usually held in 5-star hotels, and Bhaskar preferred to keep his identity a secret. "Catch" was the codename for meetings personally conducted by him in emergencies, and the party had been solely arranged to provide a safe cover for the same. Bhaskar murdered the coach Coulson when he discovered their dirty secret and decided to expose it.
With the help of all the data recovered, the police networks around India began coming down hard on betting groups. Many were caught all over South Asia. The ICC took strict action against all the cricketers who had been found to be involved in the fixing. The escort agency was raided and shut down. The WMV tournament was cancelled and the honest members of all teams made peace with each other, vowing to keep their noble game clean. The news was laden with nothing but articles about the disgraceful fixing racket and its downfall.
Surprisingly, Bhaskar Mittal survived. However, he suffered severe cervical spinal injury from the fall and was afflicted with complete tetraplagia. He was permanently paralyzed for the rest of his life. Purvi watched the crippled man being taken away, and felt no pity. Though she said nothing to her teammates, it was a mark of their bonding that they understood. Shreya laid a hand on her shoulder.
"We did it", she said with a soft smile.
ACP Pradyuman walked up to them. "Tanya has been sent to rehab to get over her drug addiction, Purvi. She's particularly thanked you two, promised to get over her bad habits and lead a decent life."
The two lady cops nodded appreciatively.
The ACP paused before continuing. "I had warned the two of you how dangerous this mission would be. But you still chose to go of your own accord."
Purvi and Shreya looked down, thinking they were being reproved, but there was also pride and respect in the ACP's eyes. "You braved the odds and achieved what we alone could not have done. You stayed true to our cause throughout the ordeal. You single-handedly fought and defeated a deadly foe", he said.
"You are an overwhelming answer to perverted animals like Bhaskar Mittal who think that women are weak and helpless", said Daya.
"The CID is proud and honoured to have you among us", smiled Abhijeet.
They smiled warmly at them, and the ACP gently brushed away the tear glistening on Purvi's cheek.
"Don't let that make you overconfident, though! There's always room for improvement", he said sharply.
"And I cannot wait for the start of the next tournament", said Fredericks. Everyone laughed.
Purvi and Shreya gratefully acknowledged what their seniors said. It were people like them, they thought as they got back to work, that helped them retain faith in humanity and fight for the greater good in otherwise troubled times. And they would defend it to the end.
THE END
Edited by visrom - 10 years ago
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