39

Susan was back to work directly from the airport and was totally focused. She had a gut feeling that Arjun had killed Karishma and she wanted to reach the heart of the case. For the first time in my life as a detective, I seemed clueless on how to assist her in solving the case. She didn’t seem to want my help, at least not for now. But I wasn’t complaining, if at all, I was learning a lot from this partnership and I knew I would add value sooner rather than later.

Susan opened up all the evidence and the case files again. She started studying the case from scratch with the sole motive of finding out how Arjun killed Karishma. When you have an end in mind, the path becomes clearer. For the first time we were looking for evidence against Arjun, till date we were just looking everywhere without a motive. Although I wasn’t convinced by her sixth sense about Arjun being guilty, I went with the tide.

The only strong evidence in the case stating that the death was by suicide was the suicide note written by Karishma. Forensics had confirmed that it was the handwriting of Karishma. They had been given a very specific task verify the handwriting and nothing else.

“Rahul, tell me one thing, why does the forensics report on the suicide letter only talk about the handwriting match and nothing else?” asked Susan.

“That’s because, that was the scope we had given to them. And once the report was positive, we didn’t ask for anything else.” I replied.

“My gut feeling says there is something wrong about this note.”

“There is no doubt about the fact that the handwriting belonged to Karishma.”

“That I agree. Can you do me a favour? Can you please ask for a more comprehensive report on the suicide note? I want to know everything about it including the dating when the note was written, the paper used, the ink used and any other thing they can come up with.”

“Sure Susan,” I said and immediately put my people on the task.

Susan studied all the evidence over the course of a very long day. We were expecting the forensics results the next day. We reached office early to see if the results had come in, but they hadn’t.

“Rahul, the case is now resting on two points – forensic report of the suicide note, and how the poison reached her body. During the investigation an empty Pepsi can was found, which had traces of the chemical compound. So it’s clear that the poison was consumed along with Pepsi. So either Karishma or her killer mixed the poison in the Pepsi.”

“You are right Susan. And since you have touched upon the topic, if Karishma committed suicide, then she could have opened the can and mixed the poison. But, if someone else did, then they couldn’t have opened the can.”

“What are you trying to say?” asked Susan.

“Would you drink from a can which is already opened?” I asked Susan.

“No.”

“And no other glass or cup was found which had the trace of the poison.”

“Correct. Keep going.”

“That means the poison was injected into the Pepsi can without opening the can. We need to figure out how this was done.”

“Bingo Rahul detective. Why did we not think of this before,” said Susan looking at me proudly.

As she said it, Kishore, my assistant walked in with the forensics report and handed it over to Susan. I wanted to remind him I was his boss and not Susan but I just gave him the stare and he walked out.

“You won’t believe it Rahul. My hunch was right,” said a beaming Susan.

“What does the report say?”

“Guess?”

“Susan, it’s not time to play games, let’s focus on the case,” I took my revenge on her and I winked as I said that.

“Yes sir,” she said and returned my wink, “the forensic report has dated the suicide note as having been written six months before the murder.”

“What?”

“Yes, why would anyone write a suicide note six months back and then wait on it and use that note after six months while committing suicide?”

“Absolutely.” Rahul, I am now convinced that Karishma has been murdered.

“I agree with you. Sometimes we miss out on small things which can be so critical in solving the case.”

“Rahul, you are right about the injection of poison in the can. Please send the can for another review and see if they can find how the can was pierced.”

“Right away,” I obliged and put Kishore on the task. This time, I stared again to let a message through that the report should be handed over to me first.

“Let’s read the suicide note again, Rahul!” We opened the note.

Life is so uncertain, love is so uncertain. Responsibilities and pressures drown even the most pure relations of love. It’s so difficult for a girl to fall in love and after falling in love, ensuring that the love is preserved and sustained.

I fell in love when I least expected to, with the person I never knew, but he completely swept me off my feet. But circumstances have forced us apart. I do not think we can be one again. I have no choice but to accept my destiny, I have no choice but to accept my life. But what is this life without my love, it’s an incomplete one. And I do not think I can live an incomplete life. Each moment of an incomplete life will drive me crazy; will pull me in different directions which will tear me apart.

Rather than dying every moment, it’s better to die once, yeah, it’s better to die once. It is indeed better to die once.

“Rahul we did discuss that the note was undated and it was a bit dramatic.”

“Yes Susan, now we know why it was undated. It was written six months ago.”

“And did you notice it is completely impersonal. There are no names, no signature, and no mention of Arjun; there is nothing specific about the note. It’s a general note.”

“You are right Susan, doesn’t look like a suicide note to me at all. It appears as if this was written for some other purpose and has been cleverly used to show that the death was by suicide.”

“Bingo. And who could have done it?”

“You think Arjun?”

“You are not convinced right?”

“I still have my doubts.”

“I have no doubts at all. I am convinced it’s Rahul,” said Susan.

“Arjun you mean?”

“Oh sorry, I mean Arjun and not you Rahul of course. Would you have a motive?”

“Only if she was to come in the way of our second holiday since the first was cut short.”

“Ya right, let’s focus now,” said Susan and we laughed again.

She continued, “Rahul, get us a search warrant, we need to raid Arjun’s house.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, at the moment he seems to be the only suspect and I can’t wait.”

“Okay, I will get it by end of the day and we can search his house tomorrow.”