— CHAPTER EIGHTEEN —

Another Case Opened

 

On day three, Nikki got a call from ACP Rajan. When she met him he appeared quite enthusiastic. ‘We got that guy from Somabad and he has recognised the bald man as the person who had hired him for the trailing job. I am going to get formal permission to apprehend him on suspicion of committing murder. Thereafter, I will re-open the case.’

Nikki said, ‘There is something else which you ought to know. A few days after Jyoti’s murder some people kidnapped Mrs Taneja.’

‘Kidnapped Mrs Taneja?’ he was stunned.

‘Yes, the kidnappers asked Mr Taneja to pay `20 crores and threatened that if they did not get the amount within five days his wife would be killed.’

‘Did he report the matter to the police?’

‘No, having lost his daughter he did not want to lose his wife too. So he sold his company shares to pay the ransom.’

ACP Rajan became pensive. ‘Oh I see. When did you come to know about the kidnapping?’ ‘On the same day. As a matter of fact on the following day two of the kidnappers also picked me up because I had seen the face of one of them.’

‘What?’ asked the ACP now looking incredulous and curious at the same time.

‘I was released after four days. When I reached Taneja Mansion, Mrs Taneja was already there. It appeared that Mr Taneja had paid the ransom. I left their house soon thereafter and came back to Sangalina Hills.’

‘You spoke to me on your return, why didn’t you tell me then?’ the ACP asked.

‘I am sorry, but at that time I thought informing you would have jeopardised the Tanejas as the kidnappers belonged to a mafia and they could harm them further.’

‘But what is the connection between Mrs Taneja’s kidnapping and the double murder?’ asked the ACP.

Nikki said, ‘Mr Taneja was forced to sell the company and leave the country and this bald man is the Chief of Security of that company.’

‘I still don’t quite understand the connection.’

Nikki explained, ‘Mr Taneja had a personal assistant Mr Khanna through whom he had done the child swapping. Four years back, when I came here, Mr Khanna had become a manager in Mr Taneja’s company. He was his most trusted aide. He is the one who advised Mr Taneja to sell his shares in order to pay the ransom. Mr Khanna is now the Managing Director of that company and also lives in Jyoti’s house, Taneja Mansion.’

‘Oh I see...I smell a bigger conspiracy.’ He pondered for a while and then asked Nikki, ‘But how do you know all this?’

Nikki said, ‘After meeting you, I went to Taneja Mansion and was surprised to see the new nameplate stating “Khanna Mansion”. I met Mrs Khanna there. She gave me some information and the rest I learnt from their elder daughter Seema, who is studying in the Commerce College. I feel if you re-open the kidnapping case, you may get information about the murder case as well.’ She added, ‘One more thing, I can recognise two of the kidnappers. Their names were John and Albert.’

‘But how can I re-open the kidnapping case without a formal complaint from the party concerned, in this case either Mr Taneja or his wife? You said they have left the country.’

‘Let me try and trace Mr Taneja. In the meantime, why don’t you go slow on the bald man?’

‘This is a four-year-old case. There has to be some concrete evidence that this incident actually took place. Someone can say that Mr Taneja sold his shares and his company in order to go abroad.’

‘I understand. Still, let me try,’ said Nikki.

Nikki went back to her hostel and rang up Mr Taneja’s erstwhile firm. The receptionist came on the line, ‘Pioneer Manufacturing and Marketing, can I help you?’ Nikki said, ‘Hi my name is Lucy. Can I please talk to Mary?’

The receptionist said curtly, ‘Who? There’s no Mary here.’

‘How come? I met her in this company four years back.’

The receptionist’s voice was clearly annoyed, ‘But she does not work here now.’ Nikki pleaded, ‘Please don’t disconnect. I am an old friend of hers. She was definitely working as a secretary in this company. Could you kindly connect me to someone else, a secretary in your office? Perhaps she may know her whereabouts. Please?’

‘OK, I will connect you with Julie. She has been working here for the last ten years.’ Soon Julie came on the line, Nikki cleared her throat.

‘My name is Lucy. I am an old friend of Mary’s. She used to work as secretary to the Managing Director. I live in the US now, but thought I’d catch up with Mary since I’m visiting after years. I believe she has changed jobs. Could you kindly tell me her new contact number if you have it?’

‘Well, the last time she contacted me she said she was working in Capital Investment Inc. You can get their number from the directory.’

‘Thank you very much. I am much obliged.’

‘You’re welcome.’ The line went dead.

Nikki found out the number of Capital Investment Inc. and asked for Mary. She was lucky; soon Mary came on the line. Nikki got straight to the point, ‘Miss Mary, I am Nikki, Jyoti’s friend, Jyoti—the late daughter of Mr Taneja. You may probably not recall, but after Jyoti’s death, I had come to your office with Mr Taneja and met you.’

‘Yes, I think I remember now. Tell me, how can I help you?’

Nikki said, ‘Miss Mary, I want to meet you for a few minutes. This is something personal.’

Mary sounded a bit taken aback, but agreed, ‘I finish at 5:30. You could meet me at 6:30 at my house. The address is no. 27, Old Mint Road.’

Nikki went to see Mary that evening. Mary greeted her in a friendly manner. Nikki began, ‘Thanks for seeing me. I believe Mr Taneja is in America. I have to contact him urgently. I was wondering whether you would know his contact number?’

‘I have not been in touch with him ever since he left the country. I don’t even know where he is in America.’

Nikki said, ‘He might have, at some point, called a relative or a friend in America through you. That could also help.’

Mary said, ‘Let me check my old papers. I will be back in a moment.’ Nikki waited with her fingers crossed. Mary returned after ten minutes holding an old diary in her hand. She said, ‘Mrs Taneja has a brother in the US called Mohan. Mr Taneja called him several times before he left the company. Note down his number. Maybe he could help you.’ Nikki noted the number, thanked Mary and returned to her hostel.

That night Nikki went to an ISD phone booth to make the call. A man came on line, ‘Hello, Mohan here.’ Nikki spoke loudly and clearly, ‘My name is Nikki. I am calling from India. I was a classmate of Jyoti, the late daughter of Mr and Mrs Taneja. I have to speak to Mr Taneja urgently.’

Mohan said, ‘Mr Taneja does not live here. You could call him at 235-568-9310.’

Nikki dialled again. Mr Taneja came on the line. Nikki said, ‘Uncle, this is Nikki, Jyoti’s classmate.’

‘Oh! My goodness, Nikki! It’s been so long! Nikki, how did you get my number?’

‘Never mind, Uncle, it is good to speak to you. How is Aunty?’

‘She is fine. Do you want to talk to her?’

Nikki said, ‘Later. Now I want to talk to you about something important. I need to stir some things up from the past. Four years ago, during the investigation of the murder of Jyoti and Asha Sayal, the police had found out that a man had hired a local goon to keep a watch on Asha. Based on the description of the man, the police had made a sketch which was shown to me. The police, however, could never trace him. A few days back I went to your old office and found that the man in the sketch was working as Chief of Security of the company. His name is Jeevan Das. He has been recognised by the man in Sangalina Hills. The police have re-opened the murder case. They suspect that there could be some link between Aunty’s kidnapping, your selling the company and the murders. They want to re-open the kidnapping case also, but they cannot do so without a formal complaint from you.’

‘But what can I do sitting here?’

‘Uncle, you remember Inspector Rajan of Sangalina Hills who was investigating Jyoti’s case? He is now ACP at Somabad. I have discussed the matter with him. He wants some concrete evidence from you which will prove that you were compelled to sell the company because of the ransom demand for a large sum of money from the kidnappers. Please send a formal complaint giving dates and some evidence to him. Please note down his address and my phone number.’

Mr Taneja’s voice sounded heavy with emotion as he said, ‘I am touched by your concern for your friend and our beloved daughter. My wife and I are still unable to reconcile ourselves with the fact that she is no more. Perhaps it was our fate to lose her.’ Then recovering, he said, ‘I will send a formal letter to Mr Rajan at the earliest and also call you. Thanks once again, my child.’

Nikki heard the click of the receiver being put down. She felt sorry for the couple sitting so many thousand miles away, battling with the painful memories of their daughter each day.

A few days later, ACP Rajan called up Nikki, ‘I have got the papers from Mr Taneja. Can you come and see me?’

When Nikki went to his office, he showed her a notarised affidavit from Mr Taneja. He read out only the relevant portions to Nikki. One part stated,

The kidnapper always insisted that the tape containing their messages should be returned with my reply but in the last tape in which they had given the delivery instructions they did not ask for my reply. I had kept that tape with me and the same is being sent herewith.

The voice on the tape said:

Taneja, this is the final message from us. Please listen carefully the instructions for delivery of money. You will personally bring the whole amount of the ransom in currency notes of 1000 or 500 denominations in a van and not in your car. You will drive the van yourself and start at eleven tonight from your house and come on the Somabad-Sangalina Road. At the tenth milestone you will turn left and drive for another five miles, where you will find an abandoned godown with an open gate. You will drive the van inside and park it at the far end where you will find a motorcycle parked with ignition keys in it. You will leave the godown immediately on this motorcycle and abandon it at the outskirts of the city. After we have checked the money we shall release your wife who will reach Somabad early morning tomorrow. I warn you once again. If you want your wife to return safely you should comply with these instructions. Any attempt to act clever or going to police will mean sure death of your wife.

Nikki said, ‘I have heard this voice before.’

‘Maybe…one of the kidnappers.’

‘Maybe,’ responded Nikki, unsure.

‘Mr Taneja has also said that in retrospect he feels that kidnapping was a means of getting control over his firm and he does not rule out its linkage to the death of his daughter in order to put additional pressure on him,’ he further informed Nikki.

‘What do you think of this?’

‘I think I can now justify the re-opening of the kidnapping case. We will have to move two ways. Firstly, we will check with the stock exchange regarding the procedure followed for the sale of shares. Simultaneously, we will look for the kidnappers. I have called the police sketch artist. He is waiting outside. You describe to him the appearance of the two men who picked you up so that he can make their sketches.’

Nikki asked, ‘What about Jeevan Das?’

‘I would leave him alone for the time being. After all, he must have acted at someone’s behest. It is possible that the investigations of the kidnapping case might throw up something which could establish his linkage more clearly.’

Nikki was elated. Finally things had begun to roll!