The Betrayal

The Betrayal

Chapter 10

Inspector Rahul was sipping his tea when a stack of papers slapped onto his desk. He looked up to see the technician leaning against the cubicle wall with a smug look on his face.

"Done," he said with triumph.

"What do you mean you're done? As in quitting? I wish I could say I was sad about it but.." Inspector Rahul quipped. The technician rolled his eyes.

"No, I mean I cracked the kid's phone," he said with annoyance. "This is the rest of it."

"Ajay's phone? You mean-"

"There are pictures from the week that student was murdered - I mean from the week he died," the technician told him. He set down a labeled plastic bag with Ajay's phone in it. "Won't be needing this anymore.

"About time," Rahul grumbled, thumbing through the copies with his free hand.

"Hey. A thank you would be nice. For all you know, I just solved your case," the technician said.

"That's for me to decide, hot shot," Rahul whipped back as the man turned to walk away with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, right. Just don't spill your tea on them. I won't print any more copies for you." he replied before rounding the corner out of sight.

Rahul turned his attention to the images. Ajay took a couple selfies with his friends at practice. He was expecting the next picture to be of Priya because so far, there had only been one, but was in for a surprise. The inspector almost dropped his tea.

The photo appeared to be of two, no three people having sex in a classroom. He squinted at it. The first picture was blurry so he turned to the next one hoping there were more. Jackpot. The next one was clear as day. He was glad the tech was gone. A bulge was forming in his pants at the sight before him.

A gorgeous woman being fucked by two men. At the same time. He whistled under his breath. He wasn't able to see for sure because a chair was in the way but that's what it looked like. It was possible the kid had left before he realized what he was really looking at. He'd gone from pervert to detective, likely without intending to.

Two of them looked vaguely familiar. They both had priors, he was sure. His eyes narrowed on the last person in the shot. It couldn't be. Yet, there was the professor he's spoken to the previous week, enjoying himself. The Inspector set down his drink and craned over the image.

So, Ajay had caught the teacher in the act. Cheating on his wife after only months of marriage. That was more than enough of a motive to get him killed. Javed had a reputation to uphold after all. So, he murdered him in cold blood? Regardless, Ajay's death was looking less like an accident than ever.

Rahul let his thoughts marinate as his gaze drank in each face. The theory didn't explain what the other two were doing there. Why would the professor risk getting caught at his work in the first place? Was he some sort of adrenaline junkie? He didn't seem like that when Rahul had met him. Didn't have the usual tells. Was this a onetime occurrence or frequent? In any case, it was one thing to be unfaithful. It was another to spend time with criminals.

Rahul couldn't remember their names, but the other two in the picture had definitely been on his radar before. He placed the picture in the scanner and ran the faces through the police database. The computer took forever to load. He cursed under his breath.

Finally, a window popped up. Sure enough, the male suspect had several charges against him but had never done time. A couple knife fights, gang-related activity, selling drugs. Anything to make some money.

The woman's name was unknown but she'd been the suspect in numerous thefts and had always managed to skip town before questioning. She'd had many nicknames at the station, none of which were very flattering, mostly due to the fact that she was infamous for seducing her victims before robbing them blind.

Was Javed her next score? If so, why? He was just a professor. His salary was negligible in comparison to the millionaires she'd conned. And what did the man have to do with it? Was he just in it for the money too? Rahul kept coming back to the same question: What money?

Rahul leaned back in his chair. Follow the money, Rahul reminded himself. If the woman was there, then she was trying to con someone out of their fortune. If Javed didn't have it, then who did? His eyes lit up when it came to him. It was rather unusual that Javed had wedded the widow, and that their courtship had been so brief. There was no question about that. Had it been love or something else?

At this point, Rahul considered the first scenario as likely as Ajay's death was to be an accident. Even so, was Javed just as guilty as the other two of going after the widow's money, if she had any at all? If so, why didn't he have a record? Was it because he was innocent or was it because he knew how to cover his tracks better? Smarter than the other two? The mastermind?

Either way, all he had was evidence of debauchery. It wasn't enough to charge Javed with murder or of conning Asha, assuming that he was involved in either. It was all just speculation. He could threaten to expose Javed of indecency but he couldn't arrest him. Not yet, anyway.

Rahul gathered more photos of the male and female suspects from the database and pulled a picture of Javed's from the university's faculty profile. He couldn't very well just hand the photo of the orgy out to everyone in the office.

That would be kept in his private files until further notice. No, he needed decent pictures of their faces. He printed copies and put on his jacket. On his way out the door, he handed the documents to an sub-inspector.

"I want you to pull up all the surveillance footage we have of the hit and run. See if you can find any of these three individuals on tape. If you find anything, call me," he instructed before heading out of the station to Asha's flat.

~

If Javed was surprised to see the inspector, he was very adept at hiding it when he opened the door. The inspector had forgotten how smooth he was. How eloquent. It was to be expected of a professor but was it more than that?

"Good evening, inspector," Javed greeted as he shut the door.

"Good evening," Rahul reciprocated with a slight nod, his hands in his pockets.

"If you were looking for Asha or Priya, you just missed them," Javed told him.

"Ah, that may be for the best," Rahul told him.

"Is that so?" Javed asked him.

It was more than Rahul could have hoped for. Since they were alone, he could discuss the matter at hand with Javed without airs. No doubt all he had to do was mention photos of his orgy and he'd start talking.

His marriage was on the line, not to mention his career, whether he was guilty of murder or not. Rahul was just about to start cashing in on the opportunity when her heard a women's voice from another room.

"Javed? Is that you? Who are you talking to?"

That was when

she

rounded the corner. Rahul did his best to keep his face unreadable, but on the inside, he was wondering whether to draw his gun and arrest her on the spot. It was the woman from the photo. He may not have enough to arrest Javed, but she was a different story.

Her name may be unknown, but her escapades were not. What was she doing in Asha's house? Were they really that bold to have their affair when Asha was out of the house? They were acting very calm if he had just caught them in the act. Neither of them appeared sweaty or disheveled, but maybe he had arrived before they could get started.

"Inspector Rahul," he introduced himself before Javed could. "And you are?"

"Sonia, Javed's cousin," she clarified. "Asha was kind enough to let me stay for a little while because

someone

forgot to invite me to their wedding." Sonia shot a playful glare in Javed's direction.

"I told you. The invitation got lost in the mail," Javed protested. She rolled her eyes.

"That's just his latest excuse," she told him, walking closer. She was wearing a flowy yellow dress with sheer sleeves. Flowers were embroidered along the edges and torso. It was merely a teaser for her curves and showed off her shimmering dark legs. "Don't believe him for a minute, inspector."

'Oh, I won't,' Rahul thought to himself. He forced himself to chuckle at their antics. He didn't want them to know he was on to them. Cousins. So, that's how they were playing it. Finally, the mystery woman had a name. She seemed insidious enough. Didn't even bat an eye lash at lying outright to a policeman.

"So, what do we owe this visit, inspector? Any more developments in the case?" Javed turned toward Rahul who chose his words very carefully.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Rahul told him. "We found more photos on the victim's phone." He let the statement hang over their heads like ice and kept a keen eye on both of their reactions. However, neither of them looked shocked, worried or guilty. Sonia was still politely interested and Javed's expression was sober and curious. They both waited for him to elaborate.

"I just wanted to stop by and let you all know that there weren't any more pictures of Priya that raised concern, and the ones I told you about last time were never shared on the internet by Ajay with anyone else. I thought Asha would like to know," Rahul told them.

"Ah, yes. She will be so grateful you stopped by. I'll let her know as soon as she gets home," Javed assured the inspector.

"So, are there any leads on the case?" Sonia asked. "I've been following it on the news," she added. Inspector Rahul feigned a heavy sigh.

"At this point, there's not enough conclusive evidence to hold anyone accountable," he told her. "Likely, his death will be declared an accident unless we can uncover more." For him, it was easier to tell the truth than to lie.

Although, he had been forced by his profession to do so on many occasions, he had the hunch that it wouldn't be wise in the current situation. Not if both the suspects in front of him were experienced con artists. They'd be able to see right through him. Was that relief that crossed Sonia's features or just his imagination?

It was the first visual queue that he had witnessed so far and it was so brief, that he was left doubtful. She knew how to act, that was for sure. However, her asking about leads in the case had come across as a little more than polite interest. She was good.

"Ah, but you think it was foul play?" Sonia pressed. She was very direct, with a dominant presence. Javed glanced her way. Was Javed annoyed with her for asking so many questions? If so, she was unaffected by the signal.

Rajul sensed that if they were working together, she was very independent. He had no doubt that she was intimidating to women and men alike, and if the police file on her was accurate, rather formidable. She was more dangerous than Javed. Was she the mastermind?

"Not necessarily, but I wouldn't want it to be deemed an accident just because my superiors are impatient to close the case," he told her. "It would be unfair to the victim's parents."

"I see," Sonia said with sympathy. "Well, if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know."

"That is very kind of you to offer," Rahul told her. "In fact, if I could get your number, that would be very helpful. It would save me a visit if I have any more questions." He offered her a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket. It was a part of his uniform at this point.

"Of course," Sonia said before handing her information down and handing it back to him. "Call me anytime," she added as he gave her his business card. Her tone had changed. Was she flirting with him? Inspector Rahul wished them both a pleasant evening and left the flat. It wasn't until he reached his car, out of eye shot of the building that he pulled out his phone and the notebook.

"Hello? Yes, I need a wiretap on a phone:..." Rahul relayed Sonia's number to the operator and hung up.

With any luck, the other man in the photo would come out of the woodwork. He wanted to assign a surveillance detail to the flat, but it was still too early. Once he had audio that confirmed his suspicions, he could request one, but if he did it to soon, he'd be risking his job. Even with a criminal like Sonia making an appearance.

Besides, he didn't want to alert either her or Javed. If they saw a van on the street, the con would be over before he had the whole truth of who killed Ajay and what was at stake. No, he wanted them to think that his investigation was doomed to fail.

That he didn't suspect their story in the slightest and that he was only there to convey good news. It was obvious, even with her convincing performance, that Sonia was up to something, especially if she was staying at the flat and using such a flimsy cover. Rahul put his key in the ignition and drove into the night. It was going to be a busy week.

~

"Now he's seen your face," Javed said. They were standing in Sonia's bedroom.

"Yes, something that could have been avoided if you had just done your job," Sonia shot back. "But no, you were sleeping around and still have nothing to show for it." Javed wanted to call her a hypocrite and argue, but instead he kept his jaw locked.

"You should leave," Javed said, finally. "If you stay, you could get caught."

"And you won't? What game are you playing at, Javed?"

"The one where I take ownership of the job not panning out. I can cut you and Dev a check with past earnings. You both could walk away." She just stared at him. Any other time, she would have accused him of trying to keep the wealth for himself, but not this time. There was something in his eyes. He was being sincere.

"You're just going to give up and live with them?"

"Just until the heat dies down, and then I'll go. It'll be less suspicious if I wait. Besides, they won't have anything on us if we back out."

"No, Javed. I won't back down. You heard what he said. They don't have any evidence. He was just showing up on a pity errand."

"Oh, come on Sonia. You believed him? We both know that the police are just liars with a salary."

"The only thing that has changed is the amount of time we have left and how tolerant I am of your inability to close the deal. I'm here for the money. What are you here for?" Javed didn't answer. "Do you love her? Is that it?"

"I didn't say that," he said, running a hand through his hair.

"You don't have to. This is the first time you've ever backed down from a job. If that's not the reason, then enlighten me," she said, her hip cocked to the side.

"I gave you an out, Sonia. Remember that. Whatever happens next is because of your pride." She laughed.

"Is that how you'll justify yourself?" She wagered. "By blaming it all on me? Hear me now, Javed. If you don't get this done withing a week, I will and you'll have no one to blame but yourself." With that, Sonia walked him out of her room and shut the door in his face. Javed didn't know what she meant.

She had just as much information as he did. How was she going to close the deal any more than he was? The inspector was no fool. He likely recognized her. His demeanor had changed the moment she'd walked in the room, and although she often had that effect on people, this was different.

Sonia sat on the edge of the bed. Perhaps Dev was right, maybe they should split Javed's share once they killed the girl. A second visit from the inspector, and he still didn't have what it took to finish the con.

It wouldn't be hard to get the money without him, she supposed. If he had suddenly gotten cold feet, she would get the money from Asha herself. It would be easy enough. She was even more simple than her slut daughter.

Sonia didn't want to betray Javed, but he was being a risk that she could no longer afford. Was she just supposed to sit back and accept that they'd let millions of rupees slip through their capable hands? How would she be able to even look at him after that, let alone enjoy his company. No, if it came to that, she would never be able to forgive him.