The Blood Mystery: Chapter 2

"I... I didn't actually want to do it." Sumedha said. "I had to make sure no one could track me. My friend said it would be better to block everyone from the team so they wouldn't be able to trace me."

"I see. You didn't actually want to block me, right?" Veer asked, feeling elated that she hadn't intended to shut him out.

"No. You're one of the few people I feel comfortable with. I could've contacted you later, but Amith Mishra said that he'd fire anyone I had contact with in the IPPF out of the division as he was tracking the phones of all the members of his team, which you and I were in." Sumedha said.

"Do you really not want to come back?" Veer asked.

"I do, if I'm being honest with myself." Sumedha admitted.

"Then why?" Veer pressed.

"Even if I do come back, who would lead the team? I'm sure it would be someone who takes me lightly and never listens to me. I don't want to be humiliated over and over by staying in a team that doesn't respect or understand my abilities." Sumedha said firmly.

Veer nodded. "If, by any chance, you're placed in a team that actually values your opinion, would you come back?"

"I would." Sumedha replied. "I picked up your call to warn you about something I saw in my visions. In ten minutes, someone will walk into the regional HQ, claiming they want to file a complaint about their missing daughter. Don't listen to him. If you do, he will stab you and escape after stealing all the evidence you collected from the crime scene today."

Veer stiffened. "I'll be careful. Thank you for letting me know."

"No problem. And if you could, please inform my brother about this. I planned to tell him, but his request distracted me." Sumedha said and ended the call.

Veer smiled and walked to Sunjay's office. He saw Indra already reporting to Sunjay what his sister had told him.

"What is it, Dr. Aryan?" Sunjay asked.

"I was able to contact Miss Vikram. She answered my call to warn me that someone would come here to report a missing daughter. She said that if we entertain him, he would stab me and steal all the evidence we collected from the crime scene today." Veer replied.

Sunjay's expression darkened. "Alert the other officers. Please stay in your office until we apprehend that person." He ordered both Indra and Veer. "And after you inform them, come back, Indra."

They nodded and left Sunjay's office.

Indra headed to the front gate, instructing the officers to notify him if anyone came in to file a missing persons complaint. Veer, meanwhile, secured all the evidence in the vault before locking his office.

When Indra returned to Sunjay's office, Sunjay sighed. "Your sister must have been too upset to listen when you asked her to come back."

Indra smirked. "She can be a little hot-headed with family."

"Dr. Aryan texted me that your sister wants to come back, but he feels she might have a few conditions. As long as they're reasonable and logical, I'll agree to them. If you can, please convey that to her." Sunjay said.

Indra nodded.

A few minutes later, they received a message from the officer at the gate-someone had arrived to report a missing person.

"If this turns out to be true, I'm firing Amith Mishra." Sunjay said, picking up his gun and securing it in his holster.

Indra cracked his knuckles. "I'd strongly support that decision." He had never liked Mishra, and his desire to punch the man square in the face skyrocketed when he heard Mishra was the reason his sister had been forced to resign.

Indra walked out and saw a man enter, dramatically sobbing about his missing daughter. "Sir, please calm down. What seems to be the problem?"

"My daughter, Tara-she's been missing since this morning. Please find her! She's my only daughter!" the man pleaded.

"I understand your pain. We need you to file an FIR so we can start the investigation." Indra said, carefully observing the man's body language.

The man realized they were expecting him. Veer Aryan wasn't around. He had only been ordered and paid to injure Veer Aryan and steal the evidence collected from the forest.

"I must call my wife, sir. She needs to know I've reached the station." he said, inching toward the door, trying to escape the regional HQ.

Indra anticipated this and swiftly grabbed the man's phone. The moment the man pulled out a knife, Sunjay shot his hand, causing him to drop the weapon. Indra immediately locked him in a hold so he couldn't escape. Another officer cuffed the man and dragged him to a cell inside HQ.

"I need your sister in the department, Indra. I don't care how you do it-I want her here by next week." Sunjay said, cursing Amith Mishra under his breath for firing a gem like her simply out of jealousy.

"Yes, sir." Indra said with a smile as he walked to Veer's office to inform him that the man had been captured and that he was safe.

"Did you get him?" Veer asked.

"We did. Looks like you packed all the evidence into the vault?" Indra noted.

Veer nodded. "Just being cautious."

"Our boss just ordered me to get my sister back by any means necessary." Indra said, grinning.

He and his sister had trained together since they had both decided to join the IPPF. With her back in the division and in his team, he knew his team would be unparalleled.

"What do you plan on doing?" Veer asked, curious about how his crush's brother would convince her to return.

"Nothing much. You said she'd come back if we agreed to her conditions, and our boss just declared he'd listen to all her demands. All I'll be telling her is that we're ready to bring her back under whatever conditions she sets." Indra said.

Veer nodded. "Good plan. Will she answer your call, though?"

"No idea. Boss wants her back by next week. My little sister calls me once a week, and I just wasted that call." Indra groaned.

"Should I try calling?" Veer offered.

Indra nodded. "Couldn't hurt. We never know what's going on in her mind."

Veer nodded and dialed Sumedha's number, putting the phone on speaker.

Sunjay walked in to see what his best officers were up to, only to find them huddled around the phone.

"What are you doing?" Sunjay asked.

"Trying to call my sister." Indra replied.

"Hello." Sumedha answered. "Are you safe, Dr. Aryan?"

"Yes. Thank you for warning me. I'm safe, thanks to your vision." Veer replied.

"What is it, brother? I know you're there. Just tell me what you want." Sumedha asked, sensing the tension in Veer's voice due to her brother's presence.

"My boss, Division Commander Sunjay Samrat, wants you back in the division. He said he'd listen to all your demands." Indra said after confirming with Sunjay.

"That's true, Ms. Vikram. We need talent like yours in the division. I reviewed your file, and I find it ridiculous that you were dismissed. Amith Mishra will be fired for abuse of power by tomorrow. If you have any demands, please let me know." Sunjay said as he sat in a nearby chair.

"I want to be in my brother's team." Sumedha said.

"Granted. You will be appointed as your brother's assistant." Sunjay confirmed.

"I want the team members to understand and respect my powers." Sumedha said.

"They will. They know what will happen if they don't respect someone I trust." Indra assured her.

"If they complain about me tampering with the crime scene after I get permission to touch things, I will resign immediately." Sumedha stated.

"That's a given. They will treat you with respect." Indra promised.

"I also completed my psychology course. I heard you need a psychologist-do you want me in that position?" Sumedha asked.

"Absolutely. If it's you, I can trust you from the start." Indra said, grinning.

"I presume you want me there in a week?" Sumedha asked, delighted.

"Yes. We'll be waiting for you at State HQ." Sunjay confirmed.

"Yes, sir." Sumedha said before ending the call.

"I believe we can solve these mystery cases now." Sunjay said in relief.

Click 'Chapter 3' to read next chapter.