The Blood Mystery: Chapter 11

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The fluorescent lights of Sunjay’s office seemed to press down on them, casting long, stark shadows that mirrored the grim reality now settling upon the Supernatural Division’s core team. The air was thick, heavy with the weight of revelation and betrayal. Sunjay stood rigidly by his window, his usual composure fractured. Indra leaned against a desk, knuckles white as he clenched his fists, while Veer stared blankly at the wall, the silence punctuated only by the low hum of the city outside. Sumedha, however, remained seated, her spine straight, eyes fixed on an invisible point, a storm brewing behind their depth.

“Abhay Dutt.” Veer finally rasped, his voice raw. “Not Arjun. All this time, we’ve been watching the wrong man.”

Sunjay turned, his face a mask of disbelief. “He’s been mocking us. Playing us for fools.” The audacity of it, to stage a capture, to volunteer, giving the true target the window he needed. The IPPF, renowned for its formidable capabilities, had been expertly manipulated.

Indra slammed a fist onto the desk. “And Ravikant Bera. Trusted for decades. A senior administrative officer. He just… vanished.” The slip of paper left on Bera’s desk, a chilling, ‘Thank you for sheltering my brother. He’s family, after all.’, was a stark reminder of the depth of the deception. The implication was clear: Bera had used the fake transfer of Sunjana as a cover, not merely for information, but for his own calculated disappearance. The unauthorized drone, the precise coordinates of the fake route, had merely been bait, confirming Bera’s complicity.

Sumedha’s voice cut through the tension, quiet but firm. “He knew. He knew everything about our system. Because someone fed it to him. Ravikant Bera.” The puzzle pieces clicked into place, forming a disturbing image of an enemy entrenched deep within their own ranks, operating with high clearance and a professional’s ability to bury tracks.

Sunjay took a deep breath. “This isn’t an investigation anymore. It’s a war.”

Sumedha finally met his gaze, her eyes blazing with newfound resolve. “Then we stop playing his game.” Indra, standing tall, nodded in agreement, completing her thought: “And start rewriting the rules.”

The immediate aftermath demanded a drastic shift in strategy. Sumedha, with her unparalleled psychometry and clairvoyance, now held implicit leadership. The incident with Amith Mishra, who had fired her for ‘spoiling’ a crime scene, only to be subsequently fired himself, had taught her a bitter lesson about conventional protocols. “We can’t afford to follow every rulebook anymore.” Sumedha stated, rising and walking to a large tactical map that dominated one wall. “He’s using our own structure against us. We need to go further off-grid, utilize our abilities in ways they don’t expect, and operate with absolute trust amongst ourselves.”

Sunjay listened intently, his expression grim but acknowledging. “What do you propose?”

“First, we find Ravikant Bera. He’s the direct link to Arjun Dutt and the mastermind.” Sumedha declared. “His office. Everything he touched. Veer, is there anything he might have left behind that he frequently handled?”.

Veer, shaking off his daze, nodded. “His personal organizer. He never went anywhere without it. It should still be on his desk, or in his locked drawer.”

“Good.” Sumedha said. “We’ll start there. My psychometry isn’t always precise on old objects, but if he touched it recently, I might get something. A vision, a residual memory of his last contact with Arjun, perhaps even a glimpse of their plan.” Her psychometry was strong, capable of extracting memories even from hair and nails, so a personal object would be her best bet.

Indra frowned, ever the pragmatist. “And his vehicle? He couldn’t have just walked away.”

“His official vehicle is still in the IPPF garage. He must have taken a private one or had one waiting.” Sunjay mused. “We’ll get a trace on all his known associates, financial movements. But that’ll take time.”

“Time we don’t have.” Sumedha countered. “The serial killings are still ongoing. And Sunjana’s name was on that list. This is personal for them, and it’s personal for us. We need to be surgical.”

They moved quickly, a silent, determined unit. Back in Ravikant Bera’s office, a palpable chill lingered, despite the ordinary appearance of the room. Papers were neatly stacked, the computer still logged in, a deceptive calm. Veer located the personal organizer, a sleek leather-bound planner, tucked away in a locked desk drawer. Indra, with his highest degree telekinesis, effortlessly manipulated the lock, the tumblers clicking open without a sound.

Sumedha took the organizer, her bare fingers brushing its worn surface. She closed her eyes, focusing on her psychometric ability. The memories, initially faint, began to coalesce. She saw Ravikant, his face uncharacteristically agitated, pacing his office. He was on a call, his voice hushed. “Yes, A.D. The transfer is set. She’s with them now. We have what we need.” The image flickered. Then, a sharper, more recent imprint. Ravikant, slipping the note beneath the notebook, his face alight with cold satisfaction. He was packing a small bag, just essentials. He spoke again to himself this time. “Soon. The master will be pleased.”

Sumedha’s eyes snapped open. “He mentioned ‘A.D.’, and ‘the master’, he’s referring to someone else. Someone pulling the strings even for Arjun. This ‘A.D.’ is the mastermind. Not Arjun Dutt. The notes left for Veer were signed ‘A.D.’ as well, implying this master. Ravikant was working for this higher power, not just Arjun.”

“The note on his desk was signed ‘A.D.’, confirming our suspicion.” Veer added, recalling the precise, handwritten message. “He also mentioned ‘the master’ in his thoughts when I scanned the immediate area before. But I couldn't identify who this 'A.D.' was, only that the name was 'Ashish Dutt'.” This information, combined with the fact that they were dealing with a corpse found in Ashish Dutt's company's warehouse, deepened the mystery.

Indra frowned. “Ashish Dutt is a businessman. Why would he care about any of this? He holds dual citizenship, he's a US citizen, he's basically untouchable.”

Sumedha shook her head. “Maybe it’s not Ashish Dutt directly. The initial ‘A.D.’ could be a red herring, or perhaps it stands for something else. But Ravikant mentioned ‘the master’. This suggests a hierarchy. And the mastermind saw Mithil as a ‘threat’ – not just a rival, but someone to be eliminated. This goes beyond corporate espionage.”

“He spoke to ‘A.D.’ on the phone.” Sumedha continued, a chill running down her spine. “And then he said, ‘The master will be pleased’. They’re distinct in his mind. ‘A.D.’ and ‘the master’. This suggests ‘A.D.’ is an intermediary, or a code name for the active agent, while ‘the master’ is the ultimate authority.”

“So, who is the serial killer?” Veer asked, the question hanging in the air. “The ‘Justice for the Five’ blog claims to be about retribution. But Sunjana’s name was added later, a deliberate move to destabilize us, to bait us. That doesn’t fit the original pattern of punishing those with ‘buried secrets’.”

“The killer’s goal shifted.” Sumedha confirmed. “From ‘justice’ to ‘destabilization’. Arjun was manipulated into killing Mithil by ‘someone powerful’ who saw Mithil as a threat to rival corporations. But that powerful person, ‘the master’, is also orchestrating these serial killings? Or is it two different players?”

Sunjay paced the room. “We need to interrogate Abhay Dutt again. Veer, you go. He’s been arrogant, mocking us. See if you can get him to reveal more about this ‘master’ or the true 'A.D.' Now that he’s dropped the charade, he might be less guarded in his taunts, or more willing to drop subtle clues. Use your telepathy to cut through any lies.”

Veer nodded, his jaw set. The personal stake was immense. Sunjana was a target, and he had promised her they would find the person helping the killer.

Meanwhile, Sumedha turned her attention to the escape route. “Ravikant Bera didn’t just vanish into thin air. He likely had a pre-arranged rendezvous point, or a safe house. I need to focus on my clairvoyance. Veer, when you’re done with Abhay, come to the comms room. We’ll try to get a more concrete vision of Ravikant’s next move, or Arjun’s location.” Her clairvoyance could offer a critical tactical edge, predicting events a few seconds—or a few minutes—into the future.

Indra, ever the protector, placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “I’ll get the comms room ready. Sunjay, I’ll prepare my team. If Sumedha gives us a lead, we move immediately. My telekinesis can ensure a rapid, silent pursuit if needed.” His physical prowess and powers were unparalleled.

Sunjana, who had been listening intently from her temporary safe house within the HQ, spoke through the secure comms link. “I’ve been reviewing the past case files, Commander. The ‘Justice for the Five’ victims – the ones whose names were confirmed – they all had connections to Ashish Dutt’s network, or rival companies, in some way. Subtle, indirect links. The original victims seem tied to corporate secrets or rivalries, not just generic ‘sins’.” Her PhD in forensic psychology gave her a unique lens.

“Excellent work, Sunjana.” Sunjay said, impressed. “Keep digging. We need every possible connection.” Sunjana’s unique perspective, having been a victim of Arjun’s possessiveness, could also provide a critical link. She was now a valued member of the team, no longer just a victim needing protection.

Veer made his way to the high-security wing where Abhay Dutt was held. The guards, now briefed on the twin revelation, maintained a heightened vigilance. Abhay, unshaven but composed, watched Veer approach, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“So, the truth finally dawned.” Abhay drawled, his voice tinged with a mocking amusement. “Took you long enough.”

“Who is the master?” Veer demanded, ignoring the taunt. “Who is ‘A.D.’? Ravikant Bera’s note mentioned ‘A.D.’ and he spoke of ‘the master’. Are they the same?”

Abhay chuckled, a dry, grating sound. “Ravikant is a loyal dog. He serves the true power. Arjun… Arjun is a pawn. A useful distraction. He has his uses, of course. His ‘justice’ for Mithil was convenient, given Mithil’s background. But the bigger game… that’s beyond his comprehension. And certainly, beyond yours.”

“The serial killings.” Veer pressed, pushing his telepathy to its limits, trying to sift through the layers of deception in Abhay’s mind. “Sunjana Aryan. Why is her name on that list? She’s innocent.”

Abhay’s smile widened, showing a flash of malice. “Ah, little Sunjana. A delightful bonus. The initial ‘justice’ was for those who deserved it. But the IPPF… you interfere with plans. Your division, with your ‘special abilities’, you’re a thorn. Sunjana’s connection to Arjun, her brother’s position… it was simply an opportunity to make this little ‘war’ more personal for you. To make you bleed.”

Veer’s fists clenched. The threats had been aimed at him. His sister’s name, specifically to bait him. “Who is it?” Veer growled, his voice a low tremor. “Give me a name.”

Abhay leaned back, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Why spoil the surprise? You’ve only just started rewriting the rules. This is just the beginning of your crucible. You think you’re in control? You’re dancing to our tune, telepath. Every move, every decision… it’s all been accounted for.”

Despite his telepathy, Veer found it hard to extract a specific name. Abhay’s mind was a fortress of calculated misdirection, protected by sheer arrogance and a deeply ingrained loyalty to this mysterious ‘master’. He was enjoying the game. Veer knew he wouldn’t get a direct answer, not yet. But the confirmation of the mastermind’s intent – to destabilize IPPF and specifically target them – was chilling. The "someone powerful" who manipulated Arjun was now actively targeting the IPPF's most valuable assets.

Returning to the comms room, Veer relayed Abhay’s taunts to Sumedha and Indra. “He confirmed the intent is to destabilize us, to bait us. And he confirmed a ‘master’ pulling the strings. Ravikant Bera is a loyal dog, and Arjun is a pawn.”

Sumedha nodded, already focusing. “Alright. Time for a deeper dive.” She sat down, closed her eyes, and let her clairvoyance extend, searching for threads of the immediate future, for any glimpse of Ravikant or Arjun. The room fell silent, Indra and Veer watching her, the weight of their precarious position pressing down. The battle lines were drawn. And in this new ‘war’, they would need every ounce of their combined abilities to survive, let alone win.

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