Chandrakumar Raj Chaturan was enjoying his morning tea in a five-star resort in Darjeeling. He was on a break. Just as he was reading the daily, someone splashed water on it making it wet. He could sniff the chlorine. ‘For god’s sake Dung Dung it is just 5ft. You cannot dive from there.’ Wearing the swimming spectacles he was looking like an owl. Dung Dung apologised. As Chandra continued reading; one of the resort staff came rushing towards him. ‘Sir, I believe there is one policeman wanting to meet you. He is in the porch.’ ‘Oh! Dear! Tell him I am sorry. I am on a break.’ ‘Sir, I am sorry but he has mentioned last night someone murdered a wealthy businessman.’ ‘Oh! Yea?’ ‘And his name is Mr Alfred D’souza.’ Chandra was astonished. ‘Come again?’

Soon Chandra and the policeman were in a police car, pacing towards the crime scene. Alfred D’souza was Chandra’s school acquaintance. But shortly he dropped the school and changed the centre from Shimla to Darjeeling.

As they arrived at the crime scene, Chandra entered the mansion. ‘Thank you Chandra for coming. I am inspector Roger Arien. I am sorry to annoy you on your holiday. But we need your help in this situation.’ ‘Alright tell me about it.’ ‘Sir, we picked up a phone call at around 4:00 AM today. The house Butler Mr Michael Lad made the call. When we investigated the body we found two gun shot wounds. The time of death is around 3:00 AM.’ ‘Any clues?’ asks Chandra ‘Nothing special, sir. But I would suggest you sir, please start with interrogation. There are lots of DIFFERENT statements.’ With a confused expression policeman said the words different. ‘Different?’ Chandra couldn’t pick up what he was struggling to convey. ‘Yes sir. And they’re all contradicting and extremely puzzling.’ ‘Hmmm! Who all are there in the mansion?’ ‘Mrs Abigail D’souza victim’s spouse, Ms Sonia D’souza victim’s daughter, Mr Roy D’souza victim’s son and Mr Michael Lad the butler.’ ‘Alright. Let’s see what you mean by different statements. But before we start the investigation, I wish to see where the victim was found dead.’ ‘Here sir, in the living room. But there are stains of blood on the bed which is making us assume they murdered him there and later the murderer got him in the living room. The body is sent for the autopsy. I assume that is fine.’ ‘Yes, no problem.’ Chandra scanned the living room. ‘Hmmm can I look at the victim’s bed room?’ ‘Sure sir.’ And they call the butler to show the way. He took them in his room. As he was investigating, he opened the closet. He noticed a book on which ‘Biopic of Alfred D’Souza’ was printed. He further noticed a pillow which was torn. Some clothes were jumbled up immensely. ‘Was there anything stolen?’ ‘No sir. We questioned the butler. He maintains this place tidy. He said the victim never used to keep any valuable in his closet.’ ‘Hmmm. Let’s interrogate the family members.’

I

Chandra visits the victim’s wife. She was in the guest room. He felt as if the room was in use for a long time. ‘Mrs D’souza, I am apologetic for your loss. We are here to help you. And don’t worry we will find the person who murdered your spouse.’ ‘You don’t have to sir.’ ‘What do you mean?’ Chandra couldn’t figure out why she declared that. ‘Because,’ She took a pause and answered, ‘it is me who murdered him.’ Chandra’s eyebrows raised in confusion. ‘But why ma’am?’ ‘I hated him a lot. I realised he had a relationship with his best friend’s wife. It was a month ago when my husband requested his friend, Mr Adam French, an author by profession, to pen a biography on him. I don’t know why he requested to do that. Maybe because god chose to disclose his character. One day he was so drained that while Adam was collecting notes, he confessed that he had an intimate relationship with his wife. Adam was then furious. They were both fighting, and I overheard them. From that day onwards he never visited our home.’ ‘Hmmm.’ ‘How did you murder him?’ ‘I shot him.’ ‘How many times?’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘How many times?’ ‘What do you mean how many times?’ ‘If you had killed him, you should know how many times you fired the bullets.’ ‘You can find out on his body how many times I shot him.’ ‘But yet?’ ‘Once I suppose.’ ‘Hmmm! And what was the time?’ ‘It was before 4:00 AM.’ ‘Yes we know that. But any specific time?’ ‘I don’t recall.’ ‘Then what you did?’ ‘I dragged the body to the living room and went back to sleep.’ ‘And where is the gun?’ ‘I threw it out.’ ‘Where?’ ‘From this window.’ Detective told the policeman to send someone to investigate down. ‘Hmmm. I presume you are an unusually poor murderer Mrs D’souza.’ ‘Maybe.’ ‘But I guess we should take everybody’s statements. It is crucial to have the correct person behind the bars and because of that we need to have everybody’s statements. Let’s go inspector to the next member of the family.’ They leave the guest room. ‘Inspector, I now realised what you meant by DIFFERENT statements.’ And inspector and Chandra went to interrogate his son Roy D’souza.

II

‘So what do you have to say about your father’s death?’ ‘Detective, I don’t know who murdered my dad but I guarantee you, he was the greatest father in the world.’ ‘Hmmm Yes, he was remarkable at his soul. But your mother informed me he had a relationship with his best friend’s wife?’ ‘She is a cheat. My father will never do such a thing.’ ‘What were you doing last night?’ ‘I arrived home from the office at around 8:00 PM. I was extremely drained. So, I went to bed by 10:00PM. I woke up at dawn 4:00AM when I heard our butler calling out everybody’s names. I went downstairs and saw dad lying down on the floor wrapped in a cloth. And police were inspecting the body. After that I saw everybody rushing out from their room.’ ‘Who do you think must have murdered your father?’ ‘I cannot say. He had too many rivals.’ ‘Like?’ ‘His own wife, his friend, and a lot of business rivals.’ ‘Can you name the people from his business?’ ‘I don’t know the names, sir. But I know he had.’ ‘Do you think they could murder your dad?’ ‘I don’t know, sir. Maybe.’ ‘Who inherits his property?’ His son was mute. ‘Boy? Answer me.’ ‘I am the one.’ ‘You’re the only one?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And your sister?’ ‘He did not give her any split. She was supposed to marry a guy who was a security guard. My father did not appreciate it. So he did not keep her name in his will.’ ‘Hmmm.’ ‘And when your father had a business why there was a need for you to do a job?’ ‘That is what my father used to like about me. I wanted to stand on my feet.’ ‘what an excellent thought. Alright, thank you son. If we need anything we come back again.’ Inspector and detective leaves the room.

As they came out of the room, the inspector asked Chandra, ‘Detective, I am confused with this case. As you interrogate further, you get weirder statements.’ Chandra replies, ‘Let’s find out. Where is Sonia’s room?’

III

Chandra said politely, ‘Hello madam, extremely apologetic for your loss. We had questions for you. Hope you will cooperate.’ When Chandra saw in her eyes, he could figure out she was crying all day. ‘Before you ask anything I want to say something.’ ‘Yes madam, please.’ There was a silence in the room for a moment. And she finally breaks the silence. ‘I killed my father.’ ‘What?’ Chandra again was in a disastrous jolt. He thought, ‘what has happened to this family?’ ‘You killed him?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘But why?’ ‘He was a demon. He had treated me cruelly for a long time. He used to like his son, my brother, more than me.’ ‘So from when did he start behaving cruel to you?’ ‘From the day I was born. When he knew it was a girl, he left me and my mother alone in the hospital. It was my grandmother who took care of us.’ ‘You have a grandmother?’ ‘Had. She passed away like four months ago.’ ‘Sorry to hear that.’ ‘So how did you kill him?’ ‘Last night when everyone was sleeping, I went in the kitchen to drink water. I saw Mr Micheal, our butler. I opened the fridge and asked him what father was doing? He said he is in deep sleep and Didn’t want anyone to disturb him. As he left the kitchen, I thought to myself this is an excellent opportunity. I knew he was very drunk and wouldn’t get up. He and his friend Adam were drinking the whole evening.’ ‘Adam was here last evening?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘But your mom said he never visited the house after they had a fight.’ ‘But he was there. He had come to submit the biopic to my father.’ ‘Hmmm! Then what happened?’ ‘I took a knife from the kitchen went to his room and stabbed him hard. I was so nervous I went in my bedroom running. Whole night I was crying. Then in the morning, there was chaos. I could hear my brother crying. I knew what had happened.’ ‘What was the time you killed him?’ ‘It was around 2:30AM in the morning.’ ‘Hmmm. Alright can we come repeatedly to interrogate you if we need?’ ‘Huh? Aren’t you going to arrest me?’ ‘Not so shortly. But definitely I will arrest the person who killed your father.’ ‘What do you mean by that? I am the one who killed him.’ There was turmoil on her face. Chandra just gives her a smile and leaves. As they come out, the policeman says, ‘I told you sir. This case is extremely confusing.’ ‘Tell someone to arrest his friend, the writer.’ Chandra gave an order. ‘The police are already on their way sir.’ ‘Good. Now I need the butler.’

IV

‘Mr Micheal Lad. What you have to say about the murder.’ ‘I woke up at 4:00AM and went out to prepare the breakfast. I saw sir lying on the ground in the living room with a cloth on his body.’ ‘You saw him in the living room?’ ‘Yes sir. I thought he slept there. But then I remembered, he was sleeping in his room. Don’t know how he got there.’ ‘Do you suspect anybody?’ ‘The daughter came in the kitchen and she was the only one awake, sir.’ ‘What was the time?’ ‘I think it was around 1:30. She came in the kitchen to drink water. Then I went to sleep.’ ‘Do you suspect anyone else?’ ‘Maybe the writer sir, they had a fight like a month ago.’ ‘Hmmm. And why the clothes in the cupboard are messed up?’ ‘I did not get time sir to make them proper.’ ‘Ok. Thank you. If we need anything we will come to you.’ ‘Sure sir.’

V

As the police got Mr Adam to the police station, the detective, and the rest of the team rushed there.

As Adam saw the detective and a police man coming towards him, he joined his hands and shouted. ‘Yes sir, I confess, I did it.’ ‘You did what?’ ‘I murdered him. I am sorry. But he deserved it.’ ‘What?’ Chandra had no clue what was going on. But he kept his calm on his face. ‘You killed him?’ ‘Yes sir. I was so angry on him. He had an affair with my wife. When I asked my wife she said if wasn’t mutual. She never wanted to. I was so angry. My wife never told me because she knew I would get angry. That day I completed his biopic and went to meet him. He was drunk. I got the opportunity. I asked him whether I can come in. He said okay and offered me a drink. Then I waited for the right moment and mixed poison in his drink, and left the place.’ ‘What was the time?’ ‘It was 10:00PM.’ ‘Hmmm.’ Policeman took him away.

After getting all the statements, the policeman asked the detective. ‘So what do you think about this case?’ ‘Yes indeed it is extremely confusing.’

Just then the constable comes in and hands the postmortem report. ‘Tell me officer.’ asks Chandra. ‘Detective, the cause of death is what we thought. Two gun shots.’ ‘And was there any poison found in the body?’ ‘No sir. No poison.’ ‘What about the bullets?’ asked Chandra. ‘What about them, Detective?’ ‘Are they from different guns?’ ‘Let me check, No sir, they are from the same gun.’ ‘Did you find the gun?’ ‘yes, It was in the cupboard.’ ‘Hmmm! Interesting.’ ‘Just give me three days and I will give you the murderer officer.’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘I am.’ With confidence on his face, Chandra left the police station.

After three days, the detective calls everyone to the police station. Everyone gathered. The son, daughter, wife, butler and the writer. ‘So what do you think Chandra? Who must have killed him?’

‘I know’, and he slammed the biopic on the table. ‘In this biopic it is revealed who is the killer. But before that, let’s review what had happened that day.’

There are two things that happened. One, some interesting events and second, not so important ones. Lets first see the interesting ones first.

‘Mr Adam French comes home at 6:00pm and leaves the house at 10:00pm. They were drinking. He mixes the poison in his glass. But Alfred doesn’t drink it. Because there were no traces of poison in his body. Most probably Mr Alfred threw the alcohol out.

Then as per the Butler, he saw his daughter at 1:30AM in the kitchen.

The daughter says she killed her father soon after taking the knife from the kitchen and it was at 2:30pm. I don’t think the distance between the bedroom and the kitchen is far. Anyway, there were no traces of the wound made by a knife on his body. That suggests Ms Sonia D’souza stabbed something else. She also mentioned that she was very nervous. The moment she stabbed she went running to her room. And we found a torn pillow in the cupboard. This suggests she must have stabbed a pillow.

Next, his wife doesn’t remember the time when she fired the gun. In my opinion, every murderer keeps a track of the time. They always need to keep it so that they should know the action of the other people in the house. She said she shot only one bullet, but we found two on his body. Let’s assume you shot one bullet and the other one was shot by someone else, but both the bullets came from a single gun. Again you said you kept the body in the living room and left it the way it was. But according to the butler and Mr Roy, the body was wrapped in a cloth. You did not mention about it. To be more specific, the gun was found in the Mr Alfred’s cupboard and not outside your window.’

‘These are some interesting facts. Now let’s move on to those which are uninteresting ones. Why uninteresting? It is because these are some small details which are unnoticeable. Most of the people neglect these points.’ The Policeman was waiting for Chandra to disclose the name of the murderer. He liked the way he had reasoned out systematically.

‘If Alfred was killed in the bedroom which is because we got stains of blood on the bed, then why the murderer got him to the living room? And to top it all he was covered with a cloth when the Butler saw him. Why he would do that? Did he want to hide something by putting the cloth?’

‘Yes! He wanted to hide something.’ Everyone was shocked. Policeman asked ‘what do you mean he wanted to hide?’ ‘let me explain. Don’t worry; I will reveal the name of the murderer soon.’

He paused a moment and said, ‘A person who did not want the family members to know that Alfred was dead due to two gun shots. Because he knew that, the night he was killed, there were many others who tried to kill him, but were unsuccessful. So if they don’t know how he was killed, they would confess easily in front of the police that they committed the murder. The person knows the family very close.’

‘But then we could have just removed the cloth and seen the dead body.’ asked the son. ‘And that’s exactly why the murderer called the police first, and then the family members. Am I right Mr Michael Lad?’

‘What? What nonsense is this? You said the murderer is mentioned in the biopic. Then how you can blame me?’

‘Correct! It is mentioned that Mrs Elizabeth D’souza, Mother of Alfred, used to pay school fees of Michael’s grandson. And because of that he had promised her to serve the family till his death. But when she passed away Mr Alfred Stopped it and this made Michael very angry. That was the first time you raised your voice on Mr Alfred.’

Everyone was astonished.

‘Yes. I had made a deal with Mrs. Elizabeth that I will serve my entire life to this family and in return they will pay the school fees of my grandson. But when she passed away Mr Alfred stopped it. I asked him why he was doing it. He just wanted to have fun with that money. Then I requested him to at least increase my payment. He refused. I was very angry.

The night when I killed him, I saw Mr Adam mixing poison is Alfred’s drink and then he left the place. When Alfred came back he saw Adam had left. He did not drink that glass because he wanted to read his biopic. At around 1:30, he went to sleep. I wanted to kill him at that moment but Sonia came in the kitchen and asked about Mr Alfred. I told her he was in deep sleep. I knew she also wanted to kill her father. I had overheard her speaking to her boyfriend the previous day. But I was in doubt. I did not know if she really meant it. But then I saw her take a knife from the kitchen and going to her room. When she came out, I saw there was no blood on the knife. But she was nervous. She went in her room. I was confused. I went in the Alfred’s bedroom and saw she had stabbed a pillow. Just then I got a sound from the toilet. Alfred was in there. I quickly hid next to the bed and waited for him to go to sleep again. At around 3:00am I saw his gun lying on the table. I was so furious. Two people tried to kill him but they weren’t successful. So much luck this person had. Then I took his gun kept a pillow near the nozzle and fired two bullets.

‘Interesting.’ The police officer asks, ‘But then why Mrs D’souza lie.’ ‘Oh that’s a very interesting point. Ma’am, will you explain it, or you are too tired and want me to explain them.’ ‘Yes I lied. I had a doubt that Adam must have killed him. When I knew my husband had an affair with his best friend’s wife I got a way to take revenge, by having an affair with Adam. But then he was so good I fell in love with him. And took the blame on me.’ ‘That’s right’ Policeman was still confused. ‘But detective, how did you know about it?’ Chandra replied, ‘Mr Adam had come to visit Mr Alfred on the day of murder and both were happened to be enemies recently but this information Mrs D’souza tried to hid it from me.’

Policeman was speechless. He was stunned how Chandra analysed all the minute details from the statements to solve this case.

Adam French and Sonia D’souza you are under arrest for attempt to murder. Mr Michael lad, you are charged with the murder of your boss.

THE END