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He was quiet, for once. I could tell he wanted to know why. Everyone I know back home wants to know why.

“The truth is, the last time I was here—well, I was attacked.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“Attacked? By who?”

I instinctively looked at the clock on his dashboard. 5:14 p.m. Oh no. Not now. What if I were to stall for a minute? 5:15 was a pattern. I could work with a pattern.

“Akki, who attacked you?”

I took a deep breath and cast my eyes down. Held my breath like Dr. Dunn said. Tried to steady myself. When I looked up again the numbers on the clock had changed, thank goodness.

“Akki?”

5:15. Finally.

“Your mother was right. There was a breakin. To my house. I think it was a burglary gone wrong.”

“My god, Akki. Why didn’t you tell me? Did you call the police?”

“Yes, but they, well, they weren’t too helpful.”

Mahesh clicked his tongue.

“Why didn’t you tell me, aiyyo? The deputy inspector general is a good friend of mine. I could have made sure they looked into it properly, no?”

“You know, honestly, I was too scared. I just wanted to put it behind me. That’s why I stayed at the Fonsekas.”

Mahesh frowned. I was being vague, and I hoped he wouldn’t question me further. I wasn’t sure I could keep this up if he did. I was never a good liar. I was brilliant at avoiding the truth, but straight-up deceitfulness wasn’t something I was comfortable with. I guess I had to make my peace with it now though.

“I see. Look, getting something like that here—it’s not easy, you know. It’s not like in America.”

That’s what I was afraid of.

“I know it’s a tough thing to do. But I figured, if anyone could help me feel safe, it’s you.”

I was worried he’d see through everything. Especially my hesitant expression and the slight flutter of my eyelashes.

But his chest puffed up a little, and I thought I saw a slight smile play on his lips.

Piyadasa, the more-than-just-a-driver, was making his way back to us, and Mahesh turned around.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, sliding his sunglasses back down.

My heart didn’t ease up, but I leaned back in my seat. At least that’s plan C taken care of.





TEHANI


Interview Transcript: Tehani Fonseka (abbrev. TF) Part 1 of 3

Date: January 25, 2020

Location: The Mount Lavinia Hotel

EP: Thank you for speaking to us. I understand it must be difficult with your older sister missing.

TF: Why are you interviewing me, anyway? This is ridiculous. My father hired you to get to the bottom of what happened to my sister. Not waste our time. You should be demanding the police arrest Amaya. Or questioning her, at the very least.

EP: And why is that?

TF: Because she did it, after all. I know it was her. I found Kaavi’s top in Amaya’s room this morning. All bagged up separately, like she was trying to get rid of it. It was a Pink Sapphires T-shirt Kaavi had gotten made just before the wedding. There’s no way Amaya could have it without—well, something bad happened. I’m sure of it. And that’s not all—

[Pause]

EP: Yes?

TF: I saw her outside Kaavi’s room last night. We bumped into each other in the corridor. We, well, we had a few words, and I think—I know she knocked me out.

EP: She knocked you out? Could you please elaborate further?

TF: I—yes, she attacked me.

[Pause]

EP: You sound hesitant.

TF: Okay, look. I—I had a bit too much to drink last night. My room was in the new wing, which, well, do you know how far the new wing is from the beach? It’s kind of ridiculous. And I was wearing this monstrosity of a sari that was so hard to walk in, and these ridiculous heels that kept getting stuck in the sand, and anyway, I was struggling to walk all the way back to my room. I was, you know, feeling dizzy and nauseous, and I think I even hallucinated my mother being pissed at me as I was walking down the corridor. I always hallucinate shit like that when I’m drunk. And Kaavi’s room was closer, so I figured I’ll just go crash there for the night.

I was just about to knock on the door when Amaya stopped me. Told me not to disturb Kaavi, like, who the fuck was she to tell me what to do? I told her not to be ridiculous, and, well, that—that was the last thing I remember.

[Pause]

Okay, look. I know I sound hysterical and upset right now, but hear me out, okay? It was her who did it—who hurt Kaavi. That’s what she does. She’s had it out for Spencer and Kaavi since she got here. She—well, she’s fucking crazy. Completely nuts. She wanted to break up the wedding.

[Pause]

You know that she and Spencer dated when she was in university, right? No one talks about it. I think even my parents don’t know. Kaavi was trying to keep it a secret from everyone because, well, you know her. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Just someone like me who’s known them both and was prepared to do a little digging online, back to their university days. Amaya—she’s jealous and still in love with Spencer and wanted to stop the wedding. She even trashed Kaavi’s wedding dress. I know she did!

EP: You’re claiming that the wedding dress she was supposed to wear today was destroyed by Miss Bloom? Do you have proof?