The Blue Bar (Blue Mumbai #1)(61)

Yes, it was dangerous, a disaster, having his man Friday escape. Bilal knew all his secrets, could tell the world who he was underneath.

Uhnna could deal with Bilal, but there would be questions. Already, people had asked after his elderly assistant. Bilal was on leave, he told them. If someone filed a missing persons complaint about Bilal, fingers would be pointed at the boss. Him. He couldn’t afford that, not now, after the task he’d given Uhnna. Foolhardy to try to flush his housekeeper out—the man had dealt with Rasool for many years. Rasool could prove a match for Uhnna. The feud between Rasool and Vijayan had once set the city on fire.

He used the straw, holding it over the line of white powder. The inside of his nose burned as he inhaled and sighed. Blessed escape.





CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE


ARNAV

The minute his boss left, Arnav dialed Shinde. He wanted to question his disgraced friend before stepping in for Shetty’s interrogation.

“I need to speak with you,” he said, once Shinde picked up.

“You walked out of the hospital—is everyone taking care of you at the station?”

Arnav let the silence hang between them.

“I’m headed your way.” Shinde cut the call.

Arnav spent the next hour handing over his cases and generally making it look like he had no immediate care other than going on his break.

Having spoken to the women at the Blue Bar, Naik returned with a list of names Mithi had given her. Girls from Shetty’s other bars had confirmed at least three other women missing. All three had said they were leaving town. Some had left behind their personal effects. Gauri, Hamida, and Preeti had disappeared near the end of different years. No one had heard from them since.

“Did you search the missing persons records for those names?” Arnav said.

“No matches so far, sir. I have tried to find their home addresses. We’ll be making calls.”

“I’ll go on leave starting today. Shinde has—”

Naik must have read his expression. She said, “I’ll help.”

“Are you sure? It will mean extra hours, and this could get dangerous.”

“I don’t mind, sir.” Naik wore a rare, small smile on her face. “If this case is solved, it’ll work in our favor. Besides, with both you and Mhatre sir on a break, I’ll have more responsibilities.”

“Eyeing my chair already, are you?” Arnav returned her smile.

“There has been an attempt on your life, sir.” Naik’s round, fair face turned somber. “Your team will do its best. In any case, when we die on duty, all they give our families is a medal and a little money.”

“That’s true,” Arnav admitted.

“I have another update, sir,” Naik said. “On Neha Chaubey’s murder. After you called forensics to insist, they rushed the results. The blood in the van is Neha Chaubey’s.”

“Pick up the garage owner.”

“Sir, we interrogated the men, and one of them confessed that the owner isn’t their leader. The garage is a front for Rasool.”

Arnav drained a glass of water after Naik left.

He pulled out a notebook and copied all the details from the board. It was no longer safe, even with abbreviations. He scribbled in his conclusions. He had dug up information on Moringa Consultants with the help of his friends from the Crime Branch. They suspected Vijayan was making payments to Moringa through various layers of shell companies, making it difficult to bring litigation or collect taxes.

Rasool

Possibly owned the black van used to dump Neha Chaubey’s body.

May have taken a contract for body disposal, as per Ali.

Taneja

Three decomposed bodies found at his construction site.

Seemed to have sway with Joshi and Mhatre.

Had MeToo allegations against him.

Joshi

Ordered a transfer and promotion which would pause the investigation into the bodies.

Tara mentioned a police officer cap at the mystery client’s place.

Mhatre

Supported Joshi, and denied obvious indications of serial killing.

Signed off on the traffic accident that killed Bendre, inspector in Dadar case.

Gawde warned against him.

Shinde

Concealed Neha Chaubey’s identity.

Took bribes from Shetty. Is Shetty delivering the bar girls to Taneja?

What else has he not disclosed?

Vijayan

Has dealings with Moringa Consultants, a business connected to Commissioner Joshi.

Grabbed the land sold off to Taneja.

Shetty

Sent Tara to mystery client with blue-sequined saree.

Had underworld connections. Vijayan? Malayalis tend to stick together.

So far, two dons had emerged. One Hindu, the other Muslim, known to be at loggerheads with each other for decades. The policemen and the businessmen. He must find the common link between all the names.

Traffic noises filtered in from outside the police station, forming a muted but annoying cacophony. The painkillers turned him woozy and dull. His shoulder made itself known, but he ignored it. Pain would keep him alert.

At a knock on the door, he said, “Come in.”

Couldn’t be Shinde because he never knocked. It was Tukaram, in civilian clothes, wearing a perfume he might have borrowed from his wife.