The clear tick-tick of the clock echoed through the silent room. Kasi took a long, deep breath, held it for a moment, and then slowly began presenting the points he had gathered from the survivors of the basement.
Kasi: Miss Vyana Roopi, I have conducted witness interrogation sessions with 72 survivors from our report, but unfortunately, only 42 of them attended.
Vyana's smoke-filled exhale lingered in the air as she listened intently. She remained seated on the long-backed chair, her face turned away from Kasi, showing only her crossed legs and the hands holding her cigarette.
Kasi: Many showed great interest in the sessions. From the interrogations, the following points became clear:
The victims were trapped in small cells, two floors in total—36 cells on each floor.
They were kidnapped using an anesthetic smoke on the steamer.
While most survivors were in their cells, a series of gunshots were heard.
Each floor had only two guards, who went toward the source of the shots and were never seen again.
A girl named Annu was among the victims. Witnesses said an old guard gave her a bunch of keys, which she used to unlock the first five prisoners and then distributed keys to free the others.
She is the granddaughter of Teer Jwala, the famous detective and founder of Teer Investigation Pvt. Ltd.
A separate meeting with these five witnesses revealed that no one knows who actually unlocked Teer Jwala.
One witness claimed he saw a corner cell on the first floor locked with the chains used to immobilize prisoners' feet.
Lacking the key, he ignored it and moved toward the group of freed survivors.
Among the 42 witnesses, no one reported a missing relative, and reports from other locations confirm that the remaining 30 survivors also have no missing persons.
Kasi: This is all, Madam Vyana.
Vyana slowly rotated her chair. She was tall, cute, and exceptionally glorious. In a slow, dissolving voice, she spoke:
Vyana: So the first and second statements are basic.
From the third statement, it suggests some kind of execution was supposed to take place. Someone really fired those shots, and the guards on the other floor followed the sound.
If the movement of guards was seen, that means the witnesses' cells were already open—maybe to torture them, maybe for fun, maybe to observe reactions, or maybe the guard was providing necessary things to keep the victims alive before collecting their body parts.
Vyana's face looked strangely pleased as she analyzed the report. Kasi stood still like a cold statue, listening to every word carefully.
Vyana: From statement four, it seems the security system was intentionally weak. Handling so many victims with just four guards makes no sense.
And if gunshots were still heard even after the guards followed the sound, that means the execution happened. It's more like they were trying to stop a crazy victim.
But since all 72 victims are alive, that means one victim killed all four guards. Only one, because the other 71 were locked.
And if any victim went toward the site of gunshots, the others would have seen him because the cells were open at that time.
But until the remaining 30 survivors speak, we can't finalize anything.
By the way, out of 42… have you asked all of them whether anyone saw an old guard walking toward Annu's cell?
Kasi: No, but I will. I'm going to conduct a special interrogation session forcing all 72 witnesses to appear. I'll ask the remaining questions there.
Vyana rested her head on her folded hands over the desk, giving a disappointed expression with a fake smile.
Vyana: Alright, then let's work on assumptions for now.
So from statements 5 to 9, it's clear that Mr. Teer Jwala is the major mystery here. Who unlocked him?
Were all five witnesses absolutely sure?
Kasi: No, ma'am. Two of them were unsure whether they unlocked him or not.
Vyana: Okay. So if nobody unlocked him, then he must be the one who executed those four guards.
If no one saw the guards' corpses and the guards simply disappeared, then someone—most probably Teer—locked their bodies inside the last corner cell.
Since that corner cell is the least noticeable spot, and it was locked with the same thick chains used to immobilize victims, it is almost certain that a victim did it.
She uncrossed her legs, leaned slightly forward, and said:
Vyana: So my assumption clearly concludes this:
Teer Jwala is the victim who single-handedly killed the four guards, hid their bodies in the corner cell, took one of the guards' uniforms, masked his face somehow, took their keys, and gave them to Annu.
He is old, tall, experienced, and a highly skilled detective—so it fits him perfectly.
Vyana: Mr. Kasi, did you interrogate Teer and Annu as well?
Kasi: No, ma'am. I asked Mr. Shyam to contact Mr. Teer, but Mr.Teer refused. He said he is traumatized and doesn't want to talk right now.
Vyana: Hmm. And what about clues from the island?
Kasi: My research team reported that the site was completely destroyed by the LPG blasts. Nothing is left to investigate. A major portion of the forest and trees were burned down by the fire and heat.
Vyana: Alright. Continue the research.
What about the four people from Kinal Sekdi Port HQ? When will they arrive?
Kasi: Ma'am, they will come at 3:30 PM today.
Vyana: Well… okay.
Kasi left Miss Vyana Roopi's cabin. Adjusting his goggles, he walked straight back to his own.
Meanwhile, inside her cabin, Vyana was thinking something deeper, something more personal.
Vyana (thinking): Teer… Teer! Why? Why do you always fascinate me? You're really smart and genius. You erased every trace of your deeds so cleanly.
But you know what? Nobody knows what my eyes and ears witnessed.
Hmm… hmm… hahaha… (a small burst of laughter)
I will make you beg me not to expose you.
And I will kick your ass… fascinatingly.
[Chapter 9: Investigation Part 2 ends]
[Chapter 10 will come soon]