Ajit Doval and Rajiv Malhothra were so immersed in their conversation that they paid no attention to the slow progress of their car through the crawling Delhi Traffic.

Another car with security personnel was following them.

"If only we had CCTV footage in the street or in that villa, things would have been so much easier." Ajit shook his head in frustration.

"Yes Sir, that was the first thing we looked for. The system in the Villa was disabled a few days before, which confirms once again, that this was a planned attack. Another setback was the fact that street and the surrounding area didn't have many CCTV cameras. And that Villa owner is settled somewhere in Europe and has handed over the management of the Villa to a real estate agency in Goa. Agent couldn't give us much details beyond that the Villa was rented for the whole week by a business man, who paid advance in cash. We are trying other leads in tracing that guy as well, but we had no luck so far."

"Hmm... the bullet that killed JP came from a different gun, there was Victor's gun and the other gun bullets which were found in the upstairs room and of course the AK 47. How can you say that Monty planned this whole thing with different guns, timing etc. It just doesn't add up." Ajit pointed out.

"Exactly my point sir. It just doesn't add up and I am like a dog with a bone right now, who won't rest till I solve every mystery. Even if we go back to textbook rules of motive and opportunity, at the moment I don't see why Monty would want to kill Victor or Nanda Sir, unless they are acting on the command of our mole who wants to kill them and create chaos in our agency. We did find traces of blood near the water pond in the backyard but the DNA doesn't match anything in our records. We alerted every hospital, every railway station and airport to watch out someone matching the description of Tanvir, with a bullet wound in the hand, but it didn't yield much results either. So I am guessing, if Tanvir was indeed the guy that Sharmila shot at, he got treated by some private doctor, and left Goa by car."

"Hmm... What is Sharath Nair doing? Since this shootout?"

"Our guys were on to him straight away Sir, considering how Ashwin and his team seized his prized supplies and how Victor pulled off the Bicholim coup. But it seems he is lying low at the moment, and hardly goes out."

"Bloody bastards!!! They must be so disappointed that Victor survived despite their elaborate plan, and dreading the day he wakes up and spills the beans. I am getting regular reports from the hospital. Victor has regained consciousness, and it looks like he will be fit enough to be moved to Delhi within few days. The Goa police may want to record an initial statement with him but I have told them strictly that any further questioning would be done  under our supervision, here in Delhi. I just feel like we are missing something here.... Ah Yes! Where is Ashwin by the way? He must have been in Goa for the drug raids, so he must know a lot about Sharath Nair. Do you think he would know what Victor was up to and who attacked him ?"
Rajiv squirmed in his seat uncomfortably.

"What is it?" Ajit asked sharply.

"Sir, I know Victor is a blue eyed boy for Nanda Sir and all that, but he was a real cocky guy from whatever I heard of him, famous for not getting along with any of the agents in the agency, especially Ashwin. So, I don't think he and Ashwin would have been in touch or shared notes. But what you say is valid though. Ashwin might know more about Sharath Nair. I heard that he has gone on paternity leave just after the Goa drug seize finished. His wife is due for delivery soon I guess. I don't want to trouble him too much, but I will definitely check with him about Sharath Nair as soon as I can." Rajiv assured.

The driver stopped their car a few blocks away from the safe house. Once the security guards gave the all clear, Ajit and Rajiv got out of the car and reached the safe house.

Nandini welcomed them discreetly and as they entered the spacious living room, they found Sharmila and Monty playing chess on the dining table, still in their pyjamas.

Monty was the first to rise, and greeted them in a flustered manner.

Ajit quickly put them at ease.

"Relax... Monty and Sharmila, please sit down. I had just come to see how you guys were doing and to have a general chitchat."

"We are fine sir, Nandini is taking care of us so well." Monty said gratefully, as Sharmila just smiled and observed everyone with a keen eye.

"Is everything comfortable, accommodation wise?" Ajit looked around vaguely at the study and kitchen to the right, and stairs on the left which led to the three bedrooms upstairs.

Everyone smiled pleasantly at one another till Sharmila got the wind up and asked, "Is there any new update on the shootout Rajiv?"

"Yes there is and there isn't. I wanted to check a few points with you and Monty, because I thought you guys might give me a better narrative of what happened, now that the initial shock and trauma are over. Ajit Sir will speak with Monty. Sharmila, would you mind to come this way, so we can have a quick chat?" Rajiv pointed towards the spare study on the right.

"Sure." Sharmila followed him with a smile but her mind was already alert to the sudden shift in the mood.

Once they were both seated comfortably, Sharmila said nothing, and waited for Rajiv to speak.
"Hmm. It's nothing. I am sure you have gone through what happened at the villa again and again in your mind as well as discussed it with Monty. Did you remember anything that you forgot to tell us on that day?" Rajiv asked casually as he observed Sharmila's nonchalant face.

"Yes, I will never be able to forget what happened that night..." she sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly, "those thoughts keep churning in my mind all the time, but there's nothing new that I could recall." Sharmila's response was prompt.

"What about events before the shootout?"

Sharmila blinked once and repeated, "the same, we have told you everything."

But Rajiv's expert eyes caught the tiny flicker of forced calmness and a slight shift in Sharmila's body posture. He knew he was onto something there, but didn't press her any further, as he was keen to give her a false sense of relief.

"On that night, before you saw Victor, you said you heard one or two bullet shots coming from the back of the villa, am I correct?" Rajiv waited to see if she fell into the trap, but Sharmila was too sharp.

"No, Rajiv. Not one or two shots. I heard the AK47 round going off and then a loud grunt, and that's when I wondered who these attackers were, who would carry such guns and I was scared for Victor too. A few moments after that, I heard multiple gun shots in different directions from the front of the villa, and I was tempted to go and help Monty. But our mission was to save Victor, so I stayed in the backyard and ran towards the nearest door behind a creeper."

Sharmila's tone was clear and firm.
"Hmm... So you definitely heard a grunt? Did you see Victor getting shot? "

"I couldn't see anything Rajiv, it was pitch dark. But yes, after the AK47 went off I clearly heard a grunt. When I saw Victor run towards me later, he was already injured in the elbow. He was holding his elbow with his other arm, to contain the blood flow."

"Other than Victor and that gunman, did you see anyone or notice any other movement?"

Sharmila thought for a moment and shook her head, "No... the only other person I saw, I mean I saw a bare outline of, was that other guy who tried to shoot me as Tanvir ran away. But that was much later."

"Was he a tall guy, fat guy.. what sort of a bloke was he? And the vehicle? What sort of a vehicle was it, what colour?"

Sharmila closed her eyes as if she was trying to picture that moment again.

"If there was anything odd about his build, I would have noticed it, even in that panic moment. But there wasn't.. so I am guessing he was a medium or average build person. Vehicle was a big one like a 4WD and it was a dark colour because all I could see was the halo of car lights beyond the wall. I would have noticed if it was a light colour. But you must understand this, I am trying to recall everything from a glimpse that I had, as I ducked for cover."

"Of course, I understand... And the car went off immediately afterwards?"
"Yes, hang on..." Sharmila's eyes sparkled as if she remembered something. " I heard the car door close twice. First when Tanvir ran off, and then again after this shooter went back to the car. And they were both doors of the car nearest to the gate, I mean nearest to me. Few moments after the shooter went back to the car, it started off. That means that he was the driver of the car, right?"

Rajiv heard the whole new revelation with amused eyes. She was giving a great performance, it sounded and looked very genuine.

Time to shift the gear now!

"So what about at the hotel where you met Nanda Sir. You guys left him much earlier. Then how did you see him rushing off later, as you said?"

Sharmila began to get a sense of where the questioning or rather interrogation was going. Rajiv sounded very casual but his questioning now seemed suspicious. What was going on?

"Are you doubting my statement?" She asked bluntly.
"Just answer my question Sharmila."
Sharmila leaned back in the lounge and considered Rajiv for a moment before answering.
"Yes, we did leave Nanda Sir few minutes earlier, although I am not sure how long. But as we walked out of the hotel, we saw a street performer across the street who was playing saxophone amazingly. Both of us joined the crowd around him and listened to his beautiful tunes for some time. I don't know how long we remained there... but perhaps not too long. He finished one tune and then another and we were just about to go back to our hotel. That's when I saw Nanda Sir rushing off to his car, which was very unusual. As you know he is someone who was always very calm and walked a bit slow. If you don't believe me, check the CCTV footage of the street." Sharmila raised her eyebrow and shrugged.

"Don't worry about that, I will."

Rajiv could see how Sharmila was enraged, but still talking in a controlled manner.
They heard Monty's loud voice and protests from the next room and Sharmila just snapped.

"Now, can you please stop this bullshit and tell me exactly what is going on?"

Before Rajiv could answer, Monty rushed into their room followed by a flustered Nandini.

"Sharmila can you believe what they are asking us about? It's as if we are bunch of liars who are hiding something!!" Monty looked around wildly as Ajit Doval too entered the small study. Sharmila's face hardened as she watched her colleague's desperate voice.

"Sir, please I beg you. You can say whatever things about me behind my back or to my face. But please don't treat Sharmila the same way. She hadn't shed a single tear since her uncle died, but I know and feel how much trauma she is going through right now. We both are feeling extremely guilty that we couldn't save Nanda Sir or stop those bastards shooting at Victor. If we deserve any punishment for our incompetence, we will gladly take it, but not this. We tried our best and failed, and instead of supporting us, you are accusing us that we are telling a false story. I just can't... Sir, please don't do this." Monty's face was filled with rage as well as helplessness as he folded his hands at both Ajit and Rajiv.

"Monty, please... calm down. There is no need to feel so emotional. Trust me, before I came here, I was equally enraged and confused. But we must take facts into account. Let me explain. Please sit down." Ajit wrapped his arm around Monty, led him towards the spare lounge and made him sit.

He poured water from a jug on the side table into two glasses and handed them over to Sharmila and Monty what took them reluctantly.

"Please listen to me carefully. I am your boss and your safety and well being is my responsibility. But if you are being misled or and misguided by someone else, then it is my duty to correct you as well. Rajiv, why don't you tell them about the evidence details."

"Sir, is it necessary? We are here to gather the correct evidence from them."

Rajiv's reluctance made Sharmila burst out..

"Of course it is, we have a right to know. And Perhaps we can help. I know it is your job Mr Rajiv Malhothra to suspect everybody, but without knowing the context or the grounds of suspicion against us, how can we prove our innocence?"

"Rajiv, I agree. Sharmila and Monty need to know what is going on and I totally understand your reservations here, because whatever information we will give them, might turn against us. But at the moment, we have no choice."Nandini said calmly.

"Okay. But please remember, this information is strictly confidential and should not leave this room." Rajiv looked at Sharmila and Monty who nodded their heads in agreement.

"When Victor was operated, they found two bullets in his body, and neither of them came from AK47." He began.

"What? How can it be possible?" Sharmila protested sharply and noticed that everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

"Look, I swear I heard a groan after the AK47 went off and then moments later, I saw Victor running towards me with an injured hand, so I just assumed that he was hit by it. But wait... He did tell me that there other people inside with more guns. So, it could be possible that he was shot earlier."

"What? When did he say this to you? You never said about this in your original statement!" Rajiv said angrily.

"I am sorry but it must have slipped my mind. When I pulled Victor inside the room we had a brief chat, and I asked him to escape from there while I cover for him. But he was adamant that he wont leave me all alone with a gunman carrying AK47 and few others inside with guns. I finally managed to convince Victor that if there are so many attackers, then Nanda Sir might be in danger too, and more reason for him to be with Nanda Sir. I even lied that Nanda Sir might have a spare gun. Only then, he finally agreed."

Rajiv shook his head in exasperation.

"It was just a slip up, I didn't mean to hide it from anyone.Trust me." Sharmila pleaded and was somewhat relieved to hear Nandini say, "Its okay Sharmila, it happens."

"Even I thought of that as a possibility, Sharmila. But how do you explain the presence of dummy bullets near the car and in the upstairs room where Monty was supposed to be fighting those two attackers." Rajiv's scathing words left both Monty and Sharmila shocked and speechless.

"Dummy bullets ?" Monty's voice came out merely as a whisper.

"Yes, blank shells. Why would any attacker, hell bent on finishing Victor or anyone else use dummy bullets? And both of you said that there were multiple shots after Victor reached the street. And a loud groan which sounded like Victor's. But no one heard JP Sir getting shot. Why? Also, there were only two bullets in Victor's body and JP Sir was shot at a close range with one shot. None of the evidence you two guys gave adds up. Now tell me, are we any way wrong to suspect you and your evidence? What if you were mixed up with that mole and staged this whole thing? May be you wanted to kill Victor but couldn't manage it because JP Sir got in the way!"

Sharmila and Monty looked at each other, unable to comprehend or make sense of the sneering accusation Rajiv laid against them.

Monty spat, "Rajiv, are you crazy? We forced Nanda Sir to take us along, the moment we heard Victor's life was in danger."
"Again, that's just your say so!" Rajiv spat back.
Sharmila finally understood where Rajiv's suspicions were stemming from.
"Aah...I get it now! You don't have any CCTV footage of us talking to Nanda Sir at the hotel. So, they think we arrived at the villa without Nanda Sir, that too to kill Victor." Sharmila's voice was filled with sarcasm, even as she fought hard to control the rage that coursed through her veins.

"For the past nine months, it was our job to tail and protect Victor, every single day, no matter where he was, in case you forgot." Monty bellowed as Sharmila closed her eyes in exasperation.

"What nine months? Your assignment finished when the IS mission was completed and what do you mean, no matter where Victor was? I knew it, you guys were hiding things from us." Rajiv's impassive face turned jubilant for the first time.

Briefly, now that they were forced to admit, Sharmila and Monty explained how they were asked by Nanda Sir to tail Victor even after the IS mission completed.

Ajit shook his head in frustration. "Sharmila! You, of all the people should have been forthright. Don't I know JP and his motives? If he had taken the trouble of employing you guys to protect Victor, he would have some solid reason to do so. And I would have appreciated your position much better."

"Sorry Sir" Sharmila cast her eyes down.

Rajiv intervened quickly.

"But Sir, our doubts about this whole thing is regarding the events on the night of the shoot out, and if these two were indeed tailing Victor, then they would have known that he would be coming to the Villa that night, isn't it?"

"Let me refresh your memory Rajiv, we didn't know where Victor was staying in Goa. We tailed him till Mumbai Airport. We arrived in Goa few hours after and till the Bicholim news broke out, we had no idea what he was up to." Monty retorted angrily.

"All my life, my brother wanted me to become an agent and help protect our country. If he comes to know I am being treated like this..." As Monty covered his face in dejection and anger, Sharmila kept observing everyone around as her mind worked furiously, to find a way to dig herself and Monty out of this hell hole.

With a determined chin, she looked up at Ajit and Rajiv and said with forced calm, "Sir, you would find traces of blood of Victor as well as Tanvir near the water pond. I completely trust in Monty not just because he had been my partner for the past one year but he is the sort of person, who would put others first instead of saving his life. I repeat what I said , I heard shots coming in multiple direction from the front of the villa, from people who were attacking Monty and there were two cars that left the Villa that night! I am sure you will find tracks of them. I know what you are trying not to say, so I will make it simple for you. If you think we are working with this so called mole and don't trust our word, then talk to Victor. He will back up everything we said."

"Yes, we will and till then, please consider yourself to be under house arrest." Rajiv said, as he rose along with Ajit. Even though Sharmila expected Rajiv to say that, it still felt horrible. Ajit Doval turned around as he was about to leave and said, "I wish there was an alternative way, trust me."

Sharmila just nodded her head and watched them leave with an impassive face.

****.
9PM, Mumbai

Suraj Chacha felt exhausted and irritated by the Mumbai weather. He never knew when it would start raining here!! He was longing to go back to Delhi. But... he had a job to finish, and had to stay put in Mumbai with Sharath Nair and gang till then. Just the walk from the taxi to Sharath Nair's Mansion left him soaked waist down. Whipping off the rain drops from the umbrella, he greeted one of Sharath's men as he made his way to his tastefully decorated room in the spacious mansion that Sharath jokingly called "his little house".

Ever since the shootout, he kept a low profile just like the entire gang of Sharath Nair, as they all knew they were under close watch of the police and other agencies. He called DJ or Tanvir only if it was absolutely necessary and that too from roadside cafes or shops.

But today he was not in a mood to go out again in the rain. He picked up his mobile and called DJ.

"Beta, how is everything in Delhi. How is Bhabhi?"

"Chacha, we are all good. I know you must be missing Delhi, but please hang in there just few more days till things get settled. I only have you as my eyes and ears. Is everything ready for tonight?" DJ asked

"Yes. I am just coming from the station. Our guys in Goa have beaten and tied up our dear friend and left him inside a grocery store near the Villa as we had planned. The owner of the shop had gone abroad for few weeks but he is back tomorrow. So, when he opens the shop, he will find our guy inside and call the local police. Perfect sob story for our friend to win the trust back of his boss and colleagues and re-join his duties. I have made sure he is quite dehydrated to look the part of someone in who has been suffering for sometime."

"Good job Chacha!! Everything is going as per our plan. That bloody Victor had no idea who he was dealing with when he tried to mess up my business and men. I have managed to shut him up as well as his agency. Those IB bastards will still be looking in all rat holes to find their so called mole, but our guy will be doing his job, I mean our job, without a hitch." DJ Chuckled.

"True Beta! Most people tend to forget that you need to be more clever and resourceful to be a criminal than a normal guy. Once our friend is back in business, I will come back to Delhi. Till then, I am here to take care of everything, so don't worry." Suraj assured DJ.

"I know Chacha that I can trust you completely, that's why I am sitting here all the way in Delhi, without a worry. See you soon." DJ hung up with a smile.

***.
ACP Savlekar and his Circle Inspector Sanjay Deshmukh hurried up the hospital stairs and entered the secure ward which was under police guard. After showing their ID's they were allowed to go inside the room where Victor has been transferred to, after he regained consciousness.

Victor was lying down on the bed, with half of his face still in bandages and a white bedsheet covering his body all the way up to the chest.

A Doctor and Nurse were checking his charts.

Savlekar introduced himself to the doctor as well as the patient.

"I know you guys have to do your duty but the patient is really not 100% with us. I think he is one of those whose system doesn't agree well with anaesthesia. So please ask whatever you need to, in five minutes and leave him to rest. Okay?" The Doctor smiled at Savlekar and left with the nurse.

"Hello Victor? Are you feeling okay to have a quick chat?" Savlekar asked as he stood next to Victor's bed.

Victor nodded his head and began to speak but the initial voice came almost like a croak.

"Hello Inspector..."

"I am ACP Savlekar...."

"Oh.... Sorry ACP Savlekar, I am keen to speak to you as well. But I can barely manage to talk much."

"I understand, so sorry .... but I will be very quick. Trust me we have been waiting  so long for this." Savlekar sat down on one of the visitors chair and pulled out his Pen and Pad as well as iPhone to record.

"This is not a formal statement isn't it. Why don't we leave the recording for later. I will tell you what I remember briefly." Victor offered.

Just then Savlekar's phone buzzed and looking at the number, he passed it on to Deshmukh to attend to the call.

"I wanted to ask you specific questions, but that's okay. we can do that later. First tell me what happened in your own words. Why did you go to the Villa?"

"Hasn't Ashwin told you guys any thing? Where is Ashwin? I want to find him..." Victor sat up in his bed, his face flushed and the one of the monitors started beeping.
As the nurse rushed back into his room to check his vitals again, Deshmukh signalled to Savlekar to come closer.

"Sir, that was a call from the Inspector at the Nerul police station. It seems one of the shopkeepers near the crime scene, I mean near the Villa had come back from holidays, and when he opened the shop today morning, they found a man inside, tied up and with heavy bruises.How did he come there and who did that, no idea yet but this is the interesting part. The captive told our guys that his name was Ashwin and he works for Intelligence Bureau. He requested that IB should be made aware of his condition on priority."

"Another IB agent, beaten and tied up in a shop! What the hell is going on?" Savlekar muttered.

As the nurse left after adjusting the different tubes connected to Victor, he looked at both of them suspiciously.

"What are you guys talking about? Did you say Ashwin? What happened?"

ACP Savlekar repeated what he heard and asked Victor, "what has this Ashwin guy got anything to do with the shoot out? Can you please tell me from the beginning."

Victor briefly explained how he met Ashwin in the beach restaurant and then went to the Villa on his invitation but made sure not to mention anything of the mole in IB that Ashwin was referring to.

"Is that all? Or you forgot to mention everything to us Victor?" Savlekar asked him sharply.

"Yes, that's all ACP Sir. Isn't what happened after I reach the villa more important? In fact, I thought the first question you will ask me was who shot Nanda Sir!"
"Of course, we want to know and I was coming to that ." Savlekar said defensively, and asked agin. "So, tell me who shot your boss and director JP Nanda?"
"Well I don't know who that is or his name but he was the same guy who tried to take pictures of me with the DSLR camera earlier at the beach. I remember his face too well, and I can ID him if we are lucky enough to catch him."

"Of course we will catch him, but Victor, are you positive? It was pitch dark there right" Savlekar asked.

"Hmm... yes. it was dark but Nanda Sir drove the car all the way to the front of the villa the moment he saw me. And the headlights were on, so I could clearly see his face. Nanda Sir got out the car but something behind me caught his attention and he looked scared. I turned around, and the guy was right behind me and shot at Nanda Sir straight in his forehead but then ran away to the other side of the car. I was in utter shock. As Nanda Sir collapsed to the ground, I tried to catch him and fell down beside him. As I bent over to check Nanda Sir's pulse, I heard another bullet shot from the back but it missed me by a fraction. I scrambled to my feet and tried to run, but another bullet hit me from the back and I have no idea what happened after that , till I woke up in the hospital bed yesterday."

"So the same person shot you, is it?"

"I have no idea, it could be the same guy. As I said, my concentration was on Nanda Sir and how to save him."

"Hmm.. understand. If we get our police artiste to come over, you can help him draw a sketch of the gunman?"

" Sure, he is of medium height, just the usual brown faced thug kind of street guy."

"And what about Tanvir, can you identify him as well?"

"Who is Tanvir?" Victor asked in confusion.

"The guy who shot you with the AK 47!"
"No ... I got shot by someone else in the dark, the moment I entered. That's how I lost my gun! Did you guys find it? Victor asked eagerly.

"Yes we did, but it was thrown out quite far away from the Villa. But coming back to Tanvir, can you identify him?" ACP asked again.

"I am not sure, may be. I was running away from him all the time and he was behind me. So, I didn't get much chance to see his face."

The Doctor and the nurse came back into the room just then, and much to the disappointment of Savlekar and Deshmukh, asked them to leave their patient alone.
****.
Safe House, somewhere in New Delhi.

Sharmila stared at the roof of her bedroom as she lay in her bed that night, recalling every word Rajiv uttered, which hurt her almost like a body blow. She hadn't even managed to mourn over her uncle's death so far, and now this? Her colleagues who were supposed to be supportive to her when she needed it the most, are now accusing her of conspiracy. She knew she would find no closure for her uncle's death till the murderer was caught. Her passion for fighting against crime and protecting the country is what drew her towards her job, but she never thought that this battle would become so personal and her family would be targeted.

Ever since she could remember, it was her to dream to become an intelligence agent, and her Jai uncle was both her hero and idol. But the rough and dangerous life he led all through his youth, and his personal choice to stay unmarried had adversely affected Sharmila, when she voiced her hopes of joining the intelligence agency. After multiple albeit false assurances, from her uncle that it is a safe job, even for a girl, and her promise to everyone that she would definitely marry someone before she turned 30, her family finally agreed to her choice of profession. Its been just a year and now with her uncle's tragic and traumatic death, she knew that her family would be waiting back home, ready to pressurise and convince her to abandon her job. And for this precise reason, she preferred being in the safe house at the moment, instead of staying with her family, and sharing their grief.

Because she knew how delicate and dangerous the situation was right now. She may be an amateur in her job but she knew the ins and outs of how agency worked, thanks to her uncle.

Instead of drowning herself in pity and resentment, she would have to prove her innocence, no matter what it cost and that too before her family gets a hint of this accusation.

She closed her eyes and concentrated hard, trying to recall every tiny memory and impression that she could muster about the events that happened at the villa...

She stayed awake till the early hours in the morning, her last thought before sleep was to meet her boss Ajit Doval as soon as she can.
^==============^

Thanks for the enthusiastic responses for the previous chapter. And I hope you will find this chapter equally interesting.
If you love this story, please drop a word or two on your social media handles and recommend it to your friends.

Thanks a lot
Sesi