Yet another unresolved murder (1046 words)

It was 9.30 in the morning. Sunil Pande, the inspector, had just arrived at the police station. His telephone rang, and the call was from Stay Longer Lodge. He got the information that one of the lodgers had been found dead. They wanted to open the door in the presence of the police. He rushed in his jeep along with two constables. He was informed that the room had been occupied by a man in his thirties the day before and that he had asked the reception to wake him up early in the morning so he could go to the market. It appeared that he was a regular visitor, a businessman coming to the city to make purchases for his business, and that each time he came, he procured a woman to spend the night with him. They were trying in vain since morning to wake him till they had someone peep into the room from the ventilator. He was seen lying in bed motionless. There was no one else in the room. 

When they entered the room, they found him dead due to suffocation, presumably with his face smothered by pillows. There were no external injuries. Two empty bottles of liquor were seen with two glasses. Evidently, he must have been drunk and might have been drugged till he was killed. When asked whether he had any visitors in the evening, Sunil was told that a young woman had come around 8 pm. Since it was customary for the guests to bring women for the night, the lodge people were discreet in not noting a note of their movements or addresses. They were not aware when she left. The man who had seen the woman did not remember her well, as she was not a regular visitor. However, a glimpse of her showed she was a tall and well-built woman with a big red bindi on her forehead. 

The inspector asked them all to wait outside and closely examined the body and the room while waiting for the homicide department people. The dead man was only in his undergarments. The woman must have spent the last hours with him before she murdered him and vanished. The man was also well built and could have offered resistance. Obviously, he did not, as he was fully drunk. A close examination of his wrists showed they were held together. A search revealed a crumpled towel in the bathroom. Except for about two hundred rupees and odd bits of paper in his wallet, there was no money in it. It was clearly a murder, but for what reason, he was clueless. It could be a large amount taken from his wallet since he had come for purchases. He found some strands of hair on the bed. He could make out nothing more till his eyes fell accidentally on a small pink button on the floor by the side of the cot. He put it safely, along with hair, in his pocket. 

He made sure the dead man had made no calls through the board or received any. He kept the victim’s mobile with him. He noted the number of the last outgoing call and rang the number from his own mobile. There was a faint hello from a woman. 

He said, “Hello, I need your usual help urgently”, and kept quiet for her response.

“Don’t feel shy. Who are you? Where are you staying? Which lodge? When do you want? Any specific requirement?” she asked

Sunil said, “Not here at my place. I need privacy. I wish to come there. I will leave the town in three hours. I have some spare time.” 

“Have you come here earlier? How did you get my number?” she asked. 

When he said he got it from his friend, she gave her address and said all the girls are sleeping and that she will manage to find one.

Sunil changed into normal clothes and took an auto. It was a red-light area, and he was taken to the madam of the house by a stout, well-built man. She was tall, well-built, and muscular with a large red bindi. 

He said, “I would have preferred to have the woman in my lodge, but since morning, there was a large crowd of people and police there. Somebody had a heart attack or something,” and watched her closely. 

He felt he saw a trace of fear in her eyes, but she maintained her cool. Then she became businesslike and said, “I will call a couple of girls. You can choose anyone.”

He said, “I don’t want anyone else. I want you only.”

She laughed and said, “I left this profession many years ago. I just run the show with a few girls. They are all young. I am in my mid-thirties.” 

He was adamant and said,” No, if I have any, it is only you. Expense is of no consequence. Will pay you whatever you want.” 

She hesitated for a moment and said, “OK. I can spare you just one hour, and from next time onwards, you should not insist on me.” 

“Can I use your toilet? “he asked. As he surveyed, he saw a big washing machine in the corner. He rummaged through it and found a pink blouse with one button missing. He matched the one in his pocket with others and found it was from this that it had fallen.

He revealed his identity and confronted her with strong evidence of the button and her hair. After some theatrics, she confessed that she knew him earlier and that he carried money. She was tempted on the spur of the moment by the huge amount he had in his wallet and killed him as she was in financial straits.

 After her pleadings and long discussions, he spent the next hour with her in the room and left the place a satisfied man. Sunil’s wife got a diamond necklace that she had been longing for in a few days.

The last report heard about the murder was that the police, despite their best efforts, were unable to break the case and that all leads led nowhere. They were still defending, the department was vigorously pursuing the case and hoped to nab the culprit soon.