NEEL MEHRA ADJUSTED his jacket and muffler in the mirror of the entrance foyer of the Olive Bar and Kitchen. He wanted to look good for Ash. It had been a long time.
He headed into the open courtyard, where outdoor heaters compensated for the cold weather and diners nibbled on thin-crust pizzas and sipped chilled Sancerre. There waiting for him was Ash—Dr. Ashish Lal, the police medical examiner.
Ash was only a few years senior to Neel, but thanks to his gray sideburns and dark circles beneath his eyes he looked a lot older—one of the perks of working for the police department and bosses like Sharma.
The two had met at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Neel had been working on a difficult case that needed a complicated diagnostic test to be performed. The only one capable of handling it had been Ash. The two had become friends, then lovers. Neel was the younger, more desirable of the two men, but Ash had been something of a mentor to him. A strong, lasting relationship had formed.
“Thanks for seeing me at short notice, Ash,” said Neel, taking a seat.
Ash smiled and poured Neel a glass of wine, and for a moment or so the two regarded each other, both stirred by the other’s presence. “I’m happy to help,” smiled Ash, breaking the spell. “But this particular meeting never happened. You know why.” He joined the fingers of his hands together—almost like two spiders performing push-ups against one another.
“My lips are sealed,” said Neel, taking a sip of his wine.
“It’s about the house at Greater Kailash, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“And your interest?”
Neel gave a theatrical look left and right. “Can I let you into a secret?”
“Isn’t that the purpose of our meeting?”
“The purpose of our meeting is so that we can trade secrets.”
“Ah, well then, you better tell me yours before I divulge any of mine.”
The waiter arrived, and the conversation paused as pizzas were ordered, and—Ash looked over the table with inquiring eyes—yes, “another bottle of Sancerre, please.”
“So, your secret?” asked Ash.
Neel saw a new light in his friend’s eyes and was gratified to think it was he who had put it there. “Private Delhi is looking into the bodies at Greater Kailash.”
“I see. On whose dollar?”
“Now we really are into the territory of secrets. If I tell you that, do you have details of the investigation to trade?”
Ash shrugged. “Well, as the medical examiner on the case I do indeed have some details. However, they are very scant. The killer is not only extremely good at covering his own tracks but also those of his victims. There’s one cadaver that’s slightly better preserved than the others. I’ll be examining it over the next couple of days.”
“And do you think you’ll be at liberty to share your findings?”
Ash smiled. “I certainly won’t be at liberty to do that, no.” His smile broadened lasciviously. “But I might just do it all the same.”
“That would be very much appreciated. Anything else you can tell me?”
Ash nodded. “I have something that might be of interest to you. I’m still curious to know who’s employing Private, though.”
“It’ll go no further?”
“Of course not. But you better hurry. Our pizzas will be here soon. Not to mention that second bottle of wine.” Ash’s tiredness seemed to have disappeared.
“We’re being employed by Mohan Jaswal.”
Ash smiled, rolled his eyes. “Figures,” he said. “And I suppose Jaswal is keen to catch the killer, is he?”
“As I’m sure you can guess, Jaswal is far more concerned with putting one over on Chopra or making sure Chopra doesn’t put one over on him. We’re stuck someplace in the middle. Such is life. But what else is it you’ve discovered?”
Ash pulled a face. “Like I say, it’s precious little.” He reached into his jacket, retrieved a small plastic bag from his inside pocket, and placed it on the table between them. Inside was a tiny piece of fabric. “How do you fancy analyzing that on some of that fancy gadgetry you have at Private?”
“You scratch my back…”
Ash twinkled. “I’ll happily scratch yours.”
Neel pocketed the evidence bag. “You’ve had a good look at it, presumably.”
“I have.”
“And?”
“And I’m fairly sure I know what it is. I’d be interested to see if you concur.”
“Give me a clue. We’re trying to catch a killer here, not play forensic tic-tac-toe.”
“All right, then. You win. I think it’s a piece of a hospital gown.”