Part 12: You Belong To Me!

Monday, January 3, 8.00 A.M.

By the time Armaan got to Abhay’s office, it was standing room only. But that was mainly because Abhay kept only one guest chair in his office and Armaan had learned pretty quickly that one sat in the chair only when one was invited. Armaan really didn’t like Abhay much! Armaan wasn’t sure if Abhay kept them standing to keep them in their place or if he held to the belief that standing meetings were short meetings. The man achieved both.

‘Close the door, Detective,’ Abhay said formally. ‘We’ve been waiting for you.’

Armaan wanted to roll his eyes. He was exactly on time, to the second. He’d hurried not to impress Abhay, but because he’d wanted to get back to Riddhima.
She’d smiled at him back at Drew’s office, a quick, unfettered smile that had lit up her face and stopped his heart. Something about her had changed in the hour between Drew’s office to here. He didn’t know what had happened and wasn’t sure he cared. At the moment it had been all he could do not to reach for her, but they’d been at work and he’d been covered in dumpster filth.
He closed Abhay’s door and instantly felt the chill. Something was up. Nikki and Drew were there, along with Noah Webster and Max Hunter, the other detectives assigned to the case.

To his surprise, Riddhima sat in Abhay’s extra chair, turned around to face the group.  At her side was her brother-in-law Atul, who Armaan had started liking. He seemed to be a nice man and very protective about Riddhima. But at the moment Atul wore a frown, his hand on Riddhima’s shoulder almost protectively, sending the hackles on the back of Armaan’s neck straight up. Abhay sat behind his desk like a drill sergeant, revealing nothing. Her expression was shuttered, Riddhima met Armaan’s eyes, seeking answers he didn’t have.

‘What’s going on?’ Armaan asked Abhay quietly. ‘I thought you wanted to ask Dr Gupta a few questions about Dr Kervick.’

‘I do,’ Abhay said. ‘Just not the ones you think.’

Armaan opened his mouth to protest, but Nikki cut him off with a sharp warning glance and a shake of her head. Armaan folded his arms across his chest, not liking this one bit.
Abhay noted the silent exchange, then stood. Now only Riddhima sat and she was looking increasingly pissed off! Armaan could relate. Abhay was known for his grandstanding and there was little doubt that this was where this was headed.

‘Lieutenant Abhay,’ Riddhima said her voice level but tight. ‘I was under the impression that I’d been cleared of suspicion in Jake Kervick’s murder.’

‘Your alibi was checked out. But given that my detectives have requested your presence at the notification of a victim’s family, I thought, I should know more about you.’ He lifted an arrogant brow. ‘It seems you’ve been keeping secrets, Dr Gupta.’

Armaan thought he saw her eyes flicker, but it was over so quickly he couldn’t be sure.

‘I have not Lieutenant,’ she said coolly. ‘I was candid with your detectives. I told them that I’d dated the victim for a short time and that I’d broken his nose.’

Abhay nodded. ‘A year ago, true. I’m talking about further back than that. Try August, six years ago’

Her eyes didn’t flicker this time. They flashed in shocked fury before she quickly reined herself in. Even Atul was shocked at hearing that and his grip on Riddhima’s shoulder tightened. ‘I have nothing to hide, Lieutenant.’

‘I should think not,’ Abhay said dryly. ‘It took Detectives Webster and Hunter less than an hour to dig it all up and the court records were found in no time.’
Webster briefly closed his eyes and Hunter shook his head, a slight movement that made Armaan realise that whatever this was about, they hadn’t meant for it to go down this way.

Riddhima lifted her empty hands before folding them in her lap, the gesture one of contempt. ‘Then you know it all. Anything I’d provide would be ... Simply extraneous.’

Abhay sat on the edge of his desk close to Riddhima, deliberately crowding her space. ‘Humour me,’ he said. ‘What happened in your own words?’

She met Abhay’s gaze head-on. Her voice calm, but her hands clenched tightly in her lap. ‘I was arrested, charged, tried before jury of my peers and acquitted. The charges were then dropped, my record expunged.’
Armaan looked at Nikki and saw she was as stunned as he was, but Abhay appeared unsurprised, his mouth curving in a half-smile of appreciation. ‘Succinctly delivered, Doctor,’ he said. ‘But I’d like a little more meat with my bones.’

‘I owe you no explanations,’ Riddhima said coldly. ‘May I leave?’

‘You could, but I don’t think you’ll want to,’ Abhay said. ‘It was an accident, right?’

She nodded, tight-lipped. ‘Lieutenant, I ...’

‘Your fiancée was killed,’ Abhay interrupted, ‘was he not?’

She’d been engaged. Of course she’d had relationships, so had he. He’d been married for God’s sake. Still, it left Armaan unsettled to think of her so attached. Her fiancée’s death still caused her pain. It was plain on her face before she closed her eyes, recovering her composure.

‘He was.’ Then she opened her eyes and they were empty. ‘This has no bearing on anything related to this case or to any of you. I’ve had a very long day. I’m leaving now.’ She rose, but Atul pressed her back into the chair.
‘Ridzi, the Lieutenant approach is vile.’ Atul looked straight at Abhay as he said the words, making Armaan want to cheer. ‘But you need to stay, and Lieutenant, you need to get to the goddamn point.’

Abhay’s glare was annoyed. ‘Thank you, Dr Joshi.’ He blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Tell me what happened Dr Gupta. If you truly have nothing to hide.’      
Once again Riddhima’s eyes flashed as she battled for control. ‘Fine. But I will not sit here like I’m in the defendant’s chair. Been there, done that.’ She stood, straightened her tank top and walked to the window before turning to face them. ‘I was with my fiancée. He’d had a lot of alcohol. I tried to get his keys, he pushed me out of the car. A minute later I hared a crash, ran to the scene. He’d been thrown from his convertible and was already dead, but he’d hit another car.’

‘In which two people were hurt,’ Atul supplied softly.

Riddhima’s nod was swift. ‘A mother and her child. The mother was critically injured, the child bruised, but strapped in a car seat and therefore alive. I went for help, but through a misunderstanding was accused of being the driver. I was charged with vehicular homicide of my fiancée. The evidence supported my assertion that I was not in the car at the time. I was cleared.’ She drew a breath. ‘That is all.’

Abhay smile was wry. ‘I don’t think so, but we’ll leave it at that for now. For the record, I had no intention of making you feel like you’d been seated on the defendant’s chair. As you noted, you’ve had a long day. I was trying to be nice.’

Riddhima’s expression showed her scepticism as to Abhay’s intent. Armaan agreed with her.

‘We all need a favour from you Dr Gupta,’ Abhay said professionally.

‘What?’ Riddhima asked annoyed. She had really had enough. First he had grilled her about her past, information that was totally irrelevant to this case and now he ahs the guts to ask her for favours! Hell of a guy!

‘I asked him if you could be our native guide,’ Nikki said. ‘Jake had ongoing ties with his hometown ... Your hometown. We wanted your help.’

Riddhima’s pale cheeks darkened in anger. ‘Good to know. And if I refuse?’

Abhay shrugged. ‘Somebody left a human hear in your car today. I’d think you want the man caught.’

‘Like it or not,’ Armaan murmured, ‘you’re a key to this. This killer picked you. And for what it’s worth, Nikki and I didn’t know about this.’

She jerked a nod. ‘I believe you. Thank you.’

Relived Armaan turned to Abhay. ‘Are we done then?’

‘You all know what you have to do,’ Abhay said irritably. ‘Everybody go. Except Nikita and Armaan. You stay and close the door.’

‘Wait for me outside the office,’ Armaan said to Riddhima in a low voice. He watched her go, Atul along side her, then closed the door and turn to a placidly staring Abhay. ‘That was a test, wasn’t it? Not just of Dr Gupta, but of us too.’

‘And you passed,’ Abhay said. ‘Barely. You,’ he pointed to Nikki, ‘did okay. You, Malik, are a hothead and you lead with your emotions. Get your head in the game and I don’t mean the one you’ve already engaged with a certain Dr Gupta. Now get to work.’


‘Fuck him.’ Riddhima snarled, as she marched towards the ladies’ toilets, hands clenched into fists, too angry for much more articulate thought than fuck Abhay. It was all she could do back there to keep her voice civil and she’d only done so for Armaan, who’d seemed as furious with his boss as she’d been. Abhay had manipulated her past for his own benefit.
‘Use me. Test me. Bring up my dirty little secrets like that. Fuck you Abhay.’

‘Ridzi, wait up.’

It was Atul. Riddhima had to force herself to stop, draw a breath so that she wouldn’t be sharp with her brother-in-law. Atul put and arm around Riddhima’s shoulders. ‘Tum theek ho?’

She leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’

‘Ridzi ek baat kahoon, I know that whatever happened in that office, shouldn’t have, but acha hua key yeh hua.’ Riddhima looked up at him in surprise. ‘Armaan wanted to do smack Abhay, he was also angry with him. It shows that he acres for you.’

Riddhima closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. ‘Atul please ...’

‘Nahi, Ridzi.’ He interrupted her. ‘I saw the way he looked at you when he entered the room.’

Nikki’s words came to her mind. ‘How did he look at me?’

‘Like you were all that mattered. If he’d sprung to your defence, he would have been off the case. I’m glad he didn’t defend you. You need him Ridzi. And he’s coming down the hall.’

‘Tum jao, I’ll be fine.’

‘You call me if you need me.’ He turned them both around so that they could watch Armaan and Nikki approach and gave a low hum of approval. ‘Waise Ridzi, agar main ladki hota toh, I’d go for Armaan any day. The man is hot.’ Atul said half-teasingly.

Riddhima couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Shut up Atul.’

Armaan was indeed hot. Showered and clean-shaven, he could easily have graced the cover if a magazine. There was something about him and every bit of it was masculine. Then again, her first fiancée had been the same. ‘And look how that ended up.’ She thought.
‘You might want to try breathing,’ Atul whispered. ‘Now I’ve got to go. Call me.’ He shook Armaan’s hand as he passed him.

When Armaan was two steps from Riddhima, he shoved his hands in his pockets. His gaze was intense and he leaned forward slightly, as if he’d have his hands on her if he could. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said simply. ‘That shouldn’t have happened.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Riddhima said. ‘Did you pass your test?’

‘Barely. Nikki’s the star pupil, but I still need to learn. Are you ready to go? We need to get to the ex-wife first, so we can get over the Bay Bridge to the Kervicks.’

‘You’re going home.’ Riddhima thought to herself. She now wished, she hadn’t asked to go. But she owed the Kervick’s a lot. Their son was dead. They’d need support, someone they could lean on.

‘I need to get the bag I packed when I went back to my apartment.’

‘I’ll meet you at the ex-wife Mrs Kervick’s house,’ Nikki said. ‘I need to check on Ria. We are sorry Ridz.’

‘It’s okay.’ Riddhima studied their faces. ‘You haven’t asked me what really happened.’

‘Because it’s your business,’ Armaan said. ‘You’ve had enough for one day.’

‘And it ain’t over yet,’ Nikki added. ‘I’ll meet you there, Armaan.’ With a wave she was gone, leaving Riddhima alone with Armaan Malik for the very first time ...  


Thank you for all the previous comments, I don't have any time to reply to them individually at the moment, I have a lot of school work to do and I am also trying to squeeze another update for tomorrow. So keep reading! Keep liking! And keep commenting!

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Part 12: You Belong To Me!

Monday, January 3, 8.00 A.M.

By the time Armaan got to Abhay’s office, it was standing room only. But that was mainly because Abhay kept only one guest chair in his office and Armaan had learned pretty quickly that one sat in the chair only when one was invited. Armaan really didn’t like Abhay much! Armaan wasn’t sure if Abhay kept them standing to keep them in their place or if he held to the belief that standing meetings were short meetings. The man achieved both.

‘Close the door, Detective,’ Abhay said formally. ‘We’ve been waiting for you.’

Armaan wanted to roll his eyes. He was exactly on time, to the second. He’d hurried not to impress Abhay, but because he’d wanted to get back to Riddhima.
She’d smiled at him back at Drew’s office, a quick, unfettered smile that had lit up her face and stopped his heart. Something about her had changed in the hour between Drew’s office to here. He didn’t know what had happened and wasn’t sure he cared. At the moment it had been all he could do not to reach for her, but they’d been at work and he’d been covered in dumpster filth.
He closed Abhay’s door and instantly felt the chill. Something was up. Nikki and Drew were there, along with Noah Webster and Max Hunter, the other detectives assigned to the case.

To his surprise, Riddhima sat in Abhay’s extra chair, turned around to face the group.  At her side was her brother-in-law Atul, who Armaan had started liking. He seemed to be a nice man and very protective about Riddhima. But at the moment Atul wore a frown, his hand on Riddhima’s shoulder almost protectively, sending the hackles on the back of Armaan’s neck straight up. Abhay sat behind his desk like a drill sergeant, revealing nothing. Her expression was shuttered, Riddhima met Armaan’s eyes, seeking answers he didn’t have.

‘What’s going on?’ Armaan asked Abhay quietly. ‘I thought you wanted to ask Dr Gupta a few questions about Dr Kervick.’

‘I do,’ Abhay said. ‘Just not the ones you think.’

Armaan opened his mouth to protest, but Nikki cut him off with a sharp warning glance and a shake of her head. Armaan folded his arms across his chest, not liking this one bit.
Abhay noted the silent exchange, then stood. Now only Riddhima sat and she was looking increasingly pissed off! Armaan could relate. Abhay was known for his grandstanding and there was little doubt that this was where this was headed.

‘Lieutenant Abhay,’ Riddhima said her voice level but tight. ‘I was under the impression that I’d been cleared of suspicion in Jake Kervick’s murder.’

‘Your alibi was checked out. But given that my detectives have requested your presence at the notification of a victim’s family, I thought, I should know more about you.’ He lifted an arrogant brow. ‘It seems you’ve been keeping secrets, Dr Gupta.’

Armaan thought he saw her eyes flicker, but it was over so quickly he couldn’t be sure.

‘I have not Lieutenant,’ she said coolly. ‘I was candid with your detectives. I told them that I’d dated the victim for a short time and that I’d broken his nose.’

Abhay nodded. ‘A year ago, true. I’m talking about further back than that. Try August, six years ago’

Her eyes didn’t flicker this time. They flashed in shocked fury before she quickly reined herself in. Even Atul was shocked at hearing that and his grip on Riddhima’s shoulder tightened. ‘I have nothing to hide, Lieutenant.’

‘I should think not,’ Abhay said dryly. ‘It took Detectives Webster and Hunter less than an hour to dig it all up and the court records were found in no time.’
Webster briefly closed his eyes and Hunter shook his head, a slight movement that made Armaan realise that whatever this was about, they hadn’t meant for it to go down this way.

Riddhima lifted her empty hands before folding them in her lap, the gesture one of contempt. ‘Then you know it all. Anything I’d provide would be ... Simply extraneous.’

Abhay sat on the edge of his desk close to Riddhima, deliberately crowding her space. ‘Humour me,’ he said. ‘What happened in your own words?’

She met Abhay’s gaze head-on. Her voice calm, but her hands clenched tightly in her lap. ‘I was arrested, charged, tried before jury of my peers and acquitted. The charges were then dropped, my record expunged.’
Armaan looked at Nikki and saw she was as stunned as he was, but Abhay appeared unsurprised, his mouth curving in a half-smile of appreciation. ‘Succinctly delivered, Doctor,’ he said. ‘But I’d like a little more meat with my bones.’

‘I owe you no explanations,’ Riddhima said coldly. ‘May I leave?’

‘You could, but I don’t think you’ll want to,’ Abhay said. ‘It was an accident, right?’

She nodded, tight-lipped. ‘Lieutenant, I ...’

‘Your fiancée was killed,’ Abhay interrupted, ‘was he not?’

She’d been engaged. Of course she’d had relationships, so had he. He’d been married for God’s sake. Still, it left Armaan unsettled to think of her so attached. Her fiancée’s death still caused her pain. It was plain on her face before she closed her eyes, recovering her composure.

‘He was.’ Then she opened her eyes and they were empty. ‘This has no bearing on anything related to this case or to any of you. I’ve had a very long day. I’m leaving now.’ She rose, but Atul pressed her back into the chair.
‘Ridzi, the Lieutenant approach is vile.’ Atul looked straight at Abhay as he said the words, making Armaan want to cheer. ‘But you need to stay, and Lieutenant, you need to get to the goddamn point.’

Abhay’s glare was annoyed. ‘Thank you, Dr Joshi.’ He blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Tell me what happened Dr Gupta. If you truly have nothing to hide.’      
Once again Riddhima’s eyes flashed as she battled for control. ‘Fine. But I will not sit here like I’m in the defendant’s chair. Been there, done that.’ She stood, straightened her tank top and walked to the window before turning to face them. ‘I was with my fiancée. He’d had a lot of alcohol. I tried to get his keys, he pushed me out of the car. A minute later I hared a crash, ran to the scene. He’d been thrown from his convertible and was already dead, but he’d hit another car.’

‘In which two people were hurt,’ Atul supplied softly.

Riddhima’s nod was swift. ‘A mother and her child. The mother was critically injured, the child bruised, but strapped in a car seat and therefore alive. I went for help, but through a misunderstanding was accused of being the driver. I was charged with vehicular homicide of my fiancée. The evidence supported my assertion that I was not in the car at the time. I was cleared.’ She drew a breath. ‘That is all.’

Abhay smile was wry. ‘I don’t think so, but we’ll leave it at that for now. For the record, I had no intention of making you feel like you’d been seated on the defendant’s chair. As you noted, you’ve had a long day. I was trying to be nice.’

Riddhima’s expression showed her scepticism as to Abhay’s intent. Armaan agreed with her.

‘We all need a favour from you Dr Gupta,’ Abhay said professionally.

‘What?’ Riddhima asked annoyed. She had really had enough. First he had grilled her about her past, information that was totally irrelevant to this case and now he ahs the guts to ask her for favours! Hell of a guy!

‘I asked him if you could be our native guide,’ Nikki said. ‘Jake had ongoing ties with his hometown ... Your hometown. We wanted your help.’

Riddhima’s pale cheeks darkened in anger. ‘Good to know. And if I refuse?’

Abhay shrugged. ‘Somebody left a human hear in your car today. I’d think you want the man caught.’

‘Like it or not,’ Armaan murmured, ‘you’re a key to this. This killer picked you. And for what it’s worth, Nikki and I didn’t know about this.’

She jerked a nod. ‘I believe you. Thank you.’

Relived Armaan turned to Abhay. ‘Are we done then?’

‘You all know what you have to do,’ Abhay said irritably. ‘Everybody go. Except Nikita and Armaan. You stay and close the door.’

‘Wait for me outside the office,’ Armaan said to Riddhima in a low voice. He watched her go, Atul along side her, then closed the door and turn to a placidly staring Abhay. ‘That was a test, wasn’t it? Not just of Dr Gupta, but of us too.’

‘And you passed,’ Abhay said. ‘Barely. You,’ he pointed to Nikki, ‘did okay. You, Malik, are a hothead and you lead with your emotions. Get your head in the game and I don’t mean the one you’ve already engaged with a certain Dr Gupta. Now get to work.’


‘Fuck him.’ Riddhima snarled, as she marched towards the ladies’ toilets, hands clenched into fists, too angry for much more articulate thought than fuck Abhay. It was all she could do back there to keep her voice civil and she’d only done so for Armaan, who’d seemed as furious with his boss as she’d been. Abhay had manipulated her past for his own benefit.
‘Use me. Test me. Bring up my dirty little secrets like that. Fuck you Abhay.’

‘Ridzi, wait up.’

It was Atul. Riddhima had to force herself to stop, draw a breath so that she wouldn’t be sharp with her brother-in-law. Atul put and arm around Riddhima’s shoulders. ‘Tum theek ho?’

She leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’

‘Ridzi ek baat kahoon, I know that whatever happened in that office, shouldn’t have, but acha hua key yeh hua.’ Riddhima looked up at him in surprise. ‘Armaan wanted to do smack Abhay, he was also angry with him. It shows that he acres for you.’

Riddhima closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. ‘Atul please ...’

‘Nahi, Ridzi.’ He interrupted her. ‘I saw the way he looked at you when he entered the room.’

Nikki’s words came to her mind. ‘How did he look at me?’

‘Like you were all that mattered. If he’d sprung to your defence, he would have been off the case. I’m glad he didn’t defend you. You need him Ridzi. And he’s coming down the hall.’

‘Tum jao, I’ll be fine.’

‘You call me if you need me.’ He turned them both around so that they could watch Armaan and Nikki approach and gave a low hum of approval. ‘Waise Ridzi, agar main ladki hota toh, I’d go for Armaan any day. The man is hot.’ Atul said half-teasingly.

Riddhima couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Shut up Atul.’

Armaan was indeed hot. Showered and clean-shaven, he could easily have graced the cover if a magazine. There was something about him and every bit of it was masculine. Then again, her first fiancée had been the same. ‘And look how that ended up.’ She thought.
‘You might want to try breathing,’ Atul whispered. ‘Now I’ve got to go. Call me.’ He shook Armaan’s hand as he passed him.

When Armaan was two steps from Riddhima, he shoved his hands in his pockets. His gaze was intense and he leaned forward slightly, as if he’d have his hands on her if he could. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said simply. ‘That shouldn’t have happened.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Riddhima said. ‘Did you pass your test?’

‘Barely. Nikki’s the star pupil, but I still need to learn. Are you ready to go? We need to get to the ex-wife first, so we can get over the Bay Bridge to the Kervicks.’

‘You’re going home.’ Riddhima thought to herself. She now wished, she hadn’t asked to go. But she owed the Kervick’s a lot. Their son was dead. They’d need support, someone they could lean on.

‘I need to get the bag I packed when I went back to my apartment.’

‘I’ll meet you at the ex-wife Mrs Kervick’s house,’ Nikki said. ‘I need to check on Ria. We are sorry Ridz.’

‘It’s okay.’ Riddhima studied their faces. ‘You haven’t asked me what really happened.’

‘Because it’s your business,’ Armaan said. ‘You’ve had enough for one day.’

‘And it ain’t over yet,’ Nikki added. ‘I’ll meet you there, Armaan.’ With a wave she was gone, leaving Riddhima alone with Armaan Malik for the very first time ...  


Thank you for all the previous comments, I don't have any time to reply to them individually at the moment, I have a lot of school work to do and I am also trying to squeeze another update for tomorrow. So keep reading! Keep liking! And keep commenting!

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