How To Hide A Crime

Dedicated to MeghanaUppalapati 💜
Thank you for being one of my first supporters ^-^

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"If we want to find the culprit, we will have to dig from the beginning." Priya suggests. 

"What do you mean?" 

"We have to start from where it began. That night is now the only thing we have. Let's make a list of things that happened that day." She explains. 

Vikram can feel a shiver going down his spine. He never really wanted to think about it again. It was his deepest secret, he wanted to keep it that way. But here he is. Now he doesn't have any other way than to recall that incident. Everything is still vivid in his eyes. It always feels suffocating whenever he thinks about it. Even right now, he feels drowsy. It doesn't help the matter that he hardly had any food in his system let alone sleep. 

"But how can it help? It was just us 4 that day and I trust each of you with my life." Vikram whispers, afraid of the fact that anyone might hear them even though they are in the comfort of his study. 

"I'm not saying it's any of us. But what if someone was present there without our Knowledge? I mean there had to be someone else. Otherwise how will someone else know about it?" 

Vikram nods his head in understanding though he doesn't like the idea. 

"Let's discuss who was present there before the incident happened. We can't leave anything or anyone out."

"In that case, we need to include those too who were present here after the incident. If they were here when it happened, they must have dropped by later to remove any trace after themselves. That's why we didn't know anything about them till now." Vikram adds to her suggestion. 

They take 2 days to come up with a list of people who are under their radar of suspicion. Luckily for them, the blackmailer hasn't contacted them after that disturbing call. But they can't stay in peace knowing that man can strike anytime. However, they are currently in Vikram's study to discuss it once again. 

"Here's the list." Vikram places it on his desk so that Priya can have a full view of it. 

Priya takes the list and starts to go through it. She nods her head in agreement as she sees the names written there. 

"That's our black list. We will start from here. I'm sure it will lead us to someone. Don't worry too much, Vikram." 

Vikram nods his head despite the fact that he knows it's not gonna be that easy. However, it's not in him to give up even before he tries to fight back. He has a feeling that even if they are successful in tracking the blackmailer down, he won't feel at peace because the guilt won't let him. 

Ever since that incident took place, he never shared his feelings with anyone. He always tries his best to keep it to himself. It seems impossible to keep it to himself now. He will break down soon if he doesn't share his burden. 

"I can't handle it anymore, Priya. The guilt is eating me up." 

"I know, Vikram. I'm as guilty as you, trust me. But you need to keep that in mind that you had no other choice. We had no other choice."