Shadow Play by Rajorshi Chakraborti Read Free Book Online Page A

You’re right; I was waiting there, and for the very man that you disposed of. And suddenly you emerged in front of me and it was all over.’
    â€˜So you were going to kill him.’
    â€˜Ah, it doesn’t really matter now. Maybe I would have killed him. Maybe I was only there to talk to him. Maybe I was there to receive a delivery. It’s of little importance. Again, I admit at first I was very confused. I had never imagined he was dealing with someone else, or that he had such dangerous enemies. But you were not his enemy, were you, Mr Charles? Even now you don’t know who he was, or do you at least look at the papers after you’ve done it?’
    â€˜What if I say I knew him and had my reasons?’
    â€˜Yes, Mr Charles, him and all the others. They were archaeologists who once worked in Egypt where they uncovered an ancient pyramid in which your ancestors happened to be buried. They lived undercover for the rest of their lives becausethe tomb was cursed but you, the angry young prince who vowed revenge, are hunting them down one by one,’ he said very gravely, froze for a moment, and then burst out laughing. ‘Sorry, I’m so sorry, you must forgive me. That was the plot of a movie I saw last week.’
    â€˜Is your friend at that restaurant a part of your gang as well?’
    â€˜Who, Shamsul? You mean the manager. He is very young. He isn’t allowed to do anything yet; on a Saturday night he can barely manage the restaurant. But I am fond of him, you know. Between you and me, I have an eye on him as my son-in-law, though before that he has to grow up. Sometimes he sits in on meetings. But that day he had no idea who you were. No, Mr Charles, your identity is not for the Shamsuls of this world. You’re too rare and precious for that. Even these few guys who have been following you – they think you are some small-time debtor trying to slip away without paying. We want you just as you are; we don’t want anyone outside to know that we discovered you – even very few people among ourselves. But we could have learnt that from you. Your entire method consists of being unconnected, of no kind of link being possible, between motive and crime, or the murderer and his victim. You take it even further. You learn someone has seen you. How do you respond? You go for picnics. You walk around admiring houses. I don’t know how you manage. I would have been in Egypt by now.’ He chuckled before he continued, ‘You are a higher type, Mr Charles. You operate in complete freedom because you have found the secret of freedom. And that’s the way we want you.’
    â€˜So spell out what you want me for,’ I muttered sulkily but there was no abatement in his merriness.
    â€˜Right now for nothing, and perhaps nothing for months and months. I am happy to say we don’t have such requirements all that often. But when we do, when it’s essential, from now on you are our man.’ Saying which, he looked at his watch. ‘Look at the time, Mr Charles, I have to dash. The first customers come through the door at six-thirty and tonight we are fully booked. So I might have to give a hand with the waiting. Did I mention, by the way, that I own the place next to the one we met in?
    â€˜But listen, two things before I run. One, of course, you will be paid for every service: that we’ll discuss later. And two, you can return home now if you like or you are free to keep moving around London. But if you leave London, you’d better note down a number where you can reach us. Because we should know if you’ll be away, in case at that time we need you. So here’s a card of my restaurant. It has both my mobile number and my e-mail.’
    I didn’t get up to escort him out. But he turned at the door and continued, ‘Actually Mr Charles, why don’t you visit the restaurant anyway, just for a meal sometime? Weekday evenings are