The Deadly Diamond (part 2): detective Byomkesh Bakshi stories

 Byomkesh too smiled, "I can't believe my good fortune. But when the police

could not solve the murder of your secretary, I hoped that you might ask for my

help. But first, please take your seat."

The Maharaja sat on a chair and said slowly, "Yes, five or six days have

already passed.The police have been able to do nothing. So I thought I would

pay you a visit, hoping that you might be able to help. I had gradually become

very fond of Haripada — besides the way he died was terrible."

The Maharaja stopped awhile, "Of course, he was not a saint. But you must be

knowing that it is a fancy of mine to bring wayward people on the right path. If

you consider him from all angles — Haripada was not a bad person. He was very

good at his work. Moreover his heart was full of gratitude for me — I had

received proof of that too."

Byomkesh said, "Excuse me, I was not aware that Haripada was not a good

man. What evil deed was he involved in?"

The Maharaja said, "According to the man on the street, he was a hardened

criminal. He had been sent to jail several times. The last time he came out of

prison, he met me."

                                    

Byomkesh said, "Please start from the very beginning. I have read the news in

the papers but it is so inadequate that I could not come to any conclusion. Please

assume that I know nothing and relate every detail — that will help me to

understand the case."

The Maharaja said, "All right, I will do that." Then clearing his throat, he

began, "It was about six months back — about the middle of February that

Haripada first came to see me. He had come out of the jail the previous day, he

disclosed everything to me and concealed nothing. He told me that if I gave him

a chance to live an honest life he would never go back to his criminal ways.

"I felt sorry for him. He was below forty but already he had visited the jail

four times. The last time he had been caught on charges of theft and forgery. His

sentence was a long one. I found that he was sincerely repentant. I asked him

what he could do. He said that he did not have much chance to study because he

had been sent to jail several times after the age of nineteen. Even then he had

managed to learn shorthand and typing. He assured me that if I employed him,

he would serve me faithfully.

"My heart softened towards Haripada, the very first time that I saw him. For

some reason I cannot ignore the appeal of this type of people. So, although I did

not need a shorthand typist, I employed him. He rented a small house nearby, as

he had no relatives.

"Soon I noticed that the man was very efficient and intelligent. He did things

which he was not supposed to do, very perfectly. He did a lot of my work in

advance. Within two months, his services became indispensable to me — I

couldn't do without him.

"Just at that time, my old secretary Abinash babu died. I appointed Haripada

in his place. My employees were not happy about this appointment — but I did

not bother. I knew that Haripada was the most suitable man for the job.

"For the last four months Haripada had dispensed his duties of a secretary

very efficiently. Other employees complained about him, but I ignored them. It

is true that Haripada was a jailbird but I can assure you that at the end he was a

changed person. I think that poverty had turned him into a criminal and as soon

as he overcame that problem, he turned over a new leaf. In fact we should try to

reform criminals who have gone to the jails for similar reasons.

"Anyway, what happened last Tuesday was unthinkable. You must have read

about the incident in the newspapers. I got the news in the morning that

Haripada was murdered. I informed the police and went to his house myself. He

was lying on the floor of his bedroom — the whole room was bespattered with

blood. The murderer had cut his throat so mercilessly that even now I shiver to

think of it. His windpipe was torn to shreds. You could not have seen a murder

committed with such bestial violence."

Maharaja stopped for some time and shivered when he tried to recall that

moment.

Byomkesh asked, "Was there no other wound on his body?"

The Maharaja said, "Yes, he was stabbed to death. The doctor said that his

throat was cut after he was stabbed. So the murderer must have stabbed him

fatally and then cut his throat. How cruel it was! I can't imagine how human

beings behave like senseless animals."

Everyone was quiet for sometime. The Maharaja was probably thinking of

animals called human beings. Byomkesh was deep in thought, too.

Suddenly I noticed Byomkesh's half-closed eyes. I became excited at once.

That same expression — I had seen it often — there was no mistake! Byomkesh

had found a clue.