The Deadly Diamond (part 3): detective Byomkesh Bakshi stories

The Maharaja broke his silence and said, "I have told you whatever I know. I

want you to work together with the police to solve this case. I feel that this cruel

murderer should not be allowed to roam freely in society — it is everyone's

moral duty to catch him. I hope you don't mind taking up this case."

Byomkesh said, "I have no quarrel with the police — we will surely work

together. Can you tell me the duration of Haripada's last term in jail?"

Maharaja said, "Haripada had told me that his last term was of fourteen years

but because of his good behaviour, he was released after eleven years."

Byomkesh said happily, "Can you tell me anything else about Haripada?"

Maharaja said, "What exactly do you want to know?"

Byomkesh said, "Did you notice anything unnatural in his behaviour a few

days before his death?"

                                    

The Maharaja said, "Yes, three or four days before his death, Haripada was

doing his work near me one morning, when he became very ill. Looking at him I

felt that he was terrified for some reason."

"Was there no one near you at that time?"

The Maharaj thought for some time and said, "I was going through the

applications of some people who were asking for alms. One petitioner was

present there."

"Haripada took ill in front of that man — did he?"

"Yes."

After a minute of silence Byomkesh asked, "Can you think of anything else?"

Maharaja thought for some time and said, "I remembered a small incident. I

don't know if you remember that a few years back a blue diamond had been

stolen from my house."

"Yes, I do remember."

"You must be knowing then that I had announced a reward for its return."

"I know that too, but I don't know if the reward still stands."

The Maharaja said, "This is the question Haripada asked me when he first

took the job of a typist. I was surprised because I had given up all hope of even

getting back the diamond."

"What answer did you give to Haripada?"

"I said that I will certainly give the reward if I get back the blue diamond."

yomkesh sprang up, "If I ask you the same question — will your answer be

the same too?"

The Maharaja looked surprised, "Yes, of course — but—"

Byomkesh sat down again, — "Do you want to know the name of Haripada's

murderer?"

The Maharaja was stunned, he said, "I can't understand anything. Do you

know the name of Haripada's murderer?"

"I know the name but it is not my job to gather evidence against him — that is

the job of the police. I will only tell you his name — then the police can search

his house and find the proof. I don't think that will be difficult."

"This seems like magic, do you really know the name of the culprit?" the

Maharaja asked, overwhelmed.

"Right now I am just assuming — but I know that my assumption will not be

wrong — the name of the murderer is Ramanath Neogi."

"Ramanath Neogi? — the name sounds familiar."

"Of course it will sound familiar. Ten years back, he had stolen your diamond

— he has just come out of jail."

"Yes, I remember, but why did he kill Haripada? — What was the relation

between the two?"

"There is a relation between them — if I go through old documents in the

prison, it will become clear. But it is now nearly eleven, I won't detain you here

any more. If you please come back here at four in the afternoon, everything will

become clear to you. May be you will also get back your diamond — I will see

to everything."

After bidding good-bye to the stunned Maharaja — Byomkesh started getting

ready to go out.

I asked, "Where are you going out so late in the day?"

He said, "I will have to go through some old papers in the jail office. Besides I

have other things to do. I don't know when I will return. If I get time I will have

lunch in some hotel." Saying this, he went out with his raincoat and umbrella in

the pouring rain.

He returned at about three in the afternoon. While opening his shoes he said,

"I am very hungry — I haven't eaten anything. I will have a quick bath. Putiram,

please prepare something for me. At four, the matinee show will begin."

Surprised, I said, "What show? Where?"

Byomkesh said, "Don't worry. The show will be held here in this room. Ajit,

please place a few more chairs for the spectators." He went in to bathe.

While he was eating, I asked, "What did you do the whole day long?"

Byomkesh put a large chunk of omlette in his mouth. Chewing with great

relish, he said, "I have a friend in the jail department, I went to him first. There I

went through the old records and found that my assumption is correct."

"What was your assumption?"

Byomkesh ignored my question and continued speaking, "After finishing my

work there I went to Buddhu babu — sorry — Bidhu babu the police inspector.

The area in which Haripada was murdered falls under his jurisdiction. The police

officer in-charge of the murder is Purna babu. I explained everything to Purna

babu. Then I buttered Bidhu babu sufficiently to get my work done."

"But, what work?" I asked desperately.

"The work is to find Ramanath Neogi's present address, secondly, to arrest

him and search his house. It was easy to find his address but the search was

fruitless. The only thing discovered in his room was a huge, sharp knife. It has

been sent for forensic test to find traces of human blood. But what I hoped to

find was not there. The man's gift for concealing things is just amazing."

"What thing?"

"The Maharaja's diamond."

"Now what will you do?"

"Some acting. I will strike at the root of the superstitious fear in Ramanath —

lets see if I get any result. There! The Maharaja has arrived. The others will soon

arrive too."

"Who are the others?"

"Ramanath and his custodians."

"They will come here?"

"Yes, that's the arrangement I made with Bidhu babu. Putiram, remove these

dishes."

I did not get a chance to ask any more questions. The Maharaja entered the

room as the clock struck four. He was punctual, just as expected from a person

of his stature.

As soon as he sat down we heard the footsteps of others. Soon, Bidhu babu,

Purna babu, two sub-inspectors and Ramanath entered the room.

There was nothing unusual about Ramanath. Probably his non-descript

appearance was a good foil for his profession. He had closely cropped hair, a

narrow forehead, a sharp chin and shifty eyes. He wore a very old multicoloured,

leather buttoned sporting coat (made probably before he went to the

jail). He wore a pair of unexpectedly large rubber boots. He looked a comic

sight. Never would one imagine that he was a dangerous man.

Byomkesh pointed towards Ramanath and asked the Maharaja, "Do you

recognize him?"

"Yes, he was the one who came for alms, that day."

"Now, all of you please take your seats. Bidhu babu, you know the Maharaja

— please sit next to him. Ramanath, please sit here." Byomkesh pointed to a

chair next to the table. Ramanath sat down without a word. The two subinspectors

sat by his sides. Bidhu babu glared at everything with a superior air of

gravity. He could not accept the fact that something unofficial was about to

happen in his presence. His expression and behaviour showed that he was very

uneasy and indignant about the whole thing.