Freaky Fregoli- a crime thriller!

A Rainy night: Chennai.

She was watching “Due Date” movie. She was laughing at times. She was alone at the home as her parents went to Tirupati. Maya loved being lonely but her loneliness was soon vanished when someone knocked at the door. She rose and went to the door. She opened the door and saw a man full wet. He was wearing a hat, a rain coat and also wore black gloves.

“Yes,” Maya asked. He pushed her inside and he came inside and locked the door.

“What are you doing? Who are you?”  Maya started to panic. The man pushed and stacked her against the wall. He covered her mouth with his hand and said, “SHHH... Don’t shout. Remember me?” he said and removed his hat. Through the dim TV’s light Maya looked at his face. She was astonished.

“Yes, I am here to save myself before you kill me.” He said and took his hand towards Maya’s breast. He gave Maya pain. Maya was scared, she tried to move but the man was so powerful. She bit his hand. “AHH..” the man shouted. Maya ran towards the door but the man pulled her and she fell on the floor. The man started to unbutton. He removed his pant, then shirt and later stood naked before her. Maya shouted for help but it was too late. She was hit on her head by a flower vase and she became unconscious. The man raped her twice that night. When he was done he rose and got dressed. He went inside the kitchen and came with kerosene. He poured it all on her. She opened her eyes and saw herself naked.

“You deserve this Priya!” he said and burned her alive. She rolled on the floor with blaze all over her. She cried “VIGNESH” but it was too late the man was out of the home. Her shout was so loud that her neighbors came. The next day Police was there but poor people, the man left no clue!

Police Headquarters Chennai,

It was not just another meeting! It was a meeting to solve not just another police case. It’s firmly believed that a psycho definitely male, has just entered the city and by now has brutally raped and killed three innocent girls leaving behind no clues. And that’s what making the department crazy.

“Yesterday, Ex-Minister R. Ramalingam’s daughter was killed the same way like the other two. What are we doing?” DIG asked his fellow colleagues. There were no answers as usual.

“Satya, you want to add something?” The DIG asked Satyaprakash, the Commissioner of Police.

“Ah.. Sir, we are trying to find a link between these killings, once we get that we will proceed.”  He answered.

“How LAME!” DIG said, “You know what? you guys are good for nothing, I am going to put another officer in charge of this, Mr. Arabindo Banarjee or AB.”

“Who’s AB?” Inspector Vinay, who just got posted to Chennai city asked his friend, inspector Arjun.

“You don’t know AB? He is one of the best you would have ever met. He is not corrupted hence is still Asst. Commissioner though he has crossed 45. He is very strict, bad and abusive but if you are with him you learn so much. I did a case with him in Madurai.” Arjun whispered.

“So do you think he can solve this?” Vinay asked.

“Well, not just think, I am damn sure this case would be busted and you know one thing. He has a pet name in department, Sherlock Holmes!”

Coimbatore City:

AB was a six foot 3 inches and a great build up physique man. He was bald and his red eyes would terrorize everybody. He had a bad habit, he loves pan masala, and hence he would chew it 24x7. He was called by the some city MLA, that day.

“Look here AB, release my men.” MLA said.

“No!” AB was straight forward. He looked straight into his MLA’s eyes.

“Bastard, you want suspension?” MLA was getting irritated by AB’s behavior.

“Well, I know you would get me easy suspension so add this also,” AB said and spilt his pan oh MLA’s face and said wiping the saliva from his side of mouth “I am damn sure that you won’t say this outside because its matter of your prestige. So mind your business and I would mind mine. Okay?”

MLA was in a shock. His eyes were wide open. He just nodded whatever AB said. AB smiled and came out of the room and then his mobile rang.

“Which moron is calling me when I am in duty?” AB’s arrogance was his symbol.

“AB, it’s me DIG Shankar.”  The voice on the other end said.

“Oh… yeah.. Why did you call…. Sir?”

“WE need you here, boss!”

“Three girls murdered and police couldn’t pluck anything! Right?” AB asked. AB was up to date of everything that is happening around the world. DIG laughed at his statement and said, “Come fast! I have sent a fax for requesting your presence in Chennai to the headquarters.”

“And what about the flight ticket?” AB asked getting into his car.

“You got a business class ticket waiting for you. Just come fast!”

Chennai:  Evening 6: 30 pm, DIG’s office.

“Sit AB.”  DIG said. There were three people more other than AB and DIG. Inspector Arjun, Inspector Vinay and Sub- Inspector Divyadarshini were selected for AB’s team.  “AB, meet these people. You know Arjun, I guess and the other is Vinay and that’s Divya. They will assist you.”  DIG said.

“I don’t need any morons. I have my brain to assist me.”  AB said and all three faces changed.

“Look, we have an efficient police officer called AB and we need him to teach other policemen all those tactics of solving a crucial case.”  DIG said, “So I plead you take these people with you. Let them learn something!” AB turned and looked at them. He analyzed. All of them stood straight- attention, as if they are going to march.

“So you guys are ready to die?”

“WHAT?”  Vinay said.

“We are going to find a murderer outside but in police department, I am the murderer and I am the judge. So you will die and no one is there to punish me. Understood?” AB said.

“YES SIR!!” all of them shouted.

“Fine, first lesson, Vinay go and start the jeep.” AB said and Vinay was surprised. “Arjun, get me my gun,” AB ordered and Arjun said, “Yes sir,”

“…and what is your name?” AB asked Divya.

“Divya sir,”

“You too go and sit in the jeep. Let’s see the crime scene.”

Maya’s Residence (OR Ex- Minister’s home):

AB, Vinay, Arjun and Divya went inside. There was an outline sketch of a body which lay there days before. AB saw it. The carpet was burned.

“Details, Arjun.” AB said. “Sir… the girl who was killed was burned and she was naked and was raped. She screamed but before the neighbors came there was no one here. This is the third girl in this city who is been killed in same manner.”

“Aren’t there any servants here?”

“They all leave by 9 pm. She was burned around 11:30 or so!” Arjun said. AB turned around and looked at the big house. He looked at Divya and asked, “Divya, you know to make tea?”

“Yes sir!”

“Make us Tea. Go to your left that’s kitchen I suppose.”  He said and Vinay looked at him in surprise.  “We are at a crime place sir, we can’t make tea here!” AB turned to him politely and walked towards him and said “Vinay, when you are with me, I am the boss. You are just a fucking inspector.” Vinay was hearing him with fear. “You know to make tea?” AB asked and Vinay said, “No sir.”

“Divya, today Vinay will make us the tea.  GO!” he ordered Vinay and Vinay ran into the kitchen.

“Any clues about this case, Divya?”  AB asked her.

“No sir! Only to leave no clue the culprit burned her alive. I hate such cases sir”

“I am already in love with this case.” He said and Vinay arrived with tea. AB sipped and spited it. “You call this tea?” He asked.

“I told you, I don’t know to make tea!”  Vinay said worried.

“Your second lesson: Learn to make tea. From now you will make me tea! Understood?” AB said and Vinay nodded.

“You guys also have some homework. I want each and every detail of these killed girls. Details like, where they sleep during nights, which college they went, where they worked, their friends, their family, every bloody thing. There got to be some link between these cases.” AB said.

“YES sir,” they said in chorus.

“And you Vinay, tomorrow morning come with a flask of tea.” AB said and except Vinay rest giggled.

Police headquarters: AB’s office.

“Morning sir,” Arjun came with a file.

“I want to hear good news, if it’s bad, then I don’t want to listen.”  AB said without even looking up.

“Sir, there is a link!” Arjun said and AB raised his head. “Enlighten me.” He said.

“Sir, first kill, in Saidapet. Name of the person killed: Roshini, 25 years old. She worked as Asst. HR at Wipro, Chennai. Second kill at Alwarpet, name:  Vidya, Age 24 and she worked as Marketing Manager at Peter England, Chennai and third Kill: Maya was a Senior Customer relation officer at Essar.  All MBA graduates and the link between them are…” Arjun was interrupted by AB, “Let me say,” AB closed his eye and said, “A CAT or XAT training institution or a college?”

Arjun was stunned. He stammered for a moment and said “Yes... yes sir, ECC… that is Excellence Coaching Centre, Adyar, a CAT-XAT coaching institution.”  AB smiled at him and said, “Call the other two morons.”

Excellence Coaching Centre, Adyar:

They were at the coaching centre. There were five classrooms out of which three were occupied. There sat a female receptionist.  All four of them went inside; AB went and sat straight facing the receptionist and started playing with paper weight.

“May I help you sir,” Receptionist asked.

“I want to meet the person who is in charge of this place.” AB said still playing with the paper weight.

“May I know who are you?” She asked.

“We are from police department. “ Divya said. The receptionist stood and flew to call the person who was in charge. A fat, bald man came and gave his hand to AB for a shake.  “I am Ramlingam, in charge of this centre.”  AB looked at him and said, “I want to meet all your staff members.” In few minutes the staff meeting was set.

“Listen carefully; you would have reading in the newspaper about the case of girls been killed. We are here to ask some details.  You know that all three girls who were killed studied here in this institution. We want to know more about these girls. Did they have any love affair, how were there behavior etc… first let us start with Roshini.”

“Roshini was a good girl, punctual, very bright and was very happy here.” A lady staff said. She said her name is Rajeswari. She was here from last five year.

“And Vidya!”

“She too was equal to Roshini, actually same batch. The difference was Roshini prepared for CAT and Vidya for XAT.” A male staff said. He was tall and was around his thirties.

“Hmmm… and Maya?”

“Well, Maya was our top student here, I think V.K Ratinam sir can tell about her more,” Said the fat, in charge of the centre. V.K Ratinam was a man in his late thirties. He was black and wore a spec.

“Ah.. Maya was good girl. She loves Math,” Ratinam said.

“Hmm.. was there any person who knew all three of these girls other than you guys?” AB asked.

“Actually, if you don’t mind sir, can we talk alone? I have something to add to this matter.”  Ratinam said. AB nodded and they two went into one empty classroom.

“Sir, these three girls studied here and there was a staff called Vignesh or people call him Vicky. He took quantitative aspect. Very intelligent but suddenly his behavior was strange. He abused girls like anything. He only talked to me and later when he started behaving like almost mad man. Then I asked him to quit the job and gave him one of my friend’s, a psychiatrist’s contact.”  Ratinam said

“Can I know where he stays?” AB asked.

“Well, wait!” Ratinam said and went a reception and came with a register.  “Here,” he said and showed him Vicky’s address. AB noted it down and said, “Thank you sir, it really one valid point.” AB rose to move.

“Sir… one small request, please don’t hurt him. He is very innocent.” Ratinam took care and said.

“Don’t worry. We know how to handle this.”  AB said and for the first time he smiled. They reached their car and Vinay opened the door for AB and asked, “What did he say sir?”

“Who? Ratinam? He is a great man. We have our culprit in Nungambakam.”  AB said. “Arjun drive to Praveen Mansion, Nungambakam.”

Praveen Mansion, Nungambakam.

 The mansion was a three storey building painted brown and cream. AB and his team went to the reception.  “We want to meet Vignesh.” Vinay said.

“Who are you?” the old man at the reception asked.

“We are his friends.”  Vinay said.

“There are five Vignesh living here. Which one do you want?” Old man replied.

“The one who worked for ECC… er… that is coaching teacher at Adyar.” Divya said.

“Ah.. go straight… Room no. 9.” Old man said. Hey went and stood near and saw a small lock hanging. “Small lock, pull it and break in.” AB murmured. Vinay took the lock in hand and pulled it so hard that the lock broke. They were inside the room. The room was a serious mess. Clothes lying all the way and to their great surprise they found syringes, bottles and so many cigarettes half smoked.  Arjun took one bottle and said, “This man is playing with drugs I guess.”  They searched the whole room, nothing they found. They went out and AB planned his next move. “To ECC again.” He said.

ECC:

“Mr. Ratinam, I need to talk to you.” AB said interrupting his class.

“Yes sir,” Ratinam said and came out. AB looked at him and said, “I am sorry I disturbed your class but I need information.”

“Anything  sir…” Ratinam said rubbing his temple.

“You said that you advised Vicky to meet one of your doctor friend, may I know which doctor?”

“Sure, Dr. Mahesh Kumar,  Apollo Hospital.”

“Thank you.”

Apollo hospital:

Dr. Mahesh was as old as Ratinam. He was fair, handsome and talked very precisely. In his room AB, Arjun, Vinay and Divya were present to know more about Vicky.

“Vicky?” Dr. Mahesh asked. AB nodded. “Well, I remember him coming to my place. He was not sure what was happening to him. He feared something but he did not tell me.” Doctor added.

“We learned that he abused many students of that centre.” Divya asked.

“Oh.. that was because he used to take drugs. His temper was uncontrollable. He even tried killing for drugs.” Doctor said.

“Bingo. We found the killer sir!” Vinay said as he was happy of things coming to an end.

“Killer? Who… Vicky?” Doctor asked and started to laugh. He stopped laughing and said, “Vicky cannot kill anyone. How was the killing done by the way?”

“The girls were burnt alive.” AB said and for a moment doctor stopped and thought something. He then raised and said, “Come with me.”  Doctor took them to patient ward and showed him a person was sleeping on bed. The doctor asked two male nurses to come and hold him tight. The person woke up.

“You have match sticks or lighter?” Doctor asked.

“Yes..” Arjun said and gave him a lighter.  The doctor lit it and the person started shouting… “AH… NOOO….. STOPPPP….”  He was screaming and was restless.  “Give him a dose.” Doctor said and a nurse injected something.

“Come with me.” Doctor said and all started walking. “What you saw was a mental problem.. a phobia. That man fears fire.”

“So?” AB asked.

“That man is Vicky!”

Shock was the perfect word for Vinay, Divya and Arjun but irritation was the word for AB. He hoped that Vicky should be the killer because that would have eased the case but when he discovered that Vicky is a mental patient and fears fire, he was irritated to the core.

“Then who?” Divya murmured.

“Arjun, where is the file which had all details of the victims?” AB asked.

“On your office table sir.”

AB’s office: Mid-night

They were looking at all details again and again but they had no clue to move forward. They were worried of loosing this case.  When they were searching for more details a phone call came. AB attended it.

“Hello..” He said and listened the voice other side. After a moment he raised his voice and said to Vinay “Come, get in the car!”

“Why sir?” Vinay asked. They were in car. It was a phone call from the department which reported that a girl has just been hospitalized. Her body has 90% burns. But the more important thing was she is alive and has seen the murderer.

They reached hospital and were led to ICU. The girl’s face was not clear. Nobody wanted to see her in that condition. Her parents were weeping outside. AB reached and enquired. She was Joshna, 25 years old worked at TATA Consultancy and more importantly, she was an ECC student. AB went near her. She was gasping for air. Doctor stood near them. AB asked “How is she?”

“I am afraid we can’t save her. She is in severe pain now.” Doctor said.

“What happened?” AB asked her. She was struggling to talk but with all her power she uttered some word. “He… said… I….am his Priya. He said, ‘Priya.. come out of Joshna… Stop changing appearance ”

“Who is he…” AB asked but there was no reply from her. Her eyes were wide open, looking above. All answers of AB’s questions were answered by the machine, which showed a single straight line with a long beep. Joshna’s journey saw an end.

“What do we have, sir?” Arjun asked way back to AB’s office.

“She said that the man said Priya come out of Joshna ad stop changing appearance. What would that mean?” AB thought.

“I thing its case of a mental illness sir, may be Dr. Mahesh can answer.” Divya added.

“But before that I want to see the ECC student register.” AB said. Next morning they had the student register. Every student had a roll number. The murdered people’s roll number were

656013: Roshini Balakumaran,

656021: Vidya Ganeshan,

656034: Maya Ramalingam.

656055: Joshna Mathews

 AB studied it for a moment and circled the last two numbers of the roll number. That is, he circled 13, 21, 34 and 55. He called everyone and showed them these numbers.

“Did you get something?” Asked AB.

“Ah.. Numbers?” Vinay said.

“What numbers?”

“Just numbers?” Vinay replied. AB slapped him and asked “You came into Police in merit or bribed someone?” Vinay stood there silent.

“It’s numbers from Fibonacci series sir.” Divya answered.

“Yes, its Fibonacci series.” AB said. In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci series or Fibonacci sequence are the numbers in the following integer sequence like 0,1,1,2,3,5,13,21,34,55,89,144 and so on. By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0 and 1, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. That is when you add 0+1=1+1=2+1=3+2=5 and so on.

“So if I am not wrong, his list covers

656089: Vinod Pavan

656144: Mamta

656233: Meenakshi, as the killer is focusing on only females the male from this list is to be omitted. Mamta would be his next target.” AB explained

“When will he kill?” Asked Vinay.

“It depends on him. I want you guys to get our men in their house as relatives, servants etc etc. Understand!” AB said and all nodded. “We can’t leave him like that!”

Next evening Apollo Hospital:

“Hello Mr. AB, how are you?” Dr. Mahesh asked.

“Sir, need your help.” AB was straight to the matter.

“Tell me.”

“We strongly believe that the killer has some mental illness. The last girl told us that he behaved abnormally and said that she is his Priya and wanted Priya to come out of her. He asked her about why Priya is changing appearances. What can it be?” AB asked.

“Fregoli Syndrome!” the Doctor replied.

“FREEE… what?” Vinay asked.

“Fregoli Syndrome. It’s one rare and interesting disease. In this problem, a patient thinks that a person by changing appearances is coming to harm him. For example if your friend Vinay has Fregoli syndrome and he thinks Arjun is going to harm him then whomever Vinay meets he would think that its Arjun who is changing appearances and coming to harm him. You know why this mental illness is called Fregoli syndrome? Because Fregoli is name of one stage performer who was known for his fast changing of appearances during his stage shows. I am sure this guy has that problem.” Doctor explained. AB was surprised to know this.

“Then why is he killing people?” Arjun asked.

“I am afraid that answer lies with him.” Doctor said but by then someone opened the door saying, “I can answer that.” It was Vicky who was seen at the hospital the previous day.

“Vicky?” Everyone said in chorus.

“Tell me what you know.” AB said.

“I want to tell you guys a story. There was a man called Vicky who took classes in ECC five years before. By mistake he was in love with a girl called Priya who was a student there. They were so much in love that they didn’t see Vicky’s best friend being jealous of their love. The friend hated when Vicky and Priya talked. One day when Vicky… Vi… and Priya were making… love … in their apartment, Vicky’s friend came shouting inside. He was angry on them. He loved Priya so much. And that love changed into hate and he poured kerosene all over them. He lit a match stick and threw on them. Poor Vicky managed to run but Priya was burning… burning there… she screamed for help and Vicky, he was standing there helpless. When Priya was burning she screamed that she will take revenge… that were just words of her pain but his friend took that seriously. Vicky was in a mental shock after that. He still fears fire. And when Vicky recovered he was injected drugs by his friend. He made Vicky to beg for more but now Vicky is almost cured and wants revenge.” Vicky said and started crying.

“WHO WAS IT?” AB asked.

“K.V.Ratinam, or Vignesh Karthik Ratinam. He is also known as Vicky.” There was a silence in the room. V.K Ratinam was the one who gave Vicky’s contact. Ratinam thought that Police will mistake Vicky as the murderer as he would be in his mansion but Ratinam did mistake over there. He didn’t know that Vicky took doctor’s advice and was treated for his problem over there.

“Why he is following a pattern?” Arjun asked.

“Priya loved Fibonacci number.  He knew it. She always talked with me about Fibonacci number and its relations.” Vicky said weeping.

“Ratinam thought Priya would come back and harm him and when he saw the register of roll number falling in Fibonacci series he thought all those who are in that roll number are Priya. Hence he killed those before Priya killed him. But doctor can he kill a male?” AB Asked.

“Of course, Fregoli syndrome says that irrespective to the gender the patient thinks it’s the same person who wants to harm him. So whether it’s a male or female, he will kill anyone.”

“OH SHIT!” AB said and in a reflex all police mind echoed a name of the male who was omitted from the list “VInod”.

Before they could reach Vinod’s house it was too late. He too was burned alive. AB was irritated now and was very adamant in finding Ratinam.

“Sir, we will go and arrest him now.” Arjun said.

“No..i want to arrest him red handed.” AB said and started plotting his next move.  “Divya, you have to be in Mamta’s home as Mamta. If doctor is right then he has to mistake you as Mamta. We would be hiding in her home. Let’s trap this murderer.” AB said and took his phone out and called Ratinam.

“Hello,” AB said.

“Hello, who is this?”  Ratinam asked.

“AB here, I want to tell you that you were right. Vicky killed those girls. So case ends here thanks.” AB said.

“Welcome sir. Please don’t harm him. He was into drugs that’s why he killed.” Ratinam said.

“Ya, thank you again. Meet you soon.” AB said and hung up.

Next one week there was no one who knocked Mamta’s door but that night someone knocked the door. Mamta and family were sent to their native place and instead of that AB and team lived there.

“Open the door” AB ordered Divya. AB went upstairs and hid himself. Divya opened the door and saw Ratinam standing there.

“You…” Ratinam was in surprise to see another appearance standing before him but Divya was intelligent and handled the situation. “Ah... ya… it’s me… Priya...  Am here to take revenge.. I won’t leave you alone.” Divya said.

“No.. I will kill you first…” Ratinam said and grabbed her neck; Divya took a gun from her back and pointed it over Ratinam’s head.

“What?” Ratinam asked releasing his hold from her neck.

“Welcome Ratinam.” AB said coming down. With AB came, Arjun, Vinay and a special guest Vicky.

“Vicky?” Ratinam was astonished to see his best friend.

“Why did you kill her?” Vicky asked.

“Arjun tie that bastard.” AB said and Arjun and Vinay tied him to a chair.

“Now Ratinam as your game is over I want Vicky and you to talk alone for a second.” AB said and gave Vicky a gun and said to him, “Vicky, it’s time to overcome your fear of fire either you burn him or shoot him.” AB said and Vinay poured kerosene over Ratinam.

“No I can’t burn him.” Vicky said crying.

“For Priya.”  AB said. Vicky threw the gun and took match box from Vinay. 

“Ratinam, before you die you have to know a truth. You have a serious disease called Fregoli syndrome.  You loved one girl but killed many. According to the law you have to be treated for your illness but what would I answer innocent souls of those whom you killed. What would Vicky answer to Priya? I am sorry you deserve this!”  AB said and came out of the house. Vicky lit up a match stick. His hands were shivering .

“You cant do this Vicky! I am your close friend.” Ratinam said.

“For Priya!” Vicky said. He looked the other side and threw it on Ratinam. Vignesh Karthik Ratinam was burning. Vicky scremed seeing the fire before him. He saw the scene of Priya screaming for help.

AB pulled him out and said, “You did nothing wrong.”

“Sir, do you think we did right according to law?” Vinay asked.

“According to Indian Law it’s wrong but according to AB’s law its right.”