Inspector Narayan Apte was on his way home when he was informed of the case. The incessant rain had soaked his uniform and the call of duty didn’t please him one bit. And he would now miss his lunch and his afternoon nap.
He was informed that a young woman had been mauled to death by a pet dog. The owner of the dog had called the police and his statement had been recorded by Sub-Inspector Ananth Ghokale.
Inspector Apte was running on 54. He had a bulging belly, receding hairline and a handlebar moustache. In nearly 22 years of his service, he had never come across someone being mauled to death by a pet dog.
As Apte entered the station, he was greeted by Ghokale, who presented him with the gist of the case. Both of them stepped into a jeep and sped towards the guesthouse amidst peak hour traffic and heavy downpour.
By the time they had reached their destination, public, TV crews and journalists had gathered in large numbers. The medical examiner had completed his formalities. He said the dog had gone for the artery of the victim. The victim probably died of shock within 5-10 minutes due to excessive blood loss.
Ghokale screwed his face in disgust, as Apte looked closer at the victim’s face. The neck had almost been ripped apart, with part of the lower jaw and suspended near the chest. The victim had put up a good fight, considering the deep bite marks visible on her hands. The dog had been locked in the bedroom. Apte and Ghoklae waited until the crime scene technicians dusted the place.
The body was put on a stretcher and sent to the government hospital morgue for autopsy. When the crowd began surging towards the building, Ghokale lost his cool and yelled at them in chaste Marathi.
Meanwhile, I strangely felt a sense of relief. The deed had been done, and I thought my troubles had been over. But then things began to unravel…
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