Page 163 of Carnal Games

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply. “Thanks for asking.”

“Okay then. First things first.” She pushes her glasses up her nose and slides a piece of paper my way. “Here’s your written offer letter, conditional upon you solving the case.”

I inspect the letter, signed below by the editor in chief. The terms and conditions are clear and straightforward. “I appreciate this.”

“Good.” Steepling her slim hands, she leans forward. “I would also like to apologize for not providing you withprotection, causing the violent attack on you. Frankly, we didn’t suspect it to be as deep and dangerous as it turned out to be.”

“How deep are we talking?”

“Human trafficking.”

A chill runs down my spine. “Are you sure?”

“My source at the station has revealed that an employee is targeting vulnerable women at Kinetic Securities. Girls who have no family to speak of. They are being sold to illegal fertility centers overseas and being pumped full of hormonal drugs. He can lead us to the head if we can catch the recruiter.”

I can’t comprehend what she is saying.

The stakes just got higher. Every second we don’t identify this person, the more the female employees are at risk.

“You must be extra careful and lay low while keeping your eyes and ears sharp. Let them think you heeded their threat while also documenting every conversation. Don’t trust anyone.” Opening her drawer, she pulls out two packets with tiny black devices. “This is a camera and a microphone. These are untraceable and can go undetected through security checks. To be on the safer side, I’d suggest hiding them inside your desk.”

Gingerly grabbing the items, I put them in my purse. Harshita continues hurtling more information. “Your boss, Kian Singhania, will be investigating your attack. I wouldn’t put it past him to have a private detective of his own working as a spy in the company. If they catch wind of you snooping around, he will use his connection again to shut down the case. Under no circumstances can you tell him about this.”

I’m stuck on the part of him burying the case. “He had it closed before?”

“Yes. He refused to cooperate and used his connections with the commissioner to do it. Hence, the secret investigation.” Hardening her gaze, she says, “Your brother-in-law is a veryinfluential man with powerful people in his pockets. No way a racket is being run without his knowledge.”

“I don’t think he’s involved.”

Or is he? Does he have an ulterior motive putting Seth as my security detail?

I shove the absurd thought away. I cannot let Harshita get inside my head.

“Even so, he would want to handle the person himself,” she says, slow and deliberate. “We cannot let it happen, otherwise, we’ll never find those missing girls.”

A thudding noise pierces my chest at keeping yet another secret from Kian. I will be betraying him in the worst and most reprehensible way.

“Do I face any legal charges if something goes awry?”

Harshita eyes me suspiciously, like she can hear my treacherous thoughts. “Any hindrance to the investigation could result in you or us being prosecuted. Undercover journalism faces its ethical dilemmas. That’s why you are only to observe and document.”

“So, I shouldn’t interact with Mahesh or ask around?”

“No. It will raise suspicion.”

“Then who?” I ask, frowning. “What’s the use of having the hidden camera?”

“We want you to record every interaction with Kian. Everyone that comes in and out of his office. People he trusts in his circle. Use the excuse of your assault to see what he spills. It’ll give us a clue of his culpability.”

Oh fuck! He’s their prime suspect.

***

My nerves frayed, I don’t call Kian to pick me up as I leave the building around seven in the evening.

I hail a cab instead.

Sliding inside it, I slump against the back seat and ponder a solution regarding the new complication in my life. I’m being pulled in two directions and both have severe repercussions if I lean either way.