They moved closer like angry bulls in the arena, while I stood in the middle, unable to contain my surprise. Many of my fellow students stopped at the gates too staring at the scene in amusement.
“My daughter studies here.” I heard my Dad say in a voice unlike his own. The Inspector’s eyes shifted from him to me. Angry and malicious…I heard the voice shouting incoherently, as if the intensity of his fury was denying him accessing to rational thoughts. Why though? Why did he hate my Dad and me so much?
“What’s your name girl?” He snapped at me, nearly making me jump. For one moment, I couldn’t find my voice. Heck! I could hardly meet the slits of red, shooting poisonous hatred at my face.
“I asked you your name…”
“Amy…My name’s Amy…” I blurted out hurriedly.
“Amy?” The Inspector looked a little surprised himself. “Are you the girl who had been hanging around backstage before the murder?”
A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t like the way he was staring at me. Nor the pleasure in his voice.
“Yes.” I said quickly.
“What do you want Ram? Whatever it is...” My Dad held my hand and faced the Inspector. He looked angrier than I had ever seen him. “I advise that you leave Amy out of this.”
“But I can’t leave her out. Not when she’s the prime suspect…”
“Ram! Don’t you dare…”
The Inspector’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “I wouldn’t dream of using an innocent girl….I wouldn’t dream of framing her…”
“Ram!”
“Have you forgotten Clara, Tony? Give me one reason why I shouldn’t do it.”
It was hard to read the expression on my father’s face. The voice was eerily silent. As if whatever emotions he was feeling had been locked away a long time ago.
“Haven’t you punished me enough Ram? I am not the reason you lost her.”
To be continued...
ns 15.158.61.48da2
