The book “Murdrum 2” by Dr. Sohil Makwana is a crime thriller, and the probe that began in “Murdrum 1” continues in this book.
CBI inspector Komal Rathod applies several incredible, high-tech forensic investigation techniques, but still, she is unable to decode the mysterious Two Blue Dots – the hallmark signature of the killer. Scientists have launched DNA Phenotyping technology by which they can generate a digital face of anyone from one’s DNA. Will she be able to get the killer’s DNA for Phenotyping?
Will Komal understand the modus operandi? Will she be able to save the next victim? Read this book to find out.
Read an excerpt from the book below.
Forensic facial reconstruction focuses on achieving a similarity of the facial outlook of the deceased based on the underlying skull for the purpose of recognition and identification. And, to accomplish the same task, dexterous and charismatic facial reconstructor Puneet dusted the given skull, observed it, and took the measurement of its nose.
“Cake facial 26 July; Lioness Leo, and; Scribble lover —”
“Rohan!” Puneet shouted, rolling her big eyes upwards. She turned around, and said, “Stop stalking me over my Insta, and give me details about this skull.”
Rohan rose from the chair, and spoke while ambling toward her, “Age around 35; his height was approximately 5 feet 9 inches; jaw and nose showed typical west Indian characteristics.” He stopped in-front of her. Resting his left elbow over platform, he crossed his ankles, and whispered in her ears, “And yes, I also love scribble.”
Her eyes popped out in surprise. Her chiseled jaw dropped perceiving his courageous flirt. She grinned from ear to ear in disbelief. She turned to him, and asked, “Are you hitting on me?”
“No,” Rohan threw a fake smile, and assured her, “Not at all.”
“You are.”
“Did you feel so?”
“Yep,” Puneet bobbed her face.
“Sorry.”
“It’s OK. I find you very cute,” she said gazing into his eyes, and found them twinkling. She asked, “OK, tell me, Rohan. What do I touch the first thing every morning after opening my eyes?”
“Every morning?”
“Yeah.”
“OK. Let me guess,” Rohan rolled his eyes upwards, and answered, “Your mobile?”
Puneet grinned like a Cheshire Cat. “Nope,” she shook her head, and raised the handheld skull to her gleaming eyes.
“A toothbrush,” Rohan gave the final answer confidently.
“Nope,” Puneet ran her manicured hand through her smooth hair, and revealed, “OK. Let me give you a hint.”
“OK.”
“I’m a married woman.”
“You must be touching your husband’s —” a sudden coldness hit his core. Rohan stood rooted to the spot.
But, the next second, an alarm bleeped. “DNA EXTRACTION FINISHED.” Completing the process, automated DNA sequencer GENECARE® announced the result in a female robotic voice. “I REPEAT, DNA EXTRACTION FINISHED.” With a grinding sound, the printer awakened, and ejected two Electropherograms. Startled, Rohan rushed to the printer and read the Electropherograms.
“Ha-Ha! I told her.”
“What?” Puneet asked curiously.
“That the solo skull belongs to a female and the entire skeleton is of a male. DNA revealed the same.”
“DNA EXTRACTED.” GENECARE® announced further in a female robotic voice. “TREPONEMAL DNA FOUND IN SAMPLE OF SOLO SKULL. I REPEAT TREPONEMAL DNA FOUND IN SAMPLE OF SOLO SKULL.” And, with a rumble, the printer ejected one more Electropherogram.
“Treponemal DNA?” Rohan frowned.
“Treponema is a type of bacteria,” said Puneet. She added, “Presence of treponemal bacteria in the skull indicates that she was suffering from treponemal bacterial disease.”
“Yeah. Likely to be a Syphilis,” Rohan scratched his chin.
“Syphilis?” Puneet fawned. She added, “But, Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. Like HIV.”
“Yeah. She might be a prostitute.”
“Come on, don’t be judgemental. Who knew you thought so radical?
“Well, this woman was beheaded just like another prostitute named Laxmi. Same modus operandi.”
“Oh gosh!”
“Yeah!” Rohan shook his head, and revealed, “This duo is a real weirdo. Brother is a passionate killer, while sister kills professionally.” He chuckled.
“IDENTICAL BASE PAIRS FOUND IN DATABASE.” GENECARE® announced again in a female robotic voice. “DNA CROSS MATCHING STARTS.”
“Now what?” curious Puneet raised her arched eyebrows.
“The DNA of one of the close relatives of this beheaded lady is in our database. Soon, the Genecare will tell us who the relative is.”
*****
Chandu drove the white Scorpio flickering the blue-red light over the sluggish asphalted road and took a left turn. The barking dogs trailed the Scorpio breaking the silence of that night. Chandu drove it ahead for a few yards and a grand picturesque bungalow appeared at the end of the lane. Chandu hurtled the van through the gate. The security guard stayed dumbstruck glancing at the hurtling police van. Chandu pushed the brake pedal farther into the floorboard and the van halted with a screech.
At lightning speed, Bhave jumped out with his loaded gun. Vaghle followed him. The weaponised duo strode across the paved aisle of the bungalow, and reaching the door, Bhave reached out for a buzzer.
After a little while, a somnolent middle aged maid opened the door, and looking at the sturdy and giant cops at the door, she broke out in a cold sweat. Shoving the door, giant Vaghle rushed inside. She yelled at Vaghle, “No one is inside.” Vaghle gave her a cold shoulder, and rushed ahead.
“Dr. Dipti?” Bhave asked, stepping inside.
Perplexed, maid quivered, “Hospital.” She added, “Madam is admitted to hospital.”
“Admitted?” Bhave frowned.
“Yes. Shivagami Hospital,” she gulped, and said, “Cancer attack.”
“Oh!”
“Yes. She is serious.”
“I see,” Bhave said, taking a glimpse of her living room. He cross questioned, “And, her twin brother?”
“Navin ji?”
“Yeah, Navin,” Bhave bobbed his head, taking an artefact in his hand.
“He is no more.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Last year he committed suicide.”
“Suicide?” Bhave’s face puckered.
“Yeah.”
“But, why?” he cross questioned, “Why did he hang himself?”
“No, he had jumped from the sixth floor,” she added, “In Dubai.”
“Dubai?” Frowned Bhave. He scratched his head, and retired to cogitate. Puckering his eyelids, he asked her, “When did you meet him last time?”
“I never met him. Madam used to talk about him.”
“Can you show me his photograph?”
“No, saab, I have never seen his photo as well.”
“Wow!” Bhave raised his eyebrow, and whispered, “Shivagami Hospital.”
*****
It was late night and traffic was slow. Shifting the gear up a notch, Deepak accelerated their BMW over an incredibly silent road of Mumbai. He requested Jyoti, “Please, don’t go. I don’t know why I’m getting bad vibes.”
“Deepak…” drawled Jyoti, rolling her eyes upwards.
“Come on, I’m worried.”
“Seema is accompanying… Deepak.”
“I know,” frowned Deepak, and added, “Has she reached?”
“Yeah.”
“Where is she?”
“Platform no. 5,” Jyoti held his left arm, and said, “Don’t worry!”
“Give me one reason, Jyoti. Why shouldn’t I worry?” Dipak glimpsed in a side mirror, and turned on the indicator.
The running BMW started a right turn indicator, and it casted the yellow colour over the dark and vacant road. Covering the fifty yards, the black BMW took a right turn arching a big circle, and entered the parking lane of the railway station. Dr. Vishwajit, trailing the black BMW, also flipped the right indicator of his metallic silver Honda City, and took a right from the same circle.
Dr. Vishwajit pulled his car aside. Picking out a binocular from the glove compartment, Dr. Vishwajit peeped at the pulled over BMW through it. He spied the couple stopped far away. He noticed that the bearded Deepak opened the boot space and pulled out a luggage trolley. As Dr. Vishwajit adjusted the focus wheel by his thumb sitting inside the Honda City, suddenly he caught a grey colour against the darkness. Startled, he laid down his binocular, and it was a beggar obstructing the view in front of him.
“Hey! Go away,” annoyed, Dr. Vishwajit yelled. He shoved him at his chest, and refocused through the binocular. Dr. Vishwajit observed the duo again. Deepak kissed pregnant Jyoti on her forehead. In return, preggo Jyoti hugged him. After a warm hug, Jyoti waved her hand, and walked toward platform as she rolled her luggage trolley on its wheels.
Excerpted with permission from Murdrum 2, Dr. Sohil Makwana, Aksharansh Publications. Read more about the book and buy it here.
