THE ESCAPE

In the Gaitonde Mansion, continued from previous part…

The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of betrayal and impending doom hanging heavy in the air. Rakesh’s eyes darted between the agents, the suitcase, and his father, Kailas Gaitonde. The sound of police sirens growing closer added to the urgency of the situation.

“You think you’ve won?” Rakesh sneered, his grip tightening on the gun. “This is far from over.”

Agent 1 and Agent 3 exchanged a quick glance, silently communicating the gravity of their predicament. Agent 3’s revelation about the tracker and sensor in the gun was their only leverage, but it was a fragile one. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.

Rakesh took a step back, dragging his father with him. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Agent 3. But you’re not as smart as you think. We planned for every possibility. There’s no sensor which can do the shit you just spoke”

Kailas smirked with his confidence unshaken. “You see, boys, we always have an exit strategy. I was a lawyer after all!”

With a swift motion, Rakesh pulled his father with him, with both jumping out from the window. The agents in the sense of urgency tried to shoot a bullet, but the swift motion prevented them from doing so.

“Run!” Rakesh shouted to his father, and the two bolted through the window.

Agent 1 and Agent 3 lunged to follow, but Rakesh turned and fired a warning shot, forcing them to dive for cover. By the time they recovered, Rakesh and Kailas had disappeared into the darkness.

“We need to go after them!” Agent 1 yelled, but the sound of the police bursting into the room halted their pursuit.

“Hold your fire!” Agent 3 commanded, raising his hands as the officers stormed in. “They escaped through the window. We need backup to follow them!” The senior officer in charge, Captain Rajesh Singh, nodded and barked orders into his radio. “Seal the exits! I want a perimeter around this building they won’t have gotten far!”

As the officers moved to comply, Agent 1 and Agent 3 caught their breath. The reality of their situation was sinking in, and they knew they needed help to catch Rakesh and Kailas.

“Damn it!” Agent 1 cursed. “We were so close.”

Agent 3 shook his head. “We need more intel. We can’t let them get away with this.”

Just then, a figure stepped into the room, moving with the kind of purpose and authority that demanded attention. He was tall and lean, his presence alone seemed to shift the energy in the room.

“Detective Arjun Roy,” he introduced himself, his voice still holding a trace of the calm authority that had once made him legendary. “I’ve been following this case for a while now. Looks like you could use some help.”

Agent 1 and Agent 3 exchanged stunned glances. They had heard of Arjun Roy, the detective whose name had once been synonymous with justice and brilliance, but who had fallen from grace in recent years. But what was he doing here?

“Arjun Roy,” Agent 3 said, a mix of recognition and surprise in her voice. “We’ve heard of you. What brings you into this mess?” Arjun’s eyes flickered with a hint of his old fire. “I’ve been tracking Gaitonde’s network for months. When I heard about the suitcase and the potential threat, I knew I had to get involved. Looks like I arrived just in time.”

Agent 1 frowned, still processing the detective’s sudden appearance. “You think you can help us track them down?”

Arjun met his gaze with a weary determination. “I don’t think. I know. But we need to move quickly. Every second counts.”

Captain Singh, who had been listening intently, stepped forward. “What’s your plan, Detective? Also, don’t mind me asking where were you when that nasty little guy just brutally killed your partner, Mukesh?”

“Mukesh who?” – Agent 1

Gaitonde’s PA and Arjun’s old partner, Mukesh Kulkarni! – Singh

“The Hell!” – Agent 3

“Sounds like a full circle!” – Agent 1

Agents 1 and 3 were confused and looking at the big man, who would provide them with the explanation.

“Look, Captain, I do respect you a lot, but it has got nothing to do with me. It will be better if we focus on what can we do now!!” – Arjun barely controlling his tears.

Arjun glanced around the room, his mind already working through the possibilities. “First, we need to secure the scene and gather any evidence they might have left behind. We also need to trace that hidden passage and see where it leads. Gaitonde and his son are desperate, which means they’ll make mistakes. We need to be ready to capitalize on those mistakes.”

Agent 3 nodded with a sense of renewed determination, but also with some confusion on her face. “What do you need from us?”

Arjun’s eyes were sharp and focused. “I just need your help in getting hold of that bastard!”

As the team mobilized under Arjun’s direction, the detective’s presence brought a new sense of urgency and hope. The chase was far from over, but with Arjun Roy on their side, Agent 1 and Agent 3 knew they had a fighting chance.

Captain Singh with no other option, ordered the forensic team to comb through the building, while the rest of the officers began to map out the mansion for any other escape routes. Arjun, Agent 1, and Agent 3 quickly moved to the entrance behind the house basement.

“This door is not supposed to be here.” – pointing towards a brick wall which was supposedly broken.

Arjun studied the passageway, his keen eyes searching for clues. “So this is it. Another opening! This passage leads to the old tunnels beneath the city. They must have a hideout down there,” he said.

Agent 3 looked skeptical. “How do you know that?” Arjun’s lips curled into a slight smile. “I’ve been down there before. Shrinath’s network used the old historic tunnels for smuggling. It’s a maze, but I know the way.”

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