Border of the sun (3 page)

  Mr. Ford's house stood at the far end of the Point Piper, the most expensive suburbs in Sydney. His mansion was a large three-story structure, surrounded by water on three sides.

  The sea surface shined like an enormous mirror. More than two dozen yachts of all sizes were moored in the harbor. Few small boats sailed on the warm breeze; the smell of salt had pervaded the afternoon air.

  The sun beamed down as Karthik pulled his car in the parking shed. He stepped out from his car, and spotted three black sedans and one police car already parked in the shed. He slammed his car door shut. He winced at the wrecked headlight as he made his way toward the main gate.

  He stared at the sea. Then at the dots of the dark boats at the horizon and wondered about taking a leave. A long vacation. He looked away from them and spotted a small boat bobbing on the water a few feet away from him. There was a woman on the boat and she was staring at him through her binoculars. That's weird, he thought.

  Karthik saw a policeman standing in front of the main door, he could easily tell from looking at his face that the policeman was not pleased to see him.
Oh, no. forget about vacation...

  Karthik crossed the parking lot and headed toward the gate. The policeman stopped him from passing through the double-doors.

  "Whoa! What's wrong?" Karthik asked.

  "Who are you?" The policeman snapped and gauged Karthik from head to toe with his brooding eyes.

  "Uh, I am Karthik Peri. Mr. Ford's attorney," Karthik said and pulled out his card, and showed it to the policeman.

  "Hmm." The policeman nodded. "You can go in, but first you will have to pass through a little security check."

  Karthik didn't protest. "Just make it quick."

  Karthik made his way through the bright, fancy doorway and into the colossal main hall.

  And the sight of the hall made his legs rubbery. He saw two older looking men meandering around, talking on their cellphones. Two senior inspectors were chatting in a corner. And he saw Mr. Ford seating on the opposite sofa with a bald guy, Carl Hancock, the famous officer from the Interpol.
Interpol? Oh no.

  He strolled toward Mr. Ford, trying to figure out what Mr. Ford must have done to bring Interpol to his house. That to one of their best officers.

  Seeing Karthik walking toward him, Mr. Ford jumped to his feet. "Oh thank god!" he said and marched toward Karthik. He moved his hands around Karthik's shoulder and led (Practically Pushed) him toward Carl Hancock. Karthik didn't resist.

  Carl Hancock stood on his feet and offered his hand. "Carl Hancock."

  "I know who you are," Karthik said excitedly. "I still can't believe I'm standing with the person who solved the biggest bank robbery case of the decade." He shook hands with Carl.

  Carl smiled and nodded. "Well, that was not that difficult."

  "But how did you find the robbers exact locations? And—"

  "I did not call you here to talk about the bloody bank robbery!" Ford interrupted.

  Karthik rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes, sorry, what's the matter, Mr. Ford?"

  "Interpol..." Ford said, glaring at Carl. "They think that I have something to do with the kidnapping of Dr. Alex bill."

  Alex bill? What the hell!
His mind started racing, too many questions to ask. Finally, he said. "When? Where? Why? Who kidnapped him? And where is he now?"

  Carl smiled. "He was abducted from France. The sources said that he was having his vacations there with his wife and his two sons."

  "And your source also informed you that I kidnapped him? Huh?" Mr. Ford said.

  "I never said that," Carl said, correcting him.

  "Then why you want to interrogate me?" Mr. Ford complained.

  "He worked for your company," Carl said in-a-matter-of-factly way.

  "That doesn't mean I kidnapped him?"

  "Mr. Ford..." Karthik said, trying to calm him down.

  "They want to interrogate me? That too in a police station? What's wrong with interrogating here in my house?"

  Karthik realized what Mr. Ford wanted. He knew that Mr. Ford visiting the local police station for interrogation will not be a pretty good news for the company's future. And besides, what's wrong with interrogating him here?

  "I think my client is right," he said, " You just can't take him to a police station when there is no proof that he is involved in... Kidnapping. This will destroy the Company's image."

  "Image? Your most precious scientist is missing, and you people are worried about the image? And you know what? The news channels already know about it. It's already in the news."

  "My god." Mr. Ford groaned and slumped on the sofa. Karthik's body turned stiff.  "But—"

  "Forget it!" A woman said at the top of her voice. "I am done. Bored of your stupid talks."

  Karthik turned and saw a dark haired woman sitting on the sofa behind him with a blond woman. Karthik knew both of them. The black haired woman's name was Sara Ford, daughter of Daniel Ford, and the blond woman's name was Piper Watson, Junior scientist and also the student of Dr. Alex bill. He wondered how long they have been here? And how did he not notice them?

  Piper looked dreadfully weak. She was wearing a green shirt and blue jeans. Her hair was tied behind her head in a ponytail. But Sara was clearly angry and was also looking damn attractive. She was wearing a black one piece—well money can buy your great clothes and beauty products.

  She roared. "I am leaving now. And you are not stopping me."

  "Honey." Mr. Ford tried to calm her down. "You can't leave what if they kidnapped you, too?"

  But Sara didn't listen, she just stomped out of the hall and was gone.

  Mr. Ford sighed and shook his head.

  Karthik looked at Piper, she averted her eyes. So, he stared back at Carl. "You can't take my client to a police-station," Karthik said firmly.

  Karthik's authoritative tone seemed to have hit Carl hard. He glared at him. "Stop me," he said and charged toward Mr. Ford.

  Karthik moved between them. "You don't have enough authority—" Before he could complete his sentence, Carl grabbed his collars and said. "Don't teach me about authority! Do you get me?"

  Karthik miserably nodded, he did not trust himself to speak.

  "Good," Carl said and glanced around. Everyone was staring at him, aghast. He let go of Karthik's collar. "I'm sorry for my misbehavior," he said in an official tone."Okay, but I'll come back and will take your client with me. For sure. We are leaving," He announced, and all the officers pulled their files and briefcases and started moving toward the main door.

  "And Miss..." Carl told piper, "He was the third scientist to be abducted this month. I'll suggest you to stay more alert..."

  Piper miserably nodded.

  "Third scientist?" Mr. Ford asked glaring at him.

  "Yes. Two of them worked in the project O..."

  "Project what?" Piper asked.

"I can't tell you, it's a classified information," Carl said, and he left.

  Mr. Ford sighed with relief when all the officers from Interpol and police were gone. "Karthik thank you,” he said.

  Karthik smiled. "It was my job, sir."

  "I'm sorry for what he did to you," Mr. Ford said solemnly.

  "It's okay, sir," Karthik said and glanced at Piper. She will think I'm a big coward, he thought, shaking his head.

  "I think you should leave. You are a very busy man. And can you drive Piper to her home?"

  "She did not bring her car?"

  "No, they brought her here."

  "Then that silver car?"

  "Silver car?" Piper said, narrowing her eyes.

  "No, nothing. I'll drive you home." Karthik said quickly. He had no intentions to look more stupid in front of anyone.

  Piper Watson glumly stared out the car's window at the passing buildings, under the bright, blue sky.

  She was the third child of Arthur Watson and the only daughter to be born in the family without sickle-cell anemia.

  Sickle-cell anemia is a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels. Crescent shaped hemoglobin is very brittle and breaks easily because of this number of hemoglobin in the person’s body decreases and he dies. So, she was a kind of miracle in the modern genetics. Her rare condition, and also the illness of other women in her family was the reason that inspired her to study genetic engineering. Simply speaking, to find a cure.

  The afternoon air felt hot and heavy against her skin. Her blue eyes gleamed as if reflecting the sky. She was sitting in the shotgun seat, next to Karthik, who was driving the car.

  He kept glancing at her and kept nervously drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

  "You okay?" he Asked her in a hushed voice.

  Piper said nothing. She just kept staring at the passing buildings.

  Dr. Alex Bill is missing, She thought. My mentor is missing.

  Her first meeting with Dr. Alex Bill had happened two years ago. But still felt like yesterday to her. They were sitting in a hall for the orientation. She sat in the front row, eagerly waiting for the Nobel prize winner to show up. She checked her watch and the hall fell silent. She looked up and saw Dr. Alex Bill walking onstage. The students stood up.

  "Don't need to stand guys," Dr. Alex Bill said, "Good morning everyone."

  They wished him back.

  "I hope you guys know my name. If you don't, then I'm going to kick you out of this room."

  They all laughed but Piper.
Do all Noble prize winners talk like this? 

  Dr. Alex Bill caught her staring at him in horror. "I'm kidding girl," he said.

  Of course, you are, she thought, faking  a smile.

  "What's your name?" He asked.

  "Piper," she said softly.

  "Okay, Pipes." At this, the hall erupted in laughter. Piper felt like sinking into the chair. She felt her face warming up, turning pink. But she actually liked the nickname.   

  "Pipes..." Karthik said a little louder, pulling her attention back at the present.

  She turned away from the window. "Huh?" She said, almost whispering.

  "You okay?" He asked softly.

  She nodded and gazed down at the floor, and swallowed hard. Then was about say something, but stopped and again resumed staring out the window, mulling.

  Karthik felt a twinge of concern for her. He sighed, and returned his attention back to driving.

  Karthik stopped the car in front of the gate. His eyes sweeping around, searching for the silver car he had seen before, but there was nothing. No sign of any car. He frowned. He was sure that he had seen a silver car.

  "Thanks," Piper whispered, opening the car's door, but she caught the confused expression on Karthik's face.

  "What are you looking for?" She said.

  He shook his head. " I just..."

  Piper gazed intently at him, waiting for an answer.

  "Would you like to have coffee. I know some good cafe—"

  "No. Thanks for asking." She forced a smile and climbed off from the car. She made her way to the main door. Karthik gazed at her, waiting for her to safely enter the house.

  Seeing that she had reached  the main door without collapsing, he turned on the engine. The car droned. He had barely touched the accelerator when her voice floated across the garden and into his ear. "Hey listen!" She called. "Maybe a cup of coffee would not be a bad idea!"

***

  "Two espressos," Karthik said to the waiter.

  The Waiter smiled. "Anything else, sir?"

  Karthik gazed at piper. "You want something?"

  "No, Coffee will do."

  He raised his eyes from Piper to the waiter. But before he could say anything the waiter nodded and left.

  They sat at the center table in the giant shady room. Pale sunlight poured in through the giant, tinted-glass windows.

  The cafe was almost empty. Few college students were chatting at the far corner. Three guys in suits were having lunch and boring business talks. A middle-aged guy was sittings alone two tables away from them, enjoying his coffee and pasta. All other tables were empty.

  The waiter returned with their order. He gently placed two cups on the table, smiled, and left.

  Piper sipped on some coffee and gazed at the college students. "They look so happy," She muttered.

  Karthik followed her gaze. "Yes. They do look happy." He shrugged.

  "I wished I could have stayed eighteen years old forever," Piper said and took another sip of coffee.

  Karthik frowned. "Uh, I know it's not the right time to ask. But...what were you...people working on? I think it has something to do with Alex Bill's abduction."

  "I seriously don't want to talk about it," Piper said.

  "It's okay. No problem," Karthik said quickly.

  She rolled her eyes. "Okay! listen, you know what PharmaGen do, Right? Cancer research. Our team was working on gene therapy." She looked around and whispered. "And we were about to get a breakthrough."

  "Breakthrough?" Karthik said, raising his eyebrow.

  "We were so close to developing a new medicine. It could have cured even a third stage cancer."

  "Wow!" Karthik exclaimed. He pressed the cup rim against his lips and realized that his cup was already empty.
Never mind.

  "That Interpol Guy said that he was the third scientist to be abducted this month," Piper said, thinking hard.

  "And also warned you to stay more alert..." Karthik added. "And you should."

  The chair creaked and moaned as she shifted uneasily in it. "What can be that classified project?" She asked him.

  "Beats me," Karthik replied drumming his fingers on the table.

  "Dr. Alex Bill never told me that he was part of some classified project," She said to herself.

  "Because it was a Classified project," Karthik said and smiled.

  But she didn't find funny. "Sorry," he said and glanced at his watch. "Maybe we should leave."

  She nodded. They got up and strolled across the room and went out of the door.

  After they were gone, the guy who was sitting two tables away from them pressed his ear and whispered over the microphone. "They are leaving. Should I follow them?"

  "No! We need her alone." A harsh voice blared in his microphone.

  He grinned. "Then I'll have one more coffee."

  Outside the eatery.

  Karthik slid into his car. "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you home?" He asked Piper.

  "I'll take the cab." She nodded, leaning against the car window. "You have lots of work. And besides, I can handle myself, you know."

  "Okay... I seriously don't want to hear that independent woman stuff again." He giggled. " Everything will be fine. " He added softly.

  She nodded and went silent. She glanced at the headlight. "What happen to the headlight?" She scowled.

  "Uh, long story," He said, clenching his teeth.

  "Okay, Bye." She looked down and pretended to kick an invisible stone. "See you later..."