CHAPTER 13 The puny plain-clothes detective, hid his face behind his newspaper, and from time to time, looked in the direction of the trains that were streaming into Victoria Terminus. He was waiting for his contact from the underworld to bring him useful information, about the gold smuggling racket he was trying to unearth. Suddenly, his hawk like eyes spied a woman in a faded mauve sari, who had just alighted from one of the trains. There was something in her face that looked familiar. “Where have I seen her before?” he wondered. The threadbare clothes she wore, somehow didn’t match her face and bearing. His detective brain began to jump to all kinds of conclusions. “Travelling incognito?” he wondered. “There must be a reason for that. Is she hiding from someone?” He looked at his watch. It was well past the hour when he was supposed to meet his informer. Probably the man wasn’t coming after all. “Let’s follow this mysterious lady,” he thought. “I might just recall where I have seen her before.” The lady boarded a bus going towards Byculla. He got a seat directly opposite her, which gave him a chance of scrutinizing her face, without actually seeming to do so. By the time she arrived at her destination, the detective had recognised her. Her picture was up in the station. She was wanted for murder. Anyway, it was not his job to arrest her. He would pass on the information to the person concerned. “Just unbelievable! “ he thought, shaking his head incredulously, “Such an innocent face! Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth!” Julie alighted at Byculla Bridge, and with her head bent low, dashed up to her aunt’s house. “Goodness Gracious! Where have you been all this time? The Police have been looking for you all over the place, and making hundreds of enquiries." “Aunty, don’t be mad at me. I’ll tell you what happened. But why are the Police looking for me?” “Because you killed that poor teacher,” said her aunt, angrily. “How could you believe such a thing?” “What else could I believe? You told me you were going to her house. You disappeared after killing the girl. And you’re so stupid, that you left your handbag there, so they could trace your identity. Oh you wicked girl! After all that I’ve done for you, you bring this terrible disgrace on me in my old age?” Her aunt began to weep. “You’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t kill her. She was dead when I reached there, and I just escaped the same fate, through sheer good luck.” “Go and tell that to the Police, and see if they’ll believe you.” She was angry, but she desperately wanted to believe Julie. “You can’t stay here. They’ll find you. They are quite convinced that you killed her.” But before they could think of a plan, there was a loud knock on the door. Julie went forward to open it. “Mrs. Julie Khaleeli, you are under arrest,” said a senior Inspector. “But I didn’t do it,” protested Julie. “We’ll talk about it at the Station.” Julie embraced her aunt. “I’ve told you the truth, Aunty,” she said, as they led her away. “Don’t worry, my child. I’ll find you the best lawyer in town,” her aunt promised. In her statement, Julie hadn’t told her entire story. She had not mentioned her stay at the Catholic Farm, because she did not want to implicate Brother James, and create unpleasant complications for him. That would have been an ungrateful thing to do, after he had saved her and sheltered her on the farm. So she had come up with the story of amnesia. She claimed that someone, probably the real murderer of Ju had beaten her until she fell unconscious, and then transported her to some remote place where she was abandoned. “I can’t remember anything about where I have been all this time. I can’t even recall who put me on the train. But the moment I got off at Victoria Terminus, in a flash, I knew exactly where I was.” The Police weren’t buying her story. They cross examined her for hours, but Julie stuck to her tale. They decided she was a ‘damned good liar,’ and kept her in custody till her case came up for hearing. Steve Lobo the lawyer, knocked on Aunt Daniels door. Ever since Julie was arrested, the old lady had turned into a bundle of nerves. The frequent intrusions of the Police and their endless questioning, was driving her mad. So, it was with trepidation that she approached the door. “What do you want?” she asked timidly. “Oh it’s you. I’m sorry.” She let him in. Steve was a young man, who aspired for great things in his profession. He knew that if he won this case, it would be a great stride upwards on the ladder of success. But at this moment, the possibility of winning was remote. He was convinced that the girl was innocent, and had no doubt at all, that Johnny Martis was the culprit. But the man had a strong alibi. If only Julie could come up with a better story than amnesia! “Miss. Daniels, you have to help me. Where did Julie hide herself for six weeks after the murder?” “I told you over and over again, that I haven’t the faintest idea. Julie says she can’t remember a thing from the time she blacked out in Ju’s room, until she got back to Victoria Terminus.” “Too far-fetched. The Prosecution will not buy that story,” he grumbled. “It was a book stall at the station that brought back memories. She and Aga often used to browse through the books.” “So you’ve nothing more to tell me? Well, they’re going to charge her with first degree murder tomorrow. I’m afraid I can’t do much for your niece.” “But she didn’t do it, Mr. Lobo. Julie wouldn’t hurt a fly. The poor girl hasn’t even got over the death of her husband. And now this terrible accusation!” But Steve’s mind was flying in all directions, looking for some clue on which he could work. “Do you know anything about Julie’s husband? For instance, what were the circumstances that led to his death?” “Oh you wicked man! Are you implying that Julie killed him? He died in a road accident, and my poor Julie herself was at death’s door.” “But I don’t understand why she came away from Teheran. Could she have not lived with his family? You told me they were very wealthy people. And why was she so desperate to take up a job? Surely they must have settled a handsome amount on her?” “How little you know of Julie! She has too much pride to accept charity from her in-laws who despised her.” “Well,” said Steve, pushing back his chair, “ She’ll need your prayers. I’ll offer you no assurances.” As he walked into the street, he was sure he would lose the case. How was he to sow reasonable doubt? He knew so little about the girl. Of course, the Prosecution had only circumstantial evidence. If the girl had done the job, wouldn’t she be clever enough to leave no trace behind? He would have to try and break down the alibi. He thought of Julie languishing in the cell. Her eyes he had observed, were a deep brown, and when she answered questions, she looked straight at him as though she had nothing to hide. No murderer would ever do that. Yet, this theory of amnesia was suspect. She was hiding something, perhaps in the belief that it had no relevance to the case. “Let the scales tip in her favor,” he prayed. It was nearly two months since Julie had left the farm. Brother James had reverted to his strict monastic life style. Julie was ancient history. Hard work was cathartic. One evening, James had gone into town for a haircut that was overdue. Sitting in the barber’s chair, he picked up a newspaper to browse. Under a bold caption, “TRIAL OF MURDERESS BEGINS,” he recognised the picture of Julie. His eyes raced through the news item. “Julie Khaleeli (nee Daniels) a young widow, had come back to Bombay from Teheran, after the sudden death of her husband. Two years ago, she had given her school certificates and Teachers’ Diploma, to her namesake and friend Julie Daniels, popularly known as Ju. Ju, an uneducated girl of questionable character, had impersonated the real Julie, and secured a job as a teacher. Julie made several attempts to recover her certificates, but to no avail. She therefore accosted the girl in her room. A severe altercation led to a hand scuffle. Julie dealt Ju a sound blow on her head, with a chair. It proved fatal. The murderess however, fled in haste, leaving behind her handbag, with enough material to establish her identity. Six weeks later, she was apprehended by the police, when sneaking into the city in disguise.” Brother James could hardly believe what he read. He continued reading other details and insinuations, made by an over-enthusiastic reporter. Julie had pleaded “Not Guilty,” but had refused to disclose the place where she was hiding for six weeks. She maintained the Ju was already dead when she visited her. She had merely rummaged through her papers in the hope of finding her certificates, when someone had knocked her out cold. Brother James continued reading. The girl was to be condemned on circumstantial evidence, though there were many loop-holes in the case. The murder was reported twenty six hours after it took place by her live-in partner, who was conveniently absent on the night of her death; The death blow could not have been delivered by a girl as frail as Julie; The relationship between the deceased girl and her boy friend Johnny Martis, was anything but cordial. But the pretense of amnesia by Julie aroused serious suspicions. Brother James jumped up from his chair. He realised that the girl had claimed amnesia, only to keep the Catholic farm out of the news. In a way, she was trying to shield him from ugly publicity and punishment, at the risk of her own life. He had to rush to Bombay and tell them all that he knew. It was just 8.30 a.m. because he was always the barber’s first customer for the day. If he caught the 9 O’clock train, he could still get to the Court on time. “Wait, “ said the barber, “I haven’t finished yet.” “Hurry up. You’re taking too long. And look, you’ve got to do me a favor. Take a message to Father Bernard.” On a slip of paper, he scribbled, “I’m off on an errand of mercy. Will not return to the farm today. Will explain everything when I get back.” James realised that the consequences of this rash act would be grave. His future as a priest was in jeopardy. But he wouldn’t let the girl take the rap. If she was innocent, she must be released.                                            To be continued….