The cool night air, filled with the music that echoed from the club as the door opened and a couple stumbled out apparently drunk. She wore a white flowing gown with a neckline that offered the view. The slit on the gown exposed her long legs up until her knee. Her hair was left loose and her make up was done meticulously to suit her dress. She laughed as he whispered something in her ear that were studded with diamonds. His hand caressed her bare back while her's wrapped around his waist. He buried his head in the crook of her neck while he brushed his lips. She giggled tilting her head giving him space for his work. He moved up to her lips and kissed her with urgency. Her hands moved from his waist to his curly hair as she held them responding to him. They only broke apart to breathe as he studied her assets. A jolt of pleasure hit his body as she whispered " Let's take it to my place". He grabbed her, crashing his lips onto her's as they kissed again. A cab approaching from afar stopped where the couple stood pleasuring each other. The lady approached the driver giving him her address while still being entangled with her mate. A smirk formed on the lips of the hooded figure sitting behind the wheel as he started the engine driving them away.

~~~~~**~~~~~
Dr. Micheles Lab

Mike and Pete drove to a place that seemed to be holding only one building, that of the one containing Dr.Micheles lab. There was empty land around it. Mike stretched as he got down his vehicle, trying to soothe his stiff muscles . " This is huge. I didn't expect it." he said to no one in particular. Pete ignored him as his mind raced to know answers to the many questions he had. Mike got out his pack of cigarettes and lighted one of it as he leaned back on his car. Pete started to move in the direction of the entrance making Mike get up from his comfortable posture. "Hey, where are you going?" he said trying to catch up with Pete." Inside" Pete replied not wanting to waste much time. " What's the rush?, we have the whole day" Mike said reasoning with Pete. " I need answers" he said as he reached the security. " Sir, you are not allowed inside" the guy guarding the gate stopped them. " I have to meet Dr.Preeti Gosh, let me go in" Pete said trying to walk past the guard. " Please Sir, you cannot walk in. Cooperate with us. Do you have an appointment?" he asked. Pete looked at Mike who was busy taking a last puff from his cigarette. He put off the cigarette, reached to his pocket and flashed his id card. " We are from Association for National Security. We have to meet Dr.Preeti Gosh.Our meeting has been scheduled.You can talk to her" he spoke in a business like tone that Pete didn't knew existed. " Give me a moment Sir" the guard turned polite and walked to the intercom. " Why are you so worked up?" Mike asked studying his face." I have no clue why I had been called here.What have I got to do with these murders.And Dr.Micheles is in hospital" he said irritated. Mike nodded " Hope Dr.Preeti has answers to your questions". The guard walked to them " Please follow me Sir.She is waiting for you". The two followed him as he lead them to an escalator that moved down. They lost track of the levels until it stopped at -11. The guard escorted them out of the elevator and seated them in an area, that looked like a waiting hall. It had comfortable looking couch, the colors complementing the walls. There were magazines lying on a center table,most of them being Science Journals. Though it was underground the lights were ambient placed brightening the surroundings. There was a screen mounted on the wall that displayed the achievements of Dr.Micheles group. They specialized in studying the postmortem changes and exploiting them in investigating death.

The guys were getting comfortable , when a woman around thirty five entered the hall. She was tall and was dressed in a formal black shirt and a pair of cream trousers. She wore an apron over the shirt , that was buttoned. Her deep black hair was tied back in a ponytail, which dangled as she walked. The first thing one noticed in her face was her black rimmed large glasses that were bridged on a sharp nose. They made her look like a nerd yet sexy in a way. She had a slight dusky appearance and wore little make up. There was kohl on her eyes and a maroon shaded lipstick that highlighted her luscious lips. The raised bosom was visible as the apron followed her curvaceous body She stopped in her track when her gaze fell on Pete. She rushed to embrace him." Oh!Pete, its so good to see you." she said breaking from the hug. Mike noticed a smile on Pete's lips which he had not seen before. " How are you Preeti?" Pete asked affectionately. " Micheles is in the hospital. He is in coma" she said all the excitement dropping in her voice." Yeah. I got the information.What happened?" he asked dullness back in his demeanor. " He was very healthy Pete, I gave him coffee just half an hour before. He was his active self then. I went back after some time to discuss an issue, I find him lying on the ground unconscious. I don't know what happened" she said grim. " Its not his health.I can say for sure. There is something else to it" she added looking deep into his eyes. He nodded " How is he now?" . "Fine I suppose. His vitals read normal. His pulse was dropping when I found him. The paramedics recovered him but he slipped into coma after reaching the hospital" she said. They remained silent for a while but quickly realized the presence of Mike. "Oh! I am sorry. You must be Mr.Michael Williamson. Pete and I have not met for quite some time, pardon us for our behavior" she said extending her hand " I am Dr. Preeti Gosh". " That's all right Dr.Preeti, I can understand" he replied taking her hand. Pete raised an eyebrow at Mike looking at him being professional. "Let's discuss the remaining over coffee in my room. Please follow me" she said leading them.

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

Association for National Security

"Boss, we have a bad news. We just got a call from the cops, they have found bodies of a man and a woman near an under-construction site in the outskirts of the city. They found similar notes, it is the same killer. The forensic team is on the way" Richard informed. "He stuck two this time", Ronald said studying his name plate that was placed on the table. "We have to hurry before it is too late. Any information about the deceased?" he asked maintaining his calm." Not yet boss. The cops suspect ,they have been intimate before death", he replied." How do they say that?" Ronald asked wanting to know as much information as possible. He thought for a second " They found him with a condom on his dick", Ronald cringed at the last word making Richard grin. " Okay. Any injuries or wounds?" he asked. "Nope. They say everything seems normal". "Inform Mike and ask him to wind up there, we need his inputs"he said waving Richard to leave.

~~~~**~~~~~~~

"Are you aware of the details of this case", asked Mike taking in the aroma of coffee brewing in Preeti's room. "Well. A little bit of it. Micheles did not discuss it with any of us, partly because we had a major assignment to wind up. He did seem excited about it.Brief me up, will you?"" she said setting up coffee mugs on her table. For the next half hour, they discussed the case in detail and also about Micheles' key. " I have no clue what this key leads to", she finally said holding it in her hand. "I have never seen this". "Preeti, do you know why he wanted me here?" Pete asked. She shook her head but stared at Pete for a while, like they were communicating something. "Can I look at his laptop? May be we can get some information from it." Mike said interrupting them. "Yeah Sure. I will get it" she said walking out of her room. "How do you know each other" he asked Pete as soon as he was sure she was out of sight. "I met her when I worked under Dr.Micheles, she was a PhD student then." he replied."Oh! You guys fooled around back then?" Mike asked very casually. "What?" Pete shot a look at him. "Yeah. It is apparent you guys were quite close. Why don't you tell me what is the story?" he asked grinning widely. "There is no story" he glared back. "Okay okay"Mike raised his hands in surrender.

Preeti entered Micheles room and a surge of sadness engulfed her. She had been very fond of him and she was his favorite student. Her initial days after she left India had been difficult, the place and the people were new to her and there were times she missed home so badly that she would think of going back. Dr.Micheles and Pete were her only hope. Micheles gave her all the time she needed to settle down before she started to work while Pete looked after her like family. She had never treated Micheles like her boss, he had always been her friend and mentor. Seeing him lifeless lying on the ground that day pushed her into a state of shock, even today looking at the spot made her shudder. She noticed how unkempt the room was. Micheles never allowed anyone into his room except Preeti and cleaning it was out of question. The times when he would be out of the city on some work, Preeti took the liberty to get the room cleaned. It has been a long since the last time his room was cleaned.She mentally made a note to do it, the first thing tomorrow. She found his laptop lying on his desk, she picked it up and walked back.

"Two dead bodies?You must be joking" Mike exclaimed into his phone."Yeah. I met her, but she did not have any information that would help us. I asked her to get me his laptop, may be we can find something."he said listening intently to Richard on the other side. " Alright, I will start once I hand over the laptop. That way you can have a look too"."Yeah see you then. Bye" he said ending the call. "What happened" Pete asked." Two more victims. Man and Woman",he said staring blankly at the ceiling. "Oh" Pete said and fell silent. "Here is the laptop Mr.Michael." Preeti walked into the room. "Yes thank you"Mike took it from her hands." Call me Mike and I will call you Preeti" Mike offered. She smiled in response "So, I need a favor Preeti" he said."Yeah sure, please tell me" she said politely. " I want your permission to carry this laptop to our place. I have an emergency, so I have to leave immediately. If I could have this, me and the IT guys will look into it?" he asked hoping she would accept. She hesitated as she was not sure if that was a good idea. A lot of confidential research details would be on his machine that she did not want leaked.Sensing her hesitation " I promise we will not touch anything other than what is necessary for this case. Trust me on this". After contemplating a lot, she finally agreed. He looked at Pete " Let's go" he said. "Hmm. I will stay back with Preeti. I will get back to you tomorrow." Pete replied. "Oh! sure. I will tell boss.It was nice meeting you Preeti, contact us if there is anything you have that can help us. Please keep the key with you, in case you want to try", he said getting up leaving Preeti and Pete in the room.

.......................

To be continued...