Dedicated

to my Mom and Dad, Deepa and Shashi and my grand- parents for supporting me.

The Development and production of this book has been supported by Institute of Experiential Learning, Bangalore, India. Printed at Bangalore April 2012

The Scalpel
Chapter 1 There was a crackling sound as the person on the other end of the transmitter made an announcement "Car crash on corner of fourth and twenty-fourth, two females, one has sustained serious burns." "Okay, let's go! said John giving Red a little nudge as he started the engine. "Take the next right, we'll get there faster", said Red, over the whining of the siren of the red Paramedics' Van. "Ooh, that's bad! said Red. After extinguishing the fire and wrenching the passenger's door open, he immediately rushed the girl out and onto a stretcher. She had burns all over her face and shoulders. "Too bad, she seems really pretty." Chapter 2 A sense of self-loathing came over Agent Kane as he went up the white marble steps of the Agency Headquarters. "Why couldn't I just be an accountant? said the Agent to self. Walking into the conference/mass-gossip room, Agent Kane was immediately bombarded with files and scraps of information regarding the kidnapping of two girls and the recovery of the body of another with the same profile. All the girls have the same characteristics. All of them are brunette, same facial structure and around the same age, seventeen, said Agent Reid.
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Okay, lets see the bodies, said Kane. Err about that, there seems to be a piece of skin missing from the girls cheek, precision cuts, very clean, looks like the work of a surgeon, said Agent Reid. A piece of skin? Some sort of souvenir? I have no idea, but the killer is some psychopath. Injected the body with Sulphuric Acid! There are no other marks except for the needle point and a gaping hole in her cheek. Okay, start by asking the people around where the body was found; they would have seen something. said Agent Kane as he strode out of the headquarters and went on his way to the dump-site. CSU found traces of Sulphuric Acid near the dumpster, probably when the girls body was dumped. We also found a pair of tyre treads four feet apart. Probably a Corolla. Well then, ask if anyone has seen one around. Maybe a license number if we get lucky. said Agent Kane, Try and wrap this case up fast, I really need a holiday. Chapter 3 I poured the alcohol into the tray. It felt sterile and surprisingly inviting. As I dipped the scalpel blade into the clear liquid I thought back to the last time I had had a drink. It was on that dreadful night. The road was all hazy and then I was engulfed in a fireball. It wasnt fair. She was so beautiful, my little girl, all red and burnt and bleeding. She will never be the same, thats what the doctors said. I will help her. Ill make her beautiful again, no matter what. So pretty, this one is very pretty. But not as pretty as my own was. The scalpel sliced

through her delicate skin, just a small square of her unblemished skin. I will make my girl pretty, beautiful once more. Chapter 4 Agent Kane walked back into the headquarters and sat at his desk with his head in his hands. He rubbed his eyes and gave himself a little shake as Agent Reid stepped in with a bunch of files in his arms up to his chin. You alright Kane? Reid asked as he put the files on the desk with a toss, probably a little too much as the papers fluttered around them. Just preachy replied Kane as he bent down to retrieve the fallen documents. His eyes fell on a list of people. Whats this? he asked, getting up off the ground and bumping his head on the underside of his desk. Oh, thats a list of people who have the ability to surgically remove skin. Here is a list of people who have ordered medical supplies. Guess what? There are exactly three people who are on both these lists who live in a 5km radius of the dump-site and the other areas from where the girls were abducted, said Reid, handing Kane another sheaf of papers. Well, come on then. Lets go Chapter 5 Sorry, I cant make it tomorrow. I have some work to do at the hospital, so sorry. Yeah. Okay, thanks. Bye. Sheila let out a frustrated sigh as she ended the call. Flopping down onto her ultra-modern faux-leather sofa, she massaged

her temples. There was a loud rap at the door. She walked over in her clackety heels, set her hair, and opened her apartment door. Thank you for your help maam. So sorry to disturb you, I figure you are a very busy woman said Agent Kane as he got up to leave. No problem at all, I hope you have everything you need, replied Sheila. Yes, thank you said agent Reid, heading for the door. Wooo whistled Reid the minute Kane and him were in the elevator. That is one superficial woman. All those high-society working women are like that. She was so glad when we were leaving, you notice that? Yeah, well nobody really wants people coming to their house and asking questions Well theres one off our list. Whos next? Chapter 6 Ah, yes, come in, come in, said Hugh as he let the agents in. Please excuse the mess, would you? Sure, thats fine. Sir, wed like to know what exactly you are doing with all the medical supplies you ordered said Reid, getting right to the point. Oh, that. You see, Im conducting an experiment to determine the chemical composition of photosynthetic organisms when in contact with dissolved solutions of Hydrochloric Acid, replied Hugh. Oh, oh yeah Sure. Could you tell us where you were on the 14th of October and on the 21st and also around 9pm on the
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30th? Oh, I believe I was at my lab at all those times. I come home at around 9:30pm from the lab. You can call and ask. Yes, thank you for your time. Bye. Well, Hugh is clean. He was working on his sciency thingy on all those days. He hardly gets up to eat his lunch. Well, theres no use of that then, said Reid to Kane. Lets hope its this last one, Margaret Stone. God! I just want this case over! Draining the last sip of his coffee, Kane picked up his keys and left for Margaret Stones office. Chapter 7 Of course, of course... I completely understand. I am using the supplies to carry out the procedures on my patients. What sort of procedures? questioned Kane. Just the usual she replied. Which would be? Sir, I am a surgeon. I need alcohol and such for everything cutting out appendixes, gall bladders. Removing bullets I need it for everything. Margaret replied clearly becoming more and more irritated. Did the hospital not supply you with the necessary? asked Reid. There has been a shortage of-late so I ordered for some extra, she replied nonchalantly. As they were leaving, Agent Kane noticed a framed picture of a girl on the office desk. He realized what a coincidence it was that the girl had exactly the same profile of the girls in the

case. Who is that? he asked casually. Oh, my daughter, Margaret replied wistfully. She is very pretty. Yes, her skin was beautiful, she said. Chapter 8 Lets go check this Margarets family out. Just in case, said Reid as they stepped into the car. Okay, shes the only one with family, might as well try, replied Kane. As they pulled up in front of the big bungalow Kane noticed how all the curtains on the second floor were closed. Each to their own, he thought as they walked up to the porch. The door was opened by the help. From the completely lost look on her face when they asked for Mrs. Stones daughter, they concluded that she did not know English. Finally, after a lot of signs and gestures, they were let in and made to sit on the couch while the girl mentioned she would call the daughter. A few minutes later, the daughter walked into the room. What do you want? she said icily as she came to stand faceface with the agents. Oh, hello. Are you Jenni- Agent Kane stopped halfway as he caught sight of the girl, or didnt. Yes, I am Jennifer. There is no need to stare, she said, obviously irritated. Oh, so sorry, I just wanted to ask you a few questions about your mother.

As Jennifer Stone answered all the questions, Agent Kane couldnt help but sneak a few glances at Jennifers face. It was covered with a mask. He dared not ask about it in-case he hit a nerve. During the inquiry, Agent Kane couldnt help notice a car pull up in front of the house, stand there for a few seconds and then immediately take off. Kane frowned to himself but then dismissed it as Jennifer explained how her mother was not the same after the accident. She just obsessed over the fact that I am so scarred. I think she feels really guilty about it. Suddenly getting up and knocking over a cup in the process Agent Kane rushed out of the door with a hurried goodbye. He pulled Reid out and literally raced over to sit in the car. What is wrong with you!? Are you crazy!? exclaimed Reid. I got the murderer, but first call the department up and tell them to setup road blocks andto stop anyone getting out of the state Chapter 9 Now, would you please tell me whats going on? asked Reid as they raced down the road. She will take NH-14 out of the state so she will have to go by Sixth Avenue. Hes mad! Hes completely mad! said Reid to himself as Kane swerved into the side road. Would you just trust me? She should be here about NOW! And as if he could predict the future a grey Corolla came into sight and they raced after in pursuit. The Corolla screeched as it took a sharp right onto oncoming
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traffic but as it attempted to go into the by-lane it collided with a large Jeep, spun around a few times and came to an earwrenching halt before there was an explosion and the car went up in flames along with its driver. Chapter 10 Everyone in the agency was assembled in the conference room. Sitting on desks and swiveling chairs they were all ears and eyes for Agent Kane as he explained the whole story. So you see, when Jennifer was hurt in the car crash, Margaret felt extremely guilty and wanted to make up for it. All three of the girls she abducted were her patients and she called them to a location probably on a pretext that they needed a check-up or such. She then took them in the Corolla to the warehouse registered in her uncles name and injected them with Sulphuric Acid and removed a piece of skin which she then stored in special containers to stop infection and we found these containers at her office in the dermatology ward. And she just magically got into a car crash where she died? asked the chief. No, when we found out about the earlier car crash from Jennifer, I saw Margarets car pull up in front of the house. She must have seen our car and then tried to get out of the state, replied Kane. Well, its gonna be hard to tell the Jury that but at least you solved the case.

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Disha Deshpande is 13 years old and lives in Bangalore with her parents and grandparents. She enjoys painting and also encourages children of her age to read more classic novels.

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Watch as Agent Kane sets out to find a killer and abductor who keeps some unusually gruesome souvenirs

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