An unknown caller- Part 2

He moved slowly around the side of the building, finding a service ladder that led up to the higher floors. Without thinking twice, Vikram gripped the cold metal rungs and began to climb, his muscles tense with anticipation. Each step brought him closer to the source of the noise, and with each step, the reality of the situation sunk in deeper. He wasn't just chasing a shadow. This was a man who had harassed, terrified, and now threatened Nina's life.

As he reached the third floor, he heard another sound—this time, closer. A rustling of fabric, followed by a soft grunt, as if someone was shifting position. Vikram moved cautiously across the unfinished floor, keeping low as he approached the area where he'd seen the glint of light.

Suddenly, he froze. There, just a few feet ahead, standing near the edge of the building, was a man. He was tall, his back turned to Vikram, wearing dark clothes that blended into the shadows. The man hadn't noticed Vikram yet, his focus elsewhere—he seemed to be looking down at the street below, as if waiting for something or someone.

Vikram's heart pounded in his chest as he slowly drew his gun. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. This was it.

"Police!" Vikram's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Turn around, hands where I can see them!"

The man froze for a moment, then slowly raised his hands, his movements calm, almost too calm for someone caught in the act. He turned around, his face coming into view—a gaunt, pale man with sunken eyes and a smirk that made Vikram's skin crawl.

"You're a persistent one, aren't you?" the man said, his voice eerily smooth, the same voice that had been on the phone. "I wasn't expecting company."

"Shut up and keep your hands up," Vikram snapped, stepping closer, his gun trained steadily on the man's chest. "Who are you? What do you want with Nina?"

The man chuckled, a low, unsettling sound. "Ah, Nina... she's mine, officer. She belongs to me. You can't keep her from me. No one can."

Vikram's grip on his gun tightened, but he kept his voice steady. "You're not getting anywhere near her. This ends now. On the ground, now!"

The man's smirk didn't falter. "You think you can stop me? You have no idea what's coming."

Before Vikram could respond, the man suddenly moved, faster than Vikram expected, darting toward the edge of the building. Vikram's heart jumped as he shouted, "Stop!" but the man didn't listen. He ran straight for the ledge, as if he were about to jump.

Vikram surged forward, grabbing the man by the arm just as he reached the edge, pulling him back with all his strength. The man struggled, thrashing wildly, his smirk replaced by a manic grin. "Let me go! You don't understand!"

But Vikram held on, wrestling the man to the ground, pinning him with his knee as he cuffed his wrists. "You're under arrest," Vikram growled, breathing hard. "And you're not going anywhere."

The man laughed—a chilling, high-pitched sound that echoed through the empty construction site. "You think you've won, don't you?" he hissed, his eyes wild. "This is far from over. She'll never be safe. You'll see."

Vikram ignored his words, dragging the man to his feet just as he heard the distant sound of police sirens approaching. Murthy and the backup team were finally here.

Murthy was the first to reach them, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. "Mehra! What the hell happened?"

Vikram, still catching his breath, glanced at the man he'd just arrested. "This is him, Murthy. The stalker. He was trying to escape."

Murthy nodded, his face serious as he looked at the man, who was still grinning like a madman. "We'll take him in. Good work, Mehra."

As the officers led the stalker away, Vikram felt a wave of relief wash over him. It wasn't over yet—there would be interrogations, investigations, and more—but for now, Nina was safe. The man who had terrorized her for months was in custody.

Murthy clapped Vikram on the shoulder. "Not bad for your first day, fresh blood."

Vikram gave a small smile, though his mind was still racing. "Thanks, Murthy."

As the stalker was loaded into the police car, Vikram watched him, the man's final words echoing in his head. 'This is far from over.'

Vikram knew that this was just the beginning. But he had faced his first real test as an officer and had come out stronger, more determined than ever. He would protect Nina, and anyone else who needed him. No matter what it took.

Vikram stood in the dimly lit interrogation room, leaning against the metal table as he stared through the one-way mirror at the man sitting on the other side. The stalker sat in a rigid, almost relaxed manner, as if he hadn't just been caught at the scene of his crimes. His hands were cuffed to the table, but the smirk on his face hadn't wavered since they brought him in.

Murthy stood beside Vikram, watching the man's every move with narrowed eyes. "He's not afraid," Murthy muttered, rubbing his chin. "Most guys in his position would be sweating bullets by now. But this one… he's different."

Vikram nodded, his jaw clenched. "He's been planning this for a long time. He's obsessed with her, Murthy. Everything he's done has been deliberate. But there's something more here. He's playing a game."

Murthy let out a frustrated sigh. "We've got enough to charge him with stalking, harassment, and attempted evasion. But I get the feeling there's something he's not telling us."

Vikram agreed. He could sense it too—there was something in the man's eyes, something twisted that went beyond a mere obsession. They needed to crack him, to get him to talk. And Vikram had a feeling that the key to understanding this man lay in his delusions about Nina.

"I'll go in," Vikram said, pushing himself off the wall. "He knows me. He's already tried to test me once. Maybe if I press the right buttons, he'll slip up."

Murthy looked at him, hesitation in his eyes. "You sure, fresh blood? This guy's dangerous. Don't let him get in your head."

Vikram gave a small nod. "I know. But I need answers."

With that, he walked toward the door, his heart beating steadily in his chest. The moment he stepped into the interrogation room, the atmosphere shifted. The stalker's eyes flicked up to meet Vikram's, and his smirk widened as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Ah, Officer Mehra," the man said smoothly, leaning back in his chair. "I was wondering when we'd have some alone time."

Vikram pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, his gaze never leaving the man's face. "You know why you're here," Vikram said evenly. "You've been stalking Nina Kaul for months. Harassing her. Terrorizing her. And now, we've caught you. It's over."

The stalker chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Over? No, Officer, you're mistaken. This is just the beginning."

Vikram's eyes narrowed. "You're delusional if you think you're going to get away with this. You're going to prison, and Nina will never have to see your face again."

The man tilted his head, his gaze growing more intense. "You don't understand, do you? Nina and I… we're meant to be together. She just doesn't realize it yet. But she will. I've been watching her for so long, studying her, knowing her better than anyone else ever could. You can't keep us apart."

Vikram fought to keep his composure, but the man's words sent a shiver down his spine. The level of obsession was deeper than he had imagined. This wasn't just about control—this man had convinced himself that Nina was his, that he had some twisted right to her.

"She doesn't belong to you," Vikram said, his voice low and firm. "She never has. You don't know anything about her."

The stalker's smile faltered for the first time, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "That's where you're wrong, Officer. I know everything about her. I know where she goes, what she eats, who she talks to. I know her favorite books, her favorite coffee shop. I even know the way she tucks her hair behind her ear when she's nervous. You think you can protect her from me, but you don't know her like I do."

Vikram leaned forward, his eyes locked on the man's. "You've been following her. Watching her every move. That's not love, it's obsession. And it ends now."

The man's smirk returned, more sinister than before. "You really think you can stop me? Do you know how many times I've been right outside her door? Watching. Waiting. I could have taken her whenever I wanted, but I was patient. I wanted her to come to me willingly. But now, thanks to you, things will have to be… expedited."

Vikram's heart rate spiked, but he kept his face expressionless. "What do you mean?"

The man leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper. "You've disrupted the plan, Officer. So now, I'll have to change tactics. But trust me, she'll come to me. Sooner than you think."

A cold dread settled in Vikram's gut. The man was still playing games, still holding something back. He wasn't just talking about his past actions—he was planning something.

"Enough," Vikram said sharply. "You're not getting anywhere near her. We have officers guarding her place, and we'll find out everything you've done—every message, every phone call. It's over for you."

The man leaned back again, looking strangely calm. "I'm not worried, Officer. You'll see. Nina and I… we're inevitable."

Vikram stood, his frustration mounting. This man wasn't going to crack easily, and whatever he was planning, he wasn't about to reveal it here. But Vikram had heard enough to know that Nina was still in danger. More than ever.

Before leaving the room, Vikram turned back to the stalker. "You're not inevitable. You're just a sad, delusional man who's going to spend the rest of his life behind bars."

The stalker's smile didn't falter. "We'll see about that."

As Vikram walked out of the room, he felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. Something was wrong—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He stepped into the observation room, where Murthy was watching the interaction with a grim expression.

"That guy's out of his mind," Murthy said, crossing his arms. "But he's too calm. He's hiding something, Vikram."

"I know," Vikram replied, pacing the small space. "He's planning something. He practically admitted it."

Murthy frowned, deep in thought. "What do you think he meant by 'changing tactics'?"

Vikram stopped pacing, his mind racing through everything the stalker had said. "He's been patient all this time, waiting for Nina to come to him willingly. But now that we've caught him, he knows that won't happen. So he's going to escalate."

Murthy's eyes widened slightly. "You think he's going to try something more direct?"

"Yes," Vikram said, his voice firm. "He's desperate now. And desperate people are dangerous."

Murthy cursed under his breath. "We need to get more protection on Nina. Whatever this guy's planning, we can't let him get close to her."

Vikram nodded. "I'll call it in. But I'm going to stay with her too. I have a feeling this isn't over yet."

Murthy gave him a hard look. "You sure about that? You've been on this case non-stop since the beginning. You need rest."

Vikram shook his head. "I can rest after this is over. Right now, Nina needs protection. And I'm not going to let that guy get anywhere near her."

Murthy sighed but nodded in agreement. "Alright. Just be careful, Vikram. That guy's unhinged, and he's clearly got something planned. We don't know what it is yet, but whatever it is, we can't underestimate him."

Vikram's mind was already back on Nina as he made the call to increase her security detail. He knew the stalker wasn't done. The man's words echoed in his head—"Nina and I… we're inevitable."

But Vikram wasn't going to let that happen. Not on his watch. This wasn't just another case anymore—it had become personal. He would protect Nina, no matter what it took.

And whatever the stalker was planning, Vikram was ready to caught the stalker.

The air was tense as Vikram parked his bike outside Nina's apartment complex, the setting sun casting long shadows across the street. Two uniformed officers stood guard at the entrance, nodding as Vikram approached. His mind raced as he replayed the stalker's cryptic words from the interrogation room—"changing tactics," and "Nina and I are inevitable." He couldn't shake the feeling that the man was still a step ahead, despite being locked up.

As Vikram entered the building, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Murthy.

"Mehra, we've got him under surveillance. He's been silent since you left, but something's off. I don't trust this guy," Murthy said, his voice filled with unease.

Vikram nodded, though Murthy couldn't see him. "I know. Keep watching him closely. I'll stay here with Nina until we figure out what he's planning."

"Good. Stay sharp, fresh blood. Call if anything happens."

Vikram ended the call and took a deep breath before knocking on Nina's door. Moments later, the door opened to reveal Nina, her eyes tired but relieved to see him.

"Vikram," she whispered, stepping aside to let him in. "I didn't think you'd come back so soon."

"I couldn't leave you alone after everything," Vikram replied, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at him. "I think he's planning something, Nina. We have to be prepared."

Nina swallowed hard, her fingers brushing her temple as she nodded. "I just… I don't know how much more of this I can take. Every time I think it's over, he finds another way to get into my life."

Vikram gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. "I promise you, Nina. It ends tonight. Whatever happens, I'm here."

As they sat together in her living room, the apartment seemed too quiet, the silence filled only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Nina kept glancing toward the window, her anxiety palpable. Vikram's mind churned, trying to predict the stalker's next move. He had a bad feeling, one that had only grown stronger since their confrontation at the police station.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door, followed by the muffled voices of the officers outside. Vikram jumped to his feet, instinctively reaching for his gun as he moved toward the door. Nina's eyes widened with fear.

"Stay here," Vikram whispered before opening the door a crack, just enough to peer outside.

One of the officers stood there, looking unnerved. "Sir, we've got a situation," he said, his voice tense. "We just got word from the station. The stalker—he escaped. Somehow, he slipped through surveillance. He's gone."

Vikram's heart dropped. "What? How the hell—?"

"No one knows," the officer replied quickly. "Murthy's calling in backup, but they think he's heading here."

Vikram's pulse quickened, and he slammed the door shut, locking it. He turned to Nina, his face grim. "He's escaped. We need to move—now."

Nina's face went pale. "He's coming for me, isn't he?"

Vikram nodded, grabbing her hand. "We can't stay here. We'll head down to the station, where it's safe."

But as Vikram moved toward the door again, something made him stop. The air around them felt heavy, and he heard a faint noise—a tapping, almost imperceptible, coming from the window behind them. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing.

"Nina… don't move," he whispered, his voice low.

Nina froze, following Vikram's gaze to the window. There, in the shadowy corner of the frame, she saw it—a faint outline, barely visible in the fading light. The stalker was here.

In a blur of motion, the window shattered, and the stalker lunged through the broken glass, his eyes wild with manic energy. "Nina!" he screamed, his voice twisted with obsession. "You belong to me!"

Vikram reacted instantly, shoving Nina behind him as he pulled his gun and aimed at the man. "Stop!" he shouted. "Don't come any closer!"

But the stalker didn't stop. He moved toward them with a terrifying determination, his eyes locked on Nina. "You can't keep us apart!" he hissed, his voice growing more frenzied.

Vikram's finger tightened on the trigger. "I said stop!"

The stalker lunged again, and in that split second, Vikram fired. The shot echoed through the apartment, and the stalker collapsed to the floor, clutching his shoulder as blood seeped through his fingers. He let out a guttural scream, writhing in pain, but even then, his eyes never left Nina.

"Get away from her!" Vikram growled, stepping between the stalker and Nina as the officers outside rushed in, guns drawn.

The stalker was subdued quickly, his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged out of the apartment, still muttering Nina's name under his breath. "Nina… we were meant to be… you'll see…"

As the door slammed shut behind the officers, Vikram finally allowed himself to exhale. The room was quiet again, save for the distant sirens wailing in the streets below.

Nina stood trembling, her eyes wide with shock. Vikram turned to her, his own adrenaline finally starting to fade.

"It's over," he said softly, walking over to her. "He's not coming back. You're safe now."

Tears welled up in Nina's eyes, and she nodded, though her body was still shaking. "Thank you, Vikram… I don't know how to even begin to thank you."

Vikram gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to. This is my job. But more than that, I wasn't going to let him hurt you."

For a moment, they stood there in the silence of the apartment, the weight of everything that had happened settling over them. Vikram knew that while the immediate danger was gone, the emotional scars would take time to heal. But for now, they had stopped the man who had been terrorizing Nina's life.

As the officers outside continued their work, Vikram turned to Nina and gently said, "Let's get you somewhere safe for tonight. You don't have to stay here."

Nina nodded, wiping away a tear. "I'll go wherever you think is best. I just… I just want this nightmare to end."

"It has," Vikram assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's over. And I'll make sure it stays that way."

Together, they walked out of the apartment, leaving behind the shattered glass and the echoes of the stalker's madness. As they stepped into the cool night air, Vikram felt a sense of resolution settle over him. His first case had tested him in ways he hadn't expected, but he had prevailed. He had protected Nina, and now, she could begin to rebuild her life.

The stalker would face justice, and Vikram knew that no matter what came next, he would be ready.