AN: I am so very sorry, but all my updates from now on will be far spaced owing to my upcoming exams.

So here you go! My latest chapter. Here The specter is found and so is Two Trees. Vivek remembers a few old scenes - Not shown or ever mentioned in the show, it is my own imagination! And that's about it.

Enjoy!

"Dialogues"

'Thoughts'

CID - Home Is Where The Heart Is

Two Trees

Tasha was still not sure how Suvidya could be 'The Specter'.

Yes, she was fast in gathering information. Yes, she was highly skilled in moving about unnoticed – but that was what her job required of her! And yes, she sometimes provided information to others too for a price. But she remained loyal to Tasha and only Tasha.

As Abhijeet sir had ordered, she had called Suvidya and asked her to meet in a bar. The bar would be crowded, thus providing them with a good camouflage. As she sat alone at a corner table and waited for the informer to arrive, she casted a glance over the other people in the bar, trying to find Abhijeet sir in the crowd. But alas, he had taken advantage of it and disappeared in it.

'Well, he is a master of disguise and concealment,' Tasha thought morosely, 'but does he have to leave me alone at the table? What should I say to Suvidya when she comes? Hey Suvidya, by the way, are you also called 'The Specter' – the infamous informer of the Underworld? Yeah, because that would be just perfect –'

"Look lively, Tasha," a voice whispered behind her and she jumped, eyes darting towards it, just to see Abhijeet sir standing there with a glass of sherbet. He had donned a ridiculous scarf with a floral pattern on it and a false moustache that he had pulled out of the depths of his pockets.

With just these two additions and a slight voice change, he seemed like a totally new person. And the only reason she recognized him was because his voice had a stern quality to it when he spoke to her. The way he would always do while reprimanding her.

"First rule in disguising yourself is to make use of the environment and integrate yourself in it," he reminded her, now in a gentler tone, "If you are in a bar, look as if you are here to enjoy and are a part of its insignificant crowd. Sulking and brooding makes you stick out like a neon signboard."

"Yes, sir," she said and adjusted her facial expression. When she looked back however, he was gone and she was alone once again. To pass the time she began humming to herself –

Alone again, naturally

I shouldn't be hangin' round,

When the world's turned upside down

You abandoned me,

I fell off the tree, to the hard and lonely ground

You've found somebody new,

And cracked my shell in two,

How could I foresee?

You'd turn out to be, such a buck toothed Casanova...

Now there's only strife and my life has lost all meaning...

How I miss your furry lips, your shallow, rapid breathing...

I wish you only knew...that I'm only nuts for you!

Alone again...naturally...*

She stopped when the bar's door opened and a figure stepped in. The person did not do much at first and simply went to the bar counter to order a drink. The jacket's hood had been pulled over the person's head, which was why she couldn't see their face and soon she stopped paying attention to them. But five minutes later, when the person plopped down on the seat opposite her, she got a good look at her face.

"Suvidya!" she whispered softly, "You sure took your time coming. I've been waiting since some time."

Suvidya grinned unrepentantly, knowing that that she was not really too late.

"What is it ma'am? Why have you called me here?" she asked Tasha.

"It is not I, but my senior who wanted to meet with you today," Tasha replied.

An alarmed look crept over her face, "Your senior? Ma'am! You promised you wouldn't tell anyone!" She half got up from her seat, but Tasha pulled her down.

Just then, Abhijeet once again appeared suddenly and soundlessly near their table. Even Suvidya seemed surprised. She took a good look at the man, but did not recognize him.

"She did not break her promise, Miss Suvidya," Abhijeet said as he took the last remaining seat at the table. "I am Senior Inspector Abhijeet and I assure you – I found out about you by myself and quite by chance. I have kept quiet about you and the only reason I have asked to meet you is that we are in need of your help to find a colleague of ours."

Abhijeet looked into her eyes directly. His black piercing orbs always seemed to have an effect on people, intimidating them and influencing them to tell the truth. Suvidya was not immune to it either.

She gulped and then gave a nod.

"Very good, Miss Suvidya. Or should I say, 'The Specter'?"

At that, her eyes sharpened and she leaned forward, "You are as sharp as the rumors say, Inspector," she complimented. "I am glad Tasha ma'am has you to depend on."

Abhijeet smiled at that. As time went on, the relationship between an informer and cop would sometimes change to that of friendship. When that happened, it guaranteed absolute loyalty and the informer would never want to harm their employer or betray them. He was glad to see that Tasha had found someone dependable as a connection to the Underworld.

"I will have to say the same applies to you," Abhijeet replied.

Suvidya gave an honest smile at that and said decisively "I will help you to the best of my ability."

Daya and Freddy had asked a lot of people, but no one seems to have heard about any place called 'Two Trees'. As it began drizzling slightly, they took cover under a huge banyan tree, wondering whom to ask about it now. Just as they were about to give up and try figuring out a different meaning for 'Two Trees', a short, slightly bald man joined them under the tree.

He looked about carefully before saying, "I've heard you are asking about 'Two Trees' a lot. Why do you want to know about that place?"

Daya and Freddy exchanged a look. Then Freddy nodded and replied in an accent, making his voice seem as if he were slightly drunk,

"We're suppos'd ta meet someone there, whatzit ta you? Go on you, don't wanna talk ta you. I ain't had a drink in long. Not in the mood to chat, see? Just need ta find this 'Two Trees' place."

The man looked satisfied and said, "I can take you there, but mind you, you are not allowed to tell anyone its location, got it?"

The two detectives nodded and followed the man as he led them down twisting and turning alleys. They crossed a few dark lanes, climbed a fence and crawled through a thicket of bushes till they came across a narrow, nearly abandoned road. There was only one building there, about three stories high. It had a simple doorplate with 'The Inn' written on it.

The man nodded at the inn, "Go through it and out the back door. The bar you will find opposite to the back door is called 'Two Trees'. Hope you meet whoever you were looking for. See ya."

With that he disappeared, going back into the thicket of bushes. Freddy waited till he could no longer hear the man's footsteps and then turned to his senior,

"I didn't know places so well hidden like this even existed. I've only ever heard of it in books,"

"Well," said Daya, "you learn something new every day. Let's check it out."

Just as they were about to enter the inn, Daya's phone vibrated in his pocket and after seeing who was calling, he immediately received it.

"Abhijeet," Daya greeted him, "what is it?"

Freddy watched as Daya sir 'Hmmed' and 'Aahed' and 'Ohhed'. He finally ended the call with, "Okay, thanks. Good to know."

Daya turned back to Freddy and gave him a slight smile. They walked a little away from the main door of the inn, to avoid standing in the way if anyone entered or exited the place. Freddy raised a questioning eyebrow at his senior.

"Our work is made easier," Daya said with a small smile. "Abhijeet and Tasha have talked with 'The Specter', she told them about the information that she gave to Vivek."

"What is it?" asked Freddy eagerly, "Did she tell them about this place? And about the man who drinks half a glass of wine?"

Daya nodded his head, "Yes, she was the one who told Vivek about 'Two Trees'. And that he had to look out for a man who ordered only half a glass of wine."

"Orders half a glass of wine?" repeated Freddy incredulously.

"Yes, he is the one who can give us the next bit of information to work on. This man is dangerous though, we have to be careful."

Freddy nodded and then both of them entered the inn. The sun had already begun its descent, painting the sky in various hues of orange and red. The two detectives had no difficulty crossing the inn and getting out from the back gate. The main lobby of the inn was deserted, not even the owner or manager was present.

They exited the back door and there right opposite it was a small pub. It was clearly old, the paint was peeling off the walls and the windows were tinted – both with colour and dirt. As they came closer they saw the words 'Two Trees' carved into the wooden door.

Finally they had found it!

After the last failed attempt, Vivek had not tried to escape again. Not only were they keeping a better watch on him, but he was also tired of it. Tired of running again and again only to be caught and brought back into the enemy lair.

The enemy had kept trying to pry information out of him, but he had stubbornly held on through all the torture. And not the traditional kind of torture, oh no! These people specialized in emotional and mental torture.

Sometimes, he would hear voices from the other side of the door – voices of his colleagues; Tasha's desperate voice calling for him or Freddy sir's gruff tone berating him for getting caught so easily and moaning about the ghosts that might be lurking in this dark house. He even heard ACP sir's ordering tone a couple of times, telling him to escape from there by giving them what information they wanted.

The first week he had started hearing them, he was able to tell himself that it was false and could be easily produced by a machine or ventriloquism. But as time passed, his traitorous heart wanted nothing more to give in to their voices and free himself.

"Vivek. Vivek! Get out of that useless stupor! Use your head! You are stuck here; think of a way to escape. We will not always be there to assist you!"

'Oh Lord!' Vivek moaned silently, 'They've begun it again. And a new voice this time. Guess they know how much I've always looked up to Daya sir.'

Sure enough, Daya's voice began lecturing Vivek about his duty as a CID cop and how irresponsible he was for getting captured. That he got into this mess himself, and would have get out of it on his own too.

"Think, Vivek! What are your choices? What do they want that you have?"

Vivek remembered this from his talks with his senior. Daya sir would present a hypothetical situation to him and ask him, 'What would you do then, Vivek? Look at your choices, the criminal will expect you to do that. Surprise them, if you can. Or give in, do what they want till you can turn the tables back on them.'

Yes, this was very effective against Vivek. He was already weak due to lack of proper nutrition and the constant urging from his own colleagues made him want to do it.

But it was at these times that his inner voice would speak up. And like his captors did, the voice too would speak as if it were Daya sir – and tell him to hold on. That he would escape and that they will come for him. Even if he got himself captured, he was not alone and that they would always be with him. He would hear the voices of Tasha, Freddy sir, Abhijeet sir and ACP sir – but this time they came from within – encouraging him and providing strength to endure.

Coming back to the present, Vivek heard Daya sir's voice telling him to give the information, but he tuned it out.

'Something happy,' thought Vivek, 'Think about something happy. That will surely distract me from this masterful imitation of my senior.'

An old memory came to mind and immediately a smile crept on his face…

Freddy sir had warmly welcomed him to their team. Vivek had been slightly confused though, when instead of the usual 'welcome to the team' that he had received from the others, he was greeted with 'welcome to the family'. But after that he noticed how all the officers, even their ACP, were friendlier and warmer in their interactions with him.

It was after a long time he realized why.

He had been invited to Freddy sir's house that day. The wife, he had always heard about when his seniors would talk but never seen, opened the door. She gave them bright smile and welcomed them in.

He was seated at the dining table in the modest kitchen with a glass of homemade orange juice in front of him while Manisha, Freddy sir's wife, was stirring the gravy that was being cooked. Freddy sir had gone to freshen up and Manisha had begun talking to him.

"So you are Vivek, hmm?" she began, "Freddy has often talked about you. I must say, I have been waiting to meet you since a long time."

For a moment he didn't know what to say. What had Freddy sir told his wife? About how much he would pull his leg and tease him? About his annoying questions that only served to irritate Freddy?

"He says you are a good lad," she turned from her cooking to smile at him. And he instinctively smiled back, happy that Freddy sir saw him as something other than an annoying junior officer.

They chatted that way for a while, she at the stove and he slowly sipping the juice. Then Manisha expressed an old worry of hers, her tone indicated that she had spoken about this many times but still needed reassurance.

"I worry about him sometimes, you know," she confided, "this job – it's dangerous. With his trusting attitude…I just hope he doesn't end up putting his faith in the wrong person one day…"

Vivek looked back at the short time they had spent together in CID and while he agreed that Freddy sir was a jovial and kind person, he wouldn't really say that he was very trusting.

Freddy sir was a CID Inspector, hardened by years of sleuthing and mingling with all kinds of people and criminals. His wife – only seeing the soft side of her husband – didn't know how Freddy's eyes would narrow with suspicion, how his lips would twist into a sneer in disgust, how his steady and sure fingers would pull the trigger when faced with a dangerous criminal.

Manisha may be the wife of a cop but even she did not know everything that went on in their lives. He smiled at her, not wanting to shatter that innocence in her eyes.

It was good to know there were still people in this world that could sleep peacefully not having seen the harsh cruelty that existed in the world.

"He is not trusting, ma'am," Vivek told her, "He is just an excellent judge of character. And one hell of a brilliant officer!"

"That's what they all say," she sighed.

"They?" he questioned.

"Abhijeet, Daya, ACP sir, Dr Salunkhe and even that girl – what's her name? – Muskaan," Manisha said, "All of them tell me the same thing. They wave off my worries, but he is a CID officer! I can't help but worry about him!"

"It is alright to worry, ma'am," he told her, "but also trust that he will be fine."

"I know," she gave him her usual bright smile then, "that is what keeps me going throughout the day. And day after day."

He had left his senior's house with a new knowledge that day.

Even if ACP sir could pick out a single lie from a bunch of truthful facts or that Abhijeet sir was the most shrewd and sharp inspector he had known and Daya sir's intimidating presence made even the toughest criminal lose their cool – it was Freddy sir who was the best judge of character.

When most of the team would doubt and suspect a seemingly notorious individual, Freddy, with some inner intuition, would be the one who'd put forth the idea that he might be innocent. And he was nearly always proven correct.

And sometimes the opposite would happen where Freddy's suspect would turn out to be the killer and his explanation would be – "You should have seen the way he behaved, sir, something about him just felt wrong to me."

And as he looked back at their first meeting where he had been welcomed to the family, he felt happy in knowing that Freddy sir had taken one look at him and reached to the conclusion that he was trustworthy.

That, somehow, had made his respect for Freddy sir grow a bit more.

When Vivek resurfaced from the memory, he noticed that he could no longer hear Daya sir's voice. Sighing in relief, he was about to close his eyes and try to sleep when the door to his cell banged open.

"Get up!" a voice barked. "The Boss wants to see you."

He had no strength in his limbs to comply, so just sat where he was. Frustrated, his captor pulled him up himself and dragged him to meet the Boss.

The Boss was in the main hall, pacing its length like a caged animal. He turned to look at Vivek as he came in.

"I am not going to beat about the bush," the Boss said in anger, "I am giving you two days. Two days in which you either tell me where the microchip is hidden or I kill you."

Vivek's eyes widened in fear. He was a CID officer, true. And ready to give up his life for the nation, but as every mortal, he did not want to die. At least not so young…

The Boss noticed the fear in his eyes and pounced on the fact.

"Yes, only two days," he repeated with a smirk on his face, "or I will kill and bury you in such a place that they will never find your rotting skeleton."

And all of a sudden a voice spoke in his head, sounding a lot like Daya sir – Think Vivek! Look at the situation! What are your choices?

One thing was certain, Vivek decided, giving up the microchip was not even to be considered as a choice. That left him with two options – either he had to escape before he was killed on the second day or his colleagues found and rescued him. All before two days got over.

'ACP sir! Please, help me. I need your strength to keep going. To escape. If not…Please find me. You have only two days. Please, sir!'

ACP entered the Forensic Lab and immediately called out, "Salunkhe! Tarika! Come quickly! We need to go. I will explain on the way."

Hearing the urgent tone in his friend's voice, Salunkhe decided not to question him and simply went along with him. Tarika just followed her senior's lead. Once seated in the car, ACP explained the situation to the two doctors.

"So we are going to try to find this 'Wanderer'?" concluded Dr Salunkhe.

"Yes."

From the back seat, Tarika spoke up, "And how much time has Headquarters given us for retrieving Vivek and salvaging this mission?"

"Counting today, four days," ACP replied grimly.

Salunkhe narrowed his eyes, "And if we do not find Vivek in four days…?"

"Case closed, no questions asked." ACP confirmed the forensic expert's thoughts.

Tarika gulped but firmly said, "I will do my best to help in any way I can."

Salunkhe smiled at his assistant, "As I expected from you Tarika!" Turning to ACP, "Boss, all my knowledge and experience, if it will be of use – I will employ it! Do not worry, we will find Vivek!"

*From the movie: Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs

AN: Nothing to say this time except - Please leave a review!

Aditi - As always, seeing your review makes my heart swell with happiness. Thanks for reviewing! Sorry for the late update. Hope this story still has your interest