If Shadows Could Tell

By Granthana Sinha

This is an intriguing mystery-thriller novel with a gripping twist-ending that will keep you hooked until the very last word. It is the first novel to feature Aurora Steller as the protagonist and seeker of truth.

Synopsis: When Janet Clay's body is found in a local gym pool, every authority dismisses it as just another case of drug-overdose.
Ridden by the guilt of not being able to save the young journalist while she still had a chance ― Aurora Steller visits the memorial service ― only to end up suspecting that things aren't as simple as they appear. Her determination to find out the truth, only draws her further into an intricate web of greed and deceit ― where some will stop at nothing to protect their well-crafted masks.
With several events unfolding around her, it becomes terrifyingly clear that more lives might have been lost already. Suddenly, her beautiful, sleepy little town seems to be harvesting some sinister secrets; every fact seems tainted with lies; everyone she loves is in mortal danger.
With no evidence, no witness and very few allies, Aurora must risk everything, including her own life, to uncover the truth and bring justice to the numerous shattered lives, before it's too late...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Granthana Sinha
• Release date: May 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354070983

Granthana Sinha

Granthana Sinha has studied English Literature and is a certified Graphic-Web designer and Digital painter.Forever fascinated by the idea of being able to pen down imagination, the author started writing poems and stories since her childhood. She is the author of the much loved gripping mystery novel ‘If Shadows Could Tell’. Her psychological thriller short, 'The Unrelated Murders' – was a winning contest entry, and was selected for Juggernaut SELECTS program in 2019. She has also penned the supernatural mystery short 'Fading in a Hade', which got selected as the Editor's Pick (Juggernaut Books) and the sci-fi mystery short, ‘Addressed To Her'.Her books are now available on Amazon, Amazon kindle, Smashwords and all other major platforms. Some of her soulful poems have been published as part of ‘Sea – an anthology of poems', that is currently available worldwide.She lives in Kolkata with her family, and in her spare time, enjoys painting, travelling and solving cryptography puzzles.You can connect with and follow updates about Granthana and her books on:Instagram:https://m.instagram.com/granthana_s_108Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/granthana.sinha/https://www.facebook.com/GranthanaSinha108/Twitter:https://twitter.com/Granthana_Sinhahttps://twitter.com/GranthanaSYoutube:https://youtube.com/@Granthana_Sinha

Book preview

Prologue

With a pounding heart, she walked out of the elevator, weighed down by an impending feeling of loss.

The gold-rimmed ivory door that stood at the far end of the hallway, was left slightly ajar and she could hear the weak, muted whimpers of agony.

Her heart churned as tears clouded her vision, but her eyes didn't fail to notice the crimson splotches that marked the pristine white rug that spread across the marble flooring.

She dragged her feet forward, one step at a time, her eyes trailing the blood that marked his failed attempt at escaping and screamed of the torture he must've suffered.

Just a few hours ago, standing before a particular grave, she hadn't thought she had it in her to endure any more pain. But the moment she had received the call ― fear had invaded each and every nerve of her body. It had rushed up her veins, frozen her blood and choked her breath.

Yet she had managed to drive herself to the building, rush past the main entrance and up the elevator ― to reach where she had been asked to. Yet now ― just a few feet away from the one she hoped to save ― each step felt more strenuous than the last.

A final agonizing cry filled the hallway ― piercing both the cold dead night and her thudding, terrified heart. A chill ran down her spine, dipping her soul into an icy world of darkness.

The door swung open at the slightest push of her trembling hand, and a sickly stream of blood flowed across the floor and kissed her frozen feet.

It took her an immense amount of effort to take her eyes off the crimson and shift her focus on the one who bled.

His body lay on the cold marble, his face partially drenched in the blood that oozed out of several gaping wounds. Even with no life left in him anymore, his beautiful unfathomable eyes still seemed to watch her pale, broken self.

Her legs refused to hold her balance any longer. She collapsed to the floor and his blood soaked onto her dress. But with every bit of her focus on him, she barely noticed the sticky wetness on her clothes.

Her eyes simply remained fixated on his, even though she knew he couldn't see her anymore. Unbearable waves of pain knotted through her, rocking her body like she was convulsing from a shock.

The monster landed another quick blow on his motionless face and she felt her world give a nauseating spin. Her head smacked against the cold floor while her silent tears rolled down and mingled with the fresh pool of blood.

She knew it was her fault, and her fault alone. And his blood was truly on her own hands.

The vile creature asked something of her ― perhaps to wait in the car ― but she was lost beyond all this ― way beyond to realize what all he said.

Kill me, she begged of the creature, her eyes still on the battered face of the one she had loved and failed.

The monster took a few slow steps toward her and gently prodded her in her ribs with his boots.

I think I told you to get up and wait for me in the car, he repeated in a soft, pleasant voice.

Please, she croaked, barely being able to whisper. Kill me. Please. I can't live.

A sick hysterical laughter filled the air as he pulled up her limp body and held her from behind, like he was cradling her in his arms.

You don't get to die, darling, he crooned into her ear and softly kissed her neck. Not today. Not till I let you.

Unfolded Events

There were lame days, troubled days, outright pathetic days. And then, there was today. One, that could beat all terribleness hands down and simply turn disastrous.

Already feeling damp and miserable, I shielded my face, cupping my palms over my eyes. It barely made any difference. The rain was riding on the winds. The tiny droplets were icy and attacked from all directions. My make-shift umbrella barely kept the rain out of my eyes, but it at least allowed me to watch my heartless friend – seated in her blazing red convertible ― grinning widely at me through the door of the car she had left open.

Today, really is your day, she observed. First, you manage to blow up your car's battery, then you walk out of your crazy job, crash a funeral, get invited to a nice little dinner; and now you are adamant on waiting for an Uber. Even though it's raining buckets.

I fumed both inwardly and out.

The tenth day of October was seriously getting on my nerves. But, even if not the rest, the 'rain' bit was totally on Suz. It was her fault straight out.

'Flame' had been just a block away. It had quite a huge layout and didn't usually have a crowd rush at this hour. We could've easily grabbed a spot and avoided this weather. But no! Today, of all days, Suz had chosen a weather-beaten bench in a shady, secluded corner of the park, over the warm, rain-free coffee shop.

After the terrible storm last night, the sun had refused to make a full appearance all morning. And then it had decided to get completely wrapped in clouds. The tiny speck of dark slate had silently kept inching forward, till it had covered the whole of the pale gray sky. I hadn't failed to notice these. I had been observant enough to anticipate exactly how the windy weather would eventually turn out. But when you stare at a driver's license and get to know that the owner possibly has disappeared, you forget to act in accordance to the deteriorating weather.

My last destination wasn’t exactly a celebratory space either. I had been attending a funeral service in the Church. Unwittingly, no doubt. But attending nonetheless. And now, having to hear about disappeared individuals, simply added to the miserable list.

My visit to the Church was supposed to allow me some alone, self-reflecting time. It wasn’t supposed to make me feel like an uninvited, rude intruder.

But when you crash a funeral, there really is no turning back. Your own awkwardness makes you linger for more minutes than needed. And then too many pairs of eyes seem to have noticed you there, and suddenly, hurrying out feels more rude than barging in.

Knowing where exactly I had landed myself, I had chosen a secluded corner in the very last pew to avoid grabbing attention. A soft music of some unknown origin, which had kept playing in the background, had even managed to calm my mind and distract my thoughts.

In fact, at one point, I had meant to stay longer ― spend a few more minutes to push away the sour memories Steve Jade's stupid company had brought along. And I would've, had Suz not sent multiple messages asking me to meet her in front of Flame.

She could’ve simply called. But texting a million messages somehow diverted her impatience of having to wait. And that was Suz. Impatient messages were her thing. Impatience was what almost defined her. Yet the cause behind such impatience would, almost always, turn out to be something simple. Something which could easily be sorted.

But to be greeted with the sight of her grim face and learning about her earnest belief that either a young woman had disappeared or was in some sort of trouble ― wasn't something I had foreseen. Apparently, today couldn’t be brushed aside as the ‘almost always' after all.

'Janet Clay, 04/03/1987, 5'-07", 140 lb, light brown eyed'. That was about all the information the regular Class D Driver License held, describing the person, my friend claimed, had disappeared. The license obviously had an address as well, but according to the volunteer who had brought Mr. White his donor subscription card ― Janet Clay wasn’t in her apartment and she hadn't been answering her phone either for the past couple of days. In fact, the same volunteer was the one who had told Mrs. White about Janet's uncharacteristic absence from volunteering.

But the girl hadn't said it out of worry. Janet was supposed to give her a pair of her spare headphones, and now with Janet not showing up, the uncertainty of receiving the promised gadgets had made the girl a little cross.

Skipping a few days of charity work hadn't seemed like a big deal to me. Journalism did demand time. As a journalist, Janet Clay could've easily been caught up with some added work. Maybe she had uncovered a smuggling racket or was following some exciting trail of ghostbusters. Or maybe it was even simpler than that and she had just gone on a personal trip ― camping, hiking or off to visit her family in a different state. Who knew?

But she was a regular, Suz had insisted. Today, she was supposed to bring dad's subscription card herself and collect the donation from him. When she didn't turn up, this other girl, Sarah, filled in for her and brought the card along.

Maybe it was a sudden trip, I had suggested.

Trust me, Aura. She hadn't sounded like she was planning on a vacation anytime soon. And anyway, she would've surely called to let someone at the organization know that she wouldn't be coming, right? Plus, she never came back looking for that! Suz had pointed at the ID. She must've left it at my place last Friday. Don't you think she would've needed it if she was really traveling?

There was no arguing with that. Not being aware of a misplaced driver's license for almost six days now, was definitely odd.

Seriously? Suz's voice broke my train of thoughts and I snapped back into the present. You are still going to wait?

The rain, now reduced to a light drizzle, irritated me all over again. With the water getting into my eyes, I couldn't even throw Suz an angry look. I love getting drenched!

Her grin morphed into laughter, but she controlled it rather quickly. I'll drop you, she offered for the third time.

You need to meet the suppliers. That's a different route.

Annoyed at the very thought, she cringed her nose and checked her watch. I can still drop you.

No. I don't want you to reach the meeting when it's over.

She made a face. At least get in while you wait.

I had thought of that. But there were high chances of missing the Uber if I got inside Suz's car. Specially here, where the cell reception was terrible. Explaining to the driver which exact corner of the sprawling, crescent-shaped park I was standing in, had already been a hassle. Now, if the driver couldn't find me in the rain and decided to move on, I might miss my ride altogether. And that would be far worse than having to stand in the rain for the next fourteen minutes.

Aura, you are so going to fall sick, Suz announced, struggling to hide her amusement.

I was right. Heartless ― was exactly what Suz was. Why else would she find my dreary condition amusing?

Dare you laugh, Susan White, I challenged.

Suz looked at me with wide innocent eyes, as if surprised by the way my thoughts worked.

By the way, you never said what you told dear old Steve. Did it shock him enough when you threw the resignation on his face? Suz grinned, giving unmindful twirls to her red curls.

Right! Now she wanted details of how pathetic the day already had been before being bombarded with her messages!

It wasn't pleasant. Undoubtedly, that was mellowing it down. But the weather wasn't really ideal for chit-chat.

Exactly seven months. Counting today. In such a short duration, it was amazing how the design firm had managed to give me more headaches than I could count.

Quitting the horrible job had almost been dramatic. With a dozen of his staff listening to my heated voice, Steve Jade had looked beyond shocked when I had given him a piece of my mind. I had sort of surprised my own self with my flared temper. But he needed to be told - that it was not ok to continuously tick off people for trivial, insignificant things, just because they refused to sleep with him. I had done the needful, and hopefully, Steve would remember me as someone he shouldn’t have messed with.

He so deserved it, Suz looked pleased.

That he did.

And then you decided to crash a stranger's funeral? her eyes twinkled with curiosity.

I pressed my lips in a hard line. It wasn't pre-planned.

Whose was it?

A young girl's. Eleven or twelve.

Anyone we know?

My thoughts exactly when I had realized I was intruding into a funeral service. But thankfully, I hadn't known the deceased. In fact, I hadn't been able to recognize anyone there for that matter. I shook my head. Hadn't seen her before.

The thunder rumbled in a slow, persistent manner, like an old engine that needed repair. The wind grew stronger and the rain poured with renewed force. The gloomy weather made me remember Janet Clay's smiling face. The picture on her license had shown a young woman with beautiful eyes and dark chocolate-brown hair which reached up to her shoulders.

I had seen her once. Just once, at Suz's place on Friday. Till the time I had actually taken a good look at her photograph, Suz's graphic description of Janet Clay's face hadn't helped to jog my memory.

That day, I had been waiting in my car for Suz and had only popped inside her house to figure out how much longer she was going to take to get ready. I had noticed Mr. White discussing charity programs with a young woman. But Suz's dad was always eager to help others, always willing to donate. Every other day, someone or the other would come by with brochures and ask for donations. Dismissing the woman as another such volunteer, I hadn't bothered to know her name. It hadn't seemed important. But now that I knew she was Janet Clay ― that short, insignificant memory of the 4th of October ― had a palpable amount of significance. That had been the only time, ever, that I had laid my eyes on her. Maybe for a few unmindful minutes at best. But it had given my thoughts a face of reference. I had a sudden regret of not paying attention to the conversation. Maybe I could've formed my own opinion of her.

Just a while back, I had convinced Suz to stop being paranoid about the journalist. I had convinced her that Janet's absence from volunteering must've had a very logical and safe explanation. Honestly, I hadn't said these just to calm Suz. I had believed in those words myself. But the consistent, gloomy weather somehow managed to plant a seed of unexpected uneasiness in my mind.

If Janet Clay doesn't show up within a day or two, we'll tell the cops, I told her, over the sound of the pouring rain.

Thanks Aura, A smile spread across Suz's lips. For those who truly knew my intelligent, chatterbox friend, the difference was evident in her smile. It wasn't either the chirpy or the smug smile which usually curved her lips. This was genuine, hopeful. There was a knot of panic, somewhere deep down in Suz's mind, no matter how cheerful she tried to look. She was worried for a stranger. Worried, when no one else was. And I knew that, even when it wasn't noticeable. No matter how much she was capable of irritating me, this was the side of her which I admired, which, almost nineteen years ago, had sealed our bonds of friendship. Heartless or not, I had to do something to ease out the worry from the mind of the girl I considered my best friend.

I know I sounded paranoid. Maybe it’s nothing. Her driver's license must've fallen out and slid under the sofa when she took out her card. Today, when I found her ID and then Sarah spoke about her absence, it felt really weird.

I hope it's nothing.

Me too.

I noticed a car slowing down as it approached the spot where I stood. Glancing at my Uber app, I matched the number of the assigned car with the one on the plate.

It's here, I announced to Suz. And don't start freaking out, ok? Maybe Janet Clay is going to stop by your house tonight to get her ID back.

She nodded. My reassurance had worked. She was visibly calm.

Now go, I motioned with my hand, spattering the rain with the gesture. You are already late.

So are you. Boredom awaits, she chuckled.

I grunted in response. All I wanted now was a nice hot shower, my warm patchwork quilt and some mushroom pasta. The idea of having to visit my great-aunt Judith, especially in this lovely weather for an equally lovely dinner invitation, seemed both unrealistic and unbearable.

But mom was hell-bent on visiting her last surviving aunt as often as possible. And like always, she was going to drag dad and me with her, for what she considered ― rare family-time.

Suz put her seat belt on and grabbed the wheel. Call me when you get home.

I will. I waved to her and then motioned to the Uber driver to catch his attention.

Guiltily enough, a small puddle got carried in with my coat. The driver didn't look too pleased but thankfully he didn't comment. He started the engine and I watched Suz drive past in the opposite direction.

I imagined a bunch of faceless suppliers with whom she too would be stuck for the next few hours till they could finalize a deal for the upcoming party, which Giltz was organizing. After all, when she wasn't pondering over disappeared people, Suz was the creative head of her family's event organizing company. Even changing the company's former name to ‘Glitz’, had totally been her idea. It was kind of awesome of her to come up with such a short, simplistic name which still had a stylish ring to it.

I really wished she could join me for the dinner. Boring or not, it would undoubtedly turn out better than a dull business meeting any day. But Suz was long gone before I was halfway through my thoughts.

Successfully avoiding the signal, the driver took a much longer route, right past the Church. It wasn't the route I would've preferred on a sunnier day. But Rose Street was narrower and it easily got water logged. I hated the idea of having to endure the extra fifteen minutes or so this was going to cost me. But it was at least better than getting stuck in this weather.

The car approached the Church and I watched the dignified old structure, which I had visited just a few hours back.

Out of plain curiosity, I tried to peek in through the open gates to figure out if the funeral was still on. It was then that my eyes narrowed at the unanticipated sight of a person I had met earlier inside the Church.

The peculiarity wasn't just about how he stood outside the entrance of the building in spite of the rain soaking through his bones. But more so, in the way his head turned, totally in sync with the motion of the car, like his eyes were trailing it as it passed. In this terrible downpour and with the glass rolled up, it was ridiculous to think that he really could make out anyone inside the moving vehicle. But ridiculously enough, I had a strong and utterly weird feeling that maybe, he somehow could.

Earlier in the day, my encounter with the mournful stranger had been too brief to remember. Or at least that was what I had thought ― up until now.

Now, it suddenly flashed like a vivid memory. His neat, brushed back hair, his ocean blue eyes which didn't somehow match with the dark shade of amber of his hair, the strange weariness clouding his otherwise handsome features, his sophisticated way of dressing ― it all came back to me. Like it was all stored up somewhere at the back of my mind in perfect, precise detail.

In the Church, he had thrown a shocked and curious look when I had asked him to shift a bit in his seat to let me pass. But my presence there had been both intrusive and rude, and I had been quite relieved when he had simply stood up without saying much and made way for me to walk out of the pew and into the aisle, to exit the building.

The stranger, possibly in his late twenties, who had maintained extreme caution and not made a single sound while taking a seat beside me; who had been so stealthy in his movements that I hadn't even noticed his presence till the time he was already seated; who had also preferred the very last pew and had startled me with his unanticipated presence ― although grief-stricken, had appeared sane enough. But now, I kind of doubted my perception of him.

Now, the stranger stood in the terrible downpour, dangerously close to the foggy-wind-shielded cars which swished past inches away from him. He stood in absolute calmness, getting drenched like a deranged lunatic who hadn't noticed the weather.

I twisted in my seat and pressed my face close to the glass to look at him, surprised by the oddness of it all. I stared at his apparent motionless silhouette, till he completely faded from my inquisitive view.

*****

Here (The woman)

It is late afternoon and I know we have reached. I clutch the strap of my duffle bag and wait with the other passengers. The deck isn't fancy but the sky has turned a lovely shade of crimson. I stand watching the colors reflected on the calm waves.

I feel a smile on my face and conclude that the smile comes from the ability to appreciate beauty.

It surprises me.

I have seen sunsets and bloodshot evening skies before. Innumerable times.

I can't really pinpoint the difference. But this does feel new. Like watching something pure and beautiful. Even with all the uncertainties tugging at the back of my mind, I am still able to appreciate the momentary calmness this serenity brings along.

Passengers start to get off, and we wait for our turn. Some try to get off faster than the others. They almost push people out of their way. It's easy to tell from the eagerness burning in their eyes that it isn't happiness of coming home which makes them impatient; just a fire to run and mix in the crowd. I avoid the jostle and let them pass. I believe they are runaways like us; people who have cut off every string of their past, to run into this new country, hoping to start afresh.

But strangely, unlike them, I don't feel eager. The only thing I feel inside of me is the ice of a dubious future.

I have been running for so long now, that 'reaching' feels strange. Neither can I feel any tangible hope.

After all, I truly have nothing here. The scared, fragile little soul beside me has nothing here. We are like nomads ― without a name, home or life.

I wonder how this is any different ― any better.

It is like being stranded amidst a sea of strangers. Scared and alone. I realize, my past demons aren't here to haunt me. Not because I've successfully outrun those, but simply because new ones have taken their place and filled up the void with the terribleness of uncertainty.

I step down carefully, one step at a time, to be in a new country, thousand miles away from my own. And finally the steps end.

My feet touch ground and I hear my breath escape through my lips. With a hammering heart I look ahead into the vast unknown.

I am here.

*****

The Lunatic

So how was dinner? Suz giggled.

I pretended not to hear and kept my bag of groceries on the back seat of her car.

Boring but bearable? Or boring to death?

Just drive Suz, I grumbled, getting in.

She slid down in the driver’s seat with a huge grin on her face and texted someone before starting the engine.

I knew that smug look when I saw it. Don’t tell me you found someone last night!

Her grin broadened. Kind of. But it's more like he found me.

You’re impossible! I accused in amazement.

She laughed and pulled the car out of the parking lot.

I