Chapter 12 — Hayworth

London. November 29th.Richard Hayworth was arrested at his home in Kensington at six AM on a Thursday.Naina was not there for the arrest — she was in Delhi by then, back in her unit, managing the Indian components of the case. She was watching the news feed when the statement from Metropolitan Police came through: "A man has been arrested in connection with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder, corporate espionage, and unlawful surveillance." His name was not in the statement. It would be in the morning papers.She knew it was him from the timing.She was sitting at her desk in the Cyber Crime Unit when her phone showed the news notification. Her team lead, a man named Superintendent Bhave, was standing at the door of the briefing room looking at her with the expression of a man who had received a seventy-three page evidence package from his own detective three days ago and had spent those three days escalating it through channels while simultaneously processing the information that the detective in question had been running an unauthorized personal investigation across four countries."Good morning," she said."You're going to have a very long conversation with me today," he said."I know," she said. "After the Vayu arrests, if you can manage it.""The Vayu arrests," he said."The warrant came through at five-thirty this morning," she said. "Bengaluru units are handling it. Suresh Lal and two of the technical directors. The Dubai piece is a UAE matter — Leila Haddad's organization filed the complaint and the Dubai authorities moved faster than I expected." She looked at her screen. "The Tokyo piece is a Japanese parliamentary committee — Kenji's paper published last night, Japan time. It's their news cycle already." She looked at Bhave. "It was designed to move simultaneously. That was the point."Bhave looked at her for a long moment."Your husband is alive," he said."Yes, sir.""He's been in Geneva.""Yes, sir.""He is a RAW officer whose operation I'm going to have to file seventeen forms about.""Yes, sir.""And you, during your compassionate leave following his supposed death, ran an investigation across four countries, collected evidence across multiple jurisdictions, coordinated simultaneously with Interpol, Thames Valley Police, and four foreign journalists, and submitted a case file that has triggered arrests in three countries this morning.""Five countries if you count Switzerland, sir. The financial charges."He looked at the ceiling. Then at her."The conversation," he said, "is going to be very long.""I am prepared for that," she said."Go home first," he said. "You look like you haven't slept in a week.""Three weeks," she said."Go home," he said. "Be here at two. Bring every note you have."She stood up."Sir," she said. "The Preethi Anand case. The 2021 road accident in Chennai. It's connected — DAGGER access log for her vehicle is in the file. I'd like to—""We'll reopen it," he said. "This afternoon. At two. Go home, Mehta."She went home.