The sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the city as I finally shut down my laptop. The first phase of the mission was complete, but there was no time to rest. We had made progress, but the cybercrime ring was still operational, and the real challenge was just beginning
I knew that the next steps required seamless coordination between the digital and physical worlds. I grabbed my phone and texted Nikhitha, Suresh, and Karthik, sending them the locations we had identified during the night.
"Coordinates received. You guys ready to move? Remember, low profile—blend in and gather intel. We can't afford to spook them."
Nikhitha responded first. "Got it. We're already on-site, posing as employees in the financial district. We'll start gathering intel and report back. Stay sharp, Devika."
Suresh followed with his usual calm demeanor." All set. We'll keep our heads down and observe. Let's bring these guys down."
With the field agents in place, I felt a little more at ease. The weight of the operation wasn't solely on my shoulders anymore. Still, the digital aspect of the mission was crucial, and that was on me and Roy. The whole day went on monitoring their action.
The next day, as I was going through my morning routine, my phone buzzed with a call from Maya. I answered quickly, hearing the nervousness in her voice before she even spoke.
"Devika, I just checked the status of the complaint online, and it says 'on hold.' What does that mean? Is something wrong?" Maya asked, her words tumbling out anxiously.
I took a breath, trying to stay calm so I could reassure her. "Maya, 'on hold' usually means that the authorities have taken some initial action. In this case, it likely means they've frozen the scammer's account. It's a good sign—it means they're making progress."
"But does that mean we'll get the money back?" she asked, still sounding worried.
"Not immediately," I explained gently. "Freezing the account is just the first step. It stops the scammer from accessing any more funds, including yours. Now, the authorities will investigate further to trace the money and figure out the next steps. It might take some time, but this is progress."
Maya let out a sigh of relief. "Okay... that makes sense. I just want this to be over."
"I know," I said softly. "But remember, the fact that the account is frozen means they're getting closer. Just keep checking the status, and if you see any changes, let me know."
"Thank you, Devika. I don't know what I'd do without your help," she said, sounding more at ease now.
"Don't worry, Maya. We're in this together. We'll get through it."
After hanging up, I couldn't help but think about the steps ahead. Freezing the account was a win, but there was still a long road to recovering the funds.
After hanging up with Maya, my phone buzzed again, this time with an unknown number flashing on the screen of my other phone. I have two phones One was my personal phone, used for everyday communication and keeping in touch with friends and family. The other was reserved for official purposes, exclusively for police department matters. The latter had become an essential tool for my work, a lifeline for critical updates and communications.
It wasn't unusual for me to receive calls from numbers I didn't recognize—after all, my official contact information with the police department was kept discreet. Various officers would call me whenever they needed my assistance on a case. But the trick was, no one knew my real name, address, or any personal details. I was simply a resource, a faceless ally in their investigations.
I answered the call with my usual calm demeanor. "Hello?"
As I answered the call, the familiar voice on the other end introduced himself. "It's Dhruv Gupta," he said, his tone professional and focused.
He didn't know who I really was—just that I was the person he needed for this particular task. It was always a bit surreal, speaking to someone who had no idea that just yesterday, we had been face-to-face in the cybercrime office. But that was the nature of my work—complete anonymity.
"Yes, I'm here," I responded, keeping my identity under wraps. "What do you need?"
Dhruv proceeded to outline the details of a complex case, something that required immediate attention. I listened carefully, making mental notes as he spoke. The urgency in his voice told me this was no ordinary task.
"Understood," I replied once he finished. "I'll start working on it and let you know the progress."
"Thank you,I will mail all the details to you immediately" Dhruv said, his tone appreciative. "We need to move quickly on this."
After hanging up, I paused for a moment, reflecting on how strange it was that Dhruv had no idea who he was really talking to. In his world, I was just a nameless, faceless ally—someone who helped from the shadows.
After finishing the call with Dhruv, I immediately reached out to Roy. He was the only other person on the team who knew the details of our current case. As I dialed his number, my mind was already processing the new task at hand.
"Hey, Roy," I greeted when he picked up. "I just got a new case that requires some tracking work. I'll be focusing on that for now."
Roy responded with his usual calmness. "Got it. Anything specific you need help with?"
"Not at the moment," I replied. "But if there's any progress in our case, let me know immediately. We can't afford any delays."
"Will do," he assured me. "I'll keep you updated."
"Thanks, Roy," I said, feeling a bit more at ease knowing he had my back. "I'll touch base with you soon."
We ended the call, and I took a deep breath, ready to dive into the new case. Balancing multiple assignments was never easy, but with Roy on the lookout, I could focus on the tracking without worrying too much about our ongoing mission.
The more I dug into the details, the more alarming the situation became. The fraudster had transferred the stolen money to several accounts, making it difficult for the authorities to track down all the funds. So far, the police had only managed to trace 2 to 3 accounts, which explained why Maya's application status had changed to "hold."
But the real shocker was the total amount involved—2 million. The scale of the fraud was staggering. It wasn't just about the small sums that Maya and others had lost individually; collectively, it was a massive operation.
This case had turned into something far more serious, and I knew that every move I made now had to be calculated. Stopping this fraudster wouldn't just help Maya—it would protect countless others from being victimized.
After nearly two hours of relentless tracking, I hit one dead end after another. The trail was cold, and every lead seemed to vanish into thin air. Frustration began to creep in as I combed through the data, trying to find anything that could point me in the right direction.
But just when I was about to give up, a new pattern emerged. The fraudster was still active. Despite having three of their accounts frozen, they were continuing their operations, finding new ways to move the stolen money. It was a chilling realization—this person was clever, and they weren't going to be stopped easily.
This wasn't just some amateur scammer; I was dealing with someone who knew how to play the system. I knew I couldn't waste any time. This was my chance to catch them in the act, but I needed help. Without hesitation, I grabbed my phone and dialed Dhruv's number.
The phone rang once before he picked up. "Dhruv Gupta," he answered, his tone sharp and alert.
"It's me," I said quickly, skipping any formalities. "I've got an update on the case. The fraudster is still active."
There was a brief pause on the other end. "What do you mean?" Dhruv asked, his voice laced with urgency.
"Even though three of their accounts were frozen, they're still operating. They're finding new ways to move the money. This person isn't just a small-time scammer—they're skilled, and they're not stopping."
"That's concerning," Dhruv replied, his tone now serious. "What's your plan?"
"I need a bait," I said, cutting straight to the point. "Someone who can do the same thing again—send money to a fake profile. But this time, I'll be ready. I can put a bug in the transaction and track the money in real-time."
Dhruv hesitated for a moment. "That's risky. You're asking for someone to knowingly fall into the trap."
"I know," I acknowledged, "but it's the only way to trace them. If we don't act now, they'll keep slipping through our fingers. This might be our only chance to catch them."
"Alright," Dhruv agreed after a moment of consideration. "I'll arrange for someone to make the transaction. How long do you need to set it up?"
"Not long," I assured him. "Just let me know as soon as you have someone lined up, and I'll handle the rest."
"Consider it done," Dhruv replied. "I'll reach out once I have the details."
"Thanks," I said, feeling a surge of determination. "We'll get them this time."
As I hung up the phone, a wave of exhaustion hit me like a freight train. The intensity of the case had consumed me, and I hadn't realized how the hours had slipped away. My stomach growled, a stark reminder that I hadn't eaten since last night.
I glanced at the clock—it was well past breakfast time. The stress of the investigation had completely overshadowed my basic needs. With a sigh, I acknowledged that I needed to take a step back and recharge.
I headed to the cafeteria, where the familiar buzz of students and the aroma of food provided a comforting distraction. I ordered a plate of idli and a strong cup of coffee, savoring the warmth and simplicity of the meal. As I ate, the food helped to ground me, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities.
The moment felt almost serene amidst the chaos of my life. For a short while, I let myself be present in the moment, appreciating the ordinary routine of a meal. It was a small but welcome break—a reminder that even in the midst of high-stakes missions and relentless pressure, taking care of oneself was just as important.
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