17. Stylish, cute mails

James called the commissioner and asked him whether he knew anybody of the name, EJF.

Steve replied, “Yes James. EJF is a very famous personality in town and he is none other than DD’s former classmate Ebe! The one who is the master of diamond business in India”

James replied, “Ya, now I remember uncle. But I didn’t know that he had a name EJF. As per SOS’s clue, he is the next victim. Please provide him full security.”

Steve assured, “Sure James. Mistakes would not be repeated this time around. Our department will provide maximum security to him. EJF is Angelika’s father James.”

James paused and replied, “Ya. I had met him during my investigation. I will proceed with my investigation and try to track down SOS. You meanwhile provide fool proof security to EJF!”.

Before, James finished the call he was put on hold by Steve and James ended the call.

James tried to contact Jeffery who replied that, he was not well and he needed to take rest.

James went to the home of Jeffery later in the afternoon. He had fever in high temperature. He took care of Jeffery till evening by providing him food and medicine. His temperature reduced by evening. And James left Jeffery’s home.

James was investigating about Ebenezer. He had a wife named Christiana and his only daughter Angelika was recently murdered too. He was a very famous diamond merchant in Asia. He was a very rich person too.

Five days passed away, and James was shocked while reading newspaper. It read:

The high profile former head of the IDC, was found brutally murdered in their ransacked Chennai home on Thursday, police said.

The body of Ebenezer Jacob Francis also known as EJF, 56, former chairman and managing director of the Nakshara Diamonds, he was survived by his 73-year-old mother Virgin Mary and his 52-year-old wife Christiana Francis found in their suburban home in T-Nagar.

"The victim's necks were found slashed", a police official said, adding that they had been murdered in the early hours of the morning. Many gold and diamond ornaments appeared to be missing.

Investigations were on to establish whether it was a robbery-cum-murder or if there were other motives, as EJF was a rich man and had his only heir was recently murdered by an unidentified person calling himself SOS, police said.

EJF had been under a cloud. He was accused of stashing sizeable wealth abroad by under-selling diamonds in the European Community through a specially appointed agent in Germany. He had earned a lot of enemies within the state who were jealous of his growth. Police rubbished the rumour that it was yet another murder by the now famous serial killer SOS.

James wasn’t informed of this. He was surprised about this. And there was no information about SOS committing the murder as well. James immediately called Steve.

“Uncle, what’s this? Why didn’t you inform me about this murder? I had been unofficially working on the case right from the start! What’s happening there? I am heavily disappointed with the way you have acted”

“James, remain calm. We think SOS is doing the murder for publicity. But if we change the news and avoid publicity of SOS, he may stop his murders. The psychopaths act in a different manner from normal human beings”, said Steve.

James wasn’t convinced. The next thing he asked was, “What about the clue this time around uncle?”

“Ya. I have it James. Could you come and collect it from me?”

“Ok. I will be in your office in around half an hour”, said James and left to the commissioner’s office.

As James had predicted in the previous murder, the clues were getting smaller after each murder. This time it was a very small clue. SOS had written a letter and it was unusually small:

Stylish, cute mails

O_ER_T_O_

- SOS

I'm feeble, polite ogre.

PS: Bat third or darn havoc.