Three

Byomkesh arrived at the scene to find police guarding the main door. A constable, seeing Byomkesh, saluted and said, "Inspector sahib is in the downstairs baithak-khana."

In the spacious drawing room, Inspector Rakhal Sarkar and two sub-inspectors were present; they were gathered around the center table, discussing a file. As soon as Byomkesh entered, Rakhalbabu came over to him, gave a rueful smile, and said, "We’re entangled, Byomkesh-da. You’ve named it well—Beni Sanghar. I’ve heard the real meaning of ‘Beni Sanghar’ is the untying of a braid; women first plait their hair, then twist the braid into a bun. This case is much the same; such a tangled, intricate knot that untying this braid has become a formidable task. The motive for the murders is clear, and the number of suspects is limited to five; yet we can’t pinpoint exactly which one did it."

"Come, let’s sit." The two of them squeezed into chairs side by side. "Now, tell me everything."

Rakhallababu recounted to Byomkesh all the information he had gathered since yesterday. Several facts emerged through their questions and answers. Byomkesh asked, “What’s the motive?”

“The old man’s vast wealth. He gave his son and daughter a monthly allowance, but it never satisfied them. Dr. Abinash Sen suspects that the daughter and daughter-in-law were trying to poison the old man. If that’s true, then there’s a conspiracy between the son and the son-in-law. In these times, nothing is impossible.”

“What was the purpose of killing Meghraj?”

“Meghraj used to lay his bedding in front of Benimadhab’s door at night. The door would be left ajar, so that if Benimadhab called, he could enter immediately. Therefore, it was impossible to enter the room without first getting rid of him. If someone tried to step over him, he would wake up. That’s why he had to be killed first.”

“The murder weapon hasn’t been found?”

“No. But the post-mortem revealed that the weapon was extremely sharp. Both victims were killed with the same weapon. With a single stroke, their throats were slit wide open.”

“Has the time of death been determined?”

“Roughly between midnight and three in the morning.”

“Hmm. Who are the five suspects?”

“Ajay and his wife Arati, Gayatri and her husband Gangadhar, and Ajay’s son Makrand. Makrand once slapped Meghraj on Benimadhab’s orders. Jhillie can be ruled out—she’s just a child, she has no motive.”

“What does the boy Makrand do?”

“He’s caught up in politics. He’s enrolled in college, that’s all. That night, he came home around nine, and after that, no one knows when he left again. He’s been missing ever since. I’ve issued a warrant for his arrest.”

“Who’s at home now?”

“Ajay, Arati, Gangadhar, Gayatri, Jhillie, Nikhil Roy, Sanat Ganguly, and Meghraj’s widow Medini. Ajay’s daughter Laboni went to see a film with her dance teacher that night and hasn’t returned. Nikhil and Sanat went out for work that night and came back the next day. I’ve forbidden anyone in the house from leaving.”

“You’ve taken everyone’s fingerprints, I presume.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Did you find anything in the house search?”

“Nothing suspicious.”

“Good. Now let me see the statement records.”

“Here they are.” Rakhallababu lifted a file from the table and handed it to Byomkesh. At that moment, a constable appeared at the main door to announce that a gentleman named Sudhanshu Bagchi, a solicitor, wished to see them. Rakhallababu said, “Bring him in.”

Sudhanshubabu entered the room, a neatly folded newspaper in hand. Looking at Rakhallababu, he said, “I am Benimadhabbabu’s solicitor. As soon as I opened the paper today—”

“Please, have a seat.”

Sudhanshubabu sat down on a chair. Rakhallababu stood before him, and Byomkesh stepped forward as well.

Beni Sanhar

Rakhalbabu asked, “When did you last see Benimadhab Babu?”

Sudhanshubabu replied, “The day before yesterday. We have been looking after his financial affairs for many years. The day before yesterday, he called me on the phone and said he wanted to make a will. I went to see him in the afternoon. He told me what conditions he wanted in the will. I prepared the will and arranged everything so that today I could show him the document and have him sign it. Then, this morning, I opened the newspaper and saw the news.”

Rakhalbabu glanced swiftly at Byomkesh and said, “Is there any objection to telling us what conditions are in the will?”

Sudhanshubabu said, “At another time, there might have been an objection, but given the current circumstances, there is none. In fact, it may be helpful to you.”

He recited the terms of the will; he also mentioned that, in the event of an unnatural death, the entire property would go to Calcutta University.

Around eleven o’clock, he rose and said, “If you wish to know anything more from me, or want to read the will, send word to my office.”

After he left, Rakhalbabu said, “The motive just got stronger. If the old man had lived just a couple more days, all that property would have slipped away.”

Byomkesh said, “Hmm. I’ll take my leave now. But first, I’d like to see Benimadhab’s room.”

“Come along.”

At the head of the stairs on the second floor, a constable stood guard. On the third floor, Benimadhab’s door was locked, and another constable sat on a stool, keeping watch. Meghraj’s bloodstained bedding had been removed for examination.

Rakhalbabu took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. The two of them entered. There was no bedding on the cot in the middle of the room; otherwise, everything was as it had been. Byomkesh stood by the door, casting his gaze around the room, then murmured softly, “You must have already seen everything, but still—”

Rakhalbabu shook his head. “No harm in looking again.”

“Where was the key to the iron safe?”

“It was attached to the safe itself. Inside were three one-hundred-rupee notes; not a single five- or ten-rupee note, nor any loose change. It seems