"It is worse than you could have imagined actually.. I did some research and matched the time of payment with events. I do not have the exact client list, but I had attached the possible events that could be attributed to the syndicate in the past few years." Malini said and paused as she let her words sink in.

Pritham passed the laptop towards Shreya pulling up a bunch of photos and doc.u.ments attached thereto.

"The records I found are after your parents' death. So, sorry I couldn't really track down the person exactly responsible for your parents' death. Or any evidence that might have been covered up. But from what you had given and from my own digging, I could tell that the conclusion you guys have come up with is the most probable one."

Silence ensued after that as Shreya skimmed through the doc.u.ments in quick successions.

"Don't worry. We can track the records before that. My dad had found a link that could lead us back to the source. It is just a matter of time before we know. They probably re-organized everything when my dad had breached into their systems.." Shreya explained while her eyes kept going through the data in the system simultaneously.

"If I have to guess, they probably decentralized everything. My dad only had financial records. So, if I am not wrong, Abishek uncle should be responsible for handling clients while Naren should be responsible for handling the members. Thus no one person could actually topple everything.. It also probably served as a check of trust between each other.." Malini elaborated.

Since his dad was close to Naren and Abishek, she is familiar with their habits and behaviors. She had overheard numerous conversations that never made sense in itself but when put into context, it actually made sense.

Abishek uncle did not really have anybody now. His wife had passed away and his children are settled in foreign countries. He manages the company on his own. He never actually involved any of his kids in the company business for some reason but it made sense now. He probably predicted this would happen one day or another inevitably.

And because he had no family, he often stayed out late drinking with his buddies. His behavior is often excused as being lonely. But now, she knew he was probably meeting with clients.

While Naren on the other hand often had guys around him.. but the people around him kept changing so very often that it was hard to keep up with the names..

Which was why Malini said Abishek should be responsible for handling and maintaining the records of clients and the jobs while Naren should be responsible for the execution of the job and managing the corresponding men.

Shreya nodded her head agreeing. It made sense. After all, even though, they could be called friends, there is no way they would put their own interest before friends. So, it was probably beneficial to intertwine interests as security and a check on each other.

"This only says when the money had come and how much.. do you know where they keep the money now?" Shreya asked. "This information is of no use if they are still going to have money stacked in their backyard. Even if take them to court, they could bride their way through the trails and get away with it after framing somebody else.."

Malini bit on her lips for a second before taking her phone out and pulling up the message his father had sent her yesterday. She then slid the phone towards Shreya.

"There is probably more loops to cross over but those accounts should serve as a starting point. It should lead you back to the source." Malini explained.

Shreya handed everything to Pritham and said, "Get to work.. You don't leave it unattended even for a second."

Pritham nodded his head diligently and closed the laptop and took the pen drive. Shreya typed the account numbers and sent a text to his phone. And Srinivas actually followed him out without a word which left Shreya and Malini alone all over again.

"What are you going to do when you find the money?" Malini asked.

"I will just distribute them amongst the victim families.." Shreya answered shrugging her shoulders.

Malini just nodded and sipped on her tea. They stayed quiet for a while until Shreya broke it.

"Thank you. I mean it. I don't even know half of you are going through but I do know it shouldn't have been an easy decision to make. So, thank you.." Shreya said sincerely with a smile. This was probably the first real smile they shared since they had known back in college.

Malini just smiled back but it was awkward.

"I know it wouldn't be of much help but I am truly sorry about your parents.. on behalf of my dad. I know you can't forgive him.. and it okay."?Her voice was as gentle as water. It was almost meek actually.

"As I said, you are not your dad. I do not plan on blaming someone who is not responsible. And I will try and keep your family out of it as much as I can?? and I wouldn't influence the court's decision in one way or other.. That's the best I could offer you.." Shreya said once again sincerely.

Malini gave a self-deprecating chuckle and said, "Please, Shreya. You do not have to sugar coat anything for my sake. He freaking worked with terrorists and bombed our own people for a freaking paycheck- I know he is not going to walk out of this one alive.. Even if you do not do it personally, he is a dead man walking one way or another the minute everything gets out. And our family is never going to get out of it unscathed either.. My father made his bed a long time back, now he is going to have to sleep on it. Sadly, he is going to drag his family with him, is all!"

Shreya stayed quiet not knowing what to reply to that.

"If you need anything, do call me. I would actually like to help in any way I can. It's the least I could do.." Malini offered.

"If you are going to offer then I wouldn't hold back. You saw that guy who just left.. I might need you to work with him. He is bad with analyzing accounts.. he gets confused easily." Shreya grabbed the chance shamelessly and gave her an ashamed look.

"I thought I was bad in dealing with accounts!" Malini commented. After all, she was someone who suffered extremely through her finance classes in college while Shreya would completely skip it and still ace her exams.

"You have no idea. For him, every number looks like 1's and 0's after a while. So, trust me.. your 'bad' and his 'bad' are worlds apart." Shreya smirked. She just wanted to lighten up the atmosphere by a notch.

"Okay, I will see what I can do." Malini smiled and answered.

"You can contact him in that same mail id.. He is a scaredy-cat though.. so he might take a while to loosen up." Shreya explained getting up from her place.

Malini also got up and hoisted her handbag over her shoulders with her phones held on her hands.

"It's okay. I can find his contact information. I will do my best to find you that money. I promise.. Many people out there are going to appreciate it. And anyways my company is going to end up bankrupt in no time.. I am going to be jobless."

Shreya once again has her an awkward look and said scratching the back of her head, "Yes.. sorry about that." She opened the doors and held it open for Malini to get out first. And then they walked through the corridor side by side.

"When this is all over, I might actually start an IT company of my own and am going to beat you fair and square one day.." Malini declared proudly keeping up with Shreya.

"Well, I wish you good luck with that.." Even though to people, it might not look it but Shreya was sincere in that. And with Malini's talents, she was sure it would happen if she was to let her guard down even a little.

By the time they reached the lobby of the Imperial, Shreya stopped Malini and looked at her seriously and said, "Hey, do you have any plans as to how you are going to explain when your dad's going to find out about this..? I made sure you were not followed this time, but I can't do it every time and I can't really pull my people away from your family just yet.."

"I think I am going to go tell him well before he finds me. And don't worry, I can understand. Just do as you always did. Just as long as it is only to corner my dad." Malini answered.

It almost felt as if she had matured leaps and bounds overnight with just one conversation with Shreya.

"Okay then. You take care of yourself." Shreya waved as she saw her drive away in her car.