David doesn't know where the new book is. It clearly hadn't been detected when he first entered the building, yet it has suddenly appeared now. This could only mean one thing: the book entered the building after him, or someone outside is carrying it closer.
He can't check his watch for the exact coordinates; one of the officers who arrested him is watching him like a hawk through the glass panel.
However, the vibration on his wrist persists—and it is getting stronger. The book is moving toward him.
Suddenly, the interrogation room door swings open.
A new man enters, flanked by the two officers who brought David in. They stand on either side of the newcomer with deferential posture, making it clear that he holds a much higher rank.
"Hello, Mr. David. My name is Divakar."
Divakar appears to be in his early forties. His hands are full—he is carrying a briefcase in one hand and a thick file in the other—making a handshake impossible.
He flashes a smile. "Look how clumsy I am, no hands free to greet you."
It is intended to be a disarming, friendly approach, but to David, it looks like the smile of a devil—sharp, knowing, and capable of seeing right through his deceptions.
Divakar places the briefcase and the file on the metal table.
"So, Mr. David, I am the officer in charge of investigating the fire incident at the Central Library. We reviewed the CCTV footage. We saw you return a book to the shelf, which immediately burst into flames. Based on this, we can conclude that you are the one who burned down the library. Am I right?"
Direct accusations are much trickier to navigate than vague questions.
"No, sir. I can explain everything that happened that day."
"Oh, really? I am all ears." Divakar turns to his subordinate without sitting down. "Manju, record his statement. I'm going for a tea."
"Yes, sir."
The officer named Manju is quick. Almost like a magic trick, he produces a voice recorder from his pocket, places it on the table, and hits record.
David is a little dumbfounded by the sudden dismissal. "Should I explain everything from the morning, or only after reaching the library?"
Manju is clearly not in the mood to listen to a long backstory, but he can't neglect his superior's orders.
"Just tell us everything that happened after you reached the library," Manju snaps. "Don't waste time with unwanted details. Tell us exactly what happened inside the building, without missing a thing."
David realizes he has to improvise. He uses every ounce of his imagination to weave a story that is close enough to the truth to be believable, but far enough to protect his secret.
"Sir, I will tell you everything. The day before yesterday, when I reached the library, it was around... I don't remember the exact time, but it was early, because I managed to get a seat inside. You know how difficult that usually is. After setting up my books, I went to ask Baskar sir for reading recommendations. Baskar sir told me there was a book called Comprehensive World History on the shelves. I searched all over the racks, but I couldn't find it. Instead, I found a book called History Volume One."
He pauses for effect, gauging Manju's reaction.
"So, I took that book to read. When I opened it, I realized it was written in Sanskrit, so I just looked at the images. But in the last few pages, there were pictures of monsters I had never seen before. What frightened me was... one of the monsters in the picture turned its head and looked right at me! I was so scared that I jumped out of my seat, slammed the book shut, put it back on the shelf, and ran out of the library. Sir, that is exactly what happened."
At that precise moment, the door opens and Divakar walks back in. It gives David the distinct feeling that Divakar has been listening from outside the entire time.
"Manju, is it over?"
"Yes, sir."
"Play it. Let me listen."
Manju replays the recording. Divakar listens intently, his expression unreadable. When it finishes, he looks David in the eye. His next question almost stops David's heart.
"So, what was your purpose in going back to the library yesterday?"
How much do they know? David's mind races, his brain working at maximum capacity.
"I went to look for that book again, sir. And also to check on Baskar sir, to see if he was okay after the fire."
"Did you find the book?"
"Yes, sir."
"You found the book? The one that supposedly caught fire?" Divakar raises an eyebrow.
"You mean that book was burned? But... I found it. And when I read it, on the last page, there were some coordinates. I used Google Maps and found that the coordinates pointed to a location inside a military compound."
Divakar smiles again, but this time, the amusement seems genuine. "Are you saying there were coordinates on the last page of a Sanskrit history book? Did you go to that location?"
"Yes, sir. I went there today. In fact, I was just coming back from there when you picked me up."
"Oh! And where is this location?"
"It is the Kachanahalli Military Training Station. Since I couldn't enter the restricted area, I came back."
This time, it is Divakar's turn to be dumbfounded. He hadn't expected David to be so forthcoming. He has lost the upper hand in the interrogation. Since they removed the CCTV storage drives for inspection and haven't fully analyzed the footage from the second day yet, he has no immediate way to verify if David is telling the truth about the second book.
Taking a deep breath, Divakar turns to leave again. "I need another tea."
He steps out, leaving Manju and the other officer standing there in silence. After a few minutes, Divakar returns, ready to press harder. But before he can speak, the third officer—who has been silent until now—steps forward.
"Enough, Divakar. We don't have time to waste."
He is a young, handsome officer in his early thirties.
"Mr. David, my name is Sree."
From the tone of his voice and the way Divakar immediately steps back, it is clear that this young man holds a much higher position than the older detective.
Sree reaches for the briefcase on the table and clicks it open. Inside lies a leather-bound book, identical in style to the others. The title reads: History: Human Development.
When David sees it, a glint appears in his eyes—like a sleepy man who has just been handed a soft pillow.
"Tell me, David," Sree says calmly, sliding the book across the metal table. "What did you do to make the images move inside the book?"
David eagerly reaches for it, his hands trembling slightly. But he stops himself just in time. He looks up at the three officers, feigning confusion.
"Sir, I don't understand Sanskrit. I can only look at the pictures."
Sree is a patient man. "Do what you did with the other book."
Slowly, David begins to turn the pages.
There are images of fire, the wheel, and various human inventions across different eras. As he flips further, the drawings evolve—from simple tools to electronics, then to different types of engines, factory machines, and complex computer chips. The book ends with a striking image: an enlarged nanobot standing next to a being that is half-human, half-robot.
It is the most exciting book David has seen in the collection so far.
"Sir, I don't exactly remember what I did," David lies, his voice steady. He knows he has to stay calm. He can't just activate the book in front of them without a plan.
"It's alright," Sree says smoothly. "Take your time."
He gestures to the other officers, pulls two more chairs into the room, and sits down to watch.