‘The AK-47s and grenades recovered from the roof of the disused building will yield details such as their origin and hopefully the fingerprints of the two fidayeen. We knew their game and fought back, but they were better than us this time,’ Somaiya said.

‘Too little, too late?’ Shekhar spat. ‘What is the use of Atharv and the others in our team if we could not save Price and our own scientist? If we could not stop the attack? If Shrikant is missing and so is the second attacker?’

‘Let’s look at it with a cool mind. By not drawing the correct lessons from the way this counter-terror response has panned out, we will be doing a grave mistake and also injustice to the efforts of CTC and men like Atharv!

‘These operations take time to ripen fully, as you only always tell us. We are all upset that two eminent scientists were murdered by the LeT in an operation we had a whiff of before it happened. But it is also true that we are on the right track, we are betting on the right horse, as they say. We knew the plot was taking shape; we had guessed them right and were prepared for them but the one who plans the attack always holds the advantage. We were tracking Shrikant Joshi, the LeT mastermind with an alias. Aren’t these the first time ever in our experience? Operation Trojan Horse has hit the ground running, sir! These are early days; tomorrow we will be able to stop their terror attacks or kill all their fidayeen.’

Shekhar took a deep breath, as if to calm himself. ‘True. But Atharv and the others will have to dig deep into Lashkar’s heart to learn everything possible about such unfolding conspiracies. Knowing about them superficially is not enough. We can’t afford to remain clueless about master Lashkar commanders like the man who set up the attack here. Within a day or two, he will exit the country and reach Pakistan to evade capture.’

‘I agree. I will tell Atharv about your valid concerns. They can’t swim on the surface of LeT’s terror plans, and we need to have full and adequate information to intervene and kill their operations in the future.’

‘Tell them to be careful.’ Shekhar paused before breaking into a smile. ‘Ironically, while we mourn the two deaths and get roasted by the centre, Atharv’s team will be toasted for playing a key part in this deadly, successful attack. In their maiden mission.’

‘Maybe they can use the celebrations in LeT to open doors that currently lie shut for them in that evil organization,’ Somaiya said.

46. BACK TO THE DEN

46

BACK TO THE DEN