Dick spent the weekend thinking about the information he had gathered so far. He had to find out who John's real father was. That was obviously one of the keys to the conspiracy between Molly, Vish and Lennox. Sir Percy had told him that Molly's lover had been British. He needed to know which British staff had been in Madras in 1970. He remembered that Nagarajan had mentioned Ned Outram. Dick had never met Outram in person but he had heard plenty of stories about his sensational love life. He needed to check with Nagarajan. But he also needed to find out if there had been any other British staff in the factory at the time. One of them, he felt sure, had fathered Molly's child.

Just after lunch on Sunday he made an international call to Nagarajan. It would be about six in the evening in Devanahalli he calculated. It was Lakshmi who answered the phone. Dick realised immediately that he had been hoping that she would. Yet the moment he heard her voice, he felt a rising sense of unease, coupled with nervous excitement. He could not say what he really wanted to say to her.

'Hello?... Oh, Dick. You want to speak to my father I think?'

'Yes, I do - but I am so happy to speak to you too.'

'I am sorry but he is out with some friends. Can I take a message for him? He will be back late tonight. Will you call again?'

'Lakshmi. I will call again. Did you hear what I said? I said I am so happy to speak to you. And I meant it.'

'Dick... I am happy to hear your voice also. Very happy.'

'Lakshmi. I got you a couple of books in England. I'll send them on tomorrow.'

'That's so lovely, Dick. I only wish I... ' the line was suddenly cut. There was just a long whistling sound. Dick sat thinking for a long time. Just to hear Lakshmi's voice again had turned his emotions upside down.

An hour later he called Ramu at home in Madras. Ramu confirmed that Ned Outram had been in Madras at the time. More importantly, Ned and Keith Lennox had been the only British staff in the factory. That was what Dick needed to know. Molly's lover had been one of them.

He sat for a long time, wondering whether he should call Nagarajan's number again. He no longer needed information but he longed to hear Lakshmi's voice again. Finally he decided it was better not to call.

Instead he called Ramu again to get Outram's address. Ramu agreed to call him the following day, after checking the personnel records in the office.

* * *