‘Is that you, Kathy? How are you?’ She felt suddenly disconsolate to hear the Indian accent.
‘I’m fine, Morarji. How are you?’
‘Oh, not so bad, not so bad, all things considered. But I’m a little worried about that silly bugger of a son of mine. You haven’t been in touch with him lately, I take it?’
‘No, why? Don’t you know where he is?’
‘Oh yes, I know where he is all right. He’s right here, and that’s the problem. He doesn’t go out, you see. He’s so down in the dumps. He had a friend-a man, you understand, not a girlfriend-he went around with for a short while, but they don’t seem to be friends any more, and now he seems to have no one he can talk to.’
Leon’s father was putting on his oh-my-what’s-theworld-coming-to amused voice that tended to exaggerate his Hindu accent, but didn’t hide his anxiety.
‘The silly boy simply hasn’t been himself since he and you broke up, Kathy. That’s the truth of the matter. He’s terribly confused, it seems to me. And I just wondered if there was the remotest chance that you might be able to speak to him? As a former friend, you know?’
Kathy could almost hear Morarji squirming with embarrassment, and guessed that Ghita had told her husband to make the call.
‘I’m sorry, Morarji. I’m afraid I can’t help. I really am sorry. I have to go now.’
The phone rang again almost immediately. It was Brock.
‘Kathy? Sorry I didn’t get to your speech this afternoon. I’ve been told it was very well received. Well done. I got caught up in something else, unfortunately. Something rather nasty. And I just wondered how you’re placed now?’
‘I’m free,’ she said, taking a deep breath of the cool evening air.
‘Good.’ He sounded relieved, as if he’d expected a different answer. ‘Incidentally, we checked out the field where Verge kept his glider. The plane’s gone.’
‘Ah.’
‘So I’ll see you soon then?’
‘I’m on my way.’