Ajay’s mother’s eyes instantly filled with tears. Raj’s calm expression turned to panic, and she looked at him, as if begging for him to do something, to do anything.

“Don’t worry about the crying,” Mina said as she came to the rescue. “She did that to me, too, the first time I spoke to her in Punjabi. Well, sort of. That day was a bit different than today.”

Ajay’s mother nodded vigorously, then pressed a hand to her chest. “I have such lovely sardarnis in my house now. It feels like home.”

“You’ve been a US citizen and calling New Jersey home for over thirty years,” Ajay quipped.

“Chup kaar,” she snapped at him. “We have guests.” Her smile, as bright as a sunbeam, brightened the room. “Would you like some cha? Why don’t you sit and have your discussion? I’ll have the cooks bring it out for us with some biscuits. Then, when you’re done, we’ll have a late lunch.”

“Thanks, Mumma,” Ajay said.

He waited until she left before he motioned for all of them to sit.

“Why don’t you talk about the phone call?” he said to Raj. “I think we should start there.”

Raj nodded, and then with her hands folded in front of her, she recapped the conversation she’d had with Roshan.

Hem swore and Ajay’s father sucked in a deep, audible breath.

“I thought the mole was Sahar,” Ajay’s father said.

“Apparently not,” Ajay said. “She never went to work for WTA. Completely vanished. And, apparently, Sri knew about her disappearance and never told me.”

“Did you tell Zail and Bhram?” Hem asked.

“Not yet. I know they need to be brought up to speed.”

Ajay’s father raised a hand to silence his sons. He shifted to look at Raj. “You didn’t have to bring this information to us.”

“If you’re going to buy my company, you need to know that both I and my business are built on integrity. I also feel . . . responsible. My people discovered Sahar Ali Khan’s background. But maybe we were wrong after all. I would like to lend my services in any way I can.”

Ajay clasped her knee and squeezed. He realized everyone had seen the gesture and focused on his hand. He immediately pulled away.

As the conversation continued around them, he realized that his father’s bright smile was focused on him, despite the chaos their company was in. Deepak Singh was going to tell his wife that Ajay had touched a girl, and it was going to be all over for him. How was he going to address his mother when things were still so new with Raj?

“I think you guys need a red herring,” Mina said, her words breaking his focus from the woman at his side.

“A red herring? What do you mean?”