"Not that much and I did not show much interest to know about those details. To that matter we three Richads, David Carter and I grouped together and spend time. The occasions that only David Carter and I spent time together were not there."

"Anyhow did he tell any of his personal details while you three were discussing in between yourselves?"

"It was a long time back issue, ten years or so before." Dr.Peterson laughed. "Even he has said some of his personal details at that time, I don't remember them now."

"Did not you get much chance to talk with him after he entered into this organisation again?"

"No, I did not." Dr.Peterson nodded his head in negation. "I talked with him along with Stuart on one day in his office and that was the first and last time I talked with him after his coming here again."

"Any noteworthy points came into your notice at that time?"

"Not very much noteworthy. David Carter was feeling very happy as he got his niece married with Stuart. Stuart asked me to check him thorough and give him treatment as he was suffering from heart attack but David Carter did not agree to it."

"David Carter did not agree? Did not he believe in your competence?" Smaran knitted his brows together.

"It was not so." Dr.Peterson once again laughed. "But it appeared he was taking life sort of easy and be prepared for anything. I thought his niece was the only responsibility to him and after her marriage with Stuart, he sort of relaxed very much and stopped worrying about his life also. He said to me that he was feeling very much alright at that moment and he did not want to be tested and treated like a patient."

"I see" Smaran nodded his head as if he understood. "Did you know that he has a niece like that before his coming to Stuart again?"

"No, I don't know." Dr.Peterson nodded his head in negation. "And I don't feel surprise for that also. We both never have discussed about his personal life."

"That means........" Smaran sighed heavily and leaned back in the chair. "............despite your being a friend like that to him, he is absolutely a stranger to you when it comes to his personal life."

"I must say yes." Dr.Peterson nodded his head in agreement.

"Why did you get a doubt that he was poisoned to death when you looked at his body?"

"Mr.Smran............." Dr.Peterson stooped forward in his chair and balanced his both arms on the table in between. "................I have more than thirty years of experience in this medical field. Just by looking at the body, I can say how it died."

"I am sorry doctor. I should not have asked you like that." With a regretful expression Smaran said.

"Never mind. I don't feel."

"Anyhow doctor can you say how that poison has been administered into his body and caused death to him like that and what that poison is?"

"Most probably through food or drink while I cannot deny some other ways also. And in my opinion that poison is thallium. It is the only poison which can be made taken by the victim along with food or something like that without getting his doubt. Thallium does have no odour, taste or colour." Dr.Peterson leaned back in the chair. "For a more accurate answer you may better read M.E's report. Post-mortem was conducted on his body."

"Alright doctor, I do that." Smaran nodded his head and said. " Anyhow can you remember anything specific that can be useful regarding his past life here doctor? I am just trying to find that coldblooded murderer and get him punished. This is the very much wish of that Stuart."

"I try and see. But Mr.Smaran, you tell me one thing! In Stuart's and my opinion also, that was the work of some of Gaama's competitors. They don't want him to be helpful to Stuart in the development of Gaama and removed him so. I just cannot understand why you are concentrating this much on his past life here."

"Dr.Peterson........." Smaran adjusted once again in his chair. "...........the ways of our detectives looking at the things and dealing with them are different from the other people. I cannot give you an explanation now why I am interested in his past life like this but I can say it will be certainly useful in finding out that murderer."

"I have no objection to tell you if I can remember anything specific Mr.Smaran." Dr.Peterson leaned back in the chair and frowns were gathered on his forehead insinuating that he was trying to remember those days. "In fact I was also not in India when David Carter left Gaama and went away. Those were the days of Richards' death also and in fact I felt very much as I could not be here at the time of crucial moment of my friend."

Dr.Peterson paused for a second but Smaran did not say anything as it seemed that Dr.Peterson was still in the process of remembering.

"Stuart said that his father was agitating very much just prior to his death. He was in America at that time and on one day he received a phone call from Richards. Richards said to him that there was something very much important to discuss with him but he did not say what it was then even though Stuart asked about it. He just asked Stuart to come to India as fast as possible and Stuart managed to come just in four or so of days time but by then itself Richards died with heart attack."

"Very pathetic! Stuart mentioned about it to me. He further said to me however much he tried he just could not think of what was that, that much distressed his father."

"Yes, he asked me about that but I too did not have any idea on that. If I were in India itself, I would have been known about it but I was stuck up in a foreign country Australia. Even we have talked sometimes through phone, he did not make any mention of that to me and there was no surprise also. If it was something that he could not share with his son over phone, I cannot expect that he would have done that to a friend like me through phone."

"Alright doctor. Thank you very much for your cooperation." Smaran got off from the chair and said. "You indeed gave your valuable time to me."

"But not very much valuable information could share with you." Dr.Peterson also got off from the chair and his face was with a regretful expression.

"Don't think like that. I have got some more assessment on the matter after talking with you. If I think necessary, I once again disturb you like this."

"With pleasure. At any time you can meet me and talk with me in this way here in my home. I have my clinic also here. It is indeed a pleasure to talk with you like this."

"Okay doctor." Smaran said, turned and took two steps to go away from that place but then he heard Dr.Peterson voice from the back again. "Mr.Smaran..........."

"Tell me doctor?" once again Smaran turned and looked into the face of Dr.Peterson with a questioning expression.

"I don't know whether it is useful in your investigation or not but I remembered something." There were once again frowns on the forehead of Dr.Peterson.

"Just tell me doctor. There will be no loss in just sharing that with me." With a sudden curious expression in his face Smaran came near to him and asked him looking into his face.

"In those days, while David Carter was working with Richards, Richards has a secretary by name Natasha. She was a widow and aged thirty four years or so and has a daughter studying at some place. This was the information I came to know through Richards. The other information I came to know straight was; she was absolutely beautiful!"

"Yes, doctor" Smaran once again slumped in his chair and Dr.Peterson also did the same.

"A long time back, when Stuart was just five years or so aged, Richards' wife was expired with cancer. Even though he was wealthy and could marry any woman of his choice, Richards never has shown any interest in marrying again and no woman could have any influence on him except this Natasha. They both used to be quite intimate and Richards' has an idea even to marry her also."

"Really very much surprising!" Smaran exclaimed. "Did Stuart know about that?"

"Yes, he knew about it and he was very much angry with his father for that. But he was quite young just having twenty six years or so of age by that time so could not do anything."

"Alright, anything peculiar you have found in it doctor?"

"After returning from Australia, I came to know this Natasha also left Gaama. Where she has gone and why she has gone I have no idea. But she has a daughter, has responsibilities and leaving the organisation then so was indeed difficult to her but she still preferred to go away. Richards told me about her economic condition and other situation also. She was poor and could not afford to leave Gaama like that. Except that daughter she has no other relatives at all. She left the beautiful house given to her by Richards also."

"I can think of one thing here." Smaran said. "Stuart did not like her. She knew that he would be the managing director of Gaama and her life would be pathetic in his hands. Who knew she has got lot of amount from Richards without anyone's knowledge. So she left this place with that amount. Anyhow once they both loved each other like that, it would indeed be a difficult thing to her to stay here without him.'

"I agree with you. It might have happened like that." Nodding his head in agreement Dr.Peterson said.

"Do you have any idea how she came into Gaama? Did anyone particularly recommend her to Richards?"

"What all I know was she attended an interview conducted for that secretary post and was selected in it. Richards said like that to me."

"Alright doctor." Smaran once again got off from the chair. "I shall probe into that Natasha and this information may be proved useful."

Then he said bye to Dr.Peterson and came out of that place without looking back.

***

"I told you that this detective would be a nuisance to us and not to engage him. Now see how he upset poor Jasmine!"

After hearing about Smaran's interviewing Jasmine, Isabella said angrily to Stuart.

"He just makes us people feel more and more bad like this. You may better disengage his service immediately."

"But Isa. You understand one thing. A good person like David Carter was murdered! He was so good to me and was helping me. I even married his niece and became a relative also to him. How can I leave the murderer who killed him like that go scot free? Is it is surprising to you that I am worrying to find the culprit and get him punished?"

"I am thinking more about the people who are alive rather than those who are dead." Isabella leaned back in the chair and sighed heavily. "I agree we have fierce enemies and some of them would have done that but whatever we may do we cannot get him back. If I were you I would have preferred to leave that matter like that and think more about Jasmine."

"I cannot think like that Isa, I cannot take that easily the murder of someone whom I do like most." With a serious expression in his face Stuart said. "Moreover Isabella also is very much wishing that the murderer of her uncle should be caught and punished."

(I hope that youenjoyed upto here. I publish the next chapter as early as possible. Pleasedon't forget to rate and review the same.)