Chapter 7: The FACT Team Forms

That night, the four children sat in Mrs. Sharma’s garden under the stars, planning their approach to the case.

“We need a team name,” Amily suggested.

Tiger thought for a moment. “What about using our names? F-A-C-T… wait, that spells FACT!”

“Perfect!” Faisal exclaimed. “The FACT Team – because we’ll find the facts and the truth.”

“I love it,” Chaitra said with a grin. “Faisal, Amily, Chaitra, Tiger – the FACT Team!”

They spent the next hour discussing their individual strengths and how to use them:

• Faisal knew every corner of Dehradun, every shortcut and hiding place, and understood how poor families lived and what they truly needed.
• Amily had access to information through her family’s social connections and understood how wealthy families thought and behaved.
• Chaitra, now confident and independent, could blend in anywhere and had excellent observational skills she’d developed from years of watching others do things for her.
• Tiger, with his clear speech and gentle manner, could gain people’s trust and get them to share information they might not tell adults.

Chapter 8: Following the Clues

The next morning, the FACT Team began their investigation. They started by visiting the families who had been helped by the mysterious “Robin Hood” thief.

At a small house in Dalanwala, they met Mrs. Gupta, whose diabetic husband had received exactly the right amount of insulin when their supply had run out and they couldn’t afford more.

“It was like a miracle,” she told them, tears in her eyes. “I prayed all night, and in the morning, there was a bag with the medicine and a note saying ‘From someone who cares.'”

At a government school, they learned that the fees for five deserving students had been paid anonymously, allowing them to continue their education.

In Rajpur Road, they found a family whose roof had been repaired after the monsoon damage, again by an unknown benefactor.

“There’s a pattern here,” Amily observed as they sat in Clock Tower square, comparing notes. “The thief always knows exactly what people need and how much.”

“And the timing is perfect,” Chaitra added. “Always when people are most desperate.”

Tiger nodded. “The person doing this has to be someone who knows the community very well.”

Faisal suddenly straightened up. “I think I know where we should look next.”

To Be Continued……………………….