Tears filled Rani’s eyes. She clutched the trio of pictures to her chest. “We must find him!” she said. She bit her lip and tried to stop the tears, but they would flow beyond her will.
Cecilia handed her a handkerchief, put her arm around her and drew her to her. “Oh, my dear, we will. We will.”
“My apologies, Miss Rangaswamy, but can you assist me?” Lewis asked. “I need you to go through the rest of these bags with me so we can finish here and get the picture to an engraver.”
“Mr. Martin!” David Thornbridge protested for intruding in Rani’s sorrow.
Rani sniffed. She wiped her eyes. “Yes, yes. We must finish,” she said stoutly, rallying her feelings.
She joined Lewis in going through the rest of the luggage. When they’d finished with the last piece, Rani planted her hands on her hips and stared at the pile of luggage, frowning.
“What is it? What’s missing?” Lewis asked.
“The Singing Bird.”
“The singing bird? What is that?”
She put her hands together in the shape of an oval. “A box. A silver box. A bird comes out and sings.”
“A music box!” said Cecilia.
“Yes. It is Krishan’s favorite thing. He loves it even though it does not work anymore. Sahib say his uncle will fix.”
“It was packed in one of these bags?” Lewis asked.
“Yes, small bag. Krishan would hold the box when he sleeps at night, so we pack in small bag.”
“And that is the only thing missing,” stated James.
“Yes.”
“What about any papers, documents, that sort of thing?”
“I keep on me,” she laid her arm across her waist. “In saree, for safety.”
“Where are they now?”
“In my bedroom.”
“Someone should immediately examine those,” Lewis said. “Miss Rangaswamy, if you would trust me with those pictures, I would take them to an engraver to have Krishan’s likeness made.”
“Yes, yes!” She kissed the tryptic frame, then handed it to Lewis.
“While you see to that task, Mr. Martin, we shall examine Miss Rangaswamy’s papers,” James offered.
“I was trusting you would see to that undertaking. If there are names mentioned, you would have a better understanding of the documents. I do not know when I will see you again, as I have to check with my sources. I will also see to acquiring the ship’s passenger list and start the queries at the pawnbrokers for a broken silver music box.”
“Do not forget to sleep and eat, Mr. Martin,” Cecilia admonished.
He flashed her a grin. “I won’t, madam, and thank you.”
She looked at him with compressed lips and a glint in her eyes that said she didn’t believe him but said nothing further.
James tucked his wife’s arm in his. “Mr. Thornbridge, please see that Miss Rangaswamy’s baggage is transported to my townhouse at the earliest.”
“Yes, James. I will remain here to question others to see if they saw or heard anything. I am disturbed that the luggage was touched, and that they did not notify me.”
James nodded. “I was about to make the same suggestion. I do not think the men Mr. Martin has arrested had anything to do with the luggage disturbance.”
