Peter frowned. “How when there were so many other boys there?”
The question was a depressing one. How many had been shipped to America and then left to fend for themselves? It would be different if they had gone willingly with the hope of a new and better life. Perhaps some had.
In all honesty, there was a chance that Peter’s parents had chosen to send him away. Having one less mouth to feed might have made it tempting. But Peter was nearly old enough to start earning wages and help put food on the table. The way the boy spoke of his family, with such affection and love, made it seem unlikely they would’ve agreed to let him go, especially so far away.
Regardless, what Peter had experienced was wrong. If it had happened to one boy, others might have suffered the same fate.
“I don’t want to risk it,” Thomas said. Nor did he want to upset Peter any more than necessary. “The driver will take you home and return for me.” Thomas shifted to the edge of the seat.
“Sir, please allow me to wait. If my family is in there...” The longing on his face was more than Thomas could bear.
He nodded with reluctance. “Very well. But only if you promise not to leave the carriage.” He didn’t want the boy’s anxiousness to gain the better of him.
Peter hesitated then finally nodded.
“Your word?” Thomas asked.
The boy heaved a sigh. “I give you my word.”
“I’ll return directly.” Thomas alighted, gave orders to the driver to wait, and strode to the front door where a porter guarded the entrance.
Within minutes, Thomas was being greeted by a different administrator than he’d spoken with previously.
The man greeted Thomas with a nod. “How can I help you?”
“I have it on good authority that a family I am in search of is here.”
“What authority is that?”
“Another member of the family.”
He sighed as if quite put out. “What is the name of the family?”
“Schmidt. Leon Schmidt. A family of five.”
“I suppose I can check our records. If you will wait a moment—”
Thomas gestured to where he knew the man’s office was. “I’m happy to follow you to your office.” If given the chance, he wanted to have a look at the records himself.
The last time he’d visited, the other manager had only told him that the Schmidts weren’t there. Thomas hadn’t pressed the man for additional information when he hadn’t been certain that was the right place. Now he knew better.
When the manager hesitated, Thomas smiled, hoping he looked friendlier than he felt. The little boy waiting in his carriage hoping desperately to find his family made him beyond angry.
But that didn’t mean it was the manager’s fault. The person to blame had yet to be identified.
The man heaved a sigh then led the way to his office tucked in the far corner of the entry. There, he pulled out a large ledger book.
“When did the family arrive?”
“Approximately two months ago.”
“A specific date would be preferable.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have one.” Thomas held tight to his patience to keep from taking the book himself. He’d be happy to read every entry until he found what he was looking for, no matter how long it took.
The man sat down in a chair and paged through the book, running his finger along the entries.
Thomas eased closer, but it was impossible to read the names from this distance.
