Chapter 38

  

Sanjay and I had been so focused on our conversation that I hadn’t realized the rains had begun again. Calling the monsoon “rain” wasn’t a particularly accurate description at any time, but it was especially true at that moment. The monsoon that day was a powerful force impossible to confuse with a shower of rain. It was a blanket of water that didn’t seem to consist of individual drops of liquid.

As Sanjay and I exited the restaurant and stood under the awning, sheets of rain obsured our view beyond a few yards. The water splashed back up from the ground, spraying our bodies with mist. Neither of us moved back inside. It wasn’t cold, and we both knew it was futile to fight it. Unless we wanted to stay inside the restaurant all day, there was no avoiding becoming soaked at some point.

I had told Sanjay about everything that had happened in India. Well, almost everything. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to tell him about my last encounter with Lane. I wasn’t sure why.

“Plan?” Sanjay said.

“We can go back to the hotel and see about flights.”

“Go home?” Sanjay said. “You’re joking. There’s no way we’re going home yet. Didn’t you listen to yourself about Naveen and the archivist?”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re withholding an important letter. We need to see it.”

“How do you suppose we convince them?”

“You said the archivist who you suspect Naveen bribed is religious,” Sanjay said. “I can make him think the wrath of God is upon him.”

“That’s cruel.”

“Hey, he’s the one who’s holding Anand’s letter captive.”

  

It had been the middle of the day when we left the hospital, so we found Joseph still in his office. When he saw us, his reaction was not what I was expecting.

“Hindi Houdini!” Joseph said, clasping his hands together and rising to greet us. “It is truly an honor, sir. I was not to be recognizing you at first, not expecting you to be wearing...” He trailed off as his eyes stayed locked on the bright orange women’s tunic I’d purchased for Sanjay.

I stared dumbfounded at Sanjay. “You’re famous here?”

Sanjay shrugged.

“Indian MTV did a few shows about me a few years ago, featuring my magic tour. My agent tells me the ratings were pretty good. It was before I met you.”

Joseph’s face fell. “You are here with Professor Jaya?”

“I’m helping her with some research,” Sanjay said. “You must be Mr. Joseph.”

“Yes, yes, that is I.” His head bobbled as he blinked furiously, looking torn between nervous anxiety and boyish excitement. “You wished for my assistance, Mr. Houdini?

“Thank you, Mr. Joseph,” Sanjay said, shaking his hand.

“Anything I am able to do, I will do it.”

“We’re looking for some letters,” Sanjay said.

Joseph hesitated. “My most humble apologies,” he said. “The letters for Professor Jaya are not here. Anything else you would like? We have much information. Very much information.”

“You know The Hindi Houdini can read minds,” I said.

I’d been skeptical of Sanjay’s strategy, but now that it appeared Joseph was in awe of Sanjay, giving him the right prompting might just work.

Joseph gulped. His moustache twitched.

“Yes,” Sanjay said, following along. He touched his index fingers to his temples. “I sense you are hiding something from Professor Jaya.”

“I did not know Professor Naveen was involved in murder!” Joseph said.

“So he did bribe you for the letters,” I said.

“He called me,” Joseph said, sinking into his chair, “speaking Malayalam. He told me I could not trust Professor Jaya. He mentioned he would be so very grateful if I would help him with his important research. He made a donation… But he said nothing of a man being murdered in America because of the letters! I do not want anything to do with that.”

“We know you did not think you were doing anything wrong,” Sanjay said. “Paying you to borrow the letters—”

“No, no,” Joseph said. “He did not take them.”

“He didn’t?” I asked.

“What do you think of me?” Joseph sniffed indignantly and adjusted his glasses. “The archives must not leave the property. No, the letters are here. Professor Naveen’s donation was made so he could read the letters with an understanding that no other scholars would be granted access.”

“The letters are here?” Sanjay said.

Joseph hesitated again.

“Naveen lied to you about not being able to trust Jaya,” Sanjay said. “He tricked you so he could make a discovery first. Remember,” he added, “Jaya is the one who told you the truth about a murder. Naveen only told you what you wanted to hear.”

“Yes,” Joseph said, “he lied to me. He should not receive his donation back.”

“We don’t care about that,” Sanjay said. “We only care about being able to see the letters. You’ll take us to them now?”

“Are you feeling up for this?” I asked Sanjay. “There are a lot of letters to go through.”

“Not necessarily,” Joseph said.

“What do you mean?” Sanjay asked.

“I watched Professor Naveen as he read the letters,” Joseph said. “There was one letter he was most interested in. One letter that made him smile and say Professor Jaya was looking in the wrong place.”