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and then slid it inside her purse. “Are you coming, or would you prefer to make yourself sick by inhaling more of those cookies?” she asked with a smile.
    “Um, sure, yes, I’m coming!” he answered, licking his lips.
    Naveen Chandra had long, smooth black hair and luminous peacock-blue eyes. He was movie-star handsome but seemed ill at ease. He was still blowing puffs of cigar smoke and staring distractedly off into space.
    He regarded the two cousins without interest. “Sorry, kids, I’ve run out of signed photos,” he said. “Ifyou want an autograph, you’ll have to bring me a paper and pen.”
    “That’s all right, Mr. Chandra.” Agatha sat down at the table. Still holding her cup of tea, she said quietly, “We were so sorry to hear about your situation. We know how much you love your father.”
    “Oh really?” he replied bitterly. “You’re the only ones who think so!” Grinding out his cigar, he threw a quick glance at the kids. “Thanks toCaptain Deshpande, the whole village thinks I’m a thief and a murderer!”

    “It’s like being a prisoner, isn’t it?” Agatha said, imagining herself in his shoes. “You can’t leave the Tiger Hotel, you can’t help with the search, you can’t go back home. You’re just stuck here, with nothing to do but worry!”
    Struck by her compassion, the star began venting his feelings more freely. “I came back after all these years to bring my townspeople a bit of happiness,” he said. “I wanted to start a school, build a new movie theater. The money that comes with success like mine can work miracles.”
    “But it can’t buy your father’s respect.” Agatha nodded, sipping her tea.
    Naveen Chandra looked at her. “That’s the truth,” he admitted. “I swear I’ve tried everything, but he’s ashamed of me. He’s a deeply religious man. He said that my
atman
, my inner spirit, wascorrupted by money and fame, and he wanted no part of it. He didn’t recognize me as his son anymore.”
    “Did you argue a lot?” Dash asked, listening attentively. “I fight with my mom all the time. She says I’m a slacker and a hopeless waste of good groceries.”
    For the first time in days, Naveen Chandra laughed. “Three days ago, right before Daddyji disappeared, he shouted at me in the street! I haven’t seen him since.” His expression turned grim and he whispered, “I didn’t steal the Pearl of Bengal. What use would I have for it? I’m already incredibly rich!”
    “But several people saw you outside your father’s house on the night of the theft,” Agatha pressed. “What were you doing there?”
    Naveen Chandra jumped to his feet. “That’s a lie!” he roared. “I went to bed early that night. The boy at reception can tell you! He was at thefront desk when I went upstairs!”
    “But you could have sneaked back out through the hotel window,” Agatha pointed out. “It’s just a short drop to the ground.”
    This infuriated him even more. “Are you joking?” he cried. “You think I’m guilty, too!”
    He was about to storm away with both fists clenched when the Tiger Hotel gate creaked open. Two forest guards and a fisherman entered. Behind them stood Captain Deshpande.
    Naveen Chandra stood in the middle of the garden, watching as they approached.
    “Is this the man you saw?” Deshpande asked the fisherman.
    The fisherman stared at the handsome Bollywood actor for a moment, then nodded vigorously. “Yes, I’m positive! I saw this man pick the lock on the custodian’s house and sneak inside. Yes, yes, it was definitely him, Captain!”
    Agatha and Dash watched as NaveenChandra was handcuffed. He didn’t resist. The two guards escorted him into the street and toward the prison.
    Captain Deshpande took a seat at the cousins’ table, his expression serene. “Well, I won’t need any reinforcements now, my friends,” he said, stirring the gravel with his bamboo cane. “I finally found a reliable witness. That fisherman is