Excerpt from A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Do they speak English?" Akal asked, surprised. The people desperate enough to sign the girmit, the indentured servitude contract, were the poorest of the poor.

"No, of course not. I speak enough Hindi to communicate simple things. The thing is, even if nobody will speak to me, I can learn enough just by observing. They were a sad looking bunch. One woman had her baby with her, and the baby started crying at one point. It was pitiful, Sergeant, even the cry sounded thin. As usual, the women were reluctant to speak to me, so I went down to the coolie line to see what the conditions there were like. Have you seen a coolie line before, Sergeant Singh?"

Akal shook his head. What he'd heard of the accommodations provided to the indentured servants had given him a fair idea that he didn't want to spend any time there.

A sentiment Akal didn't want to share with this crusading clergyman.

"Well, this one was about average, which is to say it was a dire place. Parkins has followed the regulations to the letter and not a single thing more. The rooms are exactly the minimum size allowed, scarcely enough to swing a cat. The internal walls run to the mandated height and then chicken wire at the top for ventilation, which means that there is no privacy whatsoever. Families in a room with singles right next door. How is anyone supposed to maintain a moral family life in these conditions? My report—"

"And Kunti?" Akal prompted.

"Yes, yes, Kunti, of course. So, there I was, too tired to be angry about the state of the coolie line, frustrated that nobody would speak to me. I was having a very low moment. Until I walked around the corner and there she was. Kunti. It was like the sun came out. She was shy, but not scared like the other women. I asked her if she would sit for this photograph, through gesture, of course, and she nodded. I took the photograph and left. A few months later I came back through and gave her a copy."

"And you say that was a few months ago?" Akal asked. "Do you think she might have just worn down and run away?"

Father Hughes did not even consider the possibility. "No, no, no. Impossible. She was three years into her contract. Why would she suddenly wear down now, unless something happened? But I can't imagine what would be so dreadful that she'd leave her daughter. No, I stand by my statement—if she has disappeared, it is against her will."

"Sir, with respect, this doesn't seem enough to call it a kidnapping. We don't know what has happened to this woman since you saw her."

The priest seemed truly taken aback for the first time in the conversation. "It would be exceedingly foolish to ignore this," he warned, as if surprised at Akal's matter-of-fact demeanour. "The Indian people will demand justice, here and in India."

"I will report your concerns to the inspector-general," Akal reassured him, inching forward in his chair, eager to depart.

"When you do, make sure he understands that I won't be quiet about this. The church will continue to fight for justice for Kunti." Father Hughes took a deep breath, visibly calming himself, then proceeded in a less threatening tone: "Sergeant Singh, please tell me that you care enough to find out the truth, even if she has run away. I know that to the planters and to the administration, these Indians are beasts of burden more than people. But for you, Kunti is your countrywoman."

"I'll do what I can, sir," Akal responded in a clipped tone.

The priest's words had him a little restless, perhaps even a little angry. He did not want to look too deeply at the problems in the girmit scheme. What did Father Hughes think Akal could do about any of it? He had not created the situation, and it had nothing to do with him, really. The Indians being brought over as girmityas were not the kind he would have ever dealt with in India. They were not his people, even if they were his countrymen.

Excerpted from A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao. Copyright © 2023 by Nilima Rao. Excerpted by permission of Soho Crime. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.