Harry nodded. "That's another puzzle. Let's wait and see what the Professor comes up with."
"We can still think about it." She picked up her jacket. "See you in the morning."
"In the morning," he replied absently. She smiled, aware that he was already thinking.
********************
Professor Jones came to the office the following afternoon, bringing a young man with him. "Meet Lethabo Brown, commonly known as Thabo, and possibly my most brilliant student."
Harry grasped the outstretched hand briefly. "First time I've heard that name."
The young man smiled. "Afrikaans, but the only one who ever used it was my grandmother."
"Family history can wait," Jones said. "I did see those masked urns before. I still have a copy of the photo but... this young man knows all about them."
Thabo nodded. "I saw them once, when I accompanied my Grandma Magda to visit an old friend. Hentie was older than my grandmother and very ill, so we took her some broth. That night, I asked her about the vases with the masks, and this is what she told me."
"Hentie calls them 'Remembrance Urns,' made for her three young grandchildren: a brother and sister named Charlize and Jaco, and a male cousin named Zander. They died from injuries after being trampled in an elephant stampede, started by poachers seeking ivory tusks for illegal trade."
"All three were orphans, living with their grandparents, Hentie and Hendrik. Having already lost their parents, Hentie could not deal with the loss of the grandchildren as well, and said she must have some part of them with her always. Hendrik made three urns with ceremonial masks carved on the front and Hentie painted the masks, one in each child's favourite colour. Into each urn she put a lock of hair, along with several small items that each child had cherished, representing their short lives."
"The urns were then sealed and kept on a shelf in the family home, to be buried with Hentie when she died. Hendrik died first and when Hentie died, no one remembered her wish. A distant relative took the urns back to America - it was thought that he intended to sell them. He was a descendant of Hentie's sister, whose daughter had immigrated to America."
"Kasey Buckler," Harry said. "We need to find him."
"That's your field," Jones said, as he and Thabo prepared to leave. Harry saw them out, thanking them for their help.
"Hogan!" He stopped in the open doorway and turned around. "Listen to this: The young man who died in last month's storm, when a tree fell on his car, has been identified as Kasey Buckler, age 38. A backpack, containing personal effects, was found during removal and clean-up of the debris. No other details are being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin."
As she finished reading, Bertie looked at him. "You're letting the cold air in. Will you please decide which way you're going?"
