Fifteen

Lucas almost felt sorry for Flora Brimm. Almost, but not quite.

While her prayer time in the chapel seemed real enough, the fact remained that she was intent on hitching her fate to that of a criminal. And he was just as intent on seeing Tucker pay for the crimes he’d committed.

That was the real reason for his visit to the jail. If the sheriff had sworn out a warrant for Tucker, he’d be more than happy to continue his arrangement with Miss Brimm until the man was caught. If not, he’d have to decide whether turning her over for receipt of stolen property was sufficient.

If she and Tucker were in communication, the arrest of the woman could bring him out of hiding. Or it could cause him to drop any interest in her and run for the hills—and for his next victim.

Lucas let out a long breath as his mind untangled the threads of possibility. The idea that Will Tucker felt allegiance to any female enough to turn himself in was doubtful. That left only one way to catch him: Stick close to Flora Brimm and keep her out of jail.

A sideways glance told him she appeared less than enthusiastic with her current situation. Not that he could blame her. Whatever reason had caused her to want to buy what Tucker was selling, she certainly wasn’t finding any relief for it now.

Maneuvering the buggy into a tight spot in front of the jail, Lucas set the brake and looked over at his companion. To her credit, the woman who had slept at his side last night bore the idea that she might be heading for a jail cell with surprising dignity.

Miss Brimm caught him staring at her. “Can we get this over with?” she demanded.

Lucas weighed his options. If he took her inside, he would likely be required to leave her there. If he went in without her, the odds were she would not be waiting when he returned.

There was only one solution. “Miss Brimm, I’m going to have to handcuff you again.”

“Honestly,” she said as she leaned away from him. “What do you think I’m going to do? The sheriff’s office is just a few steps away from where I’m sitting. How could I possibly escape?”

“I’m considering leaving you here while I go in and have a talk with the sheriff. If you go in with me, I’m going to have to continue my search for Tucker alone while you spend the night at the jailhouse.” He allowed her to think about that a moment. “So, what will it be?”

Without comment, she held out a wrist. Lucas slapped on the cuff and attached the other end to the buggy. “Do not move until I return.”

While the handcuff was obvious to anyone who might come close enough to look inside the buggy, from Lucas’s vantage point at the door to the jailhouse nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Only the stricken look on Miss Brimm’s face gave her away as anything but a woman passing time on a sunny May morning.

“Smile,” he called to her. “Or someone’s bound to wonder what’s wrong and inquire.”

Her response was swift. Though she added a broad grin to her expression, nothing in her demeanor told him anything had changed.

The woman looked as though she would rather shoot him than take her next breath. Lest she might have a weapon hidden in her skirts, he scooted inside.

“Hello there, Pinkerton man,” the deputy called as the door closed behind Lucas. “The sheriff’s out the back seeing to some business with the undertaker. He ought to be here in a minute or two, but I’ll let him know you’re here.”

“I would appreciate that,” Lucas said as he found a chair. A few minutes later the sound of heavy footsteps told him he was about to have company.

“Heard you’d come by to pay me a visit,” the sheriff said. “What can I do for you, McMinn? My deputies didn’t catch your fellow?”

“Unfortunately, no. Apparently he slipped out another way, but I do appreciate your sending them and posting the others.” Lucas rose to shake the sheriff’s hand. “I thought I’d come check on that warrant I swore out.”

The sheriff fitted himself into the chair behind his desk. “Had a little problem with that.”

Refusing to take the bait or let his disappointment show, Lucas kept his voice neutral. “Did you? Anything I can help clear up?”

“Maybe.” He leaned back in the chair and put both boots on the desktop and regarded Lucas with a look that told him there was more than just a little jurisdictional squabble here. “I needed some information about the charges pending on Tucker, so I thought I would shortcut the process by sending for the details of your open investigation. You know, lawman to lawman.”

Lucas had a sinking feeling. “You talked to someone at the agency?”

“I did,” he said, his gaze never wavering. “There doesn’t seem to be an open investigation against our boy Tucker.” He paused. “At least that’s what the fellow in Chicago told me. Maybe he was mistaken.”

How to answer? While Lucas refused to lie, the truth wouldn’t get him what he wanted. He decided to take a plot of ground that met the two in the middle.

“It’s true, Sheriff. As far as the Chicago office knows, there isn’t an official investigation. They have their hands full up there, what with the Haymarket appeals and all.” Lucas paused. “In fact, I would wager a guess you were told I’m working on my own time.”

The lawman barely blinked. “I was.”

Not a surprise, given the man’s expression of doubt over the whole investigation. Lucas decided to come clean and tell him the whole story, or at least the part of it that pertained to Tucker’s arrest warrant.

“I have a telegram in my pocket from my contact at the agency. Unless you talked to a Pinkerton by the name of Kyle Russell, you’re not going to get the full story. He’s the one I report to and the man who has been keeping tabs on what I’m doing down here.”

The sheriff’s demeanor softened, though only slightly. “Don’t believe that’s the man I spoke to. Go on.”

Lucas let out a long breath as he sent up a quick prayer for favor. And for the ability to convince this man to help him without resorting to deception. There had been enough of that already.

“The truth is, Tucker isn’t far from being caught. I was close and I’ll get him yet. Resources being what they are right now at the agency, I felt it my duty to use time I had coming to me to bring him in.”

“There’s still the matter of no official investigation or arrest warrant.”

“True. Russell’s working on the first problem, and you can easily solve the second.”

The sheriff sat up, put his boots on the floor, and rested his elbows on his desk. “I’m a straight shooter, Pink, and I would appreciate the same courtesy from you.”

“You can count on it.”

“All right.” He paused as if sizing Lucas up. “What’s this Tucker done?” When Lucas began the laundry list of charges against Will Tucker, the sheriff held up his hand. “No, I have all that in the papers you filed. I mean, what’s he done to you personally?”

Lucas sat back and searched for something to say to cover his surprise. “What makes you think it’s personal?”

“Son, a man doesn’t go to the trouble you’ve gone to if he doesn’t have a personal stake in it. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m committed to putting men who deserve it behind bars. Trouble is, I don’t usually take off from my regular job to go out and do it on my own time.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So I’ll ask you again. What has Will Tucker done to you personally?”

Weighing the cost of giving up painful and private information against the cost of letting Tucker go free took only a moment. “All right,” Lucas said slowly. “Tucker made some promises to someone dear to me. He stole something precious.”

“Jewelry?”

Lucas looked him in the eye. “That too.”

“I see.”

A shuffle behind him told Lucas someone else had walked into the conversation. He swiveled to see the deputy who had missed work yesterday. “Looks like somebody’s feeling better.”

The deputy ducked his head. “Not feeling too good about letting you down, sir,” he said. “I just wanted to come and tell you that. And to apologize. I was awful sick. Ate something that didn’t agree with me. One of those box lunches from the kitchen. That old lady sent it to me, and I figured it would be good, but it wasn’t.”

He looked the man over and decided he was telling the truth. Hadn’t Millicent Brimm wanted to do the same with him? Perhaps his stubborn pride had saved him from a similar fate.

Slowly Lucas nodded. “Yeah, all right. I guess I can overlook it.”

“Deputy, would you mind leaving me and Mr. McMinn here alone for a minute? You can close that door on the way out.”

“Sure, Sheriff,” he said. “And thank you for understanding, Mr. McMinn. I do appreciate that, one lawman to another.”

After the deputy had made his exit and the door was closed, the sheriff returned his attention to Lucas. “All right. I’m going to send your man Russell a telegram to see if we can clear up this issue of a case against Tucker. Once I have confirmation of something I can use, I’ll see that the warrant goes into effect.”

“Thank you, sir. He ought to give you whatever you need to get this arrest warrant active.”

“That’s all I ask. It would help if you could tie her directly to Tucker.”

“I’m sure she’s the link there, but you know that.”

He nodded. “I also know her daddy’s lawyers would have her out of jail and heading home before she could blink twice and turn around. And in the meantime, she’d be instructed not to say a word.”

“Exactly. That’s why I need to keep her with me a little longer.”

“Keep her with you?” The sheriff gave him an incredulous look. “Son, are you harboring a prisoner?”

“Technically, she’s not a prisoner until I turn her over to you.” He paused to choose his words carefully. “And being a Pinkerton, I can make a good case for keeping her in personal custody rather than allowing important evidence to go undiscovered due to legal proceedings that her family might file.” He paused. “She’s much more valuable out there than she is in here, sir. But you say the word, and I will bring her in and turn her over to you.”

“Would you now?” He paused to look out the window. “Whether I keep her or let you take her with you, you’re still going to be looking for him, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Thought you’d say that.” He shrugged. “Go on and see that you don’t get into any trouble. If you do, send ’em to me and I’ll see what I can do to help.”

Lucas stood and leaned over the desk to shake the sheriff’s hand. “Thank you, sir. You won’t regret this.”

“I think there’s enough doubt about all this that I’m going to back you on the warrant. I won’t issue it until all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed with your superiors, but I have a lawman’s nose, and I can tell you something smells in all this.”

“It does. I’m grateful for any help you can offer.”

“Question is, do you want me to cancel the warrant for Miss Brimm?” He once again seemed to be studying Lucas. “I don’t think she would be able to run far if she’s in your custody. And I sure don’t think she’d be hard to find if we had to go hunting for her.”

“You might want to hold off on that a while. If you don’t mind, I would rather keep things as they are. A warrant gives me leverage nothing else will.”

“I see your point, McMinn. If you change your mind, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

“Expect to hear from me.” Lucas once again reached over to shake the sheriff’s hand. “As soon as Tucker is caught, I’ll want Miss Brimm to go free. Unless she’s somehow implicated.”

“But you doubt it.”

“I do. But long as I’ve been a Pinkerton, I’ve still not learned how to figure out a woman. So in my book anything’s possible until all the facts are in.”

“That’s the truth. You might want to watch your back while you’re on the hunt for this fellow. If he’s gone to this kind of trouble, he’s either good at what he does or he’s not working alone.”

Lucas shook his head grimly. “Tucker tends to find the next victim while he’s still warming up the current one. It’s possible he has another woman under his influence already. Or maybe he’s just that good. I know he’s left a string of broken hearts in his path. What I haven’t seen yet is him putting anyone in danger, so other than the obvious, I don’t think he’ll harm anyone physically.”

Lucas then said his goodbyes and headed for the door. Stepping out into the sunshine, he blinked to allow his eyes to adjust to the bright light.

This accomplished, he walked over to the buggy and climbed in beside a scowling Flora Brimm. “It’s about time. I swear, Mr. McMinn, if I freckle from being out here in the sun so long, I will hold you personally responsible.”

“If you freckle?” He laughed as he reached for the brake. “That’s the worst you can complain about?”

“Oh, never mind. So you aren’t locking me up in jail?”

“No, ma’am. I’m taking you home.”

“To Natchez?” She held on tightly as he turned the buggy around and headed back up Spring Street. “Whatever for?”

“To catch a crook, Miss Brimm.” He spared her only a quick glance before returning to the task of navigating the steep, narrow street. “Like it or not, you’re my best bait.”

“Best bait,” she muttered. “That’s not exactly a compliment. I suppose this means our personal custody arrangement is still in effect.”

“It is.” He paused to allow a family of four to cross the road before setting the buggy in motion again. “Beats being in jail, don’t you think?”

“That’s not saying much.”

Mr. McMinn’s chuckle set her teeth on edge, but the events of the morning and the exhaustion tugging at her kept Flora from engaging in any further conversation. By the time they reached the hotel, she was nearly falling asleep sitting up.

The doorman hurried over to help her down, studiously avoiding eye contact. “It’s all right,” she whispered to him. “I know you were just doing your job.”

Relief washed over the man’s face. “Thank you, Miss Brimm.”

She gave him a smile and then headed toward the front entrance of the hotel. When Lucas caught up with her at the door, she walked past him to step inside without comment.

If she had to travel anywhere, going home was the best choice. Flora decided this as she crossed the atrium lobby. At least there she could find solace with Father…unless, of course, he got wind of the fact that she and Grandmama were returning. In that case, he would likely find cause to travel and soon.

A letter. Yes, she would write and tell him she had important business to discuss with him. Letter. Her heart sank as she thought of the previous letter she’d written. The one where she’d summarily announced that she would be married the next time he saw her.

She would have to deal with that, most certainly. But how?

“Miss Brimm,” the clerk’s voice derailed Flora’s thoughts. “Miss Brimm, you have a message.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Lucas stayed at her side as Flora walked over to receive the note from the grinning clerk. Before she could read it, he snatched the paper from her hand and gave the clerk a look that sent him skittering for the back office.

“I don’t trust that man,” he muttered as he opened the note and looked down at Flora. “It’s from your grandmother.”

“Probably a scolding for not returning to the suite last night.” Flora folded the page and returned it to the envelope unread. At Mr. McMinn’s amused look, she explained. “I’ll just hear it again once we’re with her. No need to read what she’ll likely say.”

He escorted her upstairs, where Flora found the door to the suite wide open and three maids doing what appeared to be swift and thorough packing. She walked past them to knock on her grandmother’s door.

“Mrs. Brimm has already gone,” a maid said.

“Already gone?” Her heart sank. Of course. Grandmama had hurried home to Natchez to prepare Father for the news that was to come.

“You’re sure of this?” Lucas asked.

“Yes. Based on what my grandmother knew, she would definitely pack up and return to Natchez once she believed I’d gone through with the marriage to Mr. Tucker.”

Mr. McMinn shook his head. “Think carefully now. Are you sure she wouldn’t have tried to stop you? Maybe gone to Tucker and had it out with him?” A pause. “Or maybe she returned to the suite last night while Tucker was here. Might they have had words? Could things have turned…”

Flora gasped. “Are you thinking my grandmother might have been harmed by my fiancé? That is ludicrous!”

“Is it?” He studied her with good reason, and yet it still felt uncomfortable.

“Yes, it is.”

“The ribbon,” Mr. McMinn said. “Is it the same one you found on the ledge outside Tucker’s window?”

“I don’t know, but I can check my Bible to see if the bookmark is still there.”

“Yes, do that.” He followed her as far as the door and then leaned against the frame as she walked over to the table and retrieved her Bible.

“I don’t see a ribbon in here, so I have to assume this is the one that’s missing.”

“And that he got it when he was in the suite after we left.”

Flora nodded.

“All right. I want you to look around and see if anything is missing.”

“Honestly, I cannot imagine that my fiancé would steal anything,” she said as she thumbed through the New Testament looking for her place in First Corinthians.

He chuckled. “If nothing is missing, I will apologize. But if there’s anything even out of place, I want to know about it.”

She nodded, though a sharp response was on the tip of her tongue. Will Tucker had no need to steal from her, just as he had no need to gift her with stolen property. Not only did he have a good job as a railroad detective, but he also would receive far more than the price of a few of her baubles once he completed the marriage contract and went through with the wedding.

To suggest anything else was ludicrous.

Finding the book she was looking for, Flora turned partly away from the door and flipped the pages until she reached the thirteenth chapter. Someone had underlined part of verse twelve: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face…

Beneath the verse, that same person had placed an arrow pointing to the margin where he had written: Face-to-face in Natchez. I will find you there and marry you. Trust me.

“Trust me,” she whispered. “Yes, I believe I must, Mr. Tucker. You’re still the solution to everything.”

“Find anything missing yet?”

“Nothing yet,” Flora responded with the beginnings of a grin.

“All right,” he said. “Be thorough but don’t take all day. If your grandmother’s trunks and her maids are going to Natchez, so are we. And don’t even think of arguing the point or stalling for time.”

“No, of course not.” Flora slid the pink ribbon back into place and closed the Bible. She looked at him and her grin became a full-fledged smile.

“Are you making a joke?”

“No, of course not.” She placed the Bible beneath her reticule.

One dark brow rose as he crossed both arms over his chest. “So you’re not going to give me any trouble about leaving on short notice?”

Flora shrugged. “You said yourself I was in your personal custody. I’ll take Natchez over the Eureka Springs jail any day.”

“No attempts to contact Tucker to warn him you’re leaving?”

“No,” she said solemnly. “If Mr. Tucker wants to contact me, he will.”

And he will.

“All right.” Mr. McMinn’s expression indicated he still had doubts. “I figure it’s just better if you and I travel with the maids. It saves the issue of reputation and gives me someone to keep an eye on you when I can’t.”

“Of course,” Flora said. “Though you have my word I will not try to escape.”

“In transit or once we get to Natchez?” he asked as his gaze swept over her.

She shrugged as she affected her most innocent look. “Mr. McMinn, I know you’re a lawman, but truly you should stop being so suspicious. I want Mr. Tucker found as much as you do.”

The truth. What she didn’t mention was that unlike him, she had no doubt Mr. Tucker would be found. And likely married to her very soon.