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* * *
Amos wasn’t at the sheriff’s station when Sidney showed up. Leonard told him that he’d just missed him. So, Sidney hurried to Amos’ house, alarming Victoria when he pounded on their door, which had not been his intention. Especially when she was with child.
It took only the sight of Sidney’s face for Amos to know that something had happened. Sidney explained the situation; Amos got his gun and kissed Victoria goodbye, promising her that he’d return safely, and they made it back to Sidney’s house in record time.
Together, they searched the place. The parlor was empty. Everything in it had been torn apart. The couch cushions had had their stuffing emptied, the glasses he kept on display had all been smashed. Everything capable of being broken had been broken.
The living room had not fared much better. His favorite rug was stained with something that smelled remarkably like cheap wine, but which Sidney was almost positive was something far worse—Marshall must have arrived with a full bladder to have done so much damage to such a large rug.
The rest of the items in his living room were torn apart, slit open, or generally thrown around. The only things in his house that did not seem to be disturbed were his books, and Sidney could not help but wonder if that was just by chance—perhaps he’d feared he was taking too long and left—or if Marshall was an avid reader who couldn’t bring himself to destroy such a thing as literature.
“Do you think he was looking for something?” Sidney asked.
Amos shook his head.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why destroy everything I own? It’s as if the man hates me or is seeking revenge on me.”
Amos looked at him. “I think you just answered your own question. The intent here was to destroy, and he did a good job of it. He must’ve figured out you’ve been hiding Irene.”
Sidney sighed. He wished he had never let Belle talk him into taking Irene to Meadow’s. It had been a huge mistake. Then again... Marshall had struck while they’d been out. What if they’d been home when he’d come here? Would that not have been worse? He shuddered at the thought and decided that going to Meadow’s tonight had been the best thing they could have done.
Amos was rubbing his chin as if in thought.
“What is it?” asked Sidney.
“Well,” said Amos, “it occurs to me that if Marshall did this, it means one of two things. He either found out who you were, and that you were hiding Irene, prior to tonight, then waited for an opportunity to break into your home...”
“Or?” asked Sidney.
“Or he only suspected you were hiding Irene, then staked out your house to confirm it. Then when he saw you leave tonight, he knew for sure.” He paused. “There’s a third option as well, I suppose. It’s possible Marshall found out who you were but arrived after you three had left for the evening. He might never have seen Irene exit your house, and he might still not know you’ve been hiding her. Not for sure, anyway.”
“I don’t think any of that matters much,” said Sidney. “Assuming Marshall did this, then clearly he means to destroy me and anyone who gets in his way. Irene and Belle aren’t safe here.”
“You’re not exactly safe here either,” said Amos, looking at him. “If I were you, I’d find another place to sleep for a while.”
Sidney frowned. “I don’t understand. No one’s seen him in days. How did he figure out I’ve been hiding Irene?”
“Someone must’ve told him you two were engaged at one point, though who would do such a thing I can’t imagine. Everyone in town knows he’s wanted. I don’t know who’d talk to the man... unless they were forced to.”
Sidney had a terrible thought just then. “Has anyone seen Lucille Jordan today?”
Amos looked at him, alarm etching itself on his face. “I don’t know. Do you think...?”
“The one thing Marshall knew when he came here was that Lucille and Irene were friends. If he was going to harass someone into telling him where Irene’s been hiding... wouldn’t it be her?”
The men ran together to Lucille’s house and found her front door shut but unlocked. They knocked loudly but no sound came from within. They pushed the door open and went in, calling out to her but receiving no answer. Sidney turned his head to the left and gasped.
Lying on the parlor floor was Lucille’s unconscious body. Amos spotted her at the same time as Sidney, and they ran to her, shaking her gently awake. A large lump had formed on the back of her head. Sidney winced when he touched it, as if he could feel her pain.
Her eyes fluttered open. She looked groggily at them. “Sidney?” she asked, blinking. Her eyes began to focus a bit more. “Amos?”
“You’re all right,” said Sidney, cradling her head in his lap and trying to comfort her. He and Lucille had never been particular friends, but he knew she was well-liked by Summer and Meadow.
Her eyes watered. She tried to sit but felt dizzy almost at once and laid back down. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. “There was a knock on my door and I... I opened it and it was Marshall.” She burst into tears. “I didn’t mean to tell him anything, but he had a gun and I...” Her sobs were loud; her whole body shook.
“It’s all right,” Amos said. “No one blames you.”
“I was so scared,” Lucille said. “I thought he was going to kill me. He threatened to track down my parents if I didn’t tell him where Irene was. Is... is she okay?” She held her breath waiting for his answer.
Sidney nodded. “She’s fine. She wasn’t even home when he came to my house.”
Lucille sighed with relief. “Thank the Lord.” She licked her lips and rubbed her temples. “There’s something else,” she said, able to sit up now without falling back over. “He said something that made me think Irene might be in even more danger than we’d realized.”
“What’s that?” Sidney asked, wanting whatever information she had to offer, though not wanting to push her to tears again to get it.
She inhaled a great gulp of air. “He said that the last woman who tried to run from him got what she deserved, and so will Irene.”
“The last woman?” Amos said, interested. He and Sidney exchanged a look. They were thinking the same thing—this wasn’t the first time Marshall had developed a fixation on someone. If they didn’t catch him, it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Did he mention this last woman’s name?” Amos asked. “Or the town he last lived in?”
Lucille drew her brows together. “I don’t think so, but my head is aching so much right now I can hardly think.” A moment later, her face lit up. “Alice!” she shouted. “The woman’s name was Alice?”
“Did he give a last name?” Sidney asked.
Lucille shook her head. “No. Just Alice.”
Amos helped Lucille to her couch, then he drew Sidney aside. “It’s not much to go on, but it may be enough. If we can use this Alice to track down where Marshall’s from, we can find out if he’s got any family. Something to use against him.”
“Do you really think you can find where he’s from?” asked Sidney.
“If it was just me looking, then no. But Leonard’s a whiz on the telegraph, and I’ll just bet he knows the fastest way to get our message to every town within a hundred-mile radius.” He shook his head. “Make that a two-hundred-mile radius.”
* * *
