Jail

Mr. Pinkerton and Agent Wilson walked behind Beth and Patrick. They were all headed to a white building. A sign on it said County Courthouse.

Beth knew that’s where the jail was. Her stomach burned with worry. It felt as if she’d sipped a cup of bleach.

“Why didn’t Eugene come to meet us at the depot?” Patrick asked.

Agent Wilson glanced at Mr. Pinkerton. They shared a knowing look.

“You’ll see Eugene soon enough,” Mr. Pinkerton said. “And we’ll sort out your future.”

Future? Beth didn’t want to spend her future in jail.

The courthouse was a two-story, wood building. It had red trim and four steps leading to the front door.

Beth’s boots felt like lead as she plodded up each step.

Mr. Pinkerton opened the double doors. All four of them walked through. Agent Wilson led the way.

They passed hallways that had portraits on the walls. The men in the paintings seemed to frown on Beth.

The group passed offices with desks. They came to the back of the building.

“Follow the stairs,” Mr. Pinkerton said. “Eugene is waiting. Agent Wilson and I have to talk to the court recorder.”

Beth and Patrick walked down a few steps.

Beth saw what she dreaded. Iron bars. Cement walls.

Eugene was in one of the cells. He was sitting on a small cot with a gray blanket. A Bible was on a nearby table. He seemed lonely. But otherwise he looked okay.

Patrick called, “Eugene!”

Eugene looked surprised. “Patrick!” he said. “Beth!” Then he jumped up. “Did you see him?”

Beth moved toward the cell.

Patrick was confused. “See who? Mr. Whittaker?”

It was Eugene’s turn to look confused. “I haven’t thought about him,” he said. “I was referring to Jesse James.”

Beth moved closer to the bars. “Oh, him,” Beth said. She sounded defeated.

“Yes, him!” Eugene said. “The master criminal has eluded some of the best detectives in history! I was hot on his trail.”

“Until you got arrested,” Patrick said.

Suddenly a bright light filled the jail cell.

The car Imagination Station appeared just as Mr. Pinkerton and Agent Wilson entered. Only Beth, Patrick, and Eugene could see the Station.

Patrick realized the problem at once. He and Beth couldn’t get inside the cell to reach the machine.

Beth must have realized the problem too. She turned to Mr. Pinkerton. “I insist that you arrest us,” she said. “I confess to knowing more about Jesse James than you do.”

The detective took off his hat. His eyebrows scrunched. “I can’t arrest you for that,” he said. “I didn’t listen when you warned me.”

Beth reached inside her pocket. She showed the silver dollar to Agent Wilson. “Do you remember this?”

The agent nodded. “Jesse James gave that to you.”

Beth said, “And would you say it was probably stolen?”

Again the agent nodded.

“Then I’m in possession of stolen goods,” Beth said. “Arrest us!”

Mr. Pinkerton took a key out of the inside of his coat. He put the key in the lock and turned it. The door clicked.

Patrick and Beth rushed inside the cell.

“Hurry,” Patrick said. “Get in the machine. What are you waiting for, Eugene?”

He looked at his friend. Eugene still looked glum.

“Your plan has a flaw,” Eugene said. “There are only two seats in this machine.”

“So one of us has to stay behind,” Beth said. It was a fact. Not a question.

Patrick heard a click. He turned.

Mr. Pinkerton had locked all three of them inside the cell.

Find out what happens next in adventure 19, Light in the Lions’ Den.