Ben recognized immediately that the telegram he had received at the Coles was a ploy to get him out of the picture, despite the fact that he had acted as if it was legitimate. It was supposedly from Adam, however, long ago the two of them developed a coded response for when things were truly urgent and the message did not have it. Secondly Adam was in Sacramento on business; so the message should have come from Hoss since it was reporting Joe as being injured. Though it frustrated him to do so, Ben remained at the hotel the remainder of that day and the next. He knew that he could not risk being seen by anyone who would recognize him. During these days, Ben took all his meals in his room. About to go stir crazy, he determined to venture out on the third day and try to find out more information about Miss Peabody. He wore his suit with a white shirt and string tie, but not his stylish vest, hoping that it might make him less conspicuous to pick out on the street and that he would look more like a regular businessman. He kept his hat pulled down a little lower than usual to obscure more of his face.
Ben took a cab to the area of the city Barbara had described, and then set out on foot. He got the break he needed when he came up on a gentleman who was about to get in his carriage. Ben asked him if by chance he knew someone named Lavin that lived in the neighborhood. The man pointed to the house two doors down. Ben thanked him and bid him a good day.
Ben approached the house and knocked on the door. When no one answered after repeated knocks, he walked back off the stoop, then turned around quickly. He noticed movement in the drapes at the window on the left side of the house. He walked back up to the door and knocked again before speaking.
"I'm looking for a Miss Peabody. Would you be able to tell anything of her whereabouts?...I understand why you might be hesitant to open the door. I am asking because I am concerned for Miss Peabody's safety. She may have been privy to some information that could have put her life in jeopardy..…" He paused and knocked one last time. "Please, I would be grateful for any information you can give me and I am willing to pay."
He heard the sound of the bolt lock sliding, then the door opened just enough for Ben to see a security chain. "Who are you?" A nervous woman's voice asked from within.
"Ma'am, I am a friend of Barbara Dameron's. She was the one who told me where Miss Peabody lived. Are you Mrs. Lavin?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Lavin, I can fully understand why you would not want to open your door to a strange man. Is there a chance that I could return when your husband is home. I really need to speak with you about your sister."
"I don't know...I will have to ask my husband."
"I would be very grateful if you would speak with your husband about this. I can be reached at the Whitcomb Hotel. Just send a message to Joseph Adams in room 209. I look forward to hearing from you. I'm so sorry to have frightened you. Please know that I am very concerned about your sister. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Lavin."
The door clicked shut and the bolt thrown back into place almost immediately after Ben finished his last word. He did not turn and look back as he walked away. He did not want to leave any impression with Mrs. Lavin that he would attempt to get into her house.
Ben hailed a cab when he reached a main thoroughfare. Back at the Whitcomb he checked at the desk and found that there was a message waiting for him. On the second floor, he lightly rapped on the door of room 212.
"Who is it?" A voice called from within?
"Joseph Adams."
The door opened and Ben entered.
"Well hello, Pa...I mean Mr. Adams." Little Joe stifled a giggle.
Ben clapped his sons on their arms and acknowledged Joe, Hoss, and Adam by the names they had used on the hotel registry. "Good to see you Mr. DeMarigny, Mr. Borgstrom… and Mr. Stoddard, I wasn't expecting to see you here. I thought you were still in Sacramento."
Adam smirked, "I wrapped things up early when I got the message from Hoss and Joe. Thought you could probably use a little more help."
Ben brought his sons up to speed on what had transpired over the past weeks, then they went downstairs to the hotel dining room to get something to eat. After dinner, they returned to their respective rooms. Ben found a note that had been slipped under the door of his room. It was from the Lavins requesting him to meet with him the following morning at a restaurant near the Whitcomb. Ben immediately went to Adam's room to let him know what was happening.
Adam closed the book he was holding. "Pa, I'm going with you. This could be really important."
Ben slipped his hands into his pockets. "Honestly, I think we should all go, you and I to talk with the Lavins and Hoss and Joe to watch from a distance just in case someone is spying on us."
"Sounds good. Let's plan to get to the restaurant early before the Lavins arrive. We had better go talk with Hoss and Joe so that we are all on the same page."
The following morning, Ben and the boys arrived at the restaurant twenty minutes ahead of the designated time. Each of the them was positioned at a different table with Ben at one that sat in the corner of the dining room that was farthest from the entrance. He sat facing the door so he had a clear view of the entire room. Adam was at a table nearby with Hoss and Joe each at a table just inside the entrance. It gave Ben an odd feeling to have no idea who he was looking for since he had only heard Mrs. Lavin's voice. Still, when a man and women appeared in the doorway and began scanning the room, he was not surprised to see the woman secretly point at him just before they moved toward his table. Ben watched carefully as the couple who he believed was the Lavins came his way. As he stood to greet them, he noticed the hulk of a man he had seen in the law office and at the train station was moving through the doorway; so he positioned himself such that the Lavins were blocking him from being seen clearly. Though he had coached his sons to be on the look-out for the large thug, Ben glanced at Adam to confirm. His nonverbal message soon made the rounds. It was to be Hoss' job to handle the big man if things got ugly. Shortly another man was in the doorway and made eye contact the thug Ben had recognized and who was now seated alone near the door on Joe's side of the room. Joe picked up on it immediately. His eyes followed the new man to a table near where Hoss was sitting.
Ben proceeded tentatively with the Lavins; he had the uneasy feeling of sitting on a keg of gunpowder. He kept his voice very low as he spoke to the nervous middle-aged couple now seated in front of him.
"Thank you so much for meeting me, Mr. and Mrs. Lavin." Ben opened.
"So just why are you so concerned about my wife's sister, Mr. Adams?"
Ben continued in hushed tones. "In the past few weeks I have become friends with Mrs. Barbara Dameron. I am concerned for her welfare as well as that of Miss Peabody. Mrs. Dameron's butler was recently murdered and most of her husband's valuable collectibles were stolen." Ben paused momentarily when the Lavins' eyes grew wide and were filled with concern. "Mr. Dameron's former partners are now handling her affairs. When a friend and I went to meet with Mr. Canfield and Mr. Russell, it came to my attention by the comments of the new secretary at the law office and also from information that Mrs. Dameron offered that Miss Peabody left her long term employment shortly after Mr. Dameron passed away. That struck me as a bit odd given the circumstances. Things seemed a bit vague and I wondered if you had an explanation. I am hoping that her leaving was in no way connected to the unfortunate things that have been happening lately."
Mr. and Mrs. Lavin looked to each other with uncertainty, unsure whether to trust Ben with any information they might have. While they debated, he did a quick look about the room. Though Ben did not know the name of the big man staring at him, Morgan was now able to see enough of Ben to know he had been given the slip the other day at the train station. The look on Morgan's face convinced Ben to bring Adam into the equation sooner rather than later.
"I understand that you are wondering whether or not to trust me; so I am going to be completely honest with you." Ben changed to a whisper. "My name is not Joseph Adams, but Ben Cartwright. I am a rancher from Virginia City, Nevada. I was here on business when I became acquainted with Mrs. Dameron. I remained in San Francisco under an assumed name to try to make some sense of what has been going on." Ben looked up to be certain that Morgan had not moved. "Please don't look around the room, but my three sons are here in the restaurant with me. I have reason to believe that we are being watched at this very moment and I would like my son Adam to join our table for some additional protection, if you don't mind."
Ben's last few sentences were frightening Mrs. Lavin greatly and making her wish that she had not encouraged her husband to seek Ben out, but the sincerity in his eyes gave her some comfort and the courage to trust him. Mr. Lavin nodded to Ben. Adam had been watching his father intently and wasted no time moving to his side when Ben gave him a slight motion to join them. Both Morgan and his partner took notice, but made no move.
Adam leaned in and introduced himself. "Mr. and Mrs. Lavin, My name is Adam Cartwright. My father and brothers and I are pleased to offer any assistance we can."
Seeing the same sincerity in the eyes of the son as they had in his father, Mr. Lavin pulled an envelope from the interior pocket of his suit coat.
"My sister-in-law believed that Mr. Canfield and Mr. Russell were involved in some illegal business deals after Mr. Dameron's death. She found some papers by accident one day that could have confirmed what she was thinking, however, she feared for her life and fled the city."
Ben looked at Adam with shock, and then back to the Lavins. He was almost afraid to ask the obvious question. "But she is alive?"
"Yes, she is living in St. Louis with my brother's family using a deceased family member's name when she communicates with us." Mr. Lavin whispered in haste. Ben and Adam exhaled relieved sighs in unison. "She wrote down everything she believed to be true, but has no proof of any of it." Lavin laid out some papers in front of them. "We have felt at times that we were being followed, but have never been approached by anyone until you came to our house the other afternoon. You are certain there is someone watching us now?"
Adam responded. "Yes, but we have a plan in mind. My father and I will accompany the two of you to the Whitcomb hotel where you will check in under an assumed name. There we can keep you safe."
Mr and Mrs. Lavin looked at each other in resignation. This was definitely not what they had hoped for, but now felt they had no choice. Ben picked up the stack of papers from the table and tucked into his jacket.
"We will read these thoroughly once we get back to the hotel. Hopefully there will be something in here to offer the police."
Adam explained how they were going to exit the restaurant, then Ben and he flanked the Lavins and moved quickly toward the door. Morgan and his accomplice rose and began to make their move, but each were run into by a Cartwright. Morgan bounced off Hoss and tried to push him out of the way. Each thug was told to keep his hands still or he would have a six-shooter in his brisket in short order. With no solid evidence on either man, Hoss and Joe escorted them out of the restaurant, but not until the others were out sight.
"You're all as good as dead!" Morgan yelled.
Hoss and Joe kept their revolvers trained on the two until they were out of range.
Back at the Whitcomb, Ben and his sons gathered together in his room to go over Miss Peabody's notes after the Lavins were settled. Ben passed each sheet to Adam as he finished reading it until he came to the last few. Ben jumped from his chair and rushed to collect his jacket and gun belt.
"Dear God! We've got to get to Barbara! I just hope we're not too late!"
