Jim and Arte remained in Marcum for a week. The period allowed Jim to rest, Louise and Hannah to recover and Arte the time he needed to collect more information.
The fire that Ezekiel Marshall had pointed out was extinguished in under a day. Inside the wreckage of the barn Arte found a body. A closer inspection of the corpse revealed that but for a crushed skull, the poor unfortunate had been in excellent health until he was left in the barn to burn to death. A second body was found in the house. In this case the cause of death was impossible to determine, but the brass cane head that Arte found near the body seemed to indicate that the deceased was Joseph Unger. Arte knew better.
He and Jim decided that Unger, and against all odds, Getzman, were still alive and now at large. One or both of them had committed murder and arson in the past 48 hours, which only added to the myriad of crimes they were now responsible for. More than enough charges to bring against Unger and order his arrest, but Arte would need proof. After he explained the charge of treason to his partner, Arte spent three days in the Marcum news office with a recovering Sheriff Stone, and Louise and Hannah, picking through every reserved newspaper they could find. Once Arte identified the periodicals published in the spring of 1865 he began to find what he was looking for.
Marcum had become Joseph Unger's home following the war. In that time he kept to himself, living on the property that had been abandoned when the Yankees moved south, and parceling out the surrounding fields to freedmen moving into the area, allowing them to farm the land in exchange for a cut of the profits. He was not known to have family, or friends. There was a small mention of a new property owner, J. Unger, in an article from June of that year, buried under the continued talk of area confederate sympathizers trying to organize a second revolution to rival the first.
The article had offered a name and an origin; the county that Unger had claimed to have come from on the documents he signed for the deed. While Arte and his crew dug through Marcum's past, Jim had been enlisted to use the telegraph to follow Unger's history before Marcum. Even with a decade gone by, few were willing to open up about the identities of those who had in many ways become non-entities following the war. After implying that he was a southern sympathizer Jim was able to coerce an official CSA roster of persons enlisted early in the spring of 1864 out of the hands of a self-made historian in a town a hundred miles south of Marcum.
Captain Joseph Unger's name was on that list. He had enlisted in Mississippi but had been assigned to a company of Kentuckians near devastated in rank, rebuilding their unit before returning to the fray. For whatever reason he had been made an officer, in charge of a company that included, among others, the name Getzman. There were several Ians as well, and Arte could only assume that the ginger Hudson had killed, was one of them.
Communication was also set up with the professor still working on the shell of the Hercules and, under the guise of further curiosity, Hannah and Louise visited the professor for a day, asking after his findings. According to the archaeologist and anthropologist the boat had been set aflame, allowed to burn for a few hours, then was scuttled, bullet holes riddling the hull until it began to sink. The two bodies found inside the boat had likely died at the origin of the fire.
The male had suffered multiple, bone-deep cuts on his arms and chest before he was shot through the abdomen, the bullet lodged against a back rib. The marks were visible on the bones and the professor pointed them out casually, seeing only curiosity in the faces of his former pupils. When he moved on to the female skeleton both girls stepped back unconsciously. The professor noticed the reaction but pressed on. The female had been in her twenties, or so he assumed, but had borne children multiple times, probably very recently before her death. The added fat in her body had made the fire burn hotter around her, cooking the bones just a little more.
When Louise left the room suddenly, Hannah following her, the professor stopped speaking, realizing that he had missed something. Hannah returned and quietly explained that she and her sister were certain that they knew the female victim, and were in fact related to her. The professor tried to refuse to go any further with his findings but Hannah was even more adamant that he continue.
The female had been killed instantly with a strike to the heart from a long blade. Likely a saber of some kind. The professor showed the marks on the rib cage to Hannah, pointing out that the angle was strange. Either the woman's killer had been knocked down and was striking from a position on the ground, or the woman had been falling when the blade struck.
Or, Hannah thought, Analise Unger had killed herself. Before they left, Hannah exchanged temporary contact information with the professor and asked that any further revelations be sent to them. They would, in time, collect the body.
While Hannah and Louise were away from Marcum, Arte pursued a different avenue of investigation finally finding information in the newspaper of the young woman Doctor Weeks had mentioned. In an article dated nine months after the incident with the Monica II, Gordon discovered the announcement of a child being adopted into the family of Wendell and Thelma Kuck, and a day later the obituary of the tragic death of local school teacher Miss Riley. Her body had been found lodged down river under a log float. She was 23.
The child was named Theodore Kuck. A boy, born of the unholy relations between Miss Riley and her alleged attacker, Harold Hetsy. Hannah, Arte realized, had a brother. He decided not to reveal it to Hannah. It would cause more pain than joy, and he had no way of knowing what had become of Theodore, who likely wouldn't want to know that his birth had been the result of an attack on a mother he never knew.
When they finally returned to the train they had a folder filled with news articles, signed transcripts from the professor of archaeology and rosters of the former Confederate Army; as much proof as they were likely to get to convince Richmond that Unger was a criminal to be hunted down, and not a war hero.
On their return trip to Cincinnati the four spent many long hours in conversation, discussing the future and the past. Arte had quickly established that where his relationship with Hannah and Louise was concerned, there would be few boundaries or limitations. Any questions the ladies wanted answers to he would do his best to provide.
"What...what should I call you?" Louise asked, finally voicing the question that Arte had been expecting to hear.
"Whatever makes you the most comfortable, I suppose." Arte said.
"What did mother call you?" Hannah asked.
"Sandy." Arte said, mildly surprised that he remembered the name.
Both girls pondered for a moment. "Sandy...that doesn't seem to fit, does it?" Louise asked, looking to her sister.
Hannah smirked and shook her head. "No...why not just Arte?"
After pulling into the Pearl Street station a day later Hannah and Louise had agreed that they weren't likely to call Cincinnati 'home' for very much longer. They had some business to conclude in the city however and spent the day tending to their affairs while Jim and Arte brought their evidence to Colonel Richmond.
Their commander wasn't terribly pleased with the accusations, and was even less thrilled to see the evidence accrued against a man he had once considered himself indebted to. By the end of the debriefing, however, he had agreed to release an arrest order for Unger and Getzman. Arte quietly noted the irony; that he was now putting out a wanted poster with Unger's likeness on it. The poster that Hannah and Louise should have been exposed to as children.
Richmond had spent much of the debriefing clutching the arms of the chair he sat in with a white knuckled grip. The twisted and dark, ever winding tale hadn't encouraged him to release his grip at all. He could see that both Gordon and West were exhausted. Both were still stiff as the result of various injuries and Gordon had a spray of gray hair near his temple that Richmond didn't remember him having.
Before they left, the Colonel poured each man a brandy and offered a toast; congratulations to Arte on his new-found family. After they drank Arte cleared his throat, licked his lips then said, "I have one request, Colonel. A special favor. The bodies of Anna Unger, and that of Hannah's father, Harold Hudson, are still in Mississippi. I would like to arrange that they both be interred in New York City. Hannah and Louise have expressed their desire to live in Manhattan and I intend to see that what remains of their family goes with them."
Richmond considered the request, knowing there was no way he could, or would, deny it. "Any specific grave yard?"
Arte smiled slightly, and nodded. "There is a large cemetery just off 5th Avenue. I...have an 'aunt' buried there." He exchanged a smirk with Jim before he said. "I'd be happy to provide the details when the time comes, and I'm certain the girls would wish to be there to see their mother laid to rest."
Richmond agreed to keep in contact with the two about the information.
In the time that Arte and Jim had been embroiled in their investigation October had gone and November had taken firm hold. The two men had already earned almost a month of vacation time that they had intended to take in December while visiting a mutual friend. A week of that time could be used now, Arte decided, to help settle the girls in Manhattan.
Richmond informed them that odd circumstances in California had begun to stir the locals of a small farming community, and were bizarre enough to bring to mind the work of a certain Doctor. Jim agreed to take The Wanderer west to begin his investigation. Arte would report to the coast a week later.
After dropping them in New York, Jim bid his partner and the two women the best of luck, and left for California.
As the end of his week with Louise and Hannah drew to a close Arte asked that the girls spend their Saturday shopping for new formal gowns and accessories, the entire affair paid for out of his pocket with a single stipulation. That they be presentable and standing ready outside their home at five o'clock precisely, at which time a hack would collect them.
The hack would take them to the train station and they were to board the five-forty-five to Washington with tickets purchased and waiting for them at the courtesy counter. Arte promised he would be there in Washington to greet them and ferry them to their final destination.
When the girls stepped off the train they were resplendent. Hannah had chosen royal blue, with gold highlights, and Louise a chocolate-brown with similar gold highlights. Each wore a cape that matched, and hats that were elegant but simple.
Arte greeted them, of course dressed in a black tuxedo and proudly escorted them to the open carriage waiting on the street, pulled by white horses, with warm blankets to be thrown over the laps of the passengers in transit. The November air was cold and crisp, the lights of Washington sparkling brightly. No matter how many times they asked, however, Arte refused to reveal the function they would be attending. As they pulled onto Pennsylvania Avenue, then through the gates that would lead them to the White House, joining a long line of similar carriages laden with guests, the girls began to grin broadly.
"But who are these people, Arte?" Hannah asked. "Surely we don't belong at this gathering."
Arte merely smirked and stepped out of the carriage, helping both girls down, before he offered each an arm and proudly escorted them into the building. Before they had gone ten feet Arte had already led them away from the path the guests were taking, guiding them through the mess of hallways and doors until they reached a large, pale yellow aperture. Arte knocked and waited, speaking quietly to the man who cracked the door open, then opened it further and allowed the three to enter.
Standing by the fireplace, a brandy in hand, his tie a tangled mess that Julia was doing her best to correct, was the President of the United States. Sparkling blue eyes glanced with anticipation at the secret service agent who entered, guiding two charming ladies with him. Grant grinned, impatient until Julia finally finished with the tie. Arte waited with the same anticipatory delight until Grant strode over and offered his hand to Gordon, then greeted both Hannah and Louise.
Both girls gave a graceful curtsy, greeting Grant as Mr. President with an impressed and dignified awe.
"These are the young ladies you wired me about then?" Grant asked. And Arte nodded. "And you say they have an interest in archaeology and history."
Hannah and Louise exchanged a wide-eyed look before they beamed, not certain where this was going.
"Then I would say they should enjoy this evening very much." Grant said before he set down his brandy and escorted both ladies from the room. "You see my dears we have been keeping an eye on the history craze that has begun over in England and Egypt, and in some parts of our Southwest as well. Why in Mexico and further south there are hundreds of ancient civilizations waiting to be discovered. So we have gathered together the most prominent members of archaeological science in this nation..."
Arte stayed in the room, listening to the president's fading voice, until Julia had gathered her wrap and hand bag. He offered his arm to the First Lady, escorting her into the hall. Julia was smiling softly and once they were alone in the hall she leaned in and quietly asked, "Which one is your daughter?"
Arte wasn't in the least surprised that Grant had informed Julia of the latest development and he pointed to the one currently asking questions, "Louise." Julia laughed behind a demure hand and said, "Yes, I might have guessed. You must be very proud. From what Ulysses has told me, they are extraordinary women."
Arte took a deep breath, nodding. "They are that, yes. All on their own."
"Have you made any plans with them for the future?" Julia asked and Arte thought about the question as they approached the Grande Ballroom. Already they could hear the applause of the gathered guests directed at the President, and the two mysterious women he had escorted into the room. Arte could feel his chest swelling, his head and heart filled with hope, pride, excitement and purpose in ways that they never had before. Something about fatherhood, he decided, that made life entirely different.
"My dear Julia, they are my future."
A/N: Thank you to my faithful reviewers. This took longer than I intended to write but your encouragement helped me stick with it, and yes you will be seeing Louise and Hannah, and probably Joseph Unger and Getzman sometime in the future. Very little of historical significance was used in this fic primarily because from the get-go I had to accept that showboats simply weren't that popular in the 1870s. They made their major comeback well into the 1900s.
However, Hetsy was a real criminal and I loosely based my character Hudson/Hetsy on him.
And yes, as hinted, I will be finally writing a Loveless fic in the near future.
Thank you ladies! And, as always, keep writing!