"I owe them thirty-four thousand dollars. They want it by Friday . . . or else."
"Or else what?" Ginny asked.
"Or else they drag my 'sweet lookin' bride' and my brother into the mess."
"Is that all?"
"So far. This is the first demand. Both of you be careful. I don't want them usin' either one of you as an example of what happens when I can't pay."
"That goes for you, too, brother," Bart reminded Bret. "Don't play games with 'em. Give 'em what they're after."
"I have to put up some kind of resistance, Bart. I can't just roll over and play dead for 'em."
Bart nodded his head. "Yes, you can. There's no sense in gettin' hurt just to find out who's behind this. We'll know soon enough. Ginny, have you made any headway with Helena Waggoner?"
"Some. There was some kind of a business venture, but Temperance soured on it pretty quick, Helena said. Like she thought it was one thing but it turned out to be something else. I think that's all Helena knows. I'm going with Lily to see Adele Mueller today. Lily's worried about her."
"You think it could have somethin' to do with this whole gamblin' thing?" Bret asked.
"I don't know. I don't see how, but Lily seems to think there's something unusual going on. And somehow Dusty Jackson is involved in it."
Both of the brothers were suddenly alert. "What makes you say that?" Bart asked first.
"She's seen them together at least twice, and she can't think of any reason for it."
Bart and Bret looked at each other. "Maybe it's a coincidence," Bart stated.
"An innocent accident," Bret added.
"Maybe it's not," Ginny insisted. "Maybe she is involved in it. But why?"
"See what you can dig up today from Mrs. Busch. There must be a reason, and we just don't know what it is," Bart suggested. "I think I'll go pick Edna McGinley's brain. She and Adele were close at one time. Maybe she knows somethin' we don't. Bret, you goin' in to St. Louis?"
"Yeah, to send telegrams about money. So at least I look like I'm tryin' to get it. Think I'll go see Doc Whatley while I'm there. Let's get together tonight and exchange information, alright?"
XXXXXXXX
"I'm really glad that you're getting out and going with me, Virginia. It's not good for you to stay inside the house and hide."
Ginny smiled. Lily Busch had no idea what was really happening, and yet she'd gone out of her way to be friendly and kind. Adolphus Busch was a lucky man, and the Pinkerton agent determined to tell him so the next time she saw him alone.
"I give you all the credit, Lily. I really do appreciate what you've been trying to do for me. I talked to Bret, by the way. We're not fighting anymore."
Lily reached across the carriage and patted Ginny's hand. "I hope the two of you can work it out, my dear."
Ginny tried to look hopeful. "At least we're talking. That's a step in the right direction, isn't it? Tell me about Adele, Lily. Why have you been so worried about her? Besides Temperance's death, I mean."
Lily Busch reached into her pocket and pulled out a lace bordered handkerchief. It reminded Ginny of a delicate spring flower, and Lily crushed it in her fingers as she worried out loud. "Adele and Burnell were so happy together before Holden died, but it just seems like nothing's been right since that terrible tragedy. Adele has become withdrawn, almost sullen, and nothing seems to sit well with her. I saw her once in St. Louis, at Doctor Whatley's office, talking to Dusty Jackson, and she acted like she was hiding something. What could she be hiding? I know how much she loves Burnell.
"Then the week before last I went to the orphanage – I wanted to see how she was doing after the . . . well, after we lost Temperance. There was a horse I recognized tied out front, Mr. Jackson's horse. They were in her office, talking in hushed voices, and they stopped when they saw me. Adele made some excuse for the meeting and acted nervous and upset. Almost like I'd caught her doing something she shouldn't have. She's a good woman, Virginia, with a heart full of love, but she was distracted and unhappy while I was there. When I left, Dusty Jackson stayed. I'm afraid . . . I mean, I'm worried . . . well, it's just not right. They're up to something, and Burnell is working his heart out . . . Adolph has tried for months to get him to agree to one of the German brew masters coming over to 'right the ship' and Burnell wouldn't hear of it. The good news is Adolph's sent for someone anyway . . . and I want Adele to know that. Maybe she'll stop whatever it is she's started . . . before it's too late."
Ginny's mind was working at a frantic pace. "You're sure there's no reason for them to meet? Perhaps Mr. Jackson is working with the orphanage in some capacity? That would give them . . . "
"No," Lily interrupted. "I checked with Adolph. Dusty Jackson has nothing to do with the orphanage or anything about the children. I was hoping he did . . . "
XXXXXXXX
She watched him ride up to the house, dismount and tie his horse to the hitching rail. She was smiling as he walked up the steps, and held the door open for him. "Come in, Bart, I've got a pot of coffee ready. You just missed John, he went to the blacksmith's. You're welcome to wait if you'd like."
He followed Edna McGinley in the door and removed his hat. "Thank you, Mrs. McGinley, but it's actually you I came to see. We were talking the other day about Adele Mueller and I have some questions about her you might be able to answer."
"Edna, remember? I'd be glad to help in any way I could. And how about that coffee?"
Bart smiled. John McGinley was a lucky man, surrounded by so much female beauty; a wife and four daughters. "Yes, ma'am, coffee sounds great. And thank you. Tell me what you know about Mrs. Mueller, especially her relationship with her husband . . . "
XXXXXXXX
"Well, Mr. Maverick. Haven't seen you in quite a while. How's everything out at the Busch house?"
"Pretty good, Doc. Quiet, for the most part. You and me were gonna have a discussion about Dusty Jackson and his gambling, but there's somethin' else I need to know about."
"What would that be?" Doc Whatley asked.
"Not what. Who. Dusty and Adele Mueller. Tell me what you know about the two of them. Together. Separately. Anything. Is there some kind of a connection between them? Somebody told me they were seen at your office, talking to each other. Do you know anything about that?"
"How much time do you have Mr. Maverick?"
"Time, Doc?"
"Can we stay here at the office, in case somebody needs me? This could take a while."
"Sure, Doc. I've got all the time you need."
