Chapter 74. The Plea
As soon as Nathan and Bill were out of sight, Jake and Gabe headed to the livery, and saddled their horses. They headed out to the oil rig, to find William.
He was working, but Mike allowed William to step away and talk to them. They questioned him, and Gabe and Jake both took notes. William had witnessed Romeo and his goons beat up Danny Frisk not just once, but twice. And, he took a good beating the second time. Romeo was hard when he came around to collect on late payments, and that had been true for Danny Frisk. William was willing to testify as an eye witness, and help however they needed.
What did he know about this Romeo? William went through all the details again, and told them everything he knew. He was a guy that people went to, when they were in a tough spot. He loaned people money, at high interest rates, and demanded payments on time. He was a real tough guy, especially when people were late paying him back. He could be found anywhere between Hope Valley and Benson Hills. He had a crew, and they hung out in one of the saloon's in Benson Hills most of the time. William's dad, George, who tended bar at the Saloon in Hope Valley, knew more about Romeo, whose real name was Jimmy McIntosh. William was sure his father would be happy to help, too.
The hearing was scheduled for Monday, so Jake asked William to be ready to ride early on Sunday morning, at first light. William agreed and promised to be ready, he had his own horse, and would meet them in front of the Mountie office.
When they were finished with William, Jake and Gabe headed back to the Mountie office. Gabe got on the phone with the Mountie post in Benson Hills, to see what they knew about Jimmy McIntosh, a.k.a. Romeo.
Jake looked out the front window, and saw his sister coming. He stepped outside to talk to her, since Gabe was still on the phone.
"Hi, Sis. How's it going?" Jake asked her.
"I was just coming to ask you the same thing. How did it go with William?" Julia asked.
"He's willing to testify. So, we're all set to leave for Union City, with him, on Sunday morning." Jake pointed at Gabe. "Gabe's getting information on Romeo now, from the Benson Hills Mountie post. Then we are going to talk to George."
"George from the Saloon, William's father?" Julia asked him.
"Exactly." Jake answered. "And, we'd like to get going as soon as possible, towards Benson Hills, to track down this Romeo. We're hoping the guys in Benson Hills have some good information on him."
"Well, would you like me to go get George for you? Ask him to come here and see you?" Julia asked, perhaps that would speed things up. "I told Nathan I would help out, I could be your deputy." She told him, with a cute smile.
"You cannot be our deputy, Julia. Leave the Mountie business to the Mounties. Okay? Promise?" Jake told her.
"Ok, fine." Julia told him. "But, if you need me."
"Actually, Julia. Why don't you stay here, and I'll go get George. If Gabe gets off the phone, just tell him where I went, okay? It will be easier to question George in our office, than at the Saloon." Jake told her.
"I stand deputized." Julia teased, with a cute smile, imitating the Mountie salute.
Jake just looked at her, with a flat grin. "You are not deputized, Julia. I mean it." Finally, she chuckled and he managed a smile.
Jake came back with George, about the time Gabe was off the phone, so Julia didn't have to do anything, in the end. She waved at George, then headed back across the street and left them to it.
Jake and Gabe sat down with George at the desk. "Thank you for speaking with us, Mr. Burnett." Jake told him.
Gabe spoke up, "We are trying to get some more information on Jimmy McIntosh. William tells us that he's some distant relative on your late wife's side, and we were wondering how much you know about him?"
George cleared his throat and shared, "My only interactions with Jimmy McIntosh have been at this saloon." He said as he pointed. "I don't even think he knows who I am. But, I know who he is. And, the little I do know about him, is only what my late wife told me. She always felt bad about the way things turned out for Jimmy." He paused, and then looked at back and forth between them as he spoke. "He's a pretty distant cousin of my late wife. He was orphaned at a young age. He became a ward of the court, and for years, they searched for someone in the family to take him in. They went pretty high up into the family tree, to some pretty far relatives, but he was a troublemaker, and no one would take him in. We lived back east then, or we might have considered it." George told them. "Jimmy got passed around from orphanage to orphanage for many years, and that didn't help his tendency to make trouble. Until one day, he just ran off from the orphanage, and went off on his own. He didn't have much schooling, so that didn't leave many options for work."
"So, he resorted to a life of petty crime?" Gabe asked.
"I think that about sums it up." George looked down at his hand and then back up at them. "My wife always regretted how things turned out. She wished we could have taken him in. She was kind like that."
"Do you have any idea where he lives, or where we could find him?" Jake asked him.
"Last I heard he was living in Benson Hills, not far from the train station. He was trying to make a name for himself, by starting a gang. I think his crew hangs out at a saloon in his neighborhood, also not far from the train station." George told them. "He's a rough guy. Got a long scar on his right cheek, he got that in a knife fight some years back."
"Anything else?" Jake asked him.
"That's about all I know." George told them.
Gabe stood and told him, "Thank you for speaking to us, Mr. Burnett. We're going to try to track Jimmy down. He's not in any trouble. We just need his help, his testimony, to put away the perpetrator that assaulted Miss Matthews, from the infirmary."
"You think Jimmy knows something about Danny Frisk?" George asked them.
Jake told him, "Danny's trying to get off for the crimes he committed, by accusing Constable Grant of assaulting him. Jimmy's the one that can clear it up, and make sure Danny gets what's coming to him."
"Well, Danny Frisk has made trouble since the day he got here. So, I hope you do get him." George told them. "And, Miss Matthews is real nice. It's awful what he did to her."
"Mr. Burnett, if you see Jimmy McIntosh, please let us know. We're going to ride towards Benson Hills and try to track him down. But, if you run into him, or see him around here, will you please send a telegram to the Benson Hills Mountie office?" Gabe asked him.
"Sure thing, I'll keep my eye out." George told them. "Any way I can help you get the guy who hurt Miss Matthews."
Jake put out his hand, "Thank you, Mr. Burnett." And they shook.
"Thank you, Sir." Gabe told him, and shook too.
They walked him out, and as soon as George was on his way back to the Saloon, Jake and Gabe sat for a minute.
"We need to find Jimmy McIntosh. That would seal the deal." Gabe told him.
"Shouldn't William's testimony be enough?" Jake asked him.
Gabe thought for a minute. "Should be. But with Jimmy, it would be undeniable. Danny Frisk would get what's coming to him, and we might even get Frisk to turn on Hargreaves, if indeed Hargreaves had anything to do with this."
"Ok then, lets find him. What did the guys in Benson Hills say?" Jake asked him.
"They know Romeo, they've had their eye on him for some time. He's been accused of plenty of petty crimes, but they've never been able to make anything stick. They know his usual hang-outs and his neighborhood. Though, nobody's seen him in a couple of days. They thought he might be headed in our direction. So, if we ride towards Benson Hills, we might even run into him on the way." Gabe told him. "And if not, they'll point us in the right direction, once we get there."
"Who'd you talk to over there?" Jake asked him. "I got a buddy in that office. Ben Davis, do you know him?"
"I think I've met him once or twice, but I talked to a Constable Clement this morning." Gabe told him. "I guess he's the senior most officer in that post."
Jake looked back through his notes, and couldn't think of anything else they needed. "What do you say we get going?" Jake suggested, satisfied, and both men rose and headed out the door. They started loading things in their saddlebags, and were just about ready.
Jake told Gabe, "I'm just going to run across the street and update my sister." Gabe nodded and Jake bounded up the stairs.
When he entered, Julia was putting away supplies. "Jake. You guys heading out?" Julia asked him.
"Yep. We're going to track down Romeo. The guys in Benson Hills are going to help us, hopefully we'll find him by tonight." Jake told her.
"Do you think he will help us?" Julia asked.
"The guy's a pretty tough case, Julia. It's a long shot. He had a rough life, his story is quite sad." Jake told her.
Julia looked at him with a solemn grin. "Really? There's no hope?" Julia looked worried.
"Jules, the guy was orphaned as a child, and passed around to different orphanages, as a ward of the court. No one in his family would take him in. Mr. Burnett said they went pretty far up the family tree, and no one was willing. I think the guy probably has a chip on his shoulder the size of an iceberg." Jake explained, sadly. "He was never given the chance to make any other kind of life."
"So, you're saying he's a rough guy, and has absolutely no reason to help a Mountie." Julia surmised.
"That's why I said it's a long shot, Jules." Jake told her. "But, we've got to try."
Julia nodded, thankful that they would at least try. "Jake, will you please call me tomorrow, and give me an update?" Julia asked him.
"Yes." Jake told her. "I'll let you know what we find out."
"Call me at 10 a.m. I'll wait here in the infirmary, don't be late, okay?" Julia asked him. "Please."
Jake wasn't sure he would be able to make that phone date, but he'd try. "Okay, sis." Jake told her, and he kissed her on the cheek before he walked out to meet Gabe. The two men mounted and Julia watched them, as they headed out of town.
Gabe and Jake rode quickly to Benson Hills, but there was no sign of Jimmy McIntosh anywhere, along the way. He must be hiding out, and Jake just hoped they would be able to find him in time.
When Jake and Gabe rode into Benson Hills, they rode straight for the Mountie office. They tied up the horses outside, and entered.
When he got inside, a huge smile spread across Jake's face, the first guy he saw was his old friend Ben Davis.
"Davis, old buddy." Jake told him, as he walked over.
Davis stood up, surprised, and shook Jake's hand, happy to see him. "Matthews! What a surprise, what are you doing here?" He paused, "Your sister and Grant told me you were in Hope Valley now."
"I sure am. I'm the Constable there now. How ya doing, old friend?" Jake asked him.
"Hanging in there, as usual." He glanced at Gabe behind him. "You the ones looking for Romeo?" Davis asked them.
"Yes. Davis, have you met Constable Kinslow before?" Jake was ready to introduce them if not.
"Yea. We've met." Gabe told Jake, "Good to see you again, Davis." Gabe said, extending his hand.
The two men shook, and Davis said, "Good to see you too, Kinslow."
"What's Romeo done now?" Davis asked them.
Gabe told him, "Well, who can help us track him down? Why don't we get everyone together, anyone available and willing to help, and we can brief everyone at once?"
"Ok. Well, there's me and Pendergrass over there. And, I think you talked to Constable Clement on the phone already. And, we've got one guy out on rounds." Davis told them. "But you can fill the three of us in."
They did just that. Jake and Gabe explained the case to Davis, Pendergrass, and Clement. Davis and Pendergrass had a lot of respect for Nathan, and wanted to see his name cleared. So, they were willing to do anything to help. Constable Clement suggested that they four go out and canvas the neighborhood and track down Romeo, and he would stay in the office to work the phone. When Smith came back, Clement and Smith would go out together, too.
Gabe, Jake, Davis, and Pendergrass all changed into plain clothes, and canvased the neighborhood in two pairs. They were out all afternoon and evening. But, to no avail. Clement and Smith joined them, and they stayed late into the night, looking for Romeo. Finally, at 2 a.m., they called it a night.
The next morning, they were up early and at it again, and finally, there was a break in the case.
At 11 a.m., the phone rang in the infirmary. Julia answered it on the first ring. She had been waiting and worried since 10 a.m.
"Hello?" Julia answered.
"Julia, I have the Benson Hills Mountie office on the line for you." Florence sang out.
"Put them through, Florence, thank you." Julia responded.
"Jules?" Jake asked.
"Jake! Finally…you're late." She told him. "Did you find him? Did you find Jimmy McIntosh?"
"Yes, we found him. And, I've been with him. That's why I'm late." Jake told her. "We found him early this morning, drying out after a heavy night of drinking. And, he's not in a good mood."
"So, he won't help us?" Julia asked, her voice cracking slightly.
"No, Julia. He's not willing. He's a bear, and not really easy to deal with." Jake told her.
"Are you telling me there's no hope, Jake?" Julia asked him.
"He won't testify, Jules." Jake told her. "He just won't. I'm sorry."
"How long can you hold him?" Julia asked.
"A few more hours at best, then we'll be forced to release him." Jake answered her. "Right now, we're only able to hold him because he tried to run from us."
"Hold him, Jake. Keep him there. I'm coming." She told him. "I'm coming!" Click.
"What? Jules, no. You can't…." but she didn't hear that part. The receiver was already back on the cradle.
Less than two hours later, Julia pulled up in front of the Mountie office on Ginger, with Allie sitting right in front of her.
They had rode hard and fast. Julia remembered the way because she had ridden it once in the car with Fiona, and once on horseback with Nathan. But this time, she hadn't even noticed the beautiful scenery as they sped past, but she had been focused on one objective, and that was to get there before they released Jimmy McIntosh. Now, she just hoped they would let her and Allie speak to him.
Julia dismounted, and then helped Allie down, and tied up Ginger. She walked timidly into the Mountie office, holding Allie's hand. As soon as she came through the door, Jake stood and approached her.
"What are you doing here, Julia? The guys will never agree to let you talk to him." Jake told her.
"There has to be a way, Jake. Please help us. Let Allie and I plead our case with Jimmy. He's not in any trouble, remember?" She told Jake, keeping Allie a bit hidden behind her. "Please."
Davis looked over and saw Julia. He rose and came politely over. "Hello, Miss Matthews. Can we help you with something?"
"Hello, Constable Davis. It's good to see you." She said with a kind smile. "Perhaps you can help me. I need to talk to Jimmy McIntosh. Can you help me, please?" Julia asked politely, keeping Allie behind her.
"I don't think that's possible. Civilians are not allowed to question suspects in an open investigation." Davis explained nicely.
"But, Constable Davis, Mr. McIntosh is not a suspect, if I understand correctly. He's a witness. And, I would just like to ask him to help Constable Grant. Could you just please ask him if he would talk to us? Tell him Grant's niece, the one that he took in after his sister died, is here. Can you say it just like that, please?" Julia asked him.
"Ok, but I don't think it will do any good." Davis replied with a shrug, and turned to go ask.
But, Julia grabbed his arm, stopping him. Davis turned back. She looked him straight in the eye, and asked him, serious and determined, "Constable Davis, please remember to say it just like I asked. It's very important. Grant's niece, the orphan that he took in after his sister died, okay?" Julia asked him.
"Ok. I'll try." Davis answered, and she removed her hand.
Jake stepped up next to her, as soon as Davis was gone. "Julia, this is crazy. He's never going to talk to you."
"We'll see. I can't get Jimmy's story out of my head, Jake." Julia told him quietly, so even Allie couldn't hear. "It made me think of Allie, and I thought maybe she could convince him." Julia paused, "If Jimmy realizes what kind of a man Nathan is, that he took Allie in and raised her as his own, maybe he'll help him."
Davis came back a minute later, looking as about as surprised as any of his comrades had ever seen him. "Right this way, ladies." He told them, and they followed. Julia grabbed Jake's hand and brought him along.
Julia took a deep breath as they walked in. Jimmy McIntosh was not a nice looking man. He was probably about her age, but had seen a lot of hard years, and it showed. He smelled like a brewery, and obviously didn't want to be there. He sat back in his chair like he owned the place, and looked ready to rebel and cause a ruckus with the first person who said a word to him.
Julia and Allie walked timidly in, and sat down in the two chairs across from him. Jake stood in the back of the room.
"Hello, Mr. McIntosh. My name is Julia Matthews. And, this is my good friend Allie Grant. Allie is the adoptive daughter of Constable Grant, the Mountie that my brother back there," she motioned with her hand, "asked you to help." She continued. "Is it okay if I call you Jimmy?"
"Sure, Miss Matthews." Jimmy grunted, obviously sizing her up.
"You can call me Julia if you'd like." She paused, "Now I know that Jake explained that Constable Grant is accused of beating Danny Frisk. I know he asked you to help clear his name. And maybe you aren't in the habit of helping guys who could one day put you in jail. But, I thought maybe you would help Allie." Julia paused, placing her hand on Allie's arm. "Allie's mom died when she was 4, and since her Dad had already run off before that, she became an orphan. A ward of the court, by all practical purposes. Have you ever heard that term before, Jimmy, ward of the court?"
Jimmy nodded, but didn't say a word.
"Somebody from the family needed to step up and take in Allie, some next of kin had to agree to take care of her. I'm assuming they probably looked for someone like that for you, Jimmy?" Julia gently asked him.
"I see where you are going with this, Miss Matthews. But nobody would take me in. And, I'm a grown man, now." Jimmy told her.
"Jimmy, please, call me Julia." She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry that no one took you in, Jimmy. I cannot imagine how hard that must have been. You probably saw your fair share of orphanages and group homes, then?" She asked him.
"Yea, I guess. What does this have to do with Constable Grant, and Danny Frisk…Julia?" He asked her, finally using her familiar name.
"Well, you see, Constable Grant, he took in Allie. He was her uncle. And, he was only 23 years old at the time, and probably had other things to do, a young single guy. I'm sure you can imagine." Julia paused, "But, he said yes, to becoming her guardian. And, he's been taking care of her ever since…all these years. How old are you now, Allie?" Julia asked her.
"I'm 13, Mr. McIntosh." Allie told him, with an easy smile.
"Today, she has a safe place to live. A warm house and a roof over her head. But, if Constable Grant goes to prison for this, for something we all know he didn't do, Allie will become an orphan again. A ward of the court." Julia told him.
When she said those words, Jimmy's eyes immediately shot up to look at Julia, then he looked at Allie.
"All we are asking you to do, Jimmy, is to tell the truth." Julia paused. "And, I'm asking you, to do it, for Allie." Julia's voice broke as she said Allie's name, and he saw the tears in her eyes.
Allie's eyes also filled with tears, and Jimmy looked at her. He couldn't take his eyes off of Allie, actually.
Allie looked at him and told him straight, "Uncle Nathan adopted me last year. Mr. McIntosh, he's all I have."
Jimmy seemed to be contemplating. His changed his posture in his chair, and seemed to soften, just in the slightest.
Julia spoke up, "If you agree to help Allie, Jake will ensure that the charges, for running from an officer, are dropped."
"And, what if they want to put me in jail for roughing up Danny?" Jimmy asked her.
Jake spoke up from behind them, "Well, that would depend on Danny. He would have to formally lodge a complaint." Jake stepped forward and gave a slow grin. "But I'm sure if we remind Danny that if he does lodge a formal complaint, you and he could become cell mates, he'll keep his mouth shut. He told me he would rather go to jail than face you."
"That guy really is an idiot." Jimmy told them.
Julia smiled and gave a low giggle. "I'm inclined to agree with you, Jimmy." She said, as she motioned to her eye.
"Danny's the one that did that to you, Julia?" Jimmy asked, putting two and two together about her huge black eye.
Julia gave Jimmy a shy grin, "Yes, he did. That's why Jake and Constable Grant arrested him in the first place."
"And, they should. Any guy that would hit a nice woman like you, belongs in prison." Jimmy told them.
Julia told him. "I appreciate you saying that, Jimmy. But, if you don't help us, and help Allie, Danny might walk." She paused, realizing that this information might be the drop in the bucket. "He's trying to get his case thrown out, by claiming that Constable Grant beat him up."
Allie looked at Jimmy, she had one more thing she really wanted to say. "Mr. McIntosh, I know it might not mean much now, but I'm sorry no one from your family would take you in." She smiled shyly, "My uncle's a special guy. And, I can't imagine not having him in my life. I need him. Please, would you help us?" Julia's eyes were welling over as she looked back at Jimmy.
Jimmy took one more look at Allie, then he looked at Julia, and then back at Jake.
"Mountie, what was your name?" Jimmy asked him, "Jake?"
"Yes, Jimmy. I'm Jake Matthews." He told him.
"You'll get my charges here dropped?" Jimmy asked him.
"Yes, I give you my word." Jake answered him.
"And, I go there as a witness, not as a prisoner." Jimmy told him.
"Yes. That's the plan." Jake told him. "I have to get these two ladies back home. Then, I'm coming to Union City with a witness, from Hope Valley. So, I'll meet you there." Jake paused, unable to believe that this tough guy was even considering it. "But, my two buddies Gabe and Ben will take you straight to Union City. And, after you give your testimony on Monday, we'll help you get to wherever you'd like to go, from there. We'll pay your train ticket home, or pay for a hotel room with a hot meal."
"When do we leave?" Jimmy asked. And when he did, Allie jumped up and ran over, and hugged him. Jimmy was taken aback, and didn't know what to make of her affection, but he managed a little smile.
"Jimmy, we'd like to get you on the road as soon as possible. Are you willing to leave straight away?" Jake asked him.
Jimmy looked at Allie again, now standing right in front of him, "How can I say no to this cute little girl?" So, he did have a heart after all, buried somewhere under that rough exterior.
"Thank you so much, Jimmy." Julia told him, standing and shaking his hand. "We are all truly grateful."
Julia started to leave, but she had one more thing she really wanted to say. She came back over and sat down.
"Jimmy. One more thing." Julia paused, trying to figure out how to say this. "Jimmy, Hope Valley is a special town. I know you've been there already, but I just thought you outta know, it's a great town for starting over. It's a place where people can change, and make a different life for themselves. Especially people that have always wanted a different life." She told him. "It seems like you were never really given a chance, and that's not really fair. And, you deserve a chance at a different life, Jimmy."
"What I'm trying to say, is that I know people in town. And, I'm willing to help, if you are willing to walk the straight and narrow. There's a saw mill, and an oil rig, and those are good jobs. I would be willing to vouch for you, as would Constable Grant. If you would desire something different, and if you are willing to work for it." She told him gently.
"It's up to you. All you have to do is look for the infirmary, and you'll find me. Okay?" Julia told him.
"Thank you, Julia. I'll think about it." Jimmy told her. He wasn't so bad, after all.
Jimmy stood and followed them out, and Jake led him over to Gabe and Davis. He introduced them, and they made ready to leave straight away. As soon as they had everything they needed in their saddlebags, Gabe, Davis, and Jimmy set out for the livery. They saddled three Mountie horses, and took off for Union City.
"Julia, I cannot believe you got him to agree." Jake told her shaking his head. "You and Allie were amazing."
Julia just smiled happily at Allie, and bragged on her. "It wasn't me, Jake. It was Allie. She was the brave one who made the sweetest appeal, and put the final drop in the bucket."
Allie smiled up at Julia. "You were pretty good, too, Julia. And, coming in there, knowing he would want to know who gave you that big black eye. That was smart."
"He does have a heart, under that thick rough exterior. He's just had a hard life." Julia told them.
"Julia, we should get on our way back to Hope Valley as soon as possible. If we want to make it home before dark." Jake told her.
"Well, where's Ranger? I'm pretty sure Ginger is still tied up out front. At least, I hope she is." Julia told him, with a little giggle.
"She's still out there, Julia. I can see her front leg from here." Allie told her.
"I need to go to the livery and fetch Ranger. I'll be back in 10 minutes, and then we head home?" Jake asked them both.
"Sounds great, Jake." She told him, and he was out the door and on his way.
When Jake rode up in front with Ranger, about 10 minutes later, Julia and Allie were happily chatting with Pendergrass. He had said something that had both Julia and Allie in stitches. Jake dismounted and came over to bid farewell to his comrades.
Julia said to Pendergrass, with a huge giggle, "No, he didn't!"
"Oh, yes he did. He ran off out the back door so fast, and we haven't seen him since." Pendergrass told them with animated hands.
Jake wondered what the heck he could be talking about. But, Julia soon told him, "Pendergrass was just telling us the story of the dog they used to have here. He got spooked off by a cat. A cat that he was supposed to keep out of the Mountie office. But instead, it was the cat that ran off the dog." Julia explained. Allie was still laughing, and shook her head.
"And, he never come back?" Allie asked him.
"We haven't ever seen that dog again, to this day." Pendergrass answered.
"That's so sad." Julia said, though she was still smiling.
"Thanks for sharing the story with us, Mr. Pendergrass." Allie told him. "We'll see you when you come to Hope Valley."
"Yea. I'll see you ladies then, okay?" He told them, as they walked out.
"Bye, Pendergrass." Julia told him. Allie waved, too.
Jake shook his hand, and said, "Thanks for all your help, Pendergrass."
"Sure thing, Matthews." Pendergrass answered, "And, give my greetings to Grant when you see him."
"Sure thing." Jake told him. Then Allie mounted Ginger with Julia. And, Jake mounted Ranger. And, they started home to Hope Valley.