Author's note:

This story was written from a common starting point for a fanfiction challenge. The text we were given will be the first part in bold. We had 12,000 additional words to tell a story. I hope that you enjoy this.

Nathan Grant Common Starting Point Challenge

Chapter 1

Inspector Nathan Grant rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way through Mountie Headquarters in Union City to his office. He had spent the last hour inspecting freight coming through Union City by railroad for one of his current open cases. This particular case involved the smuggling of stolen jewelry from stores in big cities in Eastern Canada to points out west. The operation had been discovered when a shipping crate for Thatcher Shipping Company had accidentally been dropped while moving it from one train to another. Two small canvas bags with several precious gemstone rings had come dislodged from the lid of the shipping crate. Nathan had been called in by the railroad, and two other crates in the shipment had been found to have jewelry hidden in crates of dishes and utensils.

Today, jewelry from a reported robbery in Halifax had been discovered in crates of food bound for Cape Fullerton. Having no reason to believe that William Thatcher himself was party to the smuggling operation, Nathan had been in contact with the shipping tycoon. Confiding in only his right-hand man about the incident, William Thatcher had not been able to turn up any indication that the stolen jewelry was being added to the crates at their origination in Hamilton. Unfortunately, that still did not rule out involvement by someone in the Thatcher Shipping Company organization entirely. The inside man could also be associated with the railroad or a third party altogether.

Reaching his office, Nathan hung his hat up on the hook inside the door as he walked over to his desk. He had left the contraband in the crates today. Picking up the phone, Nathan called and alerted the Mounties that were near the trains next stop. His plan was to keep tabs on the contraband and see where they disappeared.

After making the call, Nathan leaned back in his chair. He reached out for the lone photograph on his desk. The photograph was of him and Allie taken at Abigail's café just before they had left Hope Valley. While Bill had stayed quiet about the promotion until after Christmas as he had asked, once the fact became common knowledge that he would be leaving Hope Valley for Union City, Bill had set about organizing a going away party for him and Allie.

The fact that the town that had been slow to accept him when he first took the posting was now sad to see him leave had been touching. However, he didn't regret his choice. The Inspector job had been one that he had wanted. He found his new job responsibilities challenging. As for Allie, his niece seemed to have adjusted to life in the city.

Nathan placed the photograph back on his desk as the phone rang.

("Nathan, I need your help.")

"Bill." Nathan said. "You need to figure out a way to work with Constable Martin. Technically the desk belongs to the Mountie, no matter what you say."

("This is not about that. I wouldn't have a problem with Martin if he would actually do his job.")

"Now you have my attention. Tell me what happened."

("Walden was back in town. He threatened Minnie. When she went to Martin, he wouldn't do anything, so she came to me. I took her report and when I went to talk to Martin, he told me that it wasn't my job to that and I should stick to doing my job. I told him that if he would do his job, I would.")

Nathan let out a harsh breath.

"Then what happened?"

("I told Martin that I wouldn't allow people in my town to be threatened and harassed. I also told him that if he wouldn't do his job, I would go over his head.")

"What did he say?"

("He told me that he was doing his job and if I continued to interfere, he would make sure that I wouldn't have one to do.)

"When did this happen?"

("Two weeks ago.")

"So why am I just hearing about this now?"

("I realized that I was going to need evidence if I was going to accuse Martin of being dirty. So I talked to some of my contacts that still are on the force. I also talked to Joseph and Minnie again, as well as several other businessmen. I think I have enough to show that Martin is turning a blind eye to certain crimes, especially when Walden and his associates are involved.")

"Do you think that you can bring everything to me here in Union City?"

("I will be on the late train today, as long as you have a place for me to crash.")

"You know that you are always welcome to stay. I will look into a few things on my end and I look forward to seeing you tonight. Be careful and watch your back. If Martin is working with Walden, we need to be more careful then usual."

("Got it.")

Nathan hung up with Bill, leaned back in chair and let out a harsh breath. He had his hands full with the smuggling case, but he knew that he couldn't refuse to help Bill, especially after all he had done for him and Allie. Nathan knew that Allie would be happy to see Bill, no matter why he was there.

After making notes about what Bill has told him, Nathan got up and went to the records office. When Nathan got there, he talked to the young Mountie that was working there. Together they pulled several files, including Martin's personnel file. Nathan hated Mounties who up hold the law or used their badge/serge as excuse to treat other people awful. Nathan thanked the young Mountie for his help and reminded him not to talk to anyone about what he was doing. The young Mountie nodded. He knew that Inspector Grant was a highly respected Mountie and wanted to stay on his good side. The young Mountie also knew that Inspector Grant could help his career beyond working in the records office.

Nathan got back to his office, let the secretary know that he was not to be disturbed, then retreated to his office and locked the door. Nathan placed a quick call to Allie's school to leave a note for her that he was working late and to call him when she got home. Once that was done, Nathan took a deep breath and let it out harshly.

The first thing that Nathan did was go through all the files that were connected to Walden and wrote out information that he thought was important, including other people who were involved. As Nathan was going though the third file, he recognized names that he had seen before. Nathan leaned back and tried to think about where he knew the names from. As Nathan was thinking, there was a knock at the door. Nathan was upset since he had asked not to be bothered. After the second knock, Nathan got up and went to the door ready to yell at whoever was bothering him.

"What?" Nathan growled.

When he looked up, he was surprised to Chief Superintendent Collins standing there.

"Sir. Sorry I didn't know that it was you."

"It is okay." Collins said. "I got a call from Bill Avery, he said he was coming here to talk to you. Then I heard you pulled files, including the personnel file of Constable Martin."

"Yes, Bill called me. Yes, I pulled files."

"Why? Why not talk to O'Reilly or call me?"

"Honestly Sir. I trust Bill. When he says that there is a problem, there is a problem. I knew that Walden was bad news before I left Hope Valley, but unfortunately, I didn't have anything on him. I figured I would pull some files and see what I could find before I came to O'Reilly or you. As an Inspector, I have the right to pull the personnel file of any lower ranking Mountie. I wanted to see what I could find about Martin, since I had never met him. He arrived in Hope Valley after I left."

Nathan's phone rang, and he stepped back and grabbed it.

("Hey, Uncle Nathan.")

Nathan smiled at the sound of Allie's voice

"Hey Allie-girl."

("I was just letting you know that I was home.")

"Thank you. I am not sure when I will be home. Just so you know, Uncle Bill is coming to town later tonight. He is going to be staying with us, not sure how long."

("Okay. I have homework and I will make something to eat.")

"Okay. I think I might get something for here. I will be home later, not sure if I will be home before Uncle Bill comes. Please be good and call me if you need anything."

("Okay, Uncle Nathan.")

Nathan hung up the phone with a smile on his face. He took a deep breath and turned to face his superior officer.

"Is your niece okay?"

"Yes. I had left a message at her school to let me know when she got home."

"Uncle Bill? Can I assume that is Bill Avery?"

"Yes. Allie took to him right away in Hope Valley. Since she doesn't have much family. I also believe that family is what you make it."

"Good for you."

"So what did Bill tell you?"

"He told me exactly what he told you. I honestly assumed he told you more. I will be honest and tell you that Avery and I haven't always seen eye to eye. We respect each other for the job that we each hold, but I still think that there is a part of him that blames me for Jack Thornton's death."

"You were the one that convinced Jack to take the assignment up North that took him away from Hope Valley. Bill told me that if it wouldn't have been for that assignment, that Jack would have been married a lot sooner and he might have gotten a chance to be a husband and father."

"Fair enough, but Jack came to me and asked of the assignment."

"You didn't have to give it to him, especially knowing that he felt guilty about his friend."

Collins nodded. He didn't realize that Nathan knew as much about Jack's life and assignments as he did.

"Jack Thornton is not why I am here. I am worried about opening a can worms that we can't handle."

"Walden doesn't scare me. I can handle myself. If Walden is dirty, then he deserves what he gets. I may have left Hope Valley, but it will always be home to Allie and I. I don't want to see those good people threatened and harassed. They have worked hard and don't deserve to be treated like that."

"Fine. Tell me what you have learned."

"I haven't learned much. When I have a case, I will come to you and/or O'Reilly. Until then I am not ready to present a case. You told me when I took this job that my investigations were mine and you weren't going to breath down my neck. I have several open cases and I am working them. I don't even know if there is enough to warrant an investigation into Walden. I have to see what Bill brings me and compare that to what I know and what I have learned."

"Fine. But please don't arrest anyone without talking to me. If a there is a Mountie involved, I will need to be looped in. Until then, I will give you some leeway."

"Thank you, Sir."

Collins stood to leave. Nathan stood, saluted and waited until Collins had left. He relocked the door and then went to his desk. When Nathan sat back in his chair, he thought about what just happened. He wondered just how much room Collins was going to give him. Nathan knew if Collins was getting worried, then something big must be happening and it only deepened his resolve to figure it out. Nathan got up and paced his office and thought about everything that he knew about Walden. Nathan also thought about all of his cases and as he was pacing it suddenly clicked where he had seen some of the names of the people he saw in the Walden files.

Nathan immediately went back to his desk and started pulling out case files. He then started laying everything out on the table in his office. When he had the files laying open there, it was clear as day what was going on. Nathan knew that he just made a major break in several cases that didn't seem to be related. Nathan knew that he had to gather a lot more evidence and that it was going to be hard to tie everything together, but he wasn't going to back down. He had placed several calls and requests boxes of information. He knew it was going to take time to gather everything, but he was willing to wait. Nathan was making notes and lists when his phone rang. He looked at the time and realized that it was quite late.

"Hello." Nathan said after picking up after the third ring.

("Hey, just wanted to let you know that I arrived at the apartment.")

"Thanks, Bill. We definitely need to talk. I will head home as soon as I pick up what I am working on."

("No worries. Allie wanted me to ask if you ate?")

"No, I got involved in what I was doing here."

("Then I will make something so you can eat when you get here. Allie went up to bed, so wanted to read.")

"Give me half an hour and I should be there."

("Okay.")