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 case involved the smuggling of stolen jewellery 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 jewellery hidden in crates of dishes and utensils.
Today, jewellery 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 jewellery 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 Ally 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 Ally.
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 Ally, his niece seemed to have adjusted to life in the city.
Nathan placed the photograph back on his desk as the phone rang.
"Excuse me, Inspector Grant," the voice said through the telephone.
"Yes, Constable Thompson," he said, trying to place the voice on the phone, pleased when his name dropped into his head just in time. He had met so many new people in the short time he had been in Union City, especially working in the Mountie office.
"Your daughter is here to see you, Sir." Constable Thompson announced. "Shall I send her in?"
"Of course," Nathan said smiling, marvelling at the timing of Allie's arrival as he had been looking at her photograph. He hadn't been expecting her and was curious as to why she wasn't in school; it didn't finish for several more hours.
"Hi, Dad," Allie exclaimed, coming into his office, and leaning in to give him a quick hug. "How are you?"
"I'm good," he said, hugging her back, "although I admit I am a little surprised to see you here, considering I thought you would be in school until later today."
"We got off early, my teacher had a family emergency, and because it was Friday, they decided to let us have an early mark," Allie explained. Allie found the early mark surprising, too; if something had come for the Teacher in Hope Valley, one of the mothers would have taken over teaching for the afternoon, and class would have continued.
"I was hoping we could have lunch together if you weren't too busy. I have wanted to go to the 'Alley Cafe' since I saw it the day we arrived," Allie begged, not ashamed to plead her case.
Nathan shook his head; she had mentioned the cafe at least once a week since they arrived. His daughter was desperate to go there because of the similarity to her name, even though Alley wasn't even a person's name and meant something completely different. It was named after the short side street it was positioned on, opposite the railway station, not for a person.
"You aren't going to let this go, are you?" Nathan stated, knowing the answer.
"Nope," Allie responded, smiling, knowing she had already won.
"Fine, let's get it out of the way," Nathan replied.
Nathan explained to his team that he would be heading out for lunch, and he and Allie walked slowly from the Mountie office to the cafe. He wasn't a great cook and didn't expect Allie to do it for them, so he missed the convenience of being able to eat somewhere close by that offered good, homemade food and coffee, especially coffee. He didn't want to admit it to Allie, but he hoped the cafe would turn out to be somewhere they could visit often.
As they reached the cafe, Nathan looked over Allie's head as she opened the door and walked inside. Nathan was pleased to see most of the tables were full; an empty restaurant was never a good sign. As always, Nathan allowed Allie to select their table, and she chose one in the corner against a wall that presented a view of the whole dining area.
After pulling out her chair, and before he could sit down, he heard Allie call out, "Miss Bellinger, Miss Bellinger."
Nathan swung his head to look at the person Allie was calling out to and found a woman sitting at a table several feet away. "Allie, you shouldn't call out like that," Nathan admonished without looking at his daughter; his eyes remained fixed on the object of Allie's attention.
"She's my favourite teacher, Dad!" Allie said in the way of explanation.
Miss Bellinger appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with dark blonde hair tied back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Miss Bellinger was fresh and vibrant in a white blouse and teal green skirt, which complimented her light complexion. What stood out most for Nathan wasn't her beauty; she was beautiful, he acknowledged; it was the expression on her face when she saw him. She was terrified. He had watched as her friendly smile for Allie slipped from her face, her eyes widening as she took in his serge. Nathan didn't have time to wonder what caused it before she changed her expression to one of bland indifference.
Curiosity peaked; Nathan suggested Allie ask her Teacher to join them for lunch. Nathan wanted to see the reaction from Miss Bellinger to Allie's suggestion.
"I'm not sure, Dad; Miss Bellinger is the teacher with the family emergency," Allie explained, frowning as she realised what she had said. Craning her neck to look up at him, "I thought only you considered lunch an emergency."
"Just go and ask her," Nathan said, rolling his eyes at Allie. Nathan stood, watching the discussion between Allie and her Teacher. He couldn't hear the conversation, but he could tell she was declining the invitation. Miss Bellinger's body language was sending him clear signals that she wanted to stay as far away from him and his kind as possible.
Allie returned to the table, slightly dejected but quickly explained that her Teacher was waiting for someone to join her, and they would take their meals to go. The emergency was real, and she and her Cousin, when he joined her, would be leaving to deal with it.
Nathan nodded in acknowledgement of Allie's words and sat with her at their table. He picked up a menu and looked at what food was on offer while still discreetly watching Miss Bellinger. Mounties sometimes relied on their gut instinct about situations, and Nathan's had never let him down; Miss Bellinger was in trouble of some kind; he just wasn't sure if she was responsible for it or the victim.
Miss Evelyn Bellinger sat at her table in the cafe, cursing her bad luck. Evelyn knew Allie's Father was a Mountie and had planned on doing everything possible to avoid him. Of all her students she could have run into, she wished it hadn't been Allie. Evelyn scolded herself for thinking ill of the young woman, who was an absolute delight. In and out of class, Allie was kind, funny and bright and had taken no time to become one of the most popular students at the school.
Evelyn could sense Allie's Father was still watching her, although, to the casual observer, his focus was solely on his daughter. Evelyn wasn't a casual observer; she had spent the last six months on high alert for law and order. She knew she was in over her head and could barely maintain the facade of normality necessary for her survival. She couldn't spend any time with Inspector Grant without giving herself away.
The jingle of the bells over the door caught her attention, and she saw her lunch companion hurrying toward her. As they reached the table and sat, she leaned forward, gripping his arm tightly.
"You are late, and we have no time; we have to get out of here as soon as possible," Evelyn whispered through clenched teeth.
"Why are you being so dramatic, my dear Cousin? We have all afternoon to relax and enjoy our meal." Sebastian Bellinger's eyes roamed over his Cousin's face; clearly, something had upset her, but when wasn't she upset with him. His dear Cousin wasn't happy about helping him with his current endeavours, and he supposed he could understand it, given that what he was doing was illegal. He smiled cruelly at her, "really, Evelyn, anyone would think you didn't enjoy being blackmailed."
Nathan couldn't stop thinking about Miss Bellinger. After her companion arrived, he watched them and caught the man looking at their table with smug condescension. That look alone from a stranger would have set his senses on high alert, but Miss Bellinger's agitation seemed to increase after the gentlemen's arrival.
Nathan decided he would make an appointment to meet the elusive Teacher as soon as possible. Having decided on that as a course of action, he devoted his attention to Allie. As he watched the two people collect their food and hastily exit the cafe, he hoped Miss Bellinger would look over; however, she kept her eyes averted.
Evelyn lay in bed that evening, tossing and turning, unable to sleep as usual. She was trapped and couldn't see any way out for her or her Father; they were at Sebastian's mercy. Her Father and Sebastian's Father were half-brothers; they were nothing alike and hadn't grown up together. Her Father, Conrad Bellinger, was an upstanding member of Union City society, a successful businessman and supported numerous charities. His brother had spent much of his youth overseas with his mother's family, doing not very much except attending parties and racking up gambling debts which he paid off by undisclosed means.
Her Cousin Sebastian was very much like his Father Louis, flitting from one party to the other, relying on his manners and charm to get by. Sebastian's parents, her Uncle and his wife were killed in an accident a year ago and Sebastian had fallen on hard times. Recently he had sought out her Father for assistance. Her father, believing his nephew was genuine in his desire to redeem himself, took him into his home, including him in business activities, parties, and other social events.
Sebastian used the introductions made by her Father to obtain invitations to parties in various cities and spent a great deal of time travelling to attend them. Sebastian was a regular rail traveller, keeping a first-class carriage on standby for his use. Sebastian established himself as an expert in fine jewels and jewellery and, as such, was asked to accompany his new friends to shop for pieces in stores all over the Canadian West.
Her Father finally uncovered his nephew's true colours when he invited him to attend a party during which, Sebastian agreed to accompany a guest, Mr Tremayne to a jewellery store the following day to recommend a necklace for his wife. The evening after Sebastian's visit, someone robbed the store, stealing the necklace left out of the vault to be cleaned before being collected. After this event, Conrad realised that his nephew's visits to jewellery stores coincided with thefts soon afterwards. It was then he realised his nephew was following in his Father's footsteps.
Conrad had confronted his nephew, who readily admitted to the theft and refused to return the items. Sebastian had turned on his Uncle, threatening to tell everyone the thefts were his idea, ruining him and Evelyn. Sebastian had produced forged correspondence showing that his Uncle was the scheme's mastermind. He threatened to release the correspondence to the papers if his Uncle reported him to the Law.
Conrad Bellinger was a prisoner to his nephew's demands, continuing to include him in events while trying to restrain his illegal activities. Conrad couldn't expose his nephew without risking his reputation and Evelyn's, nor could he disown him for the same reasons. Her Father had only disclosed what was happening after Evelyn hounded him every day for weeks. She had known something was wrong, and finally, he admitted it.
Evelyn had confronted her Cousin, much to his amusement. Sebastian had the upper hand in the situation unless she could find out the forged papers and destroy them. She had looked for them repeatedly but had no luck in uncovering them. In the meantime, she had to go along with her Cousin, like her Father. Evelyn tried to distance herself from Sebastian, but occasionally, like he had today, he made demands she felt unable to refuse. She knew she was his alibi today but didn't know what else to do. She adored her Father and needed to protect him from Sebastian.
She thought of Allie's Father, Inspector Grant and sighed. She wished she had been able to join the two today, to get to know him better to see if she could trust him with her story. She didn't believe she could tell just anyone; it had to be someone who would give her the benefit of the doubt. She decided she would make discreet enquiries into Inspector Grant; she knew some of the wives of the Mounties in Union City who she was sure would be happy to talk to her about him.
Nathan sat patiently outside Miss Bellinger's office. He had made an appointment to see her on the pretence of checking in on Allie's progress. Nathan's true motive was to see how she responded to him privately, one to one. He knew something was going on with Allie's Teacher, and he was determined to find out. Nathan would not permit Allie to continue in Miss Bellinger's class or at the school if he thought she was doing something underhanded or illegal.
Thoughts were swirling in her head as she paced around her office, she knew she couldn't stall him forever, but she needed to collect herself first. Evelyn couldn't believe that Inspector Grant was here to see her. She hadn't had the chance to make enquiries about him yet. Did he suspect something already? Is that why he was here or was he truly here to ask about his daughter.
Taking a deep breath, she put her hand on her stomach and centred herself. Glancing at her reflection, she was pleased to note her turmoil didn't show on her face. Evelyn knew she hadn't hidden her reaction to seeing Inspector Grant with Allie; he had noticed it. Sighing, she wished again that Father had never reached out and helped Sebastian.
Nathan looked up as the door opened, and Miss Bellinger stood in the open doorway smiling at him.
"Inspector Grant, please come into my office," she invited, her voice warm and welcoming.
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice Miss Bellinger," Nathan said as he walked inside her office and stood, waiting for her to be seated. As he waited for her to close the door and take a seat, he looked around the office, trying to find some clue about Allie's Teacher. He wanted to find something that could give them common ground, an opening for him to exploit to get her to gain his trust. Nothing was obvious, her office not reflecting anything about her personality.
Evelyn sat in her chair, indicating Nathan should sit opposite her.
"Can I offer you refreshment, Inspector Grant? I have coffee or water," Evelyn said, gesturing to the sideboard.
"No tea?" Nathan asked, curious. He hated tea, never drank it but wondered at not even having it to offer anyone.
"I am sorry, no, I don't drink tea, and as I rarely have parent-teacher conferences in this office, I don't keep it here," Evelyn explained, wondering if this conversation was as silly as it seemed to her. Had she been nervous about nothing after all, surely if he were here to investigate her, he would be asking more than why there was no tea.
"Where do you normally hold parent-teacher conferences if not in here?"
"In the lounge, but that isn't important right now; we are here to talk about Allie, right?" she wasn't going to admit she met him in private in case he wanted to ask her about Sebastian.
"Coffee, please. I don't drink tea either." Nathan said, watching the emotions play on Miss Bellinger's pretty face. She was perplexed by the conversation, and he wanted her to be. He was trying to wrong-foot her in the hopes of making her say something she hadn't planned on revealing.
Evelyn took a breath; he must be doing this to her on purpose; no one was naturally this socially awkward. Rising, she took the opportunity of pouring the coffee to calm her nerves once again. She was proud that when she set the coffee before him, her hands weren't shaking. Sitting, her coffee before her, she opened Allie's file and looked at Inspector Grant with a confident smile.
"Is there something you would like to discuss regarding Allie's education Inspector Grant?
"I was hoping to chat in general about Allie's progress, highlighting any areas she needs to focus on."
Evelyn glanced at Allie's recent results in the folder; she didn't need to look at them; it wasn't hard to remember a student getting all A's, except for in Maths, where it was A+. Evelyn needed to look away from Inspector Grant's piercing gaze. The man was incredibly handsome, and it could take your breath away when he focused his incredible eyes on you.
"Allie is doing extremely well, Inspector Grant. It took her no time to settle in and make friends; she is very popular amongst her classmates. You and your wife should be especially proud of her grades; she is receiving all A's and should consider taking advanced mathematics." Evelyn watched Inspector Grant as she spoke, pleased at the look of pride on his face hearing about his daughter, curious about his expression at the mention of Allie's mother.
"Allie's mother passed when she was an infant. I am her Uncle and took Allie in when she was four."
"I am so sorry, Inspector Grant; Allie never said...I just assumed because she calls you Dad." Evelyn stuttered; she was so embarrassed; she should have read the whole of Allie's file before he turned up; surely, her family situation was in there. She started frantically turning pages in the file as if she would find something to change the situation.
"Please, don't apologise. I adopted Allie several years ago; the file lists me as her Father; you won't find anything about me being her Uncle." Holding her gaze, Nathan said, "I don't have a wife."
Evelyn felt heat rush to her cheeks, she was already flustered, and she had no idea why knowing he was single had this strange impact on her. Once again, she looked down at the file to hide her reaction to his words.
Nathan watched Evelyn blush, surprised at her reaction to his words. Frowning, he wondered why she would react to his being single; then, as he realised why, heat rushed into his cheeks too. Nathan had limited experience with women and no luck with the one woman he had loved. Once Elizabeth Thatcher rejected him, he refused to allow himself to hope for a relationship, content to be Allie's Father and the best Inspector he could be.
He felt a spark of warmth inside that the beautiful woman before him thought of him as a man, not just a student's Father or a replacement for their dead husband.
"Well, Inspector Grant, as I said, Allie has settled in extremely well, and the only thing I feel she could do to round out her education is to join an extra credit program. Our programs include various volunteer activities, with different groups on one day of the weekend. It isn't every weekend, just once a month."
"How are the students supervised during these activities?" Nathan was curious about how the school ensured the safety of their students.
"The teachers volunteer with them, along with some of the parents. The students are always safe," Evelyn explained. She volunteered at the Hospital in town; she almost became a nurse, but at the last minute, she swapped to teaching, but healing others still held her interest.
"How do you decide what the parents are involved in?"
"We try and play to everyone's strengths. Some of our parents, well some of our Mothers volunteer at a soup kitchen, others at a sewing facility where they mend clothing and teach others how to sew." Evelyn explained how it worked, not for a minute thinking Inspector Grant would have the time to volunteer, none of the other Father's did.
"I can't cook or sew," Nathan said, chuckling, "are there any other options?"
"The Hospital is the only other place we volunteer, but I am sure you are too busy to do that. Allie would be well looked after even if you aren't there." Evelyn knew she was rushing her explanation; she wished she had said that cooking and sewing were the only two choices.
"I think the Hospital sounds like the perfect place for Allie and me to volunteer, I have some medical training with the Mounties, and it's an important skill for Allie to learn. It seems like a natural fit." Nathan knew the moment Miss Bellinger mentioned the Hospital, she regretted it; he didn't need to ask where she volunteered, the look on her face told him. Volunteering would be the perfect excuse for him to continue observing Miss Bellinger and determine what she was hiding.
Nathan and Allie arrived early at the Hospital; Allie was very excited at the prospect of volunteering and learning how to treat people. Nathan was excited to spend time with Allie and, of course, take the chance to observe Miss Bellinger.
Allie had asked Nathan if he was happy Miss Bellinger was the Teacher who would be with them, and he hadn't known how to answer. Yes, he had been pleased because he wanted to have the chance to observe her in a professional capacity. He didn't tell Allie that he was very attracted to Miss Bellinger and, in different circumstances, would have liked to get to know her better.
Many things stopped Nathan from exploring a relationship, mostly being unsure if she was doing something illegal, but also because she was Allie's Teacher, and he couldn't risk it not working out. Not after last time.
Volunteering at the hospital was much more fun than Nathan had anticipated, as was Miss Bellinger. Evelyn, as she asked him to call her, was funny, intelligent, and quick to smile and laugh. Obviously, she volunteered regularly; she knew most of the staff and long-term residents who were delighted to see her.
The three laughed a lot throughout the day, and Nathan felt lighter than he had in a long time. When they finished their volunteering shift, Allie suggested they have dinner together, and Nathan was disappointed when Evelyn declined.
"I am sorry, Allie, I am not free tonight, I have plans with my Father, and I won't disappoint him," Evelyn explained. Seeing the young girl's crestfallen look, she said, "What about ...?"
"We could do it next weekend," Allie interrupted her, deliberately preventing her Teacher from suggesting the next volunteer day. Allie didn't want to wait too long to have dinner with her Teacher and her Dad.
Evelyn looked at Nathan and was encouraged when he raised his eyebrows and grinned while waiting for her response. She was finding it very difficult to resist the Grants.
"Okay, if that is alright with you, Nathan," Evelyn hedged, wondering at her behaviour. Spending more time with the Mountie responsible for investigating the jewellery thefts was a terrible idea.
"I think it's a wonderful suggestion, Evelyn," Nathan responded, smiling at her, his eyes sparkling.
Evelyn shivered, not sure if it was in fear or a reaction to Nathan's smile.
"How are the jewels getting onto the trains if not at the point where they are packed?" Nathan was talking out loud, annoyed that the answer hadn't revealed itself to him.
"When did you start talking to yourself?"
"Gabe, what are you doing here?" Nathan exclaimed as he looked up to see his friend leaning in his doorway.
"I had to transport a prisoner for trial, I could have sent someone else, but I wanted to take the opportunity to see you and Allie," Gabe explained.
Gabe strolled into Nathan's office and looked around as he continued to speak. "While travelling here, I had time to think about your jewellery robberies and noticed something. I am not sure if it is something you have considered," Gabe explained seriously.
Nathan looked at his friend, perplexed. "The team have checked every Train as it arrived in Union City. We have reviewed the people in every department and every depot. I am not sure what we have missed."
"It doesn't sound like you have missed anything at the depots once the train arrived, but have you checked while the trains are still travelling?"
"No, none of us has checked the trains between stations," Nathan said, his voice excited. Nathan didn't care who solved the case or how; he only wanted it solved. "What's different when the train is moving?"
"I travelled here by Train, and when Tess Stewart found out, she asked me if I could check in on one of her horses. She has sold it and was transferring it to the owner here in Union City." Gabe came closer to his friend as he spoke, his voice low and urgent.
"When I went to check on the animal, I realised the animal transportation carriage is the last carriage hooked on to the Train," Gabe said. "I walked through all the carriages, except the first class, of course, on the way to that carriage."
"Okay," Nathan said slowly, "that would include the carriage transporting all the shipping and other crates."
"Yes," Gabe said, smiling at his friend, knowing he knew what he was suggesting. "When I walked through those carriages, no one stopped me or asked me what I was doing. I had free access to everything in those crates. Once the passengers and crates are on the Train, no one watches them. In fact, when I was checking on Tess's horse, there was a mother and child there visiting the animals. The Conductor suggested visiting the animals to distract the child from the boredom of the train trip."
"So, if someone was to board the Train with stolen jewels, they could place them in the crate between stations, and no one would know. The person would only need to make sure they got a crate going to the correct destination," Nathan spoke softly, putting the scenario together as he went along.
"All the crates are in order of when they are offloading and are marked with their destination. It is straightforward to pick a crate and slip the contraband inside, providing you had a tool to lift the lids." Gabe said, finishing his story.
That evening Gabe joined Allie and Nathan at the cafe, which was Allie's namesake. Allie was pleased he recognised the significance of the place's name, not having to explain why it was her favourite.
It was the first time Nathan and Allie had been to the cafe at night, their usual outings being for lunch or breakfast. It was interesting to Nathan that the clientele was very different at this time of the day. Now, the customers were mainly workers from the shops, factories, and workshops around the station, sprinkled with some rail workers.
As they took a seat and placed their order, Nathan continued to look around; while he and Gabe weren't in uniform, he knew people could often tell they were in law enforcement. He could always tell those who guessed and had something to hide, they failed to make eye contact and shifted a lot in their seats. Most of the time, they didn't stay long after he arrived.
One man was sitting along a corner table and fit the profile of someone nervous about having a Mountie in the same place as he was. He had glanced at Nathan and Gabe, then kept looking at the door; it was clear he was waiting for someone.
Finally, the man's companion arrived; Nathan looked to the person meeting the nervous man and saw it was the gentlemen he had seen with Evelyn. Nathan's senses were suddenly on high alert. He had been curious about her friend, and now he might be able to find out something more about him.
Nathan saw the first man lean forward and whisper urgently to the newcomer who looked over at their table. As he realised it was Nathan, his face blanched before he could recover himself.
Sebastian couldn't believe his lousy luck; why did the Mountie have to be here tonight. He needed to collect his latest spoils; he had to have them tomorrow as he was leaving for a weekend away and needed to pass them off on his trip on Friday.
Sebastian realised they couldn't make their plans here, not with a Mountie, possibly two close-by. He leaned toward his friend and said, "we need to leave now." Grabbing his arm, he pulled him upwards and out of his seat, causing their glasses to wobble, making a noise that attracted attention, including the Mounties.
Nathan looked over at Gabe, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod; yes, he had noticed the behaviour of the two men. Nathan knew Gabe not only caught their behaviour but would have studied their faces and would be able to recognise them the next time he saw them.
Nathan was glad Allie hadn't noticed what had happened, other than to think the two were being noisy. He hoped Allie hadn't recognised the man as the one with her Teacher the first time they ate there.
That evening, after Allie went to bed, he and Gabe sat discussing the situation and his suspicions. Nathan explained to Gabe who the gentlemen were and his connection to Allie's Teacher.
"Is she just Allie's Teacher?" Gabe asked. He studied his friend as he asked the question, noticing the blush on his cheeks. Allie had been very vocal about Miss Bellinger, her 'pretty' Teacher who was 'really funny.' She talked a lot about how nice she was and how much fun they had when volunteering. On the other hand, Nathan had been very quiet when the subject of Evelyn Bellinger came up.
"Yes, Gabe," Nathan said, "she can't be anything else if she is involved in something illegal."
"And if she isn't involved, or is somehow a victim of this man?"
"I don't know, Gabe, I have been down this road before, with Allie's Teacher, and when it didn't work out, we were both gutted. I can't do that to Allie again."
"Miss Bellinger doesn't sound anything like Elizabeth Thornton. And you are a different person, and Allie is older. I think you should take your time and think about this, Nathan, don't give up."
"Let's see what happens, Gabe; in the meantime, I have no plans to do anything about Miss Bellinger," Nathan stated firmly.
"Except have dinner with her and Allie next weekend?" Gabe teased, laughing as Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Yes, except for that," Nathan said, joining in the laughter.
Nathan arrived at his desk early, hoping for a peaceful day without too many incidents. It was Friday evening, and he was looking forward to going home and spending the evening with Allie, and Gabe, who was planning on catching the lunchtime train home the next day.
The telephone on his desk rang, and even before he answered it, he knew his wish for a quiet Friday wouldn't happen.
The call was about a jewellery store robbery, a local one; although Nathan had sent the message out about local crimes, he wanted to know about any jewellery store thefts. Nathan decided to interview the store owner himself, bringing along a Constable to assist and gain experience. He needed to hear the story directly and not just read about the situation in a report in a file. Gathering his things, he left his office quickly, wanting to get the information as soon as possible.
Nathan looked up from the notes he was writing as the jewellery store owner retold the events of the day before. It was the first time he heard about two men inspecting the jewels just before they were stolen. "Did you say, the two gentlemen?" Nathan queried, confused.
"Yes," he said, "two gentlemen were looking at the necklaces," the shop owner explained. "The first gentlemen, Mr Purdue, was the one interested in purchasing an anniversary gift for his wife. The other gentlemen advised him on the quality and value of our gems as if he was an expert," Mr Timms stated. As he finished speaking, he turned his nose up and sniffed, conveying his disdain for the 'expert' who visited his store.
Nathan was shocked to hear about the second gentleman. No one had mentioned a second man, was this just an oversight or had the officers investigating focused only on the person buying the jewels. The person who had purchased the gems, which were then stolen, was the victim, no one else he supposed.
"Sorry to interrupt you, sir; please continue," Nathan apologised.
Mr Timms, explained Mr Purdue, had selected a Sapphire necklace for his wife; paid for it and arranged to collect it Friday morning. At his 'expert's' suggestion, Mr Purdue requested the necklace be polished before he collected it, wanting it sparkling when he presented it to his wife.
"Did they ask about the polishing process?" Nathan asked.
"Oh yes, they were very interested in who we used." Mr Timms puffed out his chest and continued, "unlike other stores, we do it ourselves, on-site, eliminating any delays or damage in transit. Mr Purdue needed the jewellery quickly; he and his wife are going on holiday for their anniversary on Friday."
"Are you aware of where they were going?"
"No, I 'm sorry, I don't; I just know that he was planning to collect it on his way to the 7:00 pm train on Friday evening."
"And Mr Purdue and his companion were happy with this? Sorry, did you mention the second Gentlemen's name?" Nathan was keen to hear it, already sure it would be Evelyn's companion, and he would finally have a name for the man.
"They were pleased, as are all our customers. I believe the gentlemen with Mr Purdue was Mr Bellinger. Not someone I have ever heard of being an expert in jewels," Mr Timms explained haughtily.
"Can you tell me about where you clean the jewels?" Nathan requested, a possible scenario of how the theft occurred forming in his mind.
"As I said, we clean all jewellery on site, in the basement below our store. As per our procedure, we send the jewels downstairs immediately after purchase to ensure a speedy turnaround."
"Is the security for the basement as high quality as the store?" Nathan asked quietly, assuming it wasn't but not wanting to offend Mr Timms.
"Well, no, but ..." Mr Timms stuttered and trailed off.
Nathan's eyes narrowed as he listened to the store owner, "how many stores do you think do their cleaning in-house?"
"Not many here in Union City; however, across Canada, there are many." Mr Timms explained.
"Would you be able to prepare a list for me?" Nathan requested, keen to compare the list with the stores that were robbed.
"Is the customer reimbursed for the cost of the stolen jewellery?"
"Yes, we return their payment and claim the Insurance money. We don't want our customers to be out of pocket."
"And they, of course, then have the money to purchase another item," Nathan stated wryly, glad to see Mr Timms look uncomfortable.
Nathan returned to the office after organising the young Constable to review the security arrangements for the store and the cleaning area while looking for any clues to help them.
The first thing Nathan did when he got back to his desk was place a call to Gabe; they didn't have much time to organise to be on the 7:00 pm train out of Union City.
Nathan knew he couldn't be the one to stake out the Train Friday evening. If Miss Bellinger was involved, she or her companion, whose name he now knew was a relative of hers Sebastian Bellinger, would recognise him. It was a risk even to use Gabe as Sebastian had seen them together.
After making arrangements for someone to stay with Allie, he and Gabe developed a plan for capturing the jewellery thief, red-handed on the Train. Nathan had asked Constable Thompson to assist them, along with his sister, who would help with their cover.
"And you are sure William Thatcher isn't involved, well, someone at Thatcher Shipping, I mean?" Gabe asked, frowning.
"Yes, Elizabeth's family involvement was a coincidence," said Nathan gritting his teeth, hoping this was the last time he had to be involved with the Thatchers or Thornton's.
It was frustrating for Nathan not to be able there with Gabe, but as he talked to him, he thought about a role he could play. Nathan could be the one to hide in the freight carriage, waiting for the person who hid the jewels in a crate, if they turned up.
Nathan wished he could see the passengers boarding the Train to see if Evelyn was amongst them, but he would need to be on the Train much earlier than the passengers to ensure he remained unseen. In his heart, he hoped Evelyn wasn't part of it, even if he would only admit that to himself.
Nathan and Gabe finalised their plan and left the Mountie office, heading to the railway station to set their plan in motion.
Nathan settled into his hiding place on the Train, settling into a comfortable position so he could wait as long as needed for the criminal to appear, and he hoped they would. His position was inside a fake crate, with holes drilled in it, enabling him to see without being seen.
The carriage was laid out very simply, crates stacked on either side of the carriage with an aisle between them so people could easily travel to the next carriage. Anyone who deviated from the pathway would be a suspect; there was no need for a passenger to be amongst the crates.
Much to Nathan's disgust, Gabe had given Constable Thompson a detailed description of not only Sebastian Bellinger but also his Cousin Evelyn. Gabe hoped for Nathan's sake Evelyn Bellinger was innocent; Nathan couldn't take another blow, trusting someone who let him down.
Gabe and his companions were travelling more comfortably than Nathan, having booked a first-class compartment so they could keep an eye on the suspects. Gabe and Constable Thompson knew the compartment number for Mr Purdue and his wife, so they could watch and see their arrival. When Mr Purdue and his wife did arrive, they were alone; Sebastian had a first-class cabin on retainer and usually travelled alone.
The Purdue's entered the Railway Station and the carriage without looking around, bustling about, and getting themselves settled. Gabe observed their arrival and was satisfied the two were innocent victims of Sebastian Bellinger.
Gabe was disheartened, the Train was about to depart, and Sebastian was a no-show. It seemed as though they had wasted their time setting up the undercover operation, and the thief could continue their illegal activities for some time longer.
The Conductor leaned out of the carriage and called out to those standing on the platform, "Last call for boarding." Scanning the crowd, he stepped back into the Train, ready to swing the door shut, when a passenger ran towards him.
Gabe watched, smiling as Sebastian Bellinger leapt onto the Train, thanking the Conductor loudly for allowing him aboard. Sebastian made a great show of settling into his compartment, greeting those around him, the Purdue's included. Sebastian glanced at Gabe and the Thompsons and merely inclined his head, and Gabe was pleased they hadn't caught his attention.
The Train started on its journey, and most passengers were content to sit and wait until the meal service started in thirty minutes. The Train's first stop was in one hour, and Gabe selfishly hoped whatever was going to happen occurred in that time so they could start their return journey without heading too far away from Union City.
Gabe thought of a question to ask the Conductor, so he had a reason to pass by Sebastian's compartment. As he glanced inside, Sebastian sat with papers in his hand, studying them intently. Gabe couldn't be sure, but it looked like a list of some kind, possibly, he thought a list of items in the crates. At least that was what Gabe hoped it was; that way, they could be confident of catching him.
When Gabe returned from speaking to the Conductor, he settled back in the compartment, happy to wait for Sebastian to make his move.
Gabe and the Thompsons managed to keep their conversation casual as Sebastian passed by them shortly after Gabe returned to his seat. Gabe made eye contact with Constable Thompson and nodded, letting him know that he would give Sebastian some space before following him.
Sebastian walked briskly but calmly through the carriages on the Train; he couldn't draw too much attention to himself. Sebastian's success depended upon his staying below the radar and not being memorable.
Sebastian reached his destination, the carriage which contained the crates being shipped without incident, seeing no one suspicious.
Gabe followed as closely behind Sebastian as he dared; he couldn't risk Sebastian knowing he was there and not following through on his plan. They had to catch him red-handed.
Nathan, like Gabe, hoped that Sebastian would come to the carriage early in the trip. They were working on the theory he would want to dispose of the stolen jewels as soon as possible, lowering the risk of being caught with them. Nathan heard the door of the cabin open and held his breath, shifting his body silently to see the visitor through the eye hole in his crate. Yes, he thought, it was Sebastian Bellinger. Now all he had to do was wait until he did something to incriminate himself. Nathan hoped Gabe would be along shortly to witness whatever Sebastian did. Two members of the Mounties would be better than one when testifying against him.
As Nathan watched, Sebastian quickly paced down the aisle, checking the various crates against a bundle of papers he drew out of his pocket. Eventually, finding the container he was looking for, he went to work quickly, lifting a corner of the crate lid that had been loosely secured.
Nathan watched as Sebastian took a velvet box from his pocket and slipped it inside the crate, pushing the lid back down to hide it. Nathan knew that what he had witnessed was enough to arrest Sebastian Bellinger and solve the case. Nathan heard the door open again and felt relief Gabe had arrived to help him. His heart skipped a beat as he looked toward where Gabe was entering the carriage; the newcomer wasn't Gabe.
Gabe hurried through the carriages towards the back of the Train, less concerned about attracting attention than Sebastian. As he approached the freight carriage, he was shocked to see Evelyn Bellinger walking down the aisle in front of him. 'Where had she come from,' he thought; he hadn't seen her board the Train. 'Why was she here?' Gabe wondered. He hadn't believed she was involved, not even when he gave her description to Constable Thompson. Now he couldn't be sure.
Nathan was shocked when he saw Evelyn standing in the carriage doorway; his stomach dropped at the thought of her being involved; he had hoped she was innocent.
"Sebastian," Evelyn called out, startling him.
"What are you doing here, Cousin? I thought you were disgusted by me and my way of making money?" Sebastian scoffed. It was clear he had no fear of his Cousin.
"I am here to stop you, you cannot keep doing this, and you cannot keep blackmailing my father," Evelyn cried out defiantly.
"Oh, but I can. You know I have papers which prove your Father is the mastermind behind the scheme?"
"Do you?" Evelyn asked, smiling at him.
Sebastian tried not to let his fear show; Evelyn couldn't have found where he hid the forged papers. He knew she and his Uncle had regularly gone through his room and belongings looking for them, but he hadn't been foolish enough to store them in their home.
"I made friends with one of the women working in the Railway office, hoping to get access to your compartment. She was accommodating, and while I didn't get into your compartment, she did tell me that all first-class compartment holders had a locker where they could store things between visits." Evelyn explained caustically. "She was happy to help me open it so I could collect the items you asked me to get. The papers are gone, Sebastian."
"I don't believe you," Sebastian growled, stepping toward her.
"You should; I wouldn't be here confronting you if you had any further hold on us." Evelyn stood before Sebastian bravely; even while inside, she was trembling with fear.
Nathan sat stunned; he had heard every word between the Cousins and understood that Evelyn and her father had been innocent of the crimes, held hostage with forged paperwork Sebastian.
Gabe had arrived at the carriage and stood behind the door, which was ajar. He listened to the conversation between Evelyn and Sebastian and was concerned that he may harm her. As he heard Sebastian start toward Evelyn, he opened the door, gun in hand and called out, "Stop, Bellinger, you are under arrest."
Sebastian's eyes widened in shock at seeing Gabe; he rushed forward and grabbed hold of Evelyn. He stood with his forearm around her neck, using his other hand to draw a gun out of his pocket, holding it against her temple.
Evelyn froze, staring at Gabe, her eyes wild with fear. Sebastian's grip was so tight she was frightened he would choke off her air.
"Let her go, Sebastian?" Gabe demanded.
"No, you drop your weapon and back out of here. My dear Cousin and I are getting off this Train at the next stop," Sebastian stated. "You have no evidence I have done anything wrong, Mountie; this is a family matter between Evelyn and me."
Gabe stood firm; his hand steady as he kept the gun trained on Bellinger. Gabe saw Nathan sneaking up behind Sebastian, having left his hiding space behind the crates. Gabe knew he had to keep Sebastian's attention on him, so he didn't realise Nathan was there.
"Let her go, Sebastian; if you have done nothing wrong, why are you holding her at gunpoint." Gabe was hoping that if he continued to challenge the man, he would get flustered and make a mistake, as long as that didn't jeopardise Evelyn.
"I told you, Mountie, this is a family matter; actually, she is the criminal here; she stole something from me," he growled, tightening his grip on Evelyn when she made a sound of protest.
"Sebastian, please stop; it's over," Evelyn begged.
"Not while you and your father are around and able to disclose my secret," he spat. Sebastian's anger was getting out of control; he felt trapped and desperate. He could not go to jail; he would never survive. It was all Evelyn's fault; he couldn't let her win.
Nathan approached slowly, creeping up behind Sebastian Bellinger, glad of the distraction Gabe was providing. He was almost close enough; he needed just a few more moments.
Sebastian couldn't wait any longer; he had to get out of this carriage and off this Train. He knew the Train would be pulling into the first station shortly, and he was sure he could control Evelyn with the Mountie out of the way. He hesitated, then removed the gun from Evelyn's temple and aimed it at the Mountie instead.
Gabe didn't flinch when Sebastian trained the gun on him; he was only glad it was no longer on Evelyn.
Sebastian paused; the Mountie hadn't reacted to having a gun pointed at him. He stood still, observing the Mountie, wondering what his next action would be. He was running out of options, and it was getting harder and harder to think of a way out that didn't include someone getting hurt.
As Sebastian's mind raced to try to find a way out, he felt cold steel press against his own temple, and a voice demanded, "Let her go, Bellinger." For an instant, Sebastian did the opposite, tightening his grip on Evelyn; then, knowing it was hopeless, he pushed her away from him.
Evelyn heard Nathan's voice and her heart leapt, knowing it would be okay now he was there. She had been too frightened to appreciate the other Mountie's presence, but now she could feel relief and hope for the first time in months.
Sebastian knew there was no chance of escape, but he would not go down without a fight. He trained his weapon on Evelyn again, determined to make her suffer for leading to his capture. As the Mountie standing behind him reached for his arm, he lurched forward and discharged his weapon, shooting Evelyn.
Evelyn cried out as the bullet hit her thigh, white-hot pain shooting through her. Evelyn clutched her leg, trying to stem the blood which flowed instantly from the wound. As she tried to stop her bleeding, she watched as Nathan wrestled with Sebastian, disarming him, and placing handcuffs on his wrists.
Gabe stepped forward and took hold of Sebastian, allowing Nathan to assist Evelyn.
Nathan rushed to her, where she lay crumpled on the floor; he could see the blood pooling on her clothing from the bullet. As he kneeled beside her, he looked into her face and saw the fear and pain in her eyes. She lay gasping in pain, her face glistening with sweat, her hair dishevelled.
"Evelyn, talk to me; where did the bullet hit you?" Nathan said, his hand cupping her cheek.
"My thigh," she said shortly, pain stealing her breath. "I think it only grazed me, Nathan. I don't think it is still inside."
Nathan scanned around them and could see the bullet had smashed a hole in the floor; Evelyn was right; it had only grazed her; however, she was still losing blood.
"Gabe, sit him in the corner over there," Nathan instructed, indicating a spot for Sebastian. Gabe had him secured with handcuffs and tied his feet; he wasn't going anywhere. "I need you to see if there is a Doctor on the train."
Gabe nodded and darted out of the carriage, looking for help.
Nathan placed his hand on Evelyn's arm, gaining her attention. "Evelyn, can I take a look at your injury?"
Evelyn stared back at Nathan, shocked he had asked. Laughing quickly despite the pain, she said, "of course, Nathan, now is not the time to worry about propriety."
Nathan grinned, glad she could laugh, hoping it meant her injury wasn't serious. "I am sorry, Evelyn, I ..."
"It's okay; I appreciate you asking," she said as she drew her skirt up to show him the wound, keeping it draped as best she could over the rest of her legs.
Nathan examined the wound gently, talking to her as he did, explaining what he was doing. Nathan stopped and stared at her, "sorry, I forgot about your experience; you have more experience treating a wound like this than I am."
"On someone else, sure, but not on myself. I will be much gentler next time," Evelyn said, trying to keep it light. As she spoke, her teeth started to rattle; she couldn't control her shivering.
Nathan saw Evelyn losing the fight against the shock and pain and acted quickly. He tore a strip of material off her skirt and tied it around her leg as a make-shift bandage. He unbuttoned and removed his jacket, and after pulling her close, he wrapped them both in it for warmth.
Evelyn leaned back against Nathan's chest, glad of the warmth from his body but also the feel of his arms tight around her, keeping her safe. As they waited for Gabe to return, she closed her eyes and relaxed into his embrace. She felt Nathan sigh against her hair as he rested his cheek on her head for a moment.
Gabe returned with not only a Doctor but also Constable Thompson. The moment Sebastian fully comprehended he was not going to escape or talk his way out of what he had done, he started trying to negotiate a deal. As Constable Thompson led him away, he attempted to negotiate a lighter sentence by offering information on his co-conspirators.
The Doctor looked at Evelyn's leg and decided to leave the make-shift bandage in place, knowing he couldn't do a better job on the Train. He sat with Nathan and Evelyn until the Train pulled into the station, then watched as Nathan stood with Evelyn in his arms and carried her off the Train. Evelyn would be able to receive treatment there, and the Doctor could continue his journey.
As Nathan stood holding Evelyn, she tried to tell him she would be fine if he put her down. Nathan ignored her; he was enjoying having her this close to him.
"Evelyn, I am not putting you down; stop squirming before you make your injury worse," he said, smiling at her as she stilled instantly.
"Nathan," Evelyn spoke his name, then paused, wondering where to start her explanation of what had happened.
"Evelyn, please, I heard what you said to Sebastian, so I know most of what he has done to you and your father. Yes, we need to talk about it, and you will have to tell your story to the investigators." Nathan knew he had to step away from the investigation; he couldn't remain involved; he was too invested in Evelyn Bellinger to be impartial. He barely even knew when it had happened; he had tried so hard not to feel anything for her he was surprised to find out how much he already cared.
His voice was low in her ear so he wouldn't be overheard, "I hope now this is over, we can see more of each other, not as Allie's Teacher and parent but as us?"
Evelyn stared into Nathan's eyes, smiling, "I would like that, Nathan, very much."
Gabe stood watching his friend and Evelyn, a grin on his face. Nathan might have tried hard to pretend Miss Bellinger was just Allie's Teacher, but he wasn't fooling anyone. He was pleased to see she returned his feelings. Gabe knew this time that the romance between the Mountie and the Teacher would turn out just fine.