Chapter 154: A Race to The Ball

Masters of efficiency, both Commissioner Blake and his Chief Inspector, Nathan Grant, had quickly assessed the situation and knew exactly what needed to be done.

At the Hamilton International Bank, they had run the interviews simultaneously in separate rooms.

Although they did the same at the remaining four banks, thankfully, these interviews had honed in on just those employees having Transfer Access, which meant they had taken much less time than at Hamilton International Bank, where the initial heist had occurred.

As Nathan completed his set of the interviews at the fifth and final bank of Hamilton and was waiting for his Commissioner to finish, he stood at the window in the office he was using, and looked out over Metropolitan Hamilton.

But it was that final interview at Hamilton International Bank with the man who eerily looked identical to Lucas Bouchard, that continued to run over and over in his mind.

"Name?"

"Laurent Ballieu."

"Years working in the Banking Industry?"

The man clearly hadn't expected that question, but he had known they would be able to do a trace so there was no sense in lying. It would only come back to haunt him. Although, he had also known his answer wouldn't look good.

"Two, Sir."

"Years working here?"

"Two, Sir."

"Where were you, Monsieur Ballieu, yesterday afternoon at 2 P.M.?"

"In the Transfer Area."

"Where, specifically?"

"The Transfer Area, Sir, I don't remember the exact spot I was in."

"You don't remember where you were less than twenty-four hours ago?"

"I do not, Sir."

"Try harder."

The man had sighed heavily thinking 'This is a sharp one. But so was he, or so he had thought.

"I'm afraid I don't remember, Sir."

"I have a map where everyone was stationed by their Floor Manager. Does that alter your answer? Or would you like me to report your inability to remember where you were less than one day ago, which would very much be a liability to any bank, I know with certainty."

This Mountie meant business.

"Oh, I do remember, now. I was in the Telegraph Room."

"And what were you doing there?"

"My job, Sir."

"What specific job description did you perform while in the Telegraph Room?"

"If you don't know the answer to that as well, I don't see why I have to answer. As it's fairly obvious, Sir."

"You most certainly do have to answer. Would you prefer me to label you as insubordinate in a formal report to the President of this Bank? Because I will not hesitate to do so."

"No, no, Sir! Please don't. I think I'm remembering."

"And just what exactly are you remembering?"

"I sent a Telegraph, Sir."

"What was in the Telegraph?"

"A Change of Money, Sir."

"For how much? And just so you know, I have that too."

Nathan's eye had not left the man's own beady eyes during the entire time of interrogation.

"Two Hundred Thousand Dollars."

"Yes, that's what was registered on the book. Where did you send the Money to?"

"A small bank, I don't remember the town."

"I have that too. Does that jog your memory?"

"Hope Valley, Sir, wherever that is!"

"What Bank?"

"Hope Valley Trust, Sir."

"So, you do remember."

"Yes, Sir."

"How much did you say that Change of Money was for again?"

"Two Hundred Thousand Dollars."

"No, not the amount recorded. I need the actual amount sent."

Monsieur Ballieu had been dumbfounded.

How did this man know that?

No one knew that.

"The amount I gave you, Sir."

"Then let's approach this another way. How much money did this Hope Valley Trust Bank receive?"

"I told you, Sir."

"No, you did not. I ask again, how much money did the Hope Valley Trust Bank receive?"

"I wouldn't know, Sir."

And so it had gone.

But Nathan knew the Hope Valley Trust Bank had received a full fifty thousand dollars more than had been recorded, which had already shown up in the Hamilton International Bank records as a deficiency, although there had indeed been a masterful attempt to hide the discrepancy.

The Chief Inspector didn't know why, but he did know the discrepancy had been intentional.

Although thanks to Nathan's quick thinking, and unknown to those conducting the attempted bank heist, the deficient money had all been accounted for via their faux stash.

That was when Nathan had warned Monsieur Ballieu not to travel despite his obstinance, and then he had summarily dismissed him, frustrated with the man's actions and attitude almost as much as he was with the case...

As the day wore on though, once again the Chief Inspector's honed instinct turned out to be right on target.

Visits to the remaining banks of Hamilton proved beyond a doubt, that there was a network of thieves making the Hamilton Banking Industry their base, just as Nathan had suspected.

In Nathan's mind, Laurent Baffier, for certain an imposter or at the very least a name chosen at random, was indeed linked to Lucas Bouchard and not just because he was his doppelganger.

The bank employee had sent the heisted money to Lucas for a reason, well, the faux heisted money to him.

But why had this man done so, what was the reason, and how were the two men connected?

All afternoon, back at Mountie Headquarters, Nathan's team had poured over birth registries, death registries, and various other records doing their best to offer support to their Commissioner and Chief Inspector while in the field.

Which had proved there was no one remotely linked to Lucas Bouchard by birth unless it was a double first cousin born to the brother of Lucas's father and the sister of Lucas's mother, who had married prior to Lucas's own parents.

The couple had been childless for ten years, but eventually had a son, their only child, who had happened to be born nine months to the day prior to Lucas Bouchard.

That son's name was Henri Harrison Bouchard, known as H.H. Bouchard.

Unfortunately, there were no photos, nor records of this particular Bouchard, other than his birth.

But there was no death certificate either...

Why was Laurent Baffier, clearly Lucas's doppelganger, using Bouchard's initials, and why was there a relatively new Trainee at each bank with the same initials?

The second bank revealed a Larue Barthet.

The third bank revealed a Langley Bernard.

The fourth bank revealed a Leovold Boisseau.

The fifth band revealed a Laurent Beauregard.

But what was even odder, they all held the same position, that of primarily being responsible for the transfer of money.

Why were all the initials the same, and why were all the names French, just like Bouchard?

It was pretty obvious to Nathan and the Commissioner why the men were all relatively new employees.

Only Laurent Ballieu had been there long enough to scope out the other banks to steer his chosen people into the various empty bank positions.

But how had they passed their background checks, especially since the four other than Laurent Ballieu had all arrived at the various Hamilton banks within six months of each other, not the two years they had originally been told?

Nathan's expert eye had noticed something else that at first, he thought could possibly be a random occurrence, given they were in a metropolitan city, where fancy formal dress was the norm

Yet with each introduction of the various Bank Trainees, a pattern became blatantly obvious.

While the last four men weren't identical in looks to Lucas, like Ballieu, they all dressed formally, exactly like him.

Even their Silk Cravats and Diamond Tie Stick Pens were exactly like his.

Nathan knew because Lucas always wore that same Diamond Tie Stick Pen.

When it struck Nathan, that no other Bank Employees were wearing a similar Diamond Tie Stick Pen, much less one exactly the same as Lucas's, he suddenly knew its purpose.

The Diamond Tie Stick Pen was a mark, a way of identification.

Yet it tied everything back to Lucas.

And there was no way that was by coincidence...

In the Thatcher Limousine, Nathan shut the partition so that he and his Commissioner could talk in total privacy.

"Sir, we have enough to arrest Laurent Baffier, but I would advise against it for the time being."

"Why do you recommend waiting, Son?"

"Because we have nothing yet on the other four gentlemen. And I'm sure each of them is involved."

"Yet no heist has occurred at the remaining four banks. What concrete proof do you have of that?"

"The fact we were initially shown documents that must have been forged that all five men had been at each bank two years just as they claimed, but when the official HR records were pulled, the last four had only been at each location exactly six months each, Sir. There has to be a reason for bringing them all in at the same time."

"I can agree with that deduction."

"We need to get them all, Sir! Laurent Baffier is their local leader or at least it appears so as he's been here the longest and gone first. I'm not at all sure that he's their big boss though."

"What are you suggesting?"

"A sting, Sir. At Each bank at the same time tomorrow afternoon to see if Lucas Bouchard is also the recipient."

"But wouldn't it be extremely reckless to duplicate the original heist once, much less four times?"

"Yes, Sir, it would be extremely reckless unless Lucas Bouchard is the intended target of all five men."

"But why would they do that?"

"Our Hope Valley Lucas Bouchard might be intended to take the fall, Sir. His father-in-law is none other than Packer Johnston."

"THE Packer Johnston? The same one you put away some time ago in that legendary textbook capture?"

"The same, Sir! Lucas officially and openly married his daughter soon after Packer's incarceration, Sir. Although they were already married secretly prior to that. As I understand, both marriages were against Packer's wishes. Remember Packer was in Hope Valley, solely to kill Lucas after he found out about the first marriage that had taken place in secret. Apparently, Lucas and his daughter, Sophie had gotten married on the sly in San Francisco without Packer's knowledge, and when he found out, he was not at all happy about it."

"So he was willing to make his daughter a grieving widow?"

"Yes, Sir, he indeed was. If you will remember, I caught him breaking into Lucas's Saloon."

"I see what you're saying. You think this could be retribution, entangling Bouchard into prison in the process?"

"I believe that's exactly what it is, Sir! And Sir, it's important to note the couple is expecting…"

After a full day's work crammed into an afternoon and early evening, the Commissioner and Chief Inspector arrived back at Hamilton's Mountie Headquarters.

Upon their arrival at the Officer's Manse, the Commissioner and Chief Inspector were greeted personally by the Commissioner's Assistant along with a full Guard of Honor.

The Full Honor Guard was something Nathan was unsure if he would ever get used to, for he knew this was not only because he was with the Commissioner, but due to his new promotion as well, because it was the same reception that he as a Senior Officer had received alone, for the first time, on his initial arrival to the base earlier today.

This was simply a part of the pomp and circumstance mandated by his new position.

A new norm he didn't relish at all, but would simply have to get used to.

Returning the men's joint Salute crisply, both the Commissioner and the Chief Inspector turned to the Commissioner's new Assistant and saluted.

"John, private quarters, please," ordered Commissioner Blake.

John Hambly, Senior Sargent, and Personal Assistant to the Commissioner returned his superior's salute, still standing at full attention.

"Yes, Sir!"

"At ease, John!"

John saluted, then relaxed, and briskly turned to lead.

The Commissioner and his Chief Inspector walked side-by-side behind him, as John continued to lead the way through the vast halls, and up a very wide staircase.

Nathan couldn't help but wonder if his Commissioner would have even known the way back, as the layout of the building was purposefully complex, and this was not an Office the Commissioner was at all used to using since his customary offices were housed in Regina.

As though the Commissioner read his Chief's mind, he mumbled.

"Haven't a clue where my Office is here, Son! Afraid you're the expert tracker, not me!"

Both men chuckled, while Senior Sargent John Hambly, up ahead where his face couldn't be seen by his Commanding Officers, still did his best not to smile…

Once again in the Commissioner's opulent private quarters, Commissioner Blake directed Nathan to be seated across from his massive desk.

The two men poured over the reports that had been formulated in their absence.

After about twenty minutes, each consuming half the stack, both men set the two individual stacks back on the desk.

"Nothing solid here to go on, I'm afraid," admitted the Commissioner.

"No, Sir! There's nothing here either."

"I've been thinking, Son. What you were saying is plausible, but I would have never known on my own to even head in the direction of Packer Johnston. John," he called loudly to his assistant, although the man was standing directly behind the Commissioner. "Place a twenty-four-hour continuous watch on Mr. Johnston in Havery Prison. He's in isolation, but that's not enough. I want eyes on him at all times. I want to know every single move the man makes with a daily report sent directly to the Chief Inspector and me. You understand?"

"Yes, Sir. Consider it done, Sir!"

"Dismissed, John!"

Nathan was puzzled, as that wasn't the prison Johnston had been taken to.

Havery Prison was far away, the most dreaded prison of all, located near the northern-most inhabitable border of Canada in a most isolated area. Not only was the prison brutal, but the landscape and weather surrounding the prison were also just as harsh. It was impossible for anyone to come out alive and survive.

Because even if the prisoner made it out of the prison alive, which was virtually impossible in and of itself, without proper weather gear and some sort of heated transportation the cold would surely cause them to succumb to the elements.

"He was moved there recently, Nathan, due to him murdering one of his own inmates."

Nathan nodded, not at all surprised. The man was evil through and through. And was most likely to never be reformed, although they had prayed for that very thing in the Hope Valley Church many times. The townspeople loved Sophie and hated to see her anguish over her father's evil ways.

Sophie, being the compassionate woman she was, was worried that her father wouldn't ask God for forgiveness before it was too late.

She worried for his very soul.

She had once privately admitted to Nathan that her father had been a good man, till, after his wife, her mother had died, and something horrible had broken inside him.

Sophie had been too young to even know what had happened, but as she got older, things became clearer and clearer that something was terribly wrong.

Even though Packer had always treated her well, and seemingly adored her, there had been no love shown to her after her mother's death, as though the man had become incapable of doing so.

And although he had showered her with material things, his main relationship with his daughter turned into one of control.

She had been well cared for, but that had been by others.

People he had paid or forced to raise her in his many absences, for one reason or another.

The reality was he had made her a virtual prisoner in her own home, only allowing her to go to Social Events he deemed necessary to maintain her mother's high Social Standing.

Yet Sophie wanted more than anything for him to ask God for forgiveness. Her mother had no knowledge of this evil life he had adopted, and in Sophie's mind, she would be expecting her husband to join her in heaven. Her parents had loved each other deeply prior to his turn to the dark side, a turn which had turned Sophie's life upside down and consumed her with an inordinate amount of horrific guilt, pain, and shame over what her own father had done.

"What's wrong, Son?"

"His daughter, Sir, is the kindest, nicest person you'd ever want to meet. It's just hard to reconcile that she was raised by such an evil man, especially after her mother died."

"Monsters make no sense, Nathan, as you well know," the Commissioner shook his head. "We need to sign these orders right now so I can get you back to your In-laws' Ball. If you don't mind, the first part of your attendance has to be in an official capacity."

"Yes, Sir! I understand, Sir!"

"It's not you who I'm worried about. Make the leaders of Hamilton Society understand what has happened and is going to happen tomorrow. Insist that no one withdraw money from their accounts under any circumstance until after 3 P.M."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Make sure they understand why."

"Yes, Sir! But what if there is an emergency of some sort and money is needed prior to that time?"

"There will be an emergency fund set up at Hamilton International Bank that can be accessed only through the President, Mr. Harling Bakersfeld. In a true emergency, they are to contact him directly in person. No exceptions…"

After signing off on the stacks of paperwork and their own summaries, it was finally time to try to make a dash to the Ball.

Nathan would be cutting it close, but if everything fell into place properly, there was a slight chance he could make it.

And since he was still on duty, he wouldn't have to change into formal dress till after his business with the prominent Hamilton Businessmen was complete, which would also save time.

"Well, Chief Inspector, we've got just about everything done we can possibly do from this end. Signatures in place, orders completed. I believe it's time you take your leave and report to one Thatcher Ball for Duty, Son! Any questions?"

"No, Sir! You've answered them already, Sir!"

But as Nathan saluted, then turned to go to the door, he suddenly turned back.

"Sir, permission to speak, please?"

"Granted Chief Inspector, although your asking is no longer required."

"Thank you, Sir! I believe Lucas Bouchard and his wife need to be taken into protective custody."

"But why?"

"If Bouchard is indeed the intended target, Sir, this group, and or Johnston, or both will have a handler watching him and possibly his wife in Hope Valley."

A most concerning look flashed across the Commissioner's face, as he realized what Nathan was thinking.

"You're absolutely right! They'll be after the money after they've framed him. I'll call Bill right now with orders for Gabriel. I'll also send reinforcements to Hope Valley. You hurry and get to the Thatchers. It's getting late, Son. But Nathan, so glad you thought of Security. If you're right, this could have proven to be deadly for one Lucas Bouchard..."

Outside the Officer's Manse, having given his formal Salute to the Honor Guard there, Nathan literally prepared to jump into the limousine that was waiting for him, which Peyton had drawn as close as he could to the entrance in order to save time.

"Peyton, I've got the door, you drive. We need to make it to the Thatcher Estate as quickly as possible," ordered Nathan, opening his own door.

"Yes, Chief. On our way!"

Nathan sat back into the plush seat, finally taking a breath and a moment to relax, as Peyton started the huge machine.

An unknown tension was running throughout his body. He didn't know all the details. But he was sure Lucas was in danger, and possibly his wife, Sophie.

And neither parent deserved that, especially not Sophie pregnant with their first child.

Nathan simply would not put anything past Packer Johnston, not even harming his own daughter and grandchild, and most definitely not harming his detested son-in-law.

Nathan was determined to see that none of that would happen.

But how could he be sure?

Protective Custody, for the time being, would help, but that couldn't last forever.

And even if this situation was resolved, who was to say there wouldn't be another?

Nathan made a mental note. He needed to talk to Lucas about maintaining some form of security. The man wouldn't like it, as Nathan had found the more money Lucas had, the more he wanted.

But it still needed to be addressed.

Like it or not, Lucas's father-in-law still had connections, and thus, posed a real threat.

Nathan would also have to call Bill later tonight and make sure he knew how serious this whole situation was.

He more than anyone knew that Bill wasn't Lucas's biggest fan. Yet Nathan had to admit, it was often for good reason, but Bill did love Sophie. And if that's what it took to save the couple and their unborn child, Nathan would use Sophie to make Bill spring into action.

What a day!

Both personally and professionally.

Waking up this morning to his wife, who was still clearly not herself had left Nathan baffled. Something was off, but he couldn't figure out what. And he wasn't at all sure he should pry.

Then there was the fiasco called Breakfast in the Conservatory with Viola's eruption that had put everyone on edge.

After playing with Jack, Nathan hadn't even taken the time to have lunch before he went riding with Anthony.

And he and his Commissioner had certainly not had time to eat.

Then before all that, there had been the somewhat awkward talk between the brothers-in-law. He had no doubt Anthony loved Viola, though surprisingly Anthony knew exactly why his wife had married him. But Nathan still believed deep down that Viola loved her husband, and now, he knew with certainty that Anthony loved Viola.

He prayed the two would work it out.

He hadn't had a brother before, but as unlikely as the pair seemed, a Lord from Merry Olde England and a Mountie from the Wild West, Nathan was beginning to feel that Anthony was just that.

His brother.

He had been astounded when Anthony literally insisted on helping him dress, but Nathan would not have made it to the Base on time had he not.

As it turned out, Anthony was very familiar with the turning of uniforms and had been quite helpful.

But back to Elizabeth. What in the world was going on in his own life, with his own wife? Why was his Elizabeth so on edge?

This was something far beyond pregnancy hormones, as by now Nathan knew those mood swings quite intimately.

No, this was different. Very different, and he had decided to give her time to come to him. But it was difficult to watch her in such turmoil.

He loved her so much and just wanted everything to be as perfect as it could be for her.

Whatever was bothering her had to be something to do with Jack.

He could feel it.

Thinking about it now, he was sure of it.

What, he didn't know.

Yet it wasn't his place to push where Jack was concerned, was it?

Nathan was now Elizabeth's husband, and that meant respecting her first marriage, and even the things she was still working through because of it.

And he knew there were times she was still drawn back into her grief.

He also knew there were still issues from her first marriage she was battling.

As husband number two, it was dicey, and hard to know what to do.

He would have preferred that their marriage have nothing held back whatsoever, and that included their pasts.

Yet when it came to his wife's past as a wife to Jack, he respected his wife's first marriage completely and felt that was something that should remain private between her and Jack.

He accepted all that and was happy to do so. After all, Elizabeth's marriage to Jack was a part of her. And he loved all of her without reservation. Even the parts he didn't really know.

But did he have the right to expect her to share at all about a marriage that hadn't included him when something was clearly bothering her?

Somehow that seemed unfair.

After all, any marriage is a very private, sacred relationship between two people.

And to be honest, he had not been a part of her first marriage, not even as an observer. Yet now he was a part of her as surely as if they had been made for each other. But, on the other hand, didn't it seem fair that if something was bothering her now, it was his responsibility to help resolve it?

He was terribly torn and worried that she seemed so withdrawn.

She was pregnant with twins too and didn't need any extra worry, whatever was bothering her.

He racked his brain.

What could be bothering her this significantly?

Why was she struggling so?

Then suddenly, in the stillness of the back seat of the Limousine, it came to him like a bolt of lightning.

They had passed the number of days Elizabeth had been married to Jack and had done so in utter happiness.

He knew because she had mentioned the tally vaguely once before they married with deep regret, the few number of days that she and Jack had shared as husband and wife.

Was she frightened? Was this an unknown for her? Was she still grieving? Was she feeling guilt? Was she terrified their own happiness would come to a screeching halt? Just like it had with Jack and her?

Whatever it was, he knew now at this moment, as her husband, he had to discuss it with her, once and for all.

Yet given his work responsibilities, as much as he detested having to put it off, that discussion would have to wait till tonight, after the Ball…