Nathan was up early the following day and had just started the coffee when he heard his phone ring. Going into his office, he was surprised to hear Patrick on the other end. "Nathan, we have a major lead on the Thatcher Shipping case, and unfortunately, I need you and Bill to come to the office right away. You will be going on a mission afterward, so you can drop Allie off with my wife. The others will need to head back to Hope Valley because we suspect there may be involvement from someone there. Bill will be returning after our meeting, so don't worry."
"Patrick, if you think someone from there is involved, is that even safe for them to return?" Nathan asked.
"I understand what you are saying, but if they stay, it will create suspicion with the others, especially once we begin investigating the lead that just came in. I will also send a constable there," Patrick replied.
They said their goodbyes, and then Nathan momentarily pondered what Patrick had said. He heard some noise in the hallway and then heard Bill calling his name.
"In here, Bill," Nathan replied, getting up and heading towards the hallway.
Seeing Nathan's face, he knew that something was up. "What is it?"
Nathan sighed and then explained to him everything that Patrick had said.
Bill just nodded in understanding, then said, "Well, I heard everyone stirring around." Then looking at his watch, he said, "There's only about an hour and a half before the train leaves, so we better get them moving."
Nathan nodded sadly, and the two men went to get preparations underway. Nathan pulled Allie into his room as Bill talked to Elizabeth and the Coulters.
"But Dad, how long are you going to be gone? Why can't I stay here, and Mrs. Thornton and the others stay too?"
"Allie, I don't know how long I will be, and they are needed back home too, sweetheart," Nathan said.
"It was just so nice having them here, especially Mrs. Thornton and Jack," Allie said, her eyes beginning to glisten.
"I know, sweetie, and maybe when I return, we could take a trip to see them before school starts. But for now, I need to gather a bag just in case it takes me longer than a day, all right?"
Allie nodded, hugged him, and then went to get ready. Nathan stepped out in the hallway and saw Lee and Bill had already begun carrying things downstairs. Nathan looked over at Elizabeth, and she said, "I never really unpacked, so it wasn't much to do in the way of repacking. The girl's things are already downstairs."
Nathan nodded then, seeing the fear in Elizabeth's eyes, went and took her hands in his. "Are you all right?"
She looked up and gave a wobbly smile. "I am anxious about your safety, but I will be glad to have this behind us. I'm also nervous because they suspect someone in Hope Valley, and I think you and I both know who that might be." Elizabeth said as anger began to reflect in her eyes.
"I've learned never to make assumptions because things are rarely that easy, Lizbeth. Though he would also be at the top of my list." Nathan replied.
She smiled, their gazes locked, and they entered that place they always went to for a few moments as others finished their preparations.
"Nathan! Elizabeth!" They said simultaneously, making them smile. But then, before either could say anything more, Bill called out for them that everyone was waiting, and the moment passed. Looking at each other regretfully, they turned and walked downstairs, where everyone gathered to head to the station.
They made it with very little time to spare due to an unusual amount of traffic on the way. After a quick goodbye, Nathan promising to be safe and let Elizabeth know what the outcome was, they stepped on the train and soon were on their way back to Hope Valley. Bill went to O'Reilly's office to return the car while Nathan dropped Allie off at Patrick's house.
While Patrick and Bill waited, talk turned towards A J Grant and the presentation dinner the night before. "So, what did Nathan have to say about Elizabeth's being the author?" Patrick asked. "After how close they were all evening, I assume they are finally courting?"
Bill shook his head, "No, not yet. Unfortunately, I may have interrupted a moment between them earlier, so there wasn't much discussion between them this morning either."
Patrick let out a frustrated sigh. "Well, from what I saw last night, I think there are definitely feelings between them that I would say were love. I thought for sure putting them together so much would result in a courtship."
"I'd be satisfied if he read her book," Bill said, exasperated. "But despite all of us telling him to, he has some fool notion that it would show she was in love with Lucas. I can't figure out how as intuitive as he is with investigations, he doesn't realize it, especially being an Inspector."
Patrick chuckled. "Come on, Bill, you know what it's like when dealing with THE ONE. Mountie instincts go out the window, and you bumble around, trying to figure out which way is up. Then factor in that he almost got shot with that prisoner transport, and them retreating along with her being Jack Thornton's widow, which just compounds the issue."
Bill sighed and nodded. "I talked with Rosemary when we got back from the book signing because I didn't want to take a chance that I would let anything slip, although he knows I met her."
"Honestly, I was surprised you hadn't figured it out before now," Patrick chuckled.
"Thankfully, there hasn't been time for him to ask me, but we devised a plan. I should say I came up with it."
"I can't wait to hear it," Patrick said, so Bill told him that Rosemary promised not to interfere and that Elizabeth hadn't extracted the same from him. So technically, no one would be breaking any promises to Elizabeth. Then he told him the rest of the plan. By the time he was finished, Patrick was nodding and thinking it might work, especially since Nathan would be heading to Hope Valley shortly himself and told Bill so.
"Who would have thought that Mountie duties would include matchmaking, given they discourage marriage in the first place?" Bill said, smirking.
Suddenly they heard Nathan arrive in the outer office and schooled their features. "Have a seat, Nathan," Patrick said as Nathan walked in the door. "This won't take long, and we can get you and Bill on your way. We received intel this morning that the last few shipments had begun to shift to Hope Valley because they have discovered our tracking system. Since Hope Valley doesn't currently have a Mountie…." Patrick let the sentence drift off and looked at Bill pointedly. "They have rerouted them there and have local cooperation with someone there." Patrick finished.
"I knew it!" Bill said, standing up and smiling. "Bouchard has finally shown his hand."
Nathan shook his head as he watched him. "Elizabeth said as much this morning. But as I told her, I've learned things are rarely that simple, although he is on my suspect list too." Nathan said. "You know I am right, Bill. Everything I have seen with this group tells me they are pretty organized, and I can't see Lucas capable of what they have been pulling off."
Bill looked at Nathan momentarily, considering his words before nodding and sitting back down. "Nathan's right. However, I still say we will find him tangled up in it somehow," Bill muttered.
"I'm sending Gabe there, and hopefully, it may either discourage them, or they will panic and make a mistake," Patrick said. "I would plan, at some point, you going to Hope Valley when you finish the meeting with our informant. Nathan, he asked to speak to you and is in Benson Hills for a limited time."
"Do you know who the informant is? Can he be trusted, Patrick?" Bill asked.
"For now, I will not reveal his name, but I can say that his information appears sound. Of course, as always, keep your guard up, Nathan," Patrick replied.
"Allie can stay with us until you resolve everything, but if you choose, we can get her to Hope Valley. Do you have any other questions?"
"How likely is it that Nathan will be coming to Hope Valley?" Bill asked, his mind already churning on possibilities."
Patrick smiled. "I'm pretty sure after talking to our informant it's 100 percent," Then, turning to Nathan, he said slyly, "I trust you wouldn't find that a hardship?"
Nathan smiled and blushed as he shook his head. "I would also advise you to drive because the informant has only a short meeting window due to his cover story," Patrick said. "I would say stay in Benson Hills tonight and then plan to arrive in Hope Valley first thing in the morning. We have already arranged a room for you at the hotel in Benson Hills." Patrick reached into a drawer, pulled out some papers, and handed them to Nathan. "Here is all the information you will need about that."
Nathan started to say something, but Bill interrupted, "You could always use Hero or even Sargent if you need a Mountie horse while there. I'm sure that Elizabeth won't mind." Bill said, knowing that Nathan would be thinking of Newton, and Nathan quickly agreed.
"If there's nothing else, gentlemen, I will leave you to get on with your day. Nathan, keep in touch and let me know about Allie," Patrick said.
They got up, and Nathan drove Bill to the train station after saying their goodbyes. There was a café nearby where they could grab lunch before heading out to their different destinations. As they ate, they began to discuss what Patrick had told them and possible strategies. Bill told Nathan he could stay in his spare room in Hope Valley. Nathan saw that Bill was acting antsy when they arrived at the station.
"What's wrong, Bill?"
"I'm still thinking of the other night at the book signing." Bill sighed, hoping that Nathan would ask about the author again.
"Oh," Nathan said, suddenly reminded of Bill's statement about meeting the author. "I've been meaning to ask you about that. Who is it?" Bill smiled in satisfaction.
Hearing the boarding call for his train, Bill said, "Walk with me,"
Just before he got on the train, Bill reached into his bag and pulled out a book wrapped in paper and tied with a string. Then he held it out to Nathan.
Nathan was confused but accepted it. "The key to knowing the answer to that lies in that," Bill said, indicating the package. "Now I know how much you like mysteries, and I think it would be better for you to solve it yourself. I've made a few notes in the first few pages to get you started. I think by the end, you will have the answer." Bill said cryptically. Before Nathan could ask anything else, Bill stepped on the train and disappeared.
Nathan turned and headed back to his car and began unwrapping the package. He gasped as he realized that it was, in fact, Elizabeth's book Single Mother on the Frontier. Opening the first page, he saw that Bill had crossed out wherever Elsa was listed and wrote Elizabeth. Then he gasped again when he saw Bill had crossed out Luther Brant and wrote Nathan Grant. Arriving at his car, he realized it would have to wait because he would have a 3-hour drive to Benson Hills. But the butterflies in his stomach and his racing heart made it hard to focus, especially as the memories of the past few days with Elizabeth accompanied them. With a heavy sigh, he placed the book in his bag, anxious to get to Benson Hills and finish the meeting. Nathan couldn't wait to finish the meeting and settle in to read the book. He couldn't recall ever wanting to read one so badly before.