Two for Texas

by Ajun Cajun

This is the story of two different families and how they become an integral part of the development of the Southwest starting in the 1830's and into the Twentieth Century. Rated M, because history is not always pleasant and change is always violent. Oh, and the sex. Yes to Rizzles.

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10: London Fires

Lady Maura sent a messenger to the Queen with a letter outlining the latest information from France and with as many details as she had on Louis-Napoleon's designs in Mexico and Central America. With the United States having just reached a tenuous peace between the Slave States and Free States with the Compromise of 1851, French designs in Mexico seemed unlikely. The United States was firmly committed to the Monroe Doctrine.

However, Nicaragua was still the place where Louis-Napoleon wanted to cut a canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The word from French Guiana was that the French had opened a penal colony off the coast on a piece of rock called 'Devil's Island.' Additionally rumors were spreading that the French government was actively looking for gold in the region and with some minor success.

In addition to the information in the letter, the honey blonde noblewoman requested an audience with the Queen. Then the clever heiress sent another messenger to a friend of her that was a private investigator. The young English Lady needed to find out where her enemies were hiding and quickly

***SE***

With the lady writing letters to all her most influential friends and her more disreputable ones, Hugh and Jane were left to their own devices. The experienced hunter knew two things about her quarry that could help in locating the bastard. One, the man was an arrogant boor, who needed all his creature comforts. Secondly, he had to come in secretly from France, which meant he was smuggled in by ship. So, Jane asked Hugh, "Are there any Isles captains in London right now?"

Hugh replied, "I don't know, but there is an office near the Thames that will know. We could go and talk to them and find out."

The cagy Texan thought for a minute and said, "I need some regular clothes that I can wear over my buckskins. My clothes and weapons would be like shouting, 'Here I am Jane Rizzoli, come and get me' and all the dresses I own would attract the unwanted attention of every cut purse in London. So, I need something simple and loose, but no rags."

As Hugh left the room, he answered, "I'll go to the servant's quarters and talk to Mattie the new kitchen dreg; she's about your size, though a bit more beefy. She'll have something."

***SE***

Maura had written twenty-seven letters and had had messengers running all over London delivering them. The wealthy noblewoman had hired an entire messenger service to be at her disposal for the next three months.

Though her information was important, maybe even vital, the Queen was still quite busy and would need time to digest her information, consult her advisors and decide on what further questions required answering. The savvy Lady calculated it would be at ten days before she was granted an audience.

Maura had assigned one messenger to await the Queen's response, who was relieved every four hours by a fresh messenger.

At noon, the famished young teenager broke her toil for a light luncheon of fresh cheese and hot bread with English tea with cream and sugar. After her refreshing meal, the servants left coffee and biscuits per her request, because answering letters were coming in and the anxious noblewoman needed time to interrupt what was really being said in them.

***SE***

Jane was dressed in a simple wool dress with long sleeves and neatly mended. The warm wool would itch in the hot sun, if the cautious American had not been wearing buckskins underneath the outfit. The dress served a dual purpose in that it concealed all her weapons as well as a disguise. The intimidating pair had taken the carriage to the Isles Shipping Office on the Thames from there they would proceed on foot.

It was convenient that a captain of Hugh's acquaintance was reporting on the status of his cargo and was sitting patiently in the waiting room of the shipping office.

Hugh told the clerk, "We need an office to talk to the gentleman on the Lady's business."

The haughty scribe answered, "And who might you be to order me about."

Captain Duncan Wallace interjected, "He's the Lady's main bodyguard and I venture to say this young woman dressed as a commoner is Jane Rizzoli from America. I know you like all Isles employees have been informed of her presence in England."

Pleased to meet you, milady, your drawing does you an injustice. Bartlett, I would advise you to find us an office before the Lady finds out you have insulted her man and her best friend."

The suddenly concerned clerk rushed to find the trio a secluded office.

***SE***

Jane sat behind the manager's desk at the insistence of the two older men, who both reminded her that in England, she was special in that as the friend of a great Lady she was the closest a commoner could be to being noble. The democratically minded American didn't see the point of all this nonsense. Maura was the most talented and unique person, she had ever met and would have excelled in any environment, because that was who the honey blonde was.

Captain Wallace pulled a handbill from his pocket and said as he pushed it toward the beautiful Texan, "This drawing does not do you justice. You are far more lovely than depicted in that drawing. However, it was close enough to identify you as Jane Rizzoli. Either Bartlett wasn't paying attention, which isn't like him or he chose to ignore you, which is like him.

I don't trust the man, he's very sneaky. I once caught him misrecording my manifest and now I check it personally. He said, it was an honest mistake. All I know is that he hasn't made a similar mistake with me again."

Jane vowed to herself to check this man's books before she left London. No one was going to cheat her Maura while she had a single breath in her body, but that would have to wait until after they found Martine. He was the top priority, so Jane asked, "Captain, what I needed to ask you was if you knew of someone would have smuggled a Frenchman into London?"

The wary captain thought for a moment, then explained, "There are several men capable and willing to do such work, but the best at it is Patrick Doyle. However, Doyle wouldn't do anything like that without Isles' approval. My second choice is Edgar Clarke, he'll do anything for a price and he has a new American clipper. It's quite fast and has a very shallow draft, so it's perfect for smuggling. The third best would be Bendingo Campbell, he's Scottish and hates anything British. He'd relish smuggling a Frenchie into London under the Queen's nose.

All and all, there be another six or seven names I could give you, but I'll need to think on her a bit. I could have a list by this evening. I could drop it at the Manor after dinner."

Jane smiled, she could hear a hint of a free meal in his offer, but the tough Texan knew how much a fine meal could mean to someone when they're light money. Besides, the sea captain had been very helpful. So the grateful American asked, "Why don't you join us for dinner. That way you can drop off the list and tell Lady Isles about your voyage and your dealings with Bartlett.

The smiling seaman replied happily, "I'll be there, thank you."

***SE***

Jane and Hugh were outside a sailor's tavern by the name of the Sailor's Hitch. The pair knew that they could never get Edgar Clarke to talk, so they had tracked down three of his crew who were drinking up their wages from the previous voyage. Hugh knew that a pretty girl and man buying rounds could get more information from a sailor than he intended to give.

So dressed as she was Jane was going to pose as a textile girl, who was looking for a good meal and Hugh was going to be posing as a recruiter looking for sailors to man Isles ships. Jane went in first over Hugh's objections, but as the bright young woman pointed out, she would need some time to garner interest. The American's biggest challenger was going to anxious.

The tall Texan enter the tavern and took a seat far from the bar and in the shadows, as she thought a shy young woman would do to avoid the ruffians. A haggard looking woman in her late thirties came up to the girl and asked, "Why ere ya here child?"

Staying in character the wily teenager answered, "Marm, I be lookin fer a good meal. I taint et fer a coon's age."

The older woman frowned, "Where be ye home, child?"

Jane replied timidly, "I frem Virginny, marm. My pa brung us chere to build ships, but he died acomin over, Maw and me were aworkin to make nuff money to send us and me sister home, but maw took sick and died two weeks ago. I got nuff money together to send my sister back home. Now, I am tryin to get nuff money fer me to go home. I taint et a proper meal in two weeks and am powerful hungry. Could y'all git me a plate of stew with some fresh bread and ale?"

The wily tavern wench asked, "Do ye have the scratch to pay?"

Like someone in her situation would do, the brunette actress opened a small handkerchief and showed the woman seventeen pennies, nineteen half pennies and one shilling. The nervous woman said in a whisper, "Hurry up and put that away. I'll getcha the three penny meal."

The dark skinned brunette smiled and replied, "Thankee, marm."

At this point, Hugh enter the tavern shouting, "Drinks are on me."

The seven men in the tavern rushed to the bar to order their drinks. The tall bodyguard slammed a guinea on the bar and said, "When we've drunk that, I'll put up another. I be needing sailors. Are any of you gentlemen sailors?"

All seven men laughed at the obvious joke. Everbody knew that only sailors frequented this tavern. One man spoke up and asked, "Who ye be recruiter fur."

The jovial big man answered, "I'm looking for sailors to man Isles ships."

The man who asked the question said with zeal, "Mister, I be alookin fur a berth. My ship went bankrupt and I've been dry docked fer a month. I'll sign up with a big outfit like yourn any day."

Hugh took out some papers and said, "Read this contract and make your mark and you'll be signed. Then you report with your contract to the Isles Shipping office tomorrow and they'll assign you a berth. Another round for the house and food for my new man."

The dark haired server placed a shallow bowl of wonderful smelling food before the dark Texan as well as a saucer with a small loaf of hot aromatic bread. Then the kind barmaid put a small kettle of hot liquid with a pewter mug and said, "The man is buying rounds and I thought you might like some tea with your meal rather than ale."

The thoughtfulness of the act was not wasted on the clever teenager and she replied, "Thankee, marm. I've seen so little kindness these past weeks. Thankee."

Forcing a small tear for her role to be complete, the fake textile worker attacked her meal with a feigned hunger. The tender serving wench smiled at the younger woman and said, "Ya eat and enjoy, child. Keep yar money, I'll charge the recruiter's tab. My man won't care who pays far the food. I'd a daughter like ya onct and she married a sailor who couldn't provide for her proper and she died of hunger. Iffin ya ever is hungry come to the back and I'll see ya feed.

Again the sensitive teen was moved by this obviously wounded woman and answered, "Thankee agin. I don't know iffin I'd be able to repay ya, but I'd be much abliged."

This time the tears came easier for the compassionate American. Obviously, this mother had lost her child recently and she was still grieving for her lost child. The dark Texan figured that the woman had seen that daughter in her and was trying to save the child she lost. It was sad and poignant at the same time. The older woman's smile broaden as she walked away with the large empty tray.

After the server left, one of the men that Jane and Hugh targeted walked over to the tall teenager's table and asked, "Why don't ye come and join the party, Little Miss?"

Keeping in character, Jane answered timidly, "Please sir, I'm very hungry and my food is hot. Please, let me be sos I kin et proper."

The man refused to take no for an answer and sat down on one of the empty chairs and responded, "Well, I'll jest bring the party here."

As any young defensive woman would do she attempted to run. Quickly, grabbing her bread, the sham textile worker darted from the tavern, only to be followed by the drunken man.

A smile invaded Jane's face as she felt the man presue her into in dark side alley. The experienced warrior slipped a pistol into her hand and turned. While cocking the LeMat and holding at the man's forehead, the wily Texan inquired, "Y'all followin' me?"

The now sobering man stammered, "Yes'm, but I'll be goin' now."

The cold American said, "I don't think so. We have to talk. Rather you do, I'll jest listen."

The season veteran looked about with her prerifferal vision and spotted a open door. The efficient brunette said, "Go over there to that open door and get inside. Once inside you'll see a candle lighting a table with a chair next to it. You'll sit in that chair. There's three sets of manacles on the floor. Use one to chain your legs to chair."

Not know what else to do the now semi-sober man obey without question. For a moment early, he thought he might run, but then he looked into those cold soft chocolate eyes and saw nothing but his death. The slow sailor realized his only way out alive was to cooperate.

***SE***

Ten minutes after the sailor was shackled firmly to the chair and gagged with rags, Hugh came into the dimly lit room carrying another of their targets over his broad shoulders. The strong bodyguard walked over to the empty cot in the room and deposited his quarry. The two warriors lifted the man from the bed into the other chair in the room, as Jane asked, "Any trouble."

The tall protector smiled and replied, "I left another gold guinea for them to drink away. So, they'll be occupied for the night. Bartlett is going to be surprised and pleased in the morning to find he hired three new sailors last night. They always are looking for sailors."

Jane shrugged and said, "Well, yours is going to be out for a while. Let's go to talk to mine."

The two interrogators approached the manacled man and Jane smiled coldly as she explained, "This is the back room of an empty warehouse. My girlfriend owns this place, so we won't be disturbed. I am a pitiless Texan. I was taught how to get information from the Comanche. Now you can talk with or without a lot of pain, but you will talk. So why not spare yourself a lot of misery and tell us about Captain Clarke's last cargo, including any passengers he might have had."

Before the hard American removed the gag, she took out a bowie knife and placed the tip at his genital region. As the deadly teenager removed the rags from her victim's mouth, she smirked, "Now, you are going to answer my questions truthfully or I'm going to geld you."

The terrified man's eyes widened as he stammered, "We carried French wine in kegs and fine French china and slipped in widout payin' the taxes. We dint have no passengers."

Jane shook her head and pressed the knife's tip forcefully into the man's sacks and said, "I don't believe you."

The pain was not that great, but the horror of what could happen caused the whimpering man to wet himself. The frightened sailor sobbed, "I don't knows anymo. I swear it upon my soul. There war wine, china and maybe some linen and no passengers. Please, don't hurt me."

Jane looked to Hugh and asked, "Do you believe him?"

Hugh chuckled, "The man pissed his pants. Yeah, I believe him."

Jane stood up sharply, removing the knife and responded, "Me, too, one dead end. Maybe he knows something about Campbell."

***SE***

Maura had sifted through all her mail and replied to several of the letters. A tired young woman rubbed her weary eyes as she examined the wall clock to see it was half past six. Dinner was ready and awaiting her arrival. The exhausted Lady rose from her seat as her back and buttock cried from misuse.

Without bothering to change for dinner, the regal noblewoman strolled into the small dining room as had become the Isles custom since Jane's arrival. Her small circle of family had grown closer with the new intimacy. Once more, the honey blonde heiress thanked God silently for sending the warm wild Texan here to bring life into their lives.

As she entered the room, the graceful teenager found all her family seated patiently in their seats awaiting her arrival. The embarrassed younger woman stammered, "Have you been waiting long?"

Jane smiled and Lady Constance answered, "No darling, we were just about to send for you when we heard you stir."

Maura walked to the head of the table and seat royally down upon her nightly throne and exclaimed, "I will never let it happen again. Georgie, please tell the help, 'No matter what I am doing, they are to alert me of the six o'clock hour.' Now, please serve the soup."

***SE***

Dinner went marvelously, though each of the young couple took great pains to avoid speaking of their days. Maura was particularly distracted. One of the letters had mentioned that there was a personal connection between herself and this Martine character."

Maura exclaimed, "I must go to Simpson's tomorrow. I have a lead on this Martine guy. A friend of Mr. Doyle's says he knows where Martine is hiding. Additionally the 'friend' has a way we can get in to talk the uncouth boor."

Jane had planned to see Campbell in the morning, but she knew Maura would go with or without her and that was unacceptable. Jane was not going to let Maura go out of her sight.

***SE***

The young couple lay in each other's arms. Jane watched her young lover sleep. The honey blonde teen had fallen to sleep almost before her head hit the pillows. The exhausted teenager had snuggled next to her dark girlfriend and kissed her on the cheek before succumbing to slumber.

Jane just held the snoozing noblewoman in her arms and watched the peacefulness surround the young heiress's face. Jane examined the facts of what was told her by their warehouse hostages and knew she needed to talk to Campbell immediately. They still had the two Clarke sailors imprisoned in the warehouse. They wanted go back to their ship, but Jane wasn't going to let them leave until their ship had set sail for the Far East. The dark Texan knew the men were untrustworthy and could risk tipping off Martine.

Jane cuddled her warm lover's body a little closer and drifted to sleep.

***SE***

The two young women were seated at the best restaurant in the London, Simpson's Grand Divan Tavern. Simpson's was noted for two things, its fine joints of meat and chess. All the best chess players in London frequented the tavern to enjoy a game and an excellent meal.

It would have been unseemly for two young unescorted women to eat at Simpson's so Hugh was their escort. The tall brooding man smiled as his young charge ordered him to be their escort. Maura had long heard of the tavern's two specialties.

The honey blonde heiress watched as Howard Stauton was battling Lionel Kieseritsky. Stauton was clearly the better player as each side attacked the other with little regard to their position or defense. Maura watched and analyzed the play. The young noblewoman sighed and went with her friends to her table.

The honey blonde Lady informed the waitress, "I am Lady Isles and I am expecting a guest, Adolf Anderssen. Would you be so kind as to inform him that I awaiting his company."

Those in the chess community were quite familiar with the two gentlemen that were playing their spirited game. Stauton was considered by most as the strongest player in the world, while Kieseritsky considered himself to chess's messiah. However, it was Anderssen, who had won the first championship tournament months earlier. Anderssen had in fact defeated both men in the single elimination format.

Anderssen needed funds to return to his school teaching job in Germany and upon hearing from a friend that the Lady Isles was offering a reward for the whereabouts of a Frenchman named Martine, he saw an immediate opportunity. The chess champion had met Martine in France years earlier as the old nobleman considered himself a chess master and had challenged the real master to a game. The old Frenchman was soundly defeated, several times.

Maura commented to Jane, "They are excellent players, but their style will eventually be replaced. They are too aggressive and that attacking style they play can be soundly defeated by anyone, who has the patience to play a solid defense. By playing a delaying defensive style, their attacking style will eventually present an opening, which the defending player can exploit for a resounding victory. I can foresee a time when this style of play will be considered amateurish."

The serving girl heard the comment and after serving the customer's their drinks, she went to tell the other servers what was said. The five serving girls all laughed at the obviously haughty noblewomen, who commented on things she knew nothing about. One of the girls went and whispered into Howard Stauton's ear.

The man turned red and continued his game until the Russian was soundly defeated. Kieseritsky reluctantly shook the winner's hand and went to the bar to get a drink. Stauton got out of his chair and strode forcefully toward the Lady's table, where he exclaimed, "I understand you think our style to be amateurish, young woman. May I ask how one so young and so obviously inexperienced could come to such a conclusion?"

The Lady redden a bit and was about to explain her comments, when Jane interrupted, "Mister, you had better mind your manners or I'll have to pin back your big ears a bit. Now, we were having a private conversation without intent of being overheard. You sir have big ears and an even bigger mouth and if you want to keep them, you will apologize to the Lady right now."

The older gentleman was taken aback by the strong and forceful words of the elegantly dress young teenager, who was strikingly beautiful and equally direct. Her threats were those of a man and if young American had been a man, they would be finalizing a duel at this very minute. However, the chess master was a gentleman and gentlemen never challenged ladies. Not wanting to appear weak the proud man responded, "If you were a man, I would strike you, but since you are obviously a colonial and ill mannered as the rest of the lot, I will excuse you."

The angry American stood tall and glared at the man, "Mister, you open the ball and we will dance to the fiddler."

Maura needed to end this before the poor man ended up dead on the floor. The anxious teenager interrupted the confrontation with, "I am the Lady Isles and this will stop right now. Jane, please sit. Sir, you will apologize for interrupting our private conversation. It was rude and unnecessary. Had you come over here like a gentleman, I would have explained my views to you. As it is you need a lesson in manners. I know your style of play will die in about twenty years.

A player will come along, he may exist right now, who will see that your attacking style, while manly is self defeating. A player, who is patient and trying to demonstrate his manhood, will play a solid defense while waiting for the eventual mistake the attacking player will make. You have to admit, you and your fellows make mistakes every game.

I have a proposal. I will play my style and you will play yours. If you win, I will give you 1000 pounds sterling. If I win, you will apologize to my friend and myself for your rudeness. Is that acceptable terms."

The arrogant man laughed and replied, "Young woman, you may be a fine young Lady and a noblewoman, but why should I a chess master play a child like yourself. Why don't you just give me the money and go to one of your grand parties, do you even know how to play chess?"

The proud noblewoman exclaimed, "Sir, I have been playing chess since I was three. I have not lost a game with my father or my tutor in six years. I am quite capable."

The chess master knew Lord Isles and he was an excellent player for a former sea captain, but he probably let his only child win to build her ego, so he asked, "Who is your tutor, child?"

The smiling honey blonde set her trap, "Professor William Talbot, retired professor of Oxford and my tutor of letters."

The man swallowed hard, but he reminded himself that Talbot may have been afraid to risk his employment, so he retorted, "How do I know they were serious in their play?"

Jane had had enough, "Mister, you insult her character one more time and you are going to bleed."

Hugh laughed, "Sir, I would not cross Jane Rizzoli. I have seen her take out a room of ruffians. You wouldn't even make her sweat. As for my Lady, her father never gave her anything in her life. She had to earn every bit of it. If you take her wager, prepare to lose."

That was the final nail in the coffin for the top chess player, so he said, "I'll take your wager… best of three."

Maura smiled, "You could make it the best of 101 and it would not matter."

***SE***

Harold Stauton had the first move and opened with a standard move. The vaunted chess master hoped to end this charade quickly and efficiently and avoid embarrassing a rich and power noble. The problem was, Maura refused to cooperate.

After eighteen moves, each side had only captured two pawns each. On move nineteen, the chess master attacked and took a knight, however he left a bridge between a rook and the king and Maura moved in and called check. Forced to move his king, he had only one square to move it.

When he moved the king and the honey blonde teen took the rook with her bishop, it left her knight temptingly exposed to Stauton's queen, which he rushed to take. Only the knight was cleverly covered by her queen, which took her queen and checking his king, forcing the frantic chess player to retreat back to his original square. Maura moved her bishop back to its bridging position for checkmate in twenty-four moves.

The shocked room was quiet, as the stunned chess master exclaimed, "That's only one game and I won't make that mistake a second time."

Maura smiled as she returned all her pieces to their starting positions and replied, "No you will make several others."

***SE***

Game two was a very different game. Harold Stauton tried desperately to curb his habitual need to attack on every move and scoured the board for every possible counterattack. However six-four moves into the game he could no longer resist the temptation to attack and the anxious man wanting to exert his manhood made a mistake and took a check that was rebuffed by a bishop that covered the man's queen, which he couldn't move to safety without placing his king in check. All the chess master could do was to cover the queen to take the bishop that took his queen. The pawn he used to cover his queen further exposed his king to attack. Fifteen moves later, he was in checkmate, losing the bet and some pride.

The beaten acknowledged chess king said quietly, "I offer my apologies to you and your friend for my outburst and readily admit that your style has some merit. Though as you can see by the length of the contest, continued play will expose it weaknesses. However, that does not mitigate my boorish behavior earlier. I let my pride override my good manners. I would like to make amends by buying you dinner. This establishment has the best meat joints in London and I would be honored if you would be my guest for dinner."

Maura smiled graciously and replied to temper the mood of the room, "I accept your invitation. However, there will be one more member to my party when Adolf Anderssen arrives. He is the reason I am here. I am to meet him here. Frankly, the man is a bit late. However, when he does arrive, he will be joining my party."

The man frowned as he responded with a bit of temperament, though not anger, "Had I known you played Adolf, I would have taken you more seriously. The man just won the world tournament I sponsored a couple of months ago. Why did you tell me you played him as well?"

Maura saw Jane tense and quickly interjected, "I am sorry if I give you the impression that I know Mr. Anderssen. We have never met. I understand that he has information that I require and I simply meeting him her to exchange passage to his home for the information. It is my understanding that the man is having difficulty raising the necessary funds to return to his teaching position."

The contrite gentleman answered, "Again, I must apologize. It seems my defeat is still damaging my manners. I made a false assumption. Mightn't I inquire as to the nature of this information. I may be able to provide it as further apology for my outburst."

At that moment, Adolf Anderssen appeared and interposed, "No need, Howard. I'm here and tell her what she needs to know."

***SE***

Adolf Anderssen was a friendly and well-liked man and was greeted fondly by everyone in the room upon his arrival. Additionally everyone had to tell him how Harold Stauton had been beaten in a best-of-three match by the young noblewoman. They also added her claim that their attacking style was flawed and would be replaced by a defensive waiting style, which she employed to win.

The gallant Anderssen examined the young woman with profound respect. Anyone who could soundly defeat Harold Stauton was a person of great skill. So when he approached the table and saw Harold talking cordially to the lovely young woman, he listened without wanting to interrupt. However, when he heard Howard offer to help, the impoverish school teacher needed to announce his presence. He could not afford to lose his passage home.

Upon announcing his arrival, he continued, "Lady Isles, I am Adolf Anderssen and I apologize for my tardiness. I went to get further information that took a bit more time than I anticipated and from what I hear I missed an exciting match."

Maura smiled sweetly and responded, "I accept your apology warmly, though no young woman likes to wait on any man. Mr. Anderssen, this young woman is my dearest friend, Jane Rizzoli and this is Hugh Jamieson, my protector and life-long friend. Won't you join us, Mr. Stauton was about to buy us dinner and I will stand the wine. Innkeeper, I would like your best wine, chilled it you have the ice."

After dinner and some polite conversation, Jane could no longer contain her anxiety as she asked, "What is your information, Mr. Anderssen?"

Howard Stauton rose to leave and exclaimed, "I'll leave this fine company to discuss business and I must again apologize for my rudeness and say that I have most enjoyed your company. I would love to play you again sometime, Lady Isles."

The polite young woman nodded her acceptance of the apology again and replied, "I would enjoy that as well. It was a pleasure to meet you."

After defeated chest master left, Lady Maura asked politely, "Where can I find Martine?"

The friendly chess master related, "I had a chance encounter with Monsieur Martine in the lobby of Mivart's Hotel on the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street. This afternoon, I went to the hotel and found out he has left there and is going back to France. It seems he found out someone is pursuing him."

Jane looked at Hugh and told Maura, "We have to get you home. Hugh and I have something we have to do."

***SE***

Jane and Hugh arrived at the warehouse office to find two sailors just like they left them, locked away tightly in the steel-reinforced office. Jane walked up to the first man and backhanded him, sending him to the ground with a loud thud. The angry warrior pulled a knife and charged the second man and sliced a long gash along his chest. Taken aback by the attack the man retreated, only to stumble over a chair and land hard on his back, stunning him.

The vicious fighter stomped on the man's exposed knee and shattered his kneecap. Pain exploded throughout the man's body as he screamed in agony. The dark Texan turned on the other man struggling to regain his feet, but the enraged American was quicker as she planted her booted foot on his chest forcing him back to the floor.

Then the merciless hunter retrieved a wooden chair and jammed it across the man's chest. Leaning over so the chair's support bar pushed against the stunned sailor's chest, restricting his breathing slightly, Jane looked the terrified seaman in the eyes and cut a piece of his ear with her sharp blade. The second tar joined the first in a chorus of screams. Jane said quietly over the den of wails, "Now, you are going to talk about your passenger Martine or I am going to start cutting pieces off you until you bleed to death. Then I'm going to start on your buddy. Of course that won't matter to you, because you'll be dead. Now, you lied pretty convincingly before, but now we know differently. So, talk or my next slice is a whole ear, then a nose, then I'll take your eyes one by one."

The horrified sailor stammered, "We diht lie Captain Clarke had nottin to do with the Frenchie, but we were drinkin wid one of Campbell's men and he talked about carryin a Frenchie. Campbell's man came in the tavern and saw ya and ran out."

Jane asked, "You mean Hugh or me?"

The trembling man stammered, "You, he saw ya and seemed to know ya and ran."

Hugh said, "The picture of you, which means we have a traitor working for Martine."

The cold Texan looked at the tall bodyguard with fire in her eyes and responded, "And I think I know who it is."

***SE***

Jane stormed into the London offices of Isles Shipping and strode right up to a startled Windell Bartlett. The enraged Texan grabbed the back of the man's collar and dragged him in a backroom, where she tossed him into a desk.

The manager was stunned quiet as his clerk landed hard against his desk. The wild American shouted, "This man betrayed your Lady. He has been feeding information to man who is trying to abduct my friend. I'm going to need your office to beat the whereabouts of this Frenchman out of him. So, you need to leave."

Hugh added, "You better go. This is not going to be pretty."

The startled manager responded, "I think I should stay and hear this. It looks like I'm going to have to sack the man."

Jane looked coldly at the quivering businessman and said, "He's gonna be sacked alright. Maybe after I'm finished, it'll be in more than one."

The squeamish director rose from his chair and left the room. The tall Texan pulled her bowie and stalked toward the whimpering man, who cried out, "Don't hurt me. I'll tell you everything."

The smirking American replied, "Of course, you will. But I think we need to demonstrate what happens to those who lie to me."

Jane approached the man and sliced a long gash down his right cheek and then another down his left. The weak clerk screeched in pain and when the angry brunette opened a cut in the man's chin, he squealed, "No more, he's awaiting new papers for harbormaster. I have them and he needs them."

The menacing teenager asked simply, "Where?"

The defeated and bleeding clerk answered, "Warehouse #4."

Hugh said, "I know the one."

Jane queried calmly, "Are you right-handed?"

The terrified scribe wet himself as he replied, "Yes."

As they left Jane stomped the man's right hand shattering every bone in his hand. They walked out of the office to a series of agonizing shrieks. As the pair passed the manager, the vindictive American ordered the wide-eyed man, "Patch him up and send him to sea. If I see him again, he dies."

***SE***

Hugh and Jane were in a rundown tenement building across from the two story warehouse. They were on the third floor of the four floor building, which was elevated enough to scout their target completely and low enough to provide convenient escape by dropping through a hole in the floor and going out the second floor window.

The building was occupied by a dozen impoverished families and several hundred rats and mice. The tender American took pity on its residents and made a mental note to talk to her girlfriend about some kind of employment, so they could get better living conditions. Most of the men were day laborers for the many warehouses and teamsters in the area and the women were cooks, clothes washers and seamstresses when they could get any work at all.

The pair study the layout of the building carefully. The warehouse had three entrances. The front and back doors were large double doors over loading platforms. The third door was on the left side of the building towards the rear under a set of stairs that to a large barred window. Jane asked, "What good are stairs, if the window is barred?"

Hugh replied, "The bars are like a door. They're latched, but not locked."

The pair watched the building to see how it was guarded. Two sailors, each with a cutlass and boarding pistol, guarded each of the three doors. Two other guards walked around the building armed comparably, while a rifleman manned the roof. Jane commented, "A lot of security for one Frenchman. Do you think something else is going on?"

The large bodyguard answered, "You're right something else is going on."

A wicked smirk crossed the dark Texan's face as she inquired, "You want to find out?"

The big man returned a knowing smile and replied, "Hell yeah!"

The tall American took out a bow and a quiver of arrows from a buckskin bag. While she expertly strung the bow, the experience leader suggested, "I'll take out the rifleman and the two guards on this side. You circle to the other side and take out the roving guards. I'll go in through the front and you the back. We exit out the barred window. By the time they know what is going on, we'll have Martine and be out of there."

Hugh patted the fiery brunette on her back and answered, "Give me ten minutes to circle around to the other side and then start the ball as you like to say."

***SE***

Jane carried a silver watch, which had been a present from her father on her tenth birthday. Carefully, the veteran fighter timed Hugh in order to give him the maximum amount of time to get into position. Exactly nine minutes and thirty seconds after Hugh let, the wily warrior pulled two arrows from her quiver. One the wild American put between her teeth and the other she held in her hand.

Using the arrow in her hand she sighted her first target, the rifleman on the roof. The experienced hunter knew if she didn't want the other game to flee, she had to kill the quarry without the other's knowledge. So, the savvy brunette waited until the man had paced several feet from the edge and then she sighted his heart. The cautious teenager didn't want the man calling out or screaming thereby alerting his confederates.

Jane took a deep breath and let the first arrow fly. The shaft dove straight and true and lodged in the dead man's heart. He immediately collapsed in a pool of blood. Leaving the second arrow between her teeth her next two shots were tricky. The deadly hunter was going to have to shoot two men before either realized the other had been hit.

The cagy Texan planned on releasing two shots within two seconds of each other. By placing an arrow in her teeth, the experience bowman knew that the time between shots would be reduce, not to mention the removal of the chance of an arrow hanging up in the quiver. As an additional precaution, the careful fighter was going to pull and draw a third arrow from her quiver to be on the ready should one of her shots go awry.

Jane sighted the first door guard's heart and let fly. Without looking at the first arrow, skilled archer took the second from her teeth and shot it at the second man's heart without targeting it. Quickly the veteran warrior notched another arrow and only then did she examine her handy work. Her second arrow had missed the heart and impaled the man's belly. He was about to scream, when another arrow imbedded itself in his chest.

Jane wasted no more time and leapt through the hole in the floor and landed in the second floor room. Then the athletic teenager propelled herself out the window and landed lightly on her feet in the alley between the two buildings.

***SE***

Hugh had had to circle to the front of the building and walk casually down the street before the scrutiny of the front door guards. The large Welshman didn't know if the sailors gave him even a glance, because he never tried to see if they did for fear of exposing his interest in the building. As soon as he passed the warehouse next to the guarded one he turned right into the alleyway beyond his target.

There was a rusty iron ladder that led to the top of the unsecured warehouse. The dark man quickly scaled it to the roof, which he crossed stooped over, so as not to be seen by the sniper on the roof across the way. The last few yards were crossed on his belly, as he awaited his signal to attack. From his vantage point he could see the rifleman pace from one side of the warehouse to the other. Stealthfully, Hugh pulled three knives from his belt and pockets.

The tough protector put one in his teeth and held the other two in his hands. He could hear the roving guards' feet hit the gravel beneath him, but the sniper on the other roof was still standing, so he started counting his head, until he counted to 156, when he heard them marched beneath his position a second time. At 97 of his second count the rifleman across the way, fell with an arrow to the heart.

The noise made by the fall of his rifle made Hugh flinch, but didn't raise a disturbance. The big man lost his count, but could feel them approach. The tall bodyguard rose to a crouch and could see the tops of the nomadic sailors' heads. When they were a pace from his position he leapt down, landing on top of the two men.

The three men were tangled, but the two guards were at a terrible disadvantage, as they were caught totally off guard and were startled into inactivity. One of them had absorbed most of the bulk of the heavy attacker and had had both his collarbones broken. He would have cried out in pain, but a knife to the throat silenced him.

The second guard was knocked backwards and fell to behind. Hugh jumped on the second sailor and covered his mouth as the large protector jammed a knife between his ribs and rip it upward until the dying man stopped squirming. The dark figure in the alley rose to a crouch and looked about to see if he had raised an alarm, no one seemed to have noticed.

***SE***

Jane with an arrow between her teeth rounded to the front of the building with her bow draw. The first guard must have saw something in his peripheral vision, because the sailor turned to see the arrow fly through the air and impale him. The second was too startled to raise an alarm as the second arrow embedded in his throat. He was flailing as his lungs filled with blood, but his suffering was short lived as a second arrow pierced his chest.

Jane climbed the platform to the front door. Passersby paid little heed to the action and kept moving in fear of incurring the wrath of the silent killer. The quiet fighter placed another arrow between her teeth and pulled the one from the man's throat and held it in her had unreadied as she quickly opened the door and stepped inside.

The tall brunette closed the door easily behind her and let her eyes adjust to the dimness of the windowless room. Notching the arrow in her hand, the wary warrior inched her way into the warehouse searching for her target. While moving forward, the cautious fighter noticed a crack of light appear and disappear from the rear of the building. Hugh had just entered the building.

Encourage by the knowledge that at least part of her plan was succeeding, the dark teenager move forward. She spotted a man moving across the scaffolding with his back exposed. The expert bowman let the arrow fly and embed itself into the man's back and through his heart. He fell to the floor with a loud thud. Crouching in the shadows with a fresh arrow notched, the experienced archer awaited a reaction.

Two men, who had obviously heard the falling man, entered the lightly lit area. The first man was impaled by an arrow before he could determine the source of the noise. The second man who had been expecting something had enough time to see the arrow spiked bodies of the two men before an arrow pierced his throat. A second arrow silenced him permanently.

Jane found a stack of boxes that look suspiciously like rifle boxes. One of the boxes had obviously been opened for inspection. The experience hunter pulled one of the rifles and recognized it immediately from an advertisement in Harper's Weekly. It was a Pattern 1851 Minié rifle. There were hundreds of boxes of the rifles, which meant thousands of rifles. The wily Texan took two of the weapons and put them in her quiver as evidence.

Working her way further into the room, she found other boxes of ammunition and LeMat pistols. The suspicious American took several of the pistols and put them in her buckskin sack. The smart girl then took several boxes of ammunition and put them in her bag. Then the bright brunette noticed a stairway that led to the scaffolding.

Carefully, the veteran warrior edged up the stairwell with her bow draw and searching for targets. There was no sign of Martine or anyone in charge of the warehouse. Jane chanced upon an office door, which she warily opened. The vigilant fighter found no one and nothing, but a desk and a chair. There were several papers and maps scattered about the desk, which the deft brunette scooped up and put in her bag.

The diligent Texan found the backdoor with the barred window, the team's planned escape hatch. So, the experience hunter did the smart thing and awaited her partner with the confidence he would find their target from his search of the back of the building.

***SE***

Hugh cautiously peered around the corner and spotted the guards with their eyes searching outward. Using the platform to conceal his movement, the dark bodyguard worked his way to just below the pair of sailors. He rose quickly as to keep his surprise advantage and threw a knife into the guard to his right and then he tossed the second knife into the guard on his left. Pulling the knife from his teeth, the dark protector leapt to the top of the platform with his weapon ready to repulse survivors.

One of the dying men was trying to raise an alarm, but was quickly silenced by a knife slice across his throat. The tall Welshman retrieved his knives and scanned the area for enemies and found none. So, he cautiously opened the door and stepped quickly inside.

The tough man waited a moment to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. The wary fighter scanned the area for a target. To his left were two men guarding a doorway, which obviously led to an office. This had to be where he would find Martine.

Hugh put one knife in his coat pocket and took one knife in each hand and charged the two door guards. The two sailors had been talking and not paying attention; stupidly depending on the exterior guards for an alarm should anyone try and enter the warehouse. They were caught flatfooted with their rifles leaning against the wall.

The huge warrior was slicing with either hand connecting with devastating accuracy. Both sailors were using their hands trying to keep the blood from draining from their throats when they collapsed from lose of blood. Hugh warily opened the door of the office and stepped inside to find two men talking from seated positions.

The older man behind the desk was probably Martine, but the cagy fighter couldn't make a mistake, so he held his bloody to his lips to tell them to be quiet. The tough Welshman strode up to the first man and pummeled him with the hilt of his blade, causing the man to wilt to the floor.

The second man held his hands in front of him in an effort to ward off the coming attack. It didn't help. With his other hand Hugh punched the man across the temple using his other knife pommel as a set of brass knuckles. The older man fell back into his chair…unconscious.

The big man found some rope in the room and tied the two men up. The savvy warrior searched the men's pockets and determined that Martine was indeed the elderly gentleman. The strong man lifted the wiry older man over his shoulder and found his way out of the room.

Burdened by the slight man, Hugh quickly scanned the room for a way up. The experienced fighter saw a set of stairs and rushed towards them. There, he quickly climbed the stairs carrying the limp form of the comatose Martine. The large Welshman found the door and quickly entered confident his partner was waiting on the other side.

Inside the room, the veteran bodyguard found the lovely brunette he had been expecting smiling at him. In the dim light, the alert protector noticed the wild Texan had two rifles in her quarrel, but now was not the time for questions. The dark American signaled that they should leave quickly.

Jane opened the barred window and the two scampered onto the rusty metal stairway that led to the alleyway. Jane led the way down with her bow draw and ready to kill. There was some commotion at the entrance. Police were arriving to investigate the dead bodies in front of the building.

Hurrying to avoid detection, Jane and Hugh rounded the back of the tenement and entered through the backdoor. The team rushed up the stairs to their third floor rented apartment to deposit their cargo and exchange their intelligence.

***SE***

Jane looked out the window to see what was happening, when she noticed that several men were escaping out the backdoor and black smoke was billowing out the of the darkened windows and open doors. Someone had set the place on fire. The canny Texan exclaimed, "We have to leave. That place is going to blow sky high and this tenement is going to be engulfed."

Not waiting for further information, Hugh untied his quarry and hefted the man over his shoulders and hurried out the door. The tall American shouted as they ran down the stairs, "Fire, everybody out. Fire, run for your lives."

Fire was a constant threat in wooden buildings with gas and kerosene lanterns, so everyone took the alarm serious and were streaming out of their apartments and rushing toward the stairway. Jane and Hugh were passing the second floor when the masses erupted running to the safety of the outdoors. The two fighters pushed and shoved their way through the bodies to make their way to the first floor. They were barely out the backdoor when the warehouse exploded like a large bomb.

The initial shockwave knocked everyone in its path to their backs and flames burst in all directions. The taller tenement building blocked all the debris in one direction and it was soon engulfed in flames. Jane and Hugh had missed the shockwave, but were quickly having to rush to safety away from the burning buildings that had surrounded the exploding warehouse.

Buildings were burning out of control and people were scrambling everywhere without any direction, as the trio desperately tried to navigate the maze of burning buildings and terrified residents and workers. Fire brigades in the 1850's were mostly privately fund and worked for profit. Individuals who had their fires extinguished would pay a subscription. Some business and wealthy landowners would pay monthly subscriptions for particular attention. However, if your building was totally engulfed and destroyed, you might be reluctant to pay, in which case, the next time you needed help it would as slow in coming as you were in paying.

Many extremely wealthy families, businesses and individuals had their own private fire brigades. The Isles family had six, one near their London villa, two in Swansea, and three by the Thames. All six fire crews had the latest pumpers and fire equipment. Additionally, each and every Isles building and warehouse had a fire hydrant for quick water access. All four Isles brigades responded to the emergency and were working feverishly to douse the fires.

Hugh, who was carrying the unconscious Martine, was have the toughest time. Between the smoke and heat from the flames, the big man was having a difficult time catching his breath. Jane was having a hard time, but she wasn't carrying an extra load.

Suddenly the pair were in a group of buildings, which were undamaged by the raging blaze. Several brigades were wetting unaffected houses, mainly because they were paid to do so.

Jane and Hugh managed to get their cargo to the same empty warehouse where they housed two severely wounded sailors. The doctor, who Hugh hired to tend to the injured men, was on site to examine his patients' progress, when the large man and tall brunette entered the room. The dark Welshman greeted the doctor, "Hello Dr. Taylor, how are your patients?"

The upset physician replied abruptly, "They'll live, no thanks to you."

The intimidating American interjected, "It wernt none of his fault, doc. I done it to 'em."

The doctor hrumpted and asked, "Another patient?"

The smiling bodyguard answered, "He's fine, doctor. There was a fire and we took him out of it."

The physician offered, "I could check to see if he took in too much smoke."

The tall protector responded, "That's fine doctor. I've just lay him on the cot."

***SE***

Maura was worried. The honey blonde Lady hadn't heard from either Hugh or her girlfriend in over six hours. To make matters worse, the concerned businesswoman had received word that three of her warehouses had been set ablaze. Not for one minute did the young heiress think the fires and her miss companions were a coincidence. As matter of fact, the savvy ship owner didn't believe in coincidences.

Word came about twenty minutes later, when a messenger from her hired service arrived with a large bundle of papers and a letter that read:

Dearest Maura,

Hugh and I flushed out the scoundrel and are interrogating him as you read this letter. The bundle of papers was discovered in one of your warehouses, along with several boxes of French rifles, pistols and ammunition. I took samples of all the items before fire could destroy all the evidence.

I was hoping that you could examine the recovered papers and determine where the arms and ammunition was intended. I think the answer will interest both your Queen and my President.

All my love,

Jane Clementine Rizzoli

Maura laughed to the room at the inscription. It was so like her love to write so formally. The intelligent noblewoman took the papers to her desk, before she started writing a response:

Darling Jane,

Finish quickly as I expect you home for dinner and you know mother is a stickler for punctuality. Besides I miss you so much when you are absent. Hurry home.

Love you for eternity,

Maura

The honey blonde beauty place the letter in a personalize envelope, seal it and sprayed it with Jane's favorite scent. Then the great Lady handed it to messenger with a half crown tip. The young man grinned broadly pocketed the coin and rushed to deliver the written reply, while Lady Isles sat at her desk to examine the stack of papers.

***SE***

After examining the new patient, the doctor declared him fit and left to another house call. Jane and Hugh tied their new guest to the strong oak chair in the middle of the room. Impatient to start Jane threw a bucket of water at the man's face. The older man sputtered awake.

The angry Texan started, "Frankly, I hope you don't answer me. I want you to suffer. So, feel free to lie, so I can hurt you. Now, why did you try to kidnap Maura?"

The old man spat, "Because she is an aberration."

The upset brunette pulled a Bowie and jammed it through the Frenchman's right hand penning it to the arm of the chair. The terrified old nobleman screamed in agony, Jane smiled and stated, "Wrong answer, you're talking about the woman I love. Now, why did you try and kidnap Maura?"

Martine mumbled, "Because I wanted my granddaughter, she should be raise by someone, who will raise her properly."

The pair kept the questioning continuing for an hour, Martine kept making them work for the answers. Both his hands were penned to the chair, one of ears was sliced off and he was missing three fingers on his right hand. The doctor had been called in to treat the old man, who had aged another ten years that night.

Hugh said, "We don't know what they were planning and he isn't talking. He is one tough old bird. I think he'll die before we find out what the hell is going on."

Jane shook her head in agreement and said, "I hope Maura has found something in those documents. It could be our only hope. We didn't get the nest and like all cockroaches. If you only smoke them out, they'll just nest someplace else. We have to find the rest."