Chapter 12

The man glanced up at the hill above the compound, a glint of light having caught his eye from where he stood in the large entrance to the warehouse. He waited to see if it happened again but there was nothing. Shrugging to himself he went back to his task, thinking that the late afternoon sun was just about to disappear over the treeline so it must have penetrated the canopy and caught on something shiny on the ground.

He checked the seal on the box in front of him and made sure that the labelling was as required should the shipment be stopped. It was important that some cause was given for suspicion, however the boxes needed to appear exactly as stated on the bill of lading for transferring onto the freight train. Looking around he counted the crates, glad that it was the last of this lot.

For some reason he was nervous, a twinge of doubt creeping into his head that he had never experienced before. Once again his eyes rose up to the treeline, searching for something out of the ordinary but seeing nothing.

Taking the keys from his pocket he went in towards the dogs' cage. This being his last night he had been feeling sad as he had formed a bond with the two animals. Only he knew that for all the barking they could do there was actually little fight in them, just two soft pups at heart. His instructions had been to leave them here but they would be unable to fend for themselves. As hard as it might be this really was the best thing for them.

Up above the compound Ed Harter was glad that they had changed from their red serge into brown before taking up their positions. They had tied their horses to trees at a safe distance, not wanting any movement to give them away to people below. There were signs of vehicles leaving, many of them wagons, and he feared that they were going to miss vital clues as to what was going on in there. Something must have spooked them as it had the feeling of a clear out.

One of the men was checking through boxes stacked at the doorway, obviously ready for loading. It was difficult to see through into the warehouse behind and with the sun sitting so low in the sky he was careful not to use his binoculars in case it drew attention to where they were. The man disappeared back into the building and he could hear the sound of dogs barking, then silence.

Further along the ridge he knew that Harold Bishop was doing the same, watching to see what action was occurring below and checking the point they had decided would be the best place to enter the compound. On a back road heading away from Hope Valley two men stood silently, one either side of the dirt track as a wagon rolled away in the distance. They watched, knowing that there was only one still to leave the warehouses, and readied themselves for when it would pass.

Today's traffic to and from the compound had been earlier than they expected, signalling a possible change in action there and so when Walter and Patrick arrived at the lookout positions it was decided that they should proceed back down to the road and, if necessary, intercept the last shipment to depart. If the warehouses had been cleared then at least they would have some of the goods that had been stored there.

In the Judge's office Bill and Nathan sat either side of the desk, setting down on paper all the things that had happened in the few days since Nathan had arrived back, trying to put together this puzzle that seemed to grow larger all the time. There were so many pieces that didn't make sense, although they knew there was a link there somewhere.

Nathan stood, walking to the door as he tried to organise the thoughts in his mind. "You know what Bill, as each day passes I am more certain that Elizabeth is central to all of this."

The other man said nothing at first, trying to think of a reason to disagree but knowing that Nathan was right he finally spoke, "Everything here changed after Lucas and Elizabeth came back married. I know that she was genuinely hurt by you and Allie leaving but I always felt that there was something more to it than that. Almost as though she had signed a pact with the devil and you going had changed it. As much as I dislike Lucas I do think he cared for her in the beginning but what man is going to continue when he knows he is not only competing with a dead husband but also a lost love?"

Nathan kept his head down. There were times he was not proud of how he had left, as though it was almost cowardly to not have at least waited to say a proper farewell. But then he thought of Allie and how much she had already been through, it wasn't fair to prolong the pain she was feeling. Looking at her now, seeing her with Cecilia and knowing how excited she was about the baby, he once again reminded himself that it had been the right decision. Bill would understand that.

Looking across he said "They say it is always darkest before the dawn and I truly believe that was the case for Allie and me before we met Cecilia and it is the same for Hope Valley. We are so close to solving this, I can just feel it! The question is will Elizabeth find her dawn or is she so enmeshed in this that she is part of the darkness?"

Knowing where Elizabeth stood in all of this was certainly the key, both men were agreed on that. Fitting together the happenings at the saloon, the reason why Nathan and his men had come here in the first place, with the warehouses and the involvement of Shue Moy left so many unanswered questions. Then there was the murder of one Chinese man by the other. That there was a connection to the laundering of bootlegging money was clear, what they needed to know was who was involved and just how high the bribery of influential people went.

Tonight his men were carrying out their mission at the warehouse compound and Nathan truly hoped that they would get some answers.

At the saloon everything was quiet, with the removal of one of the Vancouver gamblers from the train having gone smoothly it now seemed that Bruce would be taking his place. He had faith in his men there to do what was needed to discover the purpose of the big game, now postponed until tomorrow evening according to the message Antoine had managed to get to them.

The telephone ringing interrupted both men's thoughts, as Nathan lifted the receiver to hear Florence quietly announce that his cousin was on the phone. Perplexed by this, his expression then turned to a smile as Allie's voice could be heard from the other end. "It's only me but I didn't want anyone to know who it really was. We should have worked out a code or something."

He laughed, the relief at hearing her evident on his face, "I am guessing that you have just read the article your mum wrote about Louise de Bettignies.(3) Please don't start getting any ideas of carrying out secret missions!"

"I won't Dad, I promise. I just wanted to let you know that we have arrived and that I will be with Uncle Gabe for the next few days until we get everything sorted here. He said he would feel happier if both he and Constable Buchanan could keep an eye on all of us."

Nathan was thankful to have his friend there in support, not just for his sound advice and investigative skills but also how much he cared for the children, just the same as he would. "I'm sure Lillian will be happy to have you there, plus you can make sure that Patrick and Little Jack don't get too homesick."

Having heard the tiredness in her voice he continued, "Now I am sure it is time for you to be thinking of bed young lady so I'll say goodnight. I promise that Mum and I will both speak to you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Dad, I love you."

"Sleep tight Allie girl, we miss and love you too."

Bill was sitting at the desk, staring at the paper in front of him, a quizzical look on his face. "What is it, have you seen something on there?" Nathan asked.

"I wish I had but it is still as big a conundrum as ever. The link is here, I just can't find it."

Nathan felt the same, as though the answer was hanging just out of reach, yet he knew it was something they would not be expecting. Someone was controlling everything. A person who had power over Elizabeth. Who was able to order around Lucas and all the other people involved. He believed it was someone they knew but couldn't work out who.

"I think we need to do something to change things up with Elizabeth. Let me call headquarters and give the order for them to escort Jack Thornton's body back. I'll go down in a minute to speak to Joseph Canfield about making arrangements."

Bill went pale, not wanting to think of the young man he had lost so many years ago and what he would make of the current situation here. "You are right and probably better to do it while Little Jack is not in town. He is too young to understand all of this. If nothing else it is time. We need to give him the respect he deserves.

A few minutes later as he replaced the telephone receiver the door opened and Greg Aldritt entered, a worried expression on his face.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Superintendent but Elizabeth Bouchard is gone. I followed her to The Tipperary and watched from outside. When she didn't appear after a few minutes I went in but there was no sign of her. She seems to have vanished."

A quick telephone call back to Brookfield ensured that Gabe was aware of the situation and the added risk to the children with Elizabeth's disappearance. Then one to Lee and Rosemary, warning them of the possibility that she would make her way there to see Little Jack.

Nathan was angry, with Elizabeth and with himself. He knew. He had known from the minute he returned that everything here involved her in one way or another and he had foolishly thought he had time to deal with it.

"I'm going to The Tipperary, Bill. I want you to head across to the saloon once you have finished calling everyone to ask for help in the search. We don't want to alarm her so make sure they all understand to only approach her if it seems normal, otherwise just get word back to me and I will come immediately."

Turning to Greg he indicated his readiness to follow him down the road, before quickly adding another instruction for Bill "and please let Cecilia know what is happening. Do you think Molly would go and stay with her, I don't like the idea of her being on her own with so many things happening?"

"Of course, she will. I'll call her now before I speak to the others. Go and find Elizabeth, whatever is happening needs to be stopped before someone gets hurt!"

When the last wagon rolled out of the compound the two Mounties watched as the car following it stopped before the driver stepped out to close the gate. There was no attempt to lock up behind them and no sign of the dogs, which confirmed Ed's earlier feeling that this was a final departure and the site was being abandoned.

He was torn between going to search it now or following the two vehicles along to where Walter and Patrick were waiting, but with three men and two vehicles it was clear that further manpower would be required. At that moment Harold appeared beside him and Ed knew without asking that his thoughts were the same.

"We need to follow. If they are leaving for good then all the evidence will be with them in that wagon or car. The others will detain them long enough for us to come up from behind, let's just hope that no-one does anything stupid."

Moving to where their horses were tied they quickly mounted, making their way steadily down to the road and then in the direction the vehicles had taken. They could hear the engine of the car slowing and the whinnying of the horses as the wagon was pulled to a stop.

Patrick's voice rang out clearly, instructing the two men in the wagon to climb down and come around to the side. At that moment the gears of the car grated as they engaged before it suddenly accelerated in reverse.

Throwing his reins to Harold, Ed dismounted and drew his rifle from his saddle before taking up a position in the middle of the road, poised ready for the appearance of the vehicle. He heard it slow again, the further grinding of gears telling him that the driver was hurriedly turning it and would soon be coming around the corner towards them.

Harold had moved into the woods, tying the two horses before moving into position on the edge of the road alongside his partner. Still obscured by the trees he raised his pistol in the same direction. They were ready and waiting.

Elizabeth sat calmly in her safe place, listening to the very faint murmur of voices from the bar below and wondering how long it would be before Nathan came. She was certain that he would not give up looking for her, although there was no way he could know about here. This had been part of the reason outside workers had been brought in to build The Tipperary bar rather than using local people.

She had been inspired by the priest holes built into English country houses in the 16th Century. It was part of her security and something that she had worked hard to persuade Lucas to do. She then payed handsomely to have it included, although this was rather more spacious than what was endured during Elizabeth I's reign and had been soundproofed to prevent anyone finding it. She laughed as she thought about how good it would be to teach the children this part of history in such a practical manner but, of course, that was never going to happen.

She felt a change in the mood from below and immediately knew that he was here. She knew he would be annoyed that she had eluded the Mountie who was watching her.

He was magnificent when he was angry, she thought, like a lion fighting to control the power he possessed. How she had missed that but how unfortunate for him to come back now when she least wanted him here. Their time would come soon enough though, she was sure of that.

Nathan made no pretence at niceties as he walked in through the open door of The Tipperary. "I am looking for Elizabeth Bouchard. She was last seen entering here so I expect answers as to where she has gone!"

He spoke firmly, looking around the room at some familiar faces. A few of the patrons lowered their heads. Men to whom Nathan had given help over the years he was stationed here now seemed reluctant to acknowledge him. Was this what the people of Hope Valley had become?

From a table by the doorway a Chinese man who matched the description of the one Ed had followed from the train station slowly rose to his feet. He was taller than expected but still a good few inches shorter than Nathan, his build large and his face wore the expression of a man unaccustomed to being challenged.

It was obvious that he was in charge, all other eyes in the room darting nervously between the two as they waited to see how this situation would unfold, "What makes you think she would still be here?"

Nathan stood to his full height, looking down at the man and assuming all the authority that his uniform and position commanded. "If she has left then I need to know with whom and where she may have gone", his tone making it clear that he was not here to be refused.

The room fell silent but still he held his ground, aware that standing just inside the doorway Greg had his back, watching for anything that indicated there was a danger.

Eventually the other man shrugged, tilting his head towards the door beside him. "She is of no interest to us. What she does after she walks through there is entirely up to her", he paused…."and obviously to you."

Taking that as an invitation the two Mounties passed through the doorway into a maze of rooms behind. Drawing their guns they moved slowly along the corridor, alternately opening doors on either side as the other gave cover.

The rooms were filled with goods, some for use in the bar and others obviously part of a black market operation that they seemed confident the Mounties would not bother them about. Perhaps that had been the case with those officers who had succeeded him here but he made a note that when the time was right he would come back to deal with this. Not forgetting the death of the other Chinese man which they still needed to investigate.

As they moved further towards the back of the building Nathan stopped, shaking his head to clear it. He knew she was here somewhere or was he just imagining that he could smell her perfume, so imprinted in his mind had it been for such a long time.

"Can you smell that?" he asked Greg.

"Smell what, Sir?"

"The perfume….Lily of the Valley."

Greg stopped, lifting his head as he sniffed the air around them. "Well it's not really my forté but I think you may be right."

By now they had reached the end of the corridor where stairs led to the second floor. Nathan knew it was a risk to go up there, the readiness of the Chinese man to send them through here making him wary that they were being set up. But if Elizabeth was here then they had to keep looking.

Creeping slowly around the corner of the stairs he could see along the corridor through the balustrades. He guessed that these were bedrooms, lodgings for travelling customers and workers. He counted the doors, fewer than downstairs which was understandable as these rooms would be larger.

Cautiously he stepped up into the hallway, Greg close on his heels. Standing either side of the first door they slowly opened it, the last of the evening sun casting a glow around the room which was clearly empty. One by one they checked along the corridor, all the same with no-one to be found.

As he closed the door to the last room Nathan once again had a sudden sense of Elizabeth, which made him quickly turn and move back into the room. Nothing. He knew she was close, he could feel her. There was something he was missing but he couldn't figure out what.

The car was accelerating as it came around the corner. The driver, so busy looking over his shoulder to make sure the Mounties weren't following him, was surprised as he turned back around to suddenly see one standing in the road in front of him, rifle pointed in his direction.

Slamming his foot on the brake he felt the vehicle skid sideways, the wheel spinning in his hand as a tree loomed ahead. The impact sent him forward over the windscreen, his body landing in a tangle on the ground.

Ed rushed forward, his rifle still pointed towards the prone figure as Harold came around the back of the car until he reached the driver's side and leant in to turn off the engine. Faint whimpers from under a blanket in the footwells at the rear of the car made him jump back, then two faces appeared, eyes fixed on the Mountie outside. Speaking softly Harold gently reach out his hand, ready to withdraw it quickly should the dogs snap. They sat shaking, panting heavily from having been flung forward as they tried to understand what was happening, before once more lying down in the safety of the space.

Harold moved across to where the horses were tied, taking rope from his saddle bag and some of the meat they had picked up from Ned earlier. Approaching the dogs from the side where he could be seen he slowly reached out his hands with the meat, surprised by the gentleness of the animals as they took it from him. The knotted ropes were then easily slipped over their heads and secured against the handles of the car.

Beside the tree the man moaned, slow movements bringing louder groans of pain as he tried to sit up before falling back to the ground. While Ed kept the rifle aimed in his direction Harold knelt down, removing the gun from the man's holster and checking for other weapons, a knife at his back coming as no surprise.

He checked for blood or signs of injury but quickly decided that nothing was broken and bruising was all he had sustained. Pulling him to his feet he waited for the man to speak but he just stood there silent.

The sound of the wagon approaching made them all turn. The two Mounties watched as it came around the corner, Patrick leading the horses at the front while Walter brought up the rear, his eyes searching carefully for signs of anyone else. From the back came the muffled sounds of the two men, tied and sitting slumped between the boxes.

"Well, looks like we have a complete set here" said Harold, "with two dogs added for good measure!"

Aware of how easy it had all seemed so far, Ed knew that there was still a lot of work for them to do to discover what had been happening at the warehouses. Looking at Walter he spoke "Why don't you two take these three into town and put them into the jail. You can let Superintendent Grant know that we have apprehended them and are about to start a search of the storage facility to see if any evidence has been left behind. The wagon should be secured and guarded in the livery until we can unload it and check the contents of all those boxes."

From the corner of his eye he caught a look from the driver of the car that made him wary. Something wasn't right here and he needed to find out what was going on.

"If there is something you are keeping from us then now is the time to speak. If you don't and anything happens then I will make sure that it is held against you when you go to court."

The man had regained some of his composure now and quickly replied "Exactly what are you planning to charge us with? You can't hold us without just cause."

"Let's just start with resisting arrest, then we'll see what else we need to add to that" said Harold, a slight nudge into the leg of the man making him stumble sideways before he regained his footing.

The men in the wagon kept their heads down, trying hard to hide the looks on their faces. Once again Ed could feel an uneasiness at the back of his mind. What was going on? What were they hiding? He had a bad feeling and he was usually right when he felt that.

Bundling the car driver up onto the back of the wagon Walter climbed up beside him, indicating with his gun for the man to sit down with the others.

"Shall we just check what's in the car before you go, see if we can get anything in there loaded onto the wagon as well so that it is all together." Ed suggested.

Opening the trunk he was surprised to find very little, a few boxes and a bag seemingly all that was there. As he reached down to lift out the bag his sleeve caught the inside edge of the trunk and he felt it move as he pulled back. Looking closely he could see that the interior dimensions were quite a bit smaller than the exterior. He pulled at the edge with his fingers and felt the fabric give way as the panel came loose in his hands, two small leather wrapped packages falling out.

Turning to the others he held them up. "Change of plans I think. We need to check through all of this as quickly as possibly so I suggest that we head back to the warehouse compound and use the space there to go through all these things on the wagon and in the car. We can tie the men up there and take them into the jail, along with any worthwhile evidence, once we are finished."

Harold watched the expressions on the faces of the three men in the back of the wagon, the car driver in particular, go from defiance to panic.

"I think maybe you need to speak to these three first, Ed. They don't seem too keen to go back which makes me think that something is not right down there at the compound."