Chapter 41

"Do you have times when you hate me, Tom? Hate my family? When you look at what my sister has done and rue the day that she met your brother? You know I wouldn't blame you if you did." Julie Thatcher asked as they took a walk in the evening air leaving Charlotte and Bill Avery to talk. Tom Thornton drew in a deep breath, his arm tightening around the shoulders of the woman he was about to announce to the world had agreed to be his wife. "Why would I hate you? The cause of all of this happened long before we met, before Elizabeth and Jack were together. We are all victims. There is no reason for anyone other than Andrew Hargreaves and Helen Bouchard to feel guilty."

They were just preparing dinner when Bill had arrived at their row house, his serious expression as he came in warning them that this wasn't just a social visit. Quietly he explained what Lucas had divulged this morning and that Patrick O'Reilly was now searching back through his files and checking with Mountie headquarters for information to verify it. If it was thought to be true then it meant that Jack had been murdered and a new investigation into the mudslide would be carried out. They could see in his eyes that he had no doubt.

Charlotte was calm, confessing to Bill that she had always wondered if there had been some connection between the deaths of her husband and son, saddened that both had died with a shadow over their reputations. Now perhaps when the truth was told they would be recognised as the true heroes they both were. "I know that as long as you are dealing with this it will be done right. You and Jack were so close that I almost felt you were my dirty secret, the other man in my life! But I was so happy to share him with you and see you give him what he had been missing after his father was killed. Now I see you like that with Nathan and that makes me happy. You deserve to have him here for you, Bill."

Unable to say anything without his emotions spilling out he indicated the suitcases near the front door and asked when they were leaving. "Unfortunately I am tied up with the investigation but I will get one of the Mounties to come in my car to take you to the station, if you just let me know when."

"That's so kind of you but Lee has already offered to take the young ones to get the morning train the day after tomorrow, then he will come back to move me across to their house." Bill couldn't hide his surprise. "You're staying?

A big smile lit Charlotte's face. "Don't look so worried Bill, I won't get in the way of your investigation. I just want to spend more time with my grandsons and Rosemary kindly invited me to stay with them for a while. In fact she said it would be a great help to her as she will be so busy once Nathan gives her the go ahead to release this story. One of the things I have realised as I've gotten older is that we need to make the most of being together with family when we can. I wish I had spent more time with Jack."

Bill nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "Well that is good news. You know you don't have to leave the row house, you could stay longer if you wanted." The words were out of his mouth before he remembered that it wasn't his to offer and he really should check with Molly first. Charlotte laughed. "Fortunately one of us has been listening to Molly talk about her plans for after we leave. Then again it was hard not to when she was here measuring up in every room!"

Two steps forward, one step back, but eventually you get there. Cecilia's words were still going around in Nathan's head as he lay in bed wondering why life was always so complicated. They had talked for a long time after Allie had gone to see Emily and by the end Nathan felt calmer and more positive about what he would do. Earlier the laughter that greeted him as he walked through the door of the cafe told him all he needed to know about how Allie was feeling. That he was the reason for their amusement was fine by him, he would do whatever was needed to hear that sound more often, although he was glad that there were no other customers to witness it.

Rosemary and Fiona soon said their farewells and sensing the need for this lovely family to talk Minnie had put the closed sign on the door and gone upstairs to give them some privacy, after first bringing more cake and coffee to keep them going. Allie quickly recounted her conversation with Elizabeth, not glossing over her shortness with the woman or what could be perceived as rudeness towards an adult. "I know you have both taught me better than that but, in all honesty, I don't think she deserves any respect from me. In fact, I think I needed to be that blunt to make her listen."

Nathan tried to look stern with her but he was struggling with that, his chest almost bursting with the pride he was feeling at how his daughter had dealt with something that had the potential to haunt her for life. "And how do you feel about everything now?" Cecilia asked. "Has it answered all the questions you had so that it can now be put behind you once and for all?"

Allie nodded. "Do you know, in the end it wasn't so much getting answers but more about being able to have my say. I know I spoke out when Mrs Bouchard went crazy out at the row houses but she wasn't in the right frame of mind to listen then. I needed to do this in my own way then close the door on anything to do with her. Except Little Jack, of course. And Julie, Tom and Mrs Thornton. You know, all the nice people."

"I'm glad Allie but if there is ever a time when you do start to think about it all again then please don't bottle it up. Promise you'll talk to us about it?"

"I promise," She said with a grin, "but that's not going to happen." Looking at his daughter Nathan fervently hoped that would be the case.

Finishing the last of her cake she wiped her mouth before looking across at her parents. "Enough of that, I have something important I want to discuss with both of you and I want you to listen to everything before you comment. Promise?"

Nathan glanced at Cecilia as if to ask if she knew what this was about. She shook her head and gave him a look back that said he was to hear Allie out before jumping in with his thoughts. He tried to keep his tone light as he replied. "Well now you have us intrigued so go ahead."

"It's about college. I've decided to wait another year before going." She sat back for a moment, trying to gauge the reaction on their faces. As Nathan's mouth opened to speak Cecilia quickly nudged his knee and he stopped. Allie continued. "I know everyone thinks I am ready, and I guess in most ways I am, but there are things I want to do before I go. Things I need to do." Knowing that she was about to explain more Nathan stayed silent. "I still want to be a journalist like mum but," she turned to look at Cecilia then, "and I know this was horrible, you had the war to report on when you started out and that was what gave you such unique experience to develop your writing. I'm worried that I might not get something like that. Yet, right now in Hope Valley there is a story that no-one else can tell in the same way I can and I don't want to miss out on it."

Nathan interrupted then, "If you are talking about the investigation, it is almost finished here and nothing can really be said until people have been to court." She shook her head. "I don't want to write about the criminals, that's Mrs Coulter's job. I want to tell the story of the refugees and what happens to them. What their lives will be like after all of this. Where they have come from. Their families. Their hopes."

Both Nathan and Cecilia had not expected this but before they could speak Allie pushed on with more to say. "I also want to continue the classes with them, help them learn. Especially the young ones, so that they can then go to school. I don't want to just leave without knowing that I have done my best for them." While Nathan was looking concerned, Cecilia was smiling. She felt as though she was looking back in time at herself at Allie's age, full of so much enthusiasm and desire to tell the stories of things that would otherwise go unwritten. The same drive was there, the passion and need to do good and fight injustice with your pen.

"There's one more thing. I'm going to ask Mrs Coulter if she will give me an apprenticeship with The Valley Voice and let me publish my articles in the newspaper. Between her and mum I will probably learn more than at college anyway."

Seeing the shock on her father's face she quickly added, "But I am still definitely going, just a year later." Then her face softened and she reached out to take both their hands, "Do you know what the best bit is? I will be here with you in Hope Valley for the new baby and we will get to spend time together as a family."

Suddenly Nathan felt his heart sink. His thinking that it was time to go home was so new that he hadn't yet discussed it with either Cecilia or Allie and as he turned to his wife the look on her face was showing the same mix of emotion and excitement he could see on his daughter's across the table. This was going to be difficult for he believed the other plans that he had hoped would come to fruition here in Hope Valley were no longer going to include him and so, even if he wanted to stay, the decision would not be his to make.

As the Mounties arrived the next morning for the briefing in the upstairs office they were surprised to see their superintendent sitting at the back of the room. Last night he had explained to them why he had to relinquish control of the investigations and let Bill and Gabe take over. While they were disappointed they all knew that if he had come to that decision then it must be the best thing for everyone. When Bill walked in he didn't react, just nodded to Nathan and took his place at the front. Once the last man was seated he began. "This morning I am going to do things in a different order. Instead of giving you an update on the interrogation and other aspects of this job straight away, I am first going to run through the on-duty Town Mountie's requirements for the day and let him get on his way."

There was a look of confusion on all their faces until he continued. "From today Superintendent Grant is taking over this role. As he has chosen not to be involved in the rest of what we are working on he feels this is the best way he can still serve and support us, which I think is admirable." Before they could all voice their agreement Bill continued, "Plus we all know what a miserable bugger he can be when he's bored so this will be better for everyone. Mrs Grant will undoubtedly be the most grateful of all."

Laughter filled the room and Nathan took it all good-naturedly. Bill was, of course, right. There was no way he could sit around doing nothing and he would only make others feel uncomfortable. This way he was fulfilling a role and taking the opportunity to reconnect with the community of Hope Valley.

Newton was happy to be tied up outside the Mountie Office rather than in the stables, enjoying the attention he was getting from everyone as they walked by. Nathan felt a sudden freedom as he mounted his horse and headed out of town. Fiona watched him ride past Nickels and Dimes, glad to see him putting a positive spin on the altered situation he was facing. He was a good man who hadn't deserved any of the anguish he had suffered in the past and certainly didn't need any now. A loving wife and daughter plus a new baby on the way should mean he was enjoying life and anything she could do to help that happen she would gladly do. She owed him so much.

Bill had come to her last night with a request, the same one he was asking of all the business owners and prominent citizens of Hope Valley, that she write a letter for him to forward to Mountie Headquarters describing just what having Nathan here meant to this town. She had suggested that he ask Katie Yost to get the schoolchildren to contribute, the voices of young people deserving to be heard just as much. Now as she was on her way to drop her letter at Bill's office she saw Ed come out of the jail, the sight of him making her heart skip a beat. When he looked up and spotted her, his whole face lit up and she could feel his love enveloping her as though he had taken her in his arms. She wanted this man to stay in Hope Valley more than anything, already envisaging the life they could have here. But if fate or the Mounties decided otherwise then she would follow him to the ends of the earth if that meant them being together.

She gave a little wave before turning down the street, anxious to get on to her next task of the day. Ned had telephoned across to say that the goods for the Tipperary had arrived and now with the work almost finished at the building she was looking forward to making it somewhere their new residents would feel at home.

Cecilia's friend in Vancouver had sent some items she had purchased in Chinatown and then Julie Thatcher had heard what they were doing and called one of the people who worked for her father to ask him to arrange for the delivery of what else they needed, having forced Fiona to hand over her list. Once they had all these in place the next big thing to do was choose a new name for the place, Kevin having offered to use his hidden artistic skills to paint a sign to be hung over the door. It was all coming together and now along with Molly and Cecilia she would see what else they needed. With the Thorntons about to depart Molly's row house, that too would be made ready, although she was fairly sure that Molly already had that in hand.

As he watched Ed leave, Harold was just about to sit back behind the desk when he decided that although cold it was still too nice a morning to be inside listening to nothing but silence between the two detainees. Not a word to each other, he thought. Although he was sure they did share some quick conversation when no-one else was there. Putting on his heavier coat and grabbing hold of his mug of coffee he stepped out of the door and settled down in the chair outside, the other one still over at the newspaper office where Gabe had put it for Cecilia. Townspeople nodded as they walked past and he was surprised to find that this easier Mountie life had quite grown on him. At least he could imagine doing it for a while before he became restless again.

It came as no surprise that the boss wouldn't be sitting around idly but it hurt his men to know that he was still suffering the effects of Andrew Hargreaves' actions from years ago. There had been a renewed energy in the room this morning, everyone anxious to get the final answers and make the superintendent proud, seemingly none more so than Bill Avery. He had informed them that they would be taking a break from questioning Lucas. Gabe and Greg were going to put Andrew Hargreaves in the hot seat at the Judge's office, while Bill would join him here to see what they could get out of Helen Bouchard. They would be pushing on from what had been learnt from the past few days of interrogation and it was hoped finally get everything tied up in the next week.

The atmosphere had been quite intense, as it often was as they were reaching the final stages of an investigation. But when a couple of volunteers had been requested to help the mayor unpack and move heavy boxes at The Mercantile everyone had immediately turned towards Ed. It was good to see the tension broken as he merely shrugged his shoulders before raising his hand with a big grin to the accompaniment of applause from everyone in the room.

As Nathan rode further out of town he could feel himself relaxing, the sun warming his back and Newton trotting along at a steady pace. He was wondering whether he should stop to remove his heavy coat, a necessity earlier with the morning dampness that had hung in the air but now becoming too hot. He'd wait until he made his first stop, he thought. Taking in the beauty of the countryside around him which he had almost forgotten about, he thought of an Emerson quote, "Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting." How often had he ridden these paths without seeing anything, so wrapped up was he in things that should not have mattered. This was something he had needed but missed doing, moments of peace and solitude when he could untether himself from everyone's problems and just appreciate living.

Crossing the old bridge he laughed that this had once been one of many reminders of what he thought he had lost. Somehow the times Lucas told him that this was the place where Elizabeth and he had declared their love for each other sounded so ridiculous now and any hold it had on him had been nullified when he heard the truth of their relationship. Yet then, when the pain had been so raw and deep, he almost couldn't breathe when he had to come out this way.

Realising what he needed to do he made a mental note of the places he would revisit, wiping from his memory the images of bad times that he had carried with him for too long. Almost an exorcism he thought, banishing the darkness from his life so that like Allie he could finally leave Elizabeth Thornton in his past. Whether that meant visiting with her one last time he wasn't sure. He had to think about that and talk it through with the women who made every day worth living for him.

As his thoughts turned to Cecilia and Allie he could feel his spirits lift. What he had done to deserve them he didn't know but he knew he needed both his girls the way he needed oxygen. Nothing in the world made sense without them and this new baby was the next blessing to add to his list. Allie's outlining of her plans last night had rendered mixed emotions within him. He was so proud of his daughter, her focus and determination something he had watched grow over the past few years. Now that she had broken the shackles of Elizabeth's hold over her he believed there was nothing she couldn't achieve.

But he was scared too, frightened that he would disappoint her if they didn't stay in Hope Valley. Of course there were numerous people who would open their home to her if she wanted to stay and they left but he knew how important this time together as a family was for them all. Realising that he was speaking out loud he gave Newton a pat, glad to have his listening ear to pour out all his thoughts. In some of his lowest moments Newton had been the one thing that remained constant to him, a steadfast entity for him to cling on to like a drowning man grasps hold of a buoy at sea.

Allie's departure for college would have been quite a few months away so they would still have had time together when the baby was born. But if he and Cecilia had to return home soon and leave Allie here then even that would be taken from them. He needed to know, so resolved to get in touch with headquarters again when he got back to town. One way or another he was going to get a decision. He had too much that was good in his life not to grasp happiness with both hands, he thought.

He began whistling softly as they ambled along, Newton having slowed to an easy walk and clearly remembering the way to go having done these rounds so often in the past. At the time Nathan hadn't realised just how simple life as a town Mountie was but now he found himself wishing that he could go back to those days and enjoy them without the burden of Fort Clay and Elizabeth. Suddenly Newton's ears pricked up and he heard the distant sound of horses coming towards them at a fast gallop. Something was wrong and he knew that if this was serious trouble arriving then one man alone was not going to stop them. Looking around he spotted a break in the trees and turned into it, pushing far enough upward and forward to move Newton out of sight.

Dismounting he removed the rifle from his saddle before tying his horse to a strong branch. "You have to stay quiet buddy, do you understand that?" he said, Newton's dip of his head indicating that he knew. Creeping through the trees he found a position above the road, hidden in amongst some boulders, and waited.

In the back room at The Mercantile the tables and chairs used in the evenings by the Mounties had been pushed against the walls and as crates were emptied they were slowly being covered with items so different to anything they had all seen before that it was like an Aladdin's cave in there. Rich satin fabrics, fringed and paper lamps, colourful baskets, patterned bowls of all sizes and deep rounded cooking pans were piled high around them. Seed packets had been sorted, which had reminded Fiona that a fence needed to be built around the back of the building and a vegetable garden ploughed if they were going to get these sown in time for a crop this year. Looking around she wondered if these were the types of things their Chinese people had been used to at home or would it all be as strange to them as it was to her.

Allie had taken a break from her switchboard duties and come through to see what her mother and the others were up to. She stopped when she reached the door, struggling not to burst out laughing at the scene that confronted her. Everyone, Mounties included, was trying to pick up grains of rice using small wooden sticks which they held between their fingers. "This is crazy," proclaimed Molly, "they can't possibly eat using these. No wonder they are all so small!" Fiona nodded in agreement as she chased a grain of rice up the side of the bowl and then watched it pop over the edge. Meanwhile Cecilia didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she was bent almost doubled over, her efforts as comical as everyone else's and the baby obviously wanting to join in as some very hefty kicks were making her wince.

At a table in the corner Ed and the young Mountie who had accompanied him, George Duncan, both had expressions of total determination on their faces, not willing to admit defeat. Looking up and seeing Allie standing in the doorway, the young man had gone a bright shade of red as he realised the superintendent's daughter was here. Noticing this Ed gave him a nudge and his colour deepened even more

.

Allie did laugh then, thinking this was the funniest thing she had seen in a long time. "Oh I wish I had a camera to record this," she said, giggling. "You're all making using chopsticks look so difficult!" Five pairs of eyes turned on her and it was Fiona who got in first to say, "Well if you think it is so easy why don't you give it a go." Immediately she regretted extending the challenge as the smug look on Allie's face told her that she knew exactly how to do it and was about to put them all to shame.

It had been slow going in the Judge's Office this morning, Andrew Hargreaves either not giving anything away or simply denying knowledge of what Lucas had told them, claiming it all as pure coincidence. Gabe didn't know what game he was playing as surely by now he must realise that no-one was going to be coming to his rescue. If anything, there would be a long line of people wanting to see him put behind bars or dead.

In the jail, Bill and Harold were not faring any better, with Helen Bouchard showing almost complete indifference to their questioning, as if none of this had anything to do with her. So far they had informed neither of the prisoners of the deal Lucas had struck, wanting to leave them wondering what evidence they had uncovered to lead to this line of questioning. They desperately needed Patrick O'Reilly to give them something concrete to use. Finally, Bill decided it was time to break for lunch, in the hope that they would have more success in the afternoon. He was surprised that both were still holding out and there was a nasty suspicion at the back of his mind that they were missing something. Or, more precisely, someone. Were there still rogue elements within the force who they believed would help them? Or were they just happier to be secure here for as long as possible out of the hands of the mobs, waiting for everything to blow over.

Never one to work well on an empty stomach he made his way across to the cafe, hoping there was still some of the chicken pie he could smell baking as he had walked past that morning. Inside he was pleased to see Abigail and Henry sitting at a table in the corner deep in conversation. They stopped talking when they saw him and waved him across. With a nod to Nancy Tucker, who often helped Minnie with the lunchtime shift, he indicated that he was going to join them.

When Nancy brought his coffee, he asked about the pie and was rewarded with a wink from her. "I know it is your favourite Bill so I kept a slice aside for your lunch. It will just take a few minutes." After exchanging the usual pleasantries Bill asked Abigail what he most wanted to know, "How are you feeling after your visit with Elizabeth?" He could tell immediately from her expression that it had not all been straight sailing for her. "I'm fine now Bill, Henry and I have spoken a lot about it and Nathan came to check on me last night so it was good to talk to him."

Seeing Bill's expression she quickly added. "He didn't ask about anything Elizabeth said, just wanted to make sure I was okay and thank me for taking Allie. I pointed out that it was me who should be thanking Allie. That young woman is quite formidable." A serious expression came on her face then before she continued. "I think he's deliberating whether he needs to do the same, have a final face to face with her. Not as a Mountie but for his own benefit so that he can put it all behind him."

Henry spoke up, "Personally, I think we should encourage him to do that. He needs to lay all those ghosts to rest." Bill nodded his agreement before turning back to Abigail. "How was Elizabeth? Do you think she is as crazy as she seems?"

Abigail had to think carefully before replying, choosing the right words that would convey what she believed. "I don't think she was mad when she did everything, but I do think she was broken and the Bouchards played on that. They manipulated her with a lie and once she started down that path there was no stopping. Do I think she is now? I believe that she has spent so long in that mixed up state that she has finally crossed over into madness."

She let those words hang in the air for a moment. "She is pitiful now Bill. When she learned that it was Hargreaves who had engineered the situation leading to Jack's death it was heartbreaking to see. She knows what she has done and that it was all so unwarranted. I told her that she needs to apologise to Nathan as the first step in atoning for her actions." Tears came then and Henry quickly wrapped his arms around his wife, knowing there was little anyone could do take away the pain and guilt she was feeling. "I should have been here for her Bill. Maybe I could have stopped it."

Bill shook his head, "There was nothing any of us could do, she was so set on revenge that she was willing to lose her own son to gain it. I don't think we ever truly knew her."

"Do you know, that is probably the hardest thing for all of us to accept but perhaps the one thing that will make it easier as time goes on." A voice from beside them added. Abigail looked up, having composed herself now, glad that Nancy had waited before serving Bill his pie. Her gentle words were a reminder of how many people had been affected by this. Their whole town would be mourning the heartless killing of their Mountie Jack, both for themselves and for what it had done to Nathan. "What will happen to Elizabeth now?" Nancy asked.

Bill shrugged his shoulders. "She will be treated like any other criminal. I think her family will have enough clout with headquarters to arrange for her to be detained somewhere more comfortable, possibly a hospital where she will be assessed and treated by doctors. But she will go to trial and be sentenced for what she has done."

Nathan stayed still, the top of his head just above the rocks as he watched the bend in the road further down, the point where he knew the riders would appear. He couldn't determine whether there were three or four horses but they were certainly moving fast and on this road their only destination could be Hope Valley. Suddenly they were there and he was surprised to see the red serges of three Mounties, two constables and an inspector, whose face he couldn't see clearly enough to identify. To his knowledge there had been no notification of their arrival so immediately his suspicions were aroused. Were there still some who hadn't been identified as being on the payroll of the gangs? Or did Hargreaves have his own men within the force still loyal to him?

He let them pass before scrambling down the slope to untie Newton, then following a trail through the woods he worked his way around to try to come out in front of them. It wasn't easy, the many overhanging branches meant he had to keep himself low and trust in the sure-footedness of Newton to get them there. Where the main road had taken a wide arc around, they had come over the top of this wooded hill and so emerged just in time to get in position, adopting the stance of a country Mountie doing his rounds. Sitting astride Newton in the middle of the road, he became visible to the others as they came around a bend and onto a straight stretch, reining in their horses quickly to come to a stop just in front of him. Newton remained impervious throughout, not so much as a flinch from the horse at the sight of the oncoming riders.

"Good morning gentlemen, you appear to be in something of a hurry, especially on these country roads. We do have quite a bit of automobile traffic along here at times and it would not be good for you to encounter a car coming the other way when you are at full gallop." He nudged Newton forward until he was alongside the inspector, before removing his glove and stretching out his hand. "Nathan Grant. For today, Hope Valley's Mountie doing rounds."

The other man looked confused. "Superintendent Nathan Grant?" He thought he recognised the man's face and from the accent he guessed they were from the east, probably shipped across from Mountie Headquarters in Ottawa to fill the gaps left by the arrests of some officers in this region. "The one and only." He replied. "Perhaps you'd care to introduce yourselves and tell me the purpose of your visit, especially as it seems to require arriving at break neck speed."

Nathan was quite disconcerted when, having introduced himself and his colleagues, Inspector Simpson then informed him that he was here on confidential business with Judge Avery. "I'm going to assume that this is to do with the investigation being carried out because otherwise, as senior Mountie in the area and your superior, I would expect you to be dealing with me. Does Bill Avery know that you are coming?"

The other officer shook his head before replying. "I'm not sure. Our coming over here was all very last minute. We have been stationed at Clearwater and only received our instruction yesterday afternoon. If you wish to accompany us to Hope Valley that is fine but if you have rounds to finish then we will just continue on our way." The dismissive attitude shown by this Mountie worried him but given the current circumstances there was little he could do to challenge it for now. Still uncertain of their true purpose he decided that the area he had not yet covered could be added to this evening's rounds, even if it meant delegating some to another of the Mounties. For now he didn't like the idea of leaving Bill to face these men unannounced.

He could feel anger and frustration building inside him and struggled not to let it show in his voice. "It's a long way from Ottawa to Clearwater, have you been over this way very long?" Philip Simpson could almost read the questions going around in Nathan Grant's mind right now but he was determined not to say anything to him. "We were sent through to act as back up for your investigation should headquarters think someone less involved was required to step in. Also to look at the overall situation and see if we could come up with an answer on how to deal with this area. It's an ongoing process."

Nathan felt a sense of unease about what was going to happen. Was there something they had missed here? Or someone? He would trust all of his men with his life but perhaps there was something he didn't know. They slowed the pace from there into town, Nathan having pointed out that their horses were beginning to show signs of tiredness. "I don't care how urgent your business is with Bill Avery, I am taking you straight to the livery to deal with the horses before you go anywhere else." Reluctantly the other three agreed. Nathan was relieved as he wanted that brief time to warn Bill of their arrival and make sure his men were there in support should it be needed. Feeling otherwise useless he would just have to wait and see what developed and what they were able to tell him.

This day that he had started with such a positive manner had suddenly become totally different and he wasn't sure what he could do about it. An unannounced visit by other Mounties in the current climate within the force always had official business written all over it. Dealing with a judge meant that it was important and came from high up in the ranks. That they had been here in the wings meant that the top men weren't sure about something.

He knew if he had asked Cecilia to telephone her stepfather or uncle to find out what was going on she would have done it, albeit reluctantly. Like him she tried to keep that family connection out of everything they did and the present circumstances were no exception. Whatever was going to happen to him in The RCMP he would deal with it himself. Or if he no longer had a future there then it would be an opportunity for a new beginning and maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.