Chapter 43 The Pinkerton Detectives

Ingleside, Prince Edward Island

Meanwhile, back at Ingleside, Miss Cornelia – Mrs. Marshall Elliott, that is – stopped over to gossip with Susan. The two got into a heated debate. They thought that none of the children overheard the topic of their debate. But the children did indeed hear the topic of the debate.

"Hey, Jem," said Faith Meredith. "Shut up and listen to what Susan and Mrs. Elliott are saying."

Jem shut up and listened.

"Cover your ears, Faith," said Jem. "This talk isn't fit for female ears."

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Jem," said Faith. "They're both women."

Jem said, "Yeah, but such talk isn't fit for your ears."

"Oh, I've already heard plenty," said Faith. "They are arguing whether your dad or my dad looks better shirtless. Susan even said that she knows for a fact that your dad looks ripped when he takes off his shirt. Especially now that he sports that new tattoo of his."

"Dad has a tat?" said Jem. "Why, my theory is correct. Dad is a hypocrite."

"Dad is Hippocrates?" said Rilla. "I thought that Dad was just an ordinary doctor."

"No," said Jem. "Dad is a hypocrite."

"How so?" said Walter.

"Why, when I was much younger – Shirley's age, I guess – I wanted to go to Harbour Mouth to see Captain Bill Taylor tattoo a snake on Joe Drew's arm. All the other boys went to see it. Dad told me no. I wasn't allowed to go see it. And here, I come to find out from Faith that dad has his own tattoo."

Faith said, "I don't think that your dad has a thing against tattoos. He has a thing against you going to Harbour Mouth. And a thing against Captain Bill Taylor. My dad said that Captain Taylor is mired in sin. He sins both day and night."

Faith whispered one of the sins that Captain Taylor confessed to Reverend Meredith into Jem's ear. Jem's face turned redder than his hair.

"How does he sin?" asked Rilla.

"Captain Taylor doesn't put his toys away when he is finished playing with them," Jem said quickly. "He doesn't listen to his older brother either. Both things that you should be doing right now, Rilla."

Then Jem turned to Faith. "Great, now Rilla is going to ask Susan about sin."

Faith said, "Your dad's new tattoo is a heart with your mom's name written inside."

"Oh, yuck, Faith," said Jem. "I don't want to think of my dad that way. You of all people shouldn't either. You're the minister's daughter, for Pete's sake."

"I'm not the one thinking of your dad that way," said Faith. "Susan Baker is."

Jem said, "Okay, enough of Susan. She's not paying any attention to us. Let's go on a little sleuthing mission. Like a Pinkerton Detective story."

"What did you have in mind?" said Faith.

Jem said, "Dad got a new book. I see him reading it in his office, when he thinks that Mother isn't looking. However, whenever Mother comes over to see what he is doing, he hides it. He doesn't want Mother to see him reading it. I know where he keeps this new book. I need to see what it is."

Walter said, "Jem, you know what Dad said about us going in his office when he isn't there. He said that if he ever catches us, we won't be able to sit for a week."

Jem said, "Do you honestly think that Mother would ever let Dad spank us? Besides, Dad and Mom aren't home. Susan isn't paying any attention to any of us. If this is anyone's fault, it's Susan's."

"That's because Susan is too busy thinking about your dad shirtless," said Faith.

"Faith, that's enough," said Jem. "Are you going to help me or not?"

Jem and Faith entered Dr. Blythe's office. A few moments later, Jem said, "I think I found it, Faith. I found Dad's new book."

Jem and Faith stared at the cover of the book.

"Well, this wasn't at all what I expected," said Jem.

"Did you ever read this book, Jem?" asked Faith. "Or any book like this one?"

Jem shook his head. "No, Faith. I've never read any such book. These types of books aren't written for kids our age. They're for adults. Oh, I cannot believe that Dad is reading this."

Faith said, "My dad once talked about buying that book. He wanted to know what the members of his congregation read. You know, so he could use at as a subject of a Sunday sermon. That's what he said, anyway. Rosemary wouldn't let him buy it, though. She said that it wasn't good use of the household money. However, lots of other folks probably own that book. I think that Mr. Ford owns a copy of it."

Jem said, "Yes, but Mr. Ford is an entirely different type of man than Dad. I'm not surprised that Mr. Ford reads books like this. Dad doesn't ever read books like this, though. Oh, this must be a secret between you and me, Faith. Mother cannot ever find out that Dad is reading this."

Faith said, "Yes, Jem. It will be our secret. Your mom would be extremely hurt if she found out that your dad is hiding that book from her."