Chapter 7

When Rebecca woke after the events of her disastrous early morning, it was afternoon. Maggie brought her a thick stew to eat in her room and a note from Verne. He wanted to talk to her.

"Good," she said to the note. "I need to talk to you, too."

After she finished her brunch, Verne was shown into her inner room for a private meeting. He sat on the bed for lack of any other place, as Rebecca had the only chair. The forlorn look on his face told her knew of Phileas's capture. The question in his eyes did not have to be voiced. It screamed to her of its own accord.

"We need to proceed as planned," Rebecca said to his beseeching expression. "David and Phileas will not have another day to wait. The trial, such as it will be, will be today for sure. Considering what happened last night, Mr. Harris will have to fill a more prominent role."

Verne did not think that would happen. The attorney had spoken to him this morning. Harris was terrified after his interview with Fogg.

"Harris thinks he is amid an investigation over the O'Donnell massacre. He told me what happened last night, along with a quick plea for me to leave the city before becoming more involved. It would not surprise me if he left town today."

Rebecca took in his assessment with rising anger. "If the man thinks he can run out on me, he needs to think again. I needed all the help I can muster. Mr. Harris will just have to steel himself to the task."

All crown officer, Rebecca stood and donned her hat, gloves, and new shawl to find their reluctant helper.

It's time for one of my moments.


Jules had been right about Mr. Harris's lost nerve. They found him heading out of the courthouse on his way to a waiting horse, which was holding a pair of fat saddlebags. Jules caught him by the arm and introduced him to Rebecca in an exaggerated show of friendliness. Rebecca greeted him by taking the other arm firmly and steering him toward the tearoom across the street. "Let's go have a nice cup of tea and a talk," she insisted with a smile.

"Miss, I am really very bus–"

Rebecca covertly twisted his wrist as she took his arm. The resulting pain cut off his words. He stopped trying to break free from her. Thus subdued, his companions steered him to the tearoom with a minimum of fuss.

"Now," Rebecca said as they seated themselves, "Where do you think you are going? You were given your orders. They did not include leaving town before the task was complete."

The woman's words unnerved Harris anew. Here was another of the crown's investigators and Jules… was he also a Crown agent? He looked at Jules and crumbled.

"I thought you were my friend?"

Harris tried to stand and leave, only to have Rebecca's iron grip catch his wrist and Verne's hand catch him at the shoulder, forcing him to return to his seat.

"I am part of the investigation," Rebecca confirmed. "I have been collecting information in town about what happened. So far, you have not been implicated in any wrongdoing. However, should you decide not to cooperate with our investigation and the rescue of David Drummond, I will have to renew my efforts to see how you might be found involved. I would think acting as a prosecutor in a sham trial designed to lynch a crown officer will justify a long look in your direction."

Rebecca's voice was low, but the words grew harder with every syllable. The man before her wilted at the implications.

"What crown officer?" Mr. Harris asked, dumbfounded. "And I'm not the prosecutor. I have been defending him."

"Why David Drummond, of course," Jules answered. "How did you think he could have had the power to move the information he has been gathering to England, and move it high enough to get results?"

"Well… I never thought…" Harris fumbled his words as his brain tried to catch up. "I always thought Drummond had some high connection because of his ancestry. How they all could have been so blind? All the messages I've sent to him were used by the crown?"

"You must see the sham trial Kingston intends can't happen. As an officer of the courts, you must know preventing the Queen's justice from being perverted is crucial. I assume you took on Drummond's defense for that purpose?"

"Well, yes… Yes, of course I did."

Rebecca said, "Judge Brady and Mr. Marshall are as good as hung. You, however, could avoid implication if you can find enough spine to save yourself. Up to now, you have sat back in safety and allowed Drummond to take all the risks. You no longer have such a luxury. If you mean to survive this with your honor intact, you will step up and do as you have been instructed. Otherwise, you can hang with the others. The choice is entirely yours."

The lawyer just stared at her, gaging her.

Rebecca gave him a long stare back, waiting for his answer.

Harris was not a brave man, but he was no fool. "I will do my part," he said.