Chapter 1 – A Busy Sunday
Nathan moved to unarm and handcuff Delaney, while Jack went to the phone. It took both Nathan and White to get Delaney into handcuffs and his serge removed. Jack was first connected to Rosemary and he said two words – close ranks. She knew exactly what that was and immediately sprung into action. Jack then had Florence connect him with a number in Hamilton.
("Delaney resistance." The man said.)
"Commissioner." Jack said. "Sorry to call you early on a Sunday morning, but we have a situation here."
("How is your son?" Commissioner Delaney asked.)
"He will be fine." Jack said. "I assume you have talked to Collins and know that your son volunteered to come from Calgary to investigate Bouchard. He has just admitted that he was going to sweep things under the rug and just turn Bouchard over to the Pinkerton from the States. He said he received a call from Hope Valley on Friday to put operation swift into action which he admitted was a plan put in place by Hargraves to clean up Bouchard's mess."
("Put him on the phone." The Commissioner said.)
Jack nodded to Nathan who brought Delaney over. Jack held the phone so that Delaney could hear, not that he had to hold it close as his father yelled at him. The whole room heard what was said. When the Commissioner was done yelling he said to put Jack back on the phone. Jack heard and took the phone back.
"This is Jack again." He said.
("With the personnel that you have there." The Commissioner asked. "Can you begin to carry out this investigation and remain objective?")
"Yes, Sir." Jack said. "I have retired Mountie Inspector Bill Avery here as well as Constable Nathan Grant and three Mounties from Union City."
("Then get things moving." The Commissioner said. "Me and my team will be on the train in less than two hours. I will be calling O'Reilly and having him head that way as well. See you soon, and hopefully this will be wrapped up shortly. You can place my son in a cell across from Bouchard and no one, I mean no one talks to either of them until I get there. Also record any conversations between the two.")
"Yes, Sir." Jack said.
Jack hung up the phone, then turned to look at his fellow Mounties. Just looking at Jack and they realized that rank didn't matter, he was in charge and at that point no one had a problem with it. A man that had the Commissioner's home number and ability to call him on a Sunday morning was a man they wanted to follow. The three men from Union City had all heard the stories about Jack Thornton. He was a legend in the force and with him not being dead, his legacy would only grow.
"Nathan, take him across the way." Jack said. "Tell Lee 'close ranks' and he is to record everything either of them say."
"On it." Nathan said.
As Nathan led Delaney out the door, Jack turned to the three from Union City.
"White, Thompson and Clinton." Jack said. "Go deal with the guests who were staying at the hotel. Search them and their belongings. You are looking for large amounts of cash, loose jewels or anything you think is suspicious. Get Mike Hickum and Pastor Joseph Canfield to help you. Once they have been searched, make sure they get to the train station. Tell that Pinkerton to come talk to me."
"Yes, Sir." White said.
He led the other three out and went to start their assigned tasks. Bill looked at Jack.
"You know what you are doing?" Bill asked.
"What I started years ago." Jack said. "What was it you said when we arrested Houston?"
"Evil spreads like wildfire." Bill said. "And sometimes the only way to fight fire is with fire."
"Exactly." Jack said. "Rosemary will take care of Elizabeth and Little Jack. We need to deal with problems here in town. Something tells me that more of Hargraves's lackeys will be heading here. We had tried to get them all, but it was more important to get the leadership that was heading the corruption and we knew that the rest would either show themselves or fall in line. Here, we need to get ahead of things and figure out what they are looking for in the saloon. Because there is something Bouchard and by extension Hargraves doesn't want us to find."
"Then I say we start there." Bill said. "What about your house?"
"Other than Little Jack's toys." Jack said. "It didn't look all that different then the day I left for Fort Clay. But I will have Rosemary deal with that later."
"When we searched the car." Bill said. "We found a bunch of papers. They are currently locked in the safe at the jail. I would really like to go through them and then personally search every inch of that man's office."
"Then do it." Jack said. "Maybe keep the papers here."
"Got it." Bill said. "What are you going to do?"
"Have a conversation with that Pinkerton and then start searching the hotel/saloon." Jack said.
Nathan came back in.
"Jack." Nathan said. "Can I catch a short nap? Or do you need my help?"
Jack closed his eyes and thought for a moment.
"Take care of Allie." Jack said. "Make sure she is safe. I don't trust Bouchard or his family at the moment. You can leave her with Elizabeth and Rosemary if you need. Rosemary is the daughter of a Mountie and a great shot if needed. She will do whatever is needed to protect them. Catch a couple hours and then check back in to see where we are. I want every square inch of that hotel/saloon searched. If we have to pull up floor boards, so be it."
"Then see you in a couple of hours." Nathan said. "Oh. Check with Richard Wolf. He helped with a lot of the repairs in the hotel after the fire. Joseph helped as well. Fiona worked with Bouchard at the oil company, so she might know something."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I will see you later. Bill if you need some sleep you get a nap as well. With the other three in town, we can hold the fort for a bit. I also know that there are plenty of men and women that I can call on if needed to help. Too bad Abigail isn't here, she would have never allowed this foolishness to get this far."
Bill looked at Jack as Nathan left the office.
"I know you are right." Bill said. "But her mother needed her."
"I know." Jack said. "I saw her back east one day. I didn't reveal myself, but I did talk to her. I told her that she reminded me of someone I used to know. She told me that she was caring for her mother, but wished to return back to the town she had grown to love out west. I think she regretted leaving so quickly as she did, but from what I understand the information regarding her mother's condition was sketchy at best."
"I know." Bill said. "I have written her a few letters, especially with the development of things with Bouchard and Elizabeth. She was worried about that man from the start. She quickly realized that he was only out for himself and was up to something he shouldn't have been. She tried to encourage him to move along, but the more that she encouraged it the more he dug his heels in about staying."
"Not surprised." Jack said.
…. …. …. ….
Nathan left as Carol Lockland was walking toward Bill's office.
"I hope we get to sit down and talk later." Carol said. "People here are nice enough, but not very forthcoming with information. Any idea when I can speak to Bouchard?"
"You will need to talk to the person leading this investigation." Nathan said. "The people here are protective of their own. Right now you are an outsider. People won't talk until they know you can be trusted."
Nathan walked away, leaving Carol staring after him. The man confounded her and stirred some things in her at the same time. She wanted to talk to him and about more than the case. Carol wasn't the only one that was left confused. Nathan was as well. He was tired and didn't have the energy to think about why the woman left him feeling so discombobulated. She intrigued, excited and frustrated him all in one breath. She stirred something in Nathan that he didn't understand. He thought about asking Bill or Jack about it, but he didn't want to sound like he was as naive about love as he was. Nathan resisted the urge to look back at Carol where she stood at the bottom of the stairs. He knew that she hadn't gone up the steps yet, he also knew that she was watching him. Nathan didn't have to look back to know those things.
Carol drew a shaky breath and then went up the stairs. She knocked and went in.
"Can I help you?" Jack asked.
"You asked to speak to me." Carol said. "Carol Jean Lockland, Pinkerton."
She walked towards Jack with her hand extended. She thought she would be able to charm him like she did most men. What she didn't know was that Jack Thornton was basically immune to such things. Jack wasn't impressed with the woman who stood before him. To him, she looked like someone who used her looks and ability to flirt to get what she wanted. He didn't like those types of women and he had come across plenty of them in the last five years. Each and every time it happened, Jack thanked God for Elizabeth and someone who challenged him and kept him on his toes.
Jack looked her up and down, but stood with his hands behind his back. Bill sat there amused. He was taking notes for Jack. Carol dropped her hand and stood there.
"I thought Inspector Delaney was running the investigation." Carol said sweetly.
"My town, my investigation." Jack said.
"And you are?" Carol asked.
"Corporal Thornton." Jack said. "Have a seat."
Jack's tone was clear; it wasn't a suggestion. Carol smiled at Jack and took a seat close to him. Jack took two steps back and stared at her. Carol's ears had perked up at the mention of his name. She had heard a few stories about a Thornton, but it couldn't be the same man. The one she had heard about had been killed.
"What do you want?" Jack said.
"I have been tasked with tracking down Lucas Bouchard and speaking to him in regards to some allegations made against him." Carol said. "I have also been authorized to arrest him and take him back to the States if needed."
"Bouchard isn't going anywhere anytime soon." Jack said. "All requests to speak to a prisoner need to go through the assigned Judge and since one hasn't been assigned you will have to wait."
Carol turned and smiled at Bill.
"I am sure Judge Avery will allow me to speak to him." Carol said.
"Nope." Bill said. "Not the judge in this case. I will be the lead forensic expert."
"What am I supposed to do until then?" Carol asked.
"Sit tight and play nice." Jack said. "I will make sure you are able to get a room at the hotel later. For now, how about you tell me more about these allegations against Mr Bouchard."
"Why don't we share information?" Carol said, batting her eyes at Jack.
Bill had to cover his face before he crackled out loud. He did roll his eyes enough that Allie would have been proud. Jack just ignored her attempts to flirt.
"Fine." Jack said. "Bouchard is charged with public intoxication, driving while impaired and three counts of attempted murder of a child."
"Anything else you can share?" Carol asked.
"Not at this stage." Jack said. "Your turn."
"Fine." Carol said. "When he was in San Francisco, he was accused of hiring an underage girl and then taking her to New Orleans where he apparently traded her for whiskey to be brought back here."
"If we find any evidence of that during our investigation." Jack said. "We will make copies of the relevant reports for you."
"I had information that Bouchard was engaged or recently married." Carol said. "Any chance you can point me to the young lady?"
"Your information was flawed." Jack said.
"Anyone who might know more about him?" Carol said.
"Maybe his mother." Jack said. "But last I checked, she was in Montreal."
"According to my records." Carol said. "He lived here for five years and ran one of the central businesses in town and you are telling me you know nothing about the man?"
"I didn't say that." Jack said. "I know plenty. However, what I know I am not at liberty to share. Feel free to speak to the townspeople if you want. Dismissed."
Jack waved his hand and turned back to Bill's desk where he took a seat and picked up the phone. Carol huffed and sat there.
"Florence." Jack said. "Can you please connect me with headquarters in Union City?"
"I suggest we leave." Bill said, looking at the expression on Jack's face.
…. …. …. ….
Carol wasn't happy but she left with Bill. When he pulled the door shut and locked it with a key, she was confused.
"My office." Bill said. "I will be back before he leaves."
"Why are you all shutting me out?" Carol said. "We all have a job to do. We are all on the same side."
"That hasn't been our experience with the Pinkertons." Bill said. "So until you can be proven trustworthy, it is what it is."
"What does that mean?" Carol said.
"Years ago." Bill said. "This was a mining town. The company and ultimately the man in charge hired Pinkertons and they ran roughshod over this town and the people. After over forty men were killed in a mine explosion and the subsequent problems, people learned not to trust outsiders. Once the person can be shown to be trustworthy with no ulterior motives, then people might open up. People who remember the previous Pinkertons probably won't be as welcoming."
"I take it the previous Pinkertons were all men." Carol said.
"Yep." Bill said. "Thornton in there had the pleasure of arresting one or two."
"So that is why I was sent." Carol said.
"Probably." Bill said. "Don't take it personally. But things are different in this town. We do things differently. Usually being a woman is an advantage in this town. Just not this time."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Carol asked.
"Well." Bill said. "Maybe put your investigators hat away and just enjoy the town a little."
Bill left Carol standing at the bottom of the steps, while he walked toward the jail. Carol decided to try and do what the judge said. She put her notebook away and started across the street, when she caught sight of the church/schoolhouse. She turned and headed that way.
…. …. …. ….