Chapter 76 – Gowen's Mess

Abigail knew that pain of losing a child and spouse. Granted Nora was still alive, but it was a loss nonetheless. It made her quickly rethink the conversation that she and Bill had when he first arrived in town. It made a lot more sense now then it did then. Bill did understand her pain and he was trying to be there for her in the only way that he knew how. Abigail wondered if Bill had ever really dealt with the pain that he felt at the loss of his son and wife. She didn't have time to think about that, but she made a note to talk to Bill about it when things calmed down and there was time to sit and talk. It wasn't that Abigail was developing romantic feelings for Bill, but she did care about him as a friend. She knew that at one point, Bill might have had romantic feelings for her. She had let him know that she was unable to return those feelings if he had them. She was careful to let him down gently and still be friends.

"I am sorry also." Wynn said. "Thank you for sharing, but that doesn't change the fact that Gowen and Mullins were in business together and stole from this town. At least it gives us more names and some place to have Mounties look for more connections."

"I will help in any way that I can." Bill said. "You know that. As much as I wanted to nail Gowen to the wall myself … (sigh). The least that I can do is make sure that his actions can no longer hurt good people."

"Thank you, Bill." Wynn said. "I know that you will do what is needed to help."

"How come we didn't know this when Gowen was arrested?" Jack asked.

"I know that the task force was looking into Gowen." Dee said. "But we were coming up empty. We knew that he had more money and assets, but couldn't find records of anything. We knew that we were missing something and that the right piece of information would help to unravel the maze of dead ends that we were running into. I assume that there was something in the paperwork that was sent back to Calgary and Hamilton. When we wired for information on Christopher Mullins, the connection to Gowen was made.

Originally, things from Gowen's house and office were sent to Union City to be sorted and marked. It was assigned to a number of Mountie's. It was only as things arrived in Hamilton and the task force started going through things to look for additional players were other connections made. Individual Mounties who didn't know that whole story were tasked with going through things and making a list of what was in the crate and any names mentioned. It would only be someone with knowledge of what was going on in the task force that would make the connections.

From what I understand, as connections were made, that information would be sent to a specific Inspector to have him look into things further. It would be the responsibility of that Inspector to find everything possible on the name they were given. They would then make reports back to the task force to see if there was more information or other connections made. Even individual Inspectors didn't have a full picture of what was going on. That was done to protect everyone involved. We knew that there were other players that the first sweep did not catch. We didn't want them to go after a certain individual to try and derail the entire investigation.

Many of the Inspectors were in Calgary, so I think that is why the information was headed to Calgary. As far as I know that task force is still looking into any connection to the twenty-two arrested before Christmas. There are currently twelve Mounties whose sole focus is just on the task force and making connections, with other work being handed off where needed. There have been other arrests and warrants issued. As they make additional connections, they look into those and see how they are connected and who they may be working with. The Mounties are going through hundreds of names of individuals and companies. It is a huge mess that is going to take years to sort out. Right Sir?"

"Right Dee." Wynn said. "That was why I didn't make the connection. I would only get a report when an arrest was made. I wasn't aware of all the information that the task force had. We initially assigned fifteen Mounties plus seven more just to do research to the task force and things were handed off to at least five different Inspectors. There are several other Mounties that have been asked for information because a person of interest is within their jurisdiction. I would get reports when arrest warrants were filled. That is why Dee has more information about the workings of the task force since he was a member of the task force of the initial investigation and continues to do other research for them."

Abigail looked around the room trying to figure out the next move, but she knew that she was just going to have to ask. She wasn't sure how much more she could handle. Jack saw the frustration on Abigail's face. He was just as angry that they were not out from under Henry Gowen's thumb. Bill was also angry. If he wasn't angry at Gowen before, he had a whole new level of anger for using Jonas' name. To Bill that was as low as one could go – setting up a fake business using the name of your former girlfriend's dead father.

"So what happens now?" Abigail asked.

"I am sure that the company has been or will be seized." Wynn said. "I don't have a choice, but I have to order a full audit of the town books. I will also try to see what we can do about repaying the town since this is a very large sum of money."

"Wynn." Abigail said. "We just had that audit in January because of Gowen, why didn't this show up?"

"I don't know." Wynn said. "But I will be looking into that."

Bill, Jack and Abigail all exchanged a look of worry. They were all wondering what a new audit would find. Abigail was also thinking about what she was going to tell the town council. They hadn't been happy with the audit in January, but now to have to deal with another one, it wasn't looking good. She knew that people were going to question her leadership. She just hoped that she would be able to withstand the storm that was coming.

"Obviously." Dee said. "The auditor was happy with any answers posed to the various companies. Do you have the name of the auditor that was here?"

"Let me look." Abigail said.

Abigail got up and went to her desk and started looking for paperwork to see if she could find the names of the two people that were there in January.

"Sir." Jack said. "I think that if it is okay with you, Green and Carver can go, the rest of us will stay and figure things out."

"I agree." Wynn said.

Wynn turned to the two Mounties and stood. They stood at attention, as they were scared of Wynn when he was this mad.

"I expect what you two have heard here WILL NOT be repeated." Wynn said. "If I find otherwise, you will not be a Mountie for long. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir." Green and Carver said at the same time.

"Good." Wynn said. "I assume you still have assigned tasks to complete. Please see to them."

Both snapped to a salute that was returned by both Wynn and Jack. The two men then left. Jack then looked around the room and knew that it was going to be a long evening. He saw the coffee and started to get up to get some. Joe saw him.

"Here." Joe said. "Let me. Anyone else want some? I have a feeling there is still a lot to talk about."

Joe poured coffee for everyone before sitting down with a cup for himself. He had put another pot on, since he figured that it would be needed.

"I get that Chris is in trouble." Andy said. "But I don't see how this affects me. I haven't done anything wrong and I didn't know what Chris was doing. I had told him back in September that I didn't want to do business with Henry Gowen and that was the end of it. I don't think that I have any more information for you."

"You are not going anywhere yet." Wynn said. "I am also ordering a full audit of FootHills Mining Company. I am also going to have them look more into Crownsnest and where the money came from for that mine. I am also under obligation to notify the FBI in the States and let them know what we have found since Mr Mullins is technically a citizen of the United States. I am sure that they will be looking into your uncle's business. This is far from over. I will do what I have to do and so will the authorities in the States. If you have nothing to hide, then it shouldn't be a problem. I still have questions for you."

"Fine." Andy said. "I will help you any way that I can. I have tried to warn my uncle for years that Chris was up to no good, but he took the word of my cousins, his sons. It was only after learning about Crownsnest that he realized that Chris was out of control. May I ask how much money was stolen from the town?"

Wynn looked to Abigail and then Jack and Bill. He received a small nod from all three.

"It was just over $5000." Wynn said. "And that is just what is obvious. There may be more after a formal audit. I know that there was five hundred dollars missing in January, but it was chalked up to poor accounting or Gowen not recording something properly and it was paid back out of assets seized from Gowen. That is just from the 1910 ledger."

"Chris will pay this town back." Andy said. "I will make sure of that. What is going to happen to him?"

"I am going to have him taken to Calgary to stand before the magistrate." Wynn said. "I am sure that there will be more charges to come but for now, I am going to charge him with fraud and embezzlement. I am also going to be ordering all of his assets seized at least until this is figured out."

"Here." Andy said, pulling his checkbook from his front pocket. "I will pay the town back and then I can deal with Chris. That is a large sum of money for anyone, but especially a town this size."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "But this doesn't change anything. There is still going to be an audit and Chris is still going to face charges. He is looking at a long time in Medicine Hat prison. After which he will be sent back to the States and then he will be barred from entering the country."

"I have Chris' things from his room." Andy said. "After I had him arrested, I got all of his stuff and I currently have it all in my room at the saloon. I had planned on going through his briefcase to see what paperwork he had. I will turn it over to you guys. Like I said, I didn't know what Chris was up to and I don't want to get in trouble. I respect the law and am extremely angry with Chris about how he has disgraced me and my uncle."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I will have McGinty here, go and get it with you."

McGinty and Andy stood to go get the briefcase. Jack waited until the men left before turning to Wynn.

"Sir." Jack said. "How is this going to affect the recovery of Rock Creek and Silverton? Much less the new sale of the mine here in Hope Valley?"

"I think that he is telling the truth." Wynn said. "I don't think that he had anything to do with what Mr Mullins was up to. I will still have his company audited and I will be informing the authorities in the United States. What they do is up to them. I don't see this affecting the mines in any way. The most that will come of it, is that Mr Yeager may get a warning and a fine for not reporting what he knew sooner about Crownsnest. I will let the Bureau of Mines know that Andy has been helpful and likewise will let the government know that he was helpful as well. Like I said, he appears to have been honest with us."

"What do you make of him wanting to pay for things?" Bill asked.

"I think that after the mess that Andy and his uncle have found themselves in at Crownsnest." Dee said. "I think that he is just trying to get ahead of the mess. I think that they are men that are used to paying to fix problems. I agree with Dad, Andy seems like he has been honest with us. And from everything that I know, Crownsnest appeared to be different from other mines run by either company. I think that the town goes ahead with the sale of the mine and see what comes of the audit. Right now, we have no proof that he did anything wrong. I doubt that he knew what was going on, his anger at Mr Mullins seemed genuine."

"I agree." Abigail said. "If Wynn feels that it is okay to move forward. We do so. What we know about Mr Mullins won't affect the way that we treat Mr Yeager. He has a right to be treated fairly unless proven otherwise. We can't help it if someone that worked for his uncle is a lying cheat. So are we good?"

"Yes." Bill said. "I will not say anything, but I will be on a higher alert for the time being."

"I agree." Jack said. "It is not right to hold Andy responsible for the actions of others. He does appear that he wants to make things right. I think that we give him the benefit of the doubt, but at the same time be cautious moving forward with him."

"Jack." Wynn said. "How are you holding up? There was one more thing that I wanted to go over, but if you are tired it can wait."

"I am getting tired." Jack said. "I think I should get back before I push it too hard. Faith didn't really want me out after that setback."

"Okay." Wynn said. "When McGinty gets back. I will have him and Dee help you back. I have Taylor and MacDonald coming from Buxton to get Mr Mullins and take him to Calgary tomorrow. There should also be another Mountie, Jeremiah Jacobs arriving at some point before the end of the week. I have dropped Rushman to Corporal and sent him to Fort St John after his latest little stunt in Rock Creek."

"Taylor?" Bill said. "I thought that he was stripped of his badge after the Garrison thing."

"Different Taylor." Wynn said. "James Taylor was stripped of his badge and is no longer a Mountie. This is Captain Alexander Taylor. Apparently there is no relation between them. It just so happened that Superintendent Anderson assigned another Captain Taylor to Buxton."

"Okay." Jack said.

"Cross still in Fort St John?" Bill asked.

"Yes." Wynn said. "Why?"

"Just checking." Bill said with a smile. "Rushman is in for a rude awakening. That is all. If you don't know it, Cross is seriously old school and he doesn't take lip from anyone. He even scares me. There is a reason that he works alone and likes remote postings. If there is one thing that Cross hates more than criminals, it is spoiled brats."

"I met him a number of years ago." Wynn said. "But I never actually worked with him. He was always one to take the very remote postings. However, I did ask him to teach Rushman a lesson like we used to."

"Well." Bill said. "Rushman will get what he deserves. I know that the people of Fort St John have their own way of doing things. If Rushman crosses the wrong person up there, they will handle it on their own and we may only learn of things after it is done. I have also learned that if you don't respect the people up there, they can make life extremely difficult and in an area like that, you need the help of neighbors. I have been up there a few times. Nice people, just don't cross them."

As Bill finished speaking, Andy and McGinty walked back into the office. McGinty handed the briefcase to Wynn and then looked at Jack.

"Hey." McGinty said. "Let's get you back. You look tired and I know that you need your rest. Don't want you having another setback. As much as I love Hope Valley I don't want to be here forever covering for you."

Jack scrunched up his face at Joe. He really wanted to stick out his tongue, but felt that it was a bit too childish in the setting that they were in.

"Thank you." Jack said. "Dee was waiting for you to help me."

"Let's go then." McGinty said.

Dee and McGinty went to help Jack back to the cafe and made sure that he was settled. McGinty then planned to head to the mining office and take it easy. Dee wondered what else that his dad wanted to talk to Jack about, but he figured that he would know soon enough. Then he realized it probably had to do with who was staying and how much help would Jack and Bill need.