Chapter 132 – Letter From The Russells

"Let's open this pack." Wynn said. "Maybe if we get lucky there will be something in it."

Jacobs grabbed the pack and brought it back to the table. As he started pulling out things, Dee was making a note of what there was. It was mostly clothes and bits of food. When the pack was empty, Bill looked at the other three.

"We go through every pocket and scrap of paper." Bill said. "We look through everything."

"I agree." Wynn said. "There has to be something here. We need to figure out what is going on and who this is. We need to figure this situation out. There is too much going on to not be careful. We need more information and there has to be some sort of clue."

Jacobs looked at the bag to make sure that he hadn't missed anything. Bill and Wynn started going through the pockets of the clothes. Dee grabbed the food tins and started opening them. He opened a tin of tobacco.

"Dad." Dee said. "I think you need to see this."

"What did you find?" Wynn asked.

Dee laid out the newspaper clippings that he found. They were all pictures of Jack and/or Elizabeth with Jack crossed out.

"I found some as well." Bill said, laying another clipping on the table.

Wynn moved all the pieces of newspaper onto a plain piece of paper, so as to not continue to touch them. He wasn't sure that Bill could get fingerprints, but he also didn't want what little evidence they had to be ruined.

"What does that say?" Jacobs asked.

"Don't touch the little princess." Bill read.

"Can we conclude that they were after Jack and Beth?" Wynn asked.

"I agree." Jacobs said. "But who sent them?"

"My guess would be Charles Kensington." Dee said. "After that little display the last couple of days. I think that this might have been a backup plan. Whether or not William was in on it, I don't know. The only one that ever called Beth a little princess was William or Charles. If this was a backup plan, then the person had to be in town or nearby to see what happened. Which means that this person might have actually seen Jack and Beth."

"I agree." Wynn said. "Charles would be my number one suspect. But we can't rule out other people. Jack has taken down a lot of big names lately."

"You guys would know better." Jacobs said. "But we need to add the Thorntons to a protection detail. This may be related to the escaped prisoner and it may not. We can't make a determination one way or the other right now."

"I agree." Wynn said. "It will be easier with Jack recovering and Charlotte and my wife helping with school."

"I will get a wire out." Dee said, getting up.

"Wire Union City." Wynn said. "See if they can spare anyone until the protection detail arrives."

"On it." Dee said heading out the door.

"Let's see if we find anything else." Wynn said.

They continued to look through the stuff.

"Hey, I think I found something." Bill said. "It isn't much."

"What is it?" Wynn asked.

"It is part of an address." Bill said. "From what I can make out, I think that it is in Hamilton, maybe a business or something."

"Why do you think that?" Jacobs asked.

"Here look." Bill said.

Bill slid the piece over to Jacobs and he looked at it.

"That isn't Hamilton." Jacobs said. "It is Montreal. Little Italy to be more specific. I think that it is a restaurant there. Mario's or something like that. Great food, questionable characters."

"Are you sure?" Wynn asked.

"Yes." Jacobs said. "My grandfather loves their tiramisu. Let me wire a contact in Montreal and see what he knows."

"Good." Wynn said. "Try to be discreet. Especially since we don't know what we are dealing with. It could still be connected to the other situation."

"I will." Jacobs said.

Jacobs headed out just as Dee was coming back.

"Where is he going?" Dee asked.

"To check something?" Wynn said. "What did you learn?"

"Union City is sending us their five cadets." Dee said. "They were going to gather their gear and be on the road within thirty minutes."

"Cadets?" Bill asked.

"I forgot that they had five cadets there." Wynn said. "It is a new program that Armstrong wanted to try and give some of the top cadets experience before they graduate. It might help with placing them in places that we need and not having them at forts or larger cities to gain the needed experience."

"Armstrong sent three groups of five cadets out for six weeks." Dee said. "Five to Union City. Five to Fort Garry and five Medicine Hat. It sounds like we might be getting the five from Medicine Hat as well. I am not sure that is the route that I would have taken but it is what it is. We can use the bodies and if they stand guard, we can get other things done. Armstrong wanted them to learn and this will be trial by fire."

Bill shook his head. He wasn't happy, but agreed that it was better than nothing. He just didn't like the idea of babysitting a bunch of cadets. There was a reason that he only taught a couple of times at the academy.

"How is your Italian?" Wynn asked.

"Rusty." Dee said. "Why?"

"Take your reports and go do them at the jail." Wynn said. "Don't identify yourself, but let McGinty go if you want. Bill said that the guys were yelling in a foreign language. I think it might be Italian based on what we know. See if you can catch anything. Try to let McGinty know not to identify you and see if he caught anything.

"Got it." Dee said. "I guess I will be over there. I told Jack and Beth that I would be back with the wagon at about nine thirty."

"We got it." Bill said. "This is more important. I think we need to be careful about Jack and/or Beth being out right now. Whatever happens, they are not to be alone right now. Especially outside of the house."

"I am with Bill on this." Wynn said.

Dee nodded, grabbed his stuff and then headed over to the jail.

"Think he will get anything?" Bill asked.

"I don't know." Wynn said. "It is a long shot, but I have to try."

After Elizabeth finished her three return letters, she sat back and took a deep breath. She had purposely waited to open the Russell letter last. Elizabeth picked up the stuff from Andrew Russell. She read through the top cover letter again. The next thing that she did was flip through the paperwork and she found a second envelope. She opened it and pulled out a handwritten letter with a photo of the girls. She looked at the photo and thought it was so cute. She pulled out the frame and put the picture in it. Elizabeth then opened the letter from Andrew and was surprised. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and counted to ten before reading the letter.

Dear Jack and Liz

I wanted to include this in the paperwork, but I didn't want you to get it beforehand. As you have found, I have included the picture of the girls, sorry that it took so long to get it to you. I am sure that this paperwork is a surprise, but please know that I know what I am doing. This was not something that was undertaken lightly. This was only done after lots of consideration and prayer. I feel even more confident about this after meeting you as well as speaking to Wynn more about things. I have to be honest with you, Jack. Part of the reason that I wanted to meet you was more than to thank you for rescuing the girls. The other part of meeting you was I wanted to know if I was doing the right thing and now I am sure of it, especially since you have Liz as your life partner.

So there are a few things that you need to know because I want to be honest. Andy never wanted his girls raised to be spoiled like many in our circle. He wanted them to know about the world and experience things that unfortunately don't happen a lot in the circle that I was raised in. Liz will understand. I also need to let you know that I honestly can't raise the girls. My wife's health is failing and Andy's death has only made things worse. Her heart is weak and I don't know how much longer that she will be able to hold on, the doctors are surprised that she has lasted this long. Andy didn't mind having help for the girls, but he also wanted to be as hands on as possible. I know that I can't provide that as my own health hasn't been the best the last few years. My older girls are married and living in Europe. I also know that is not what Andy wanted for his girls. My youngest is eighteen and as much as she loves her nieces, she is not ready to be a full-time mother. I know that Andy would approve of you as someone to raise his girls. Not only are you a Mountie, but you are an excellent man. Liz wouldn't choose anything less. Beyond all that, you have a biological connection to the girls and they seem to respond to you.

I know that this is a lot to ask a young couple to take on, but please know that there is no pressure. I will do what I can if you can't take the girls, just know that I may ask again. As Liz has probably figured out, the girls will come with trust funds that you will be able to access if you want otherwise they will be there for the girls when they turn twenty-five. They will be able to pull money from them for educational purposes. Even at twenty-five access will be limited. I will also provide anything that you need for the girls. I will leave security up to you, but would recommend it at least when traveling. I also know that it would be easier for the girls to have your last name, so if that is something that you and Liz want, I will not object.

I know that this is the right thing, after meeting you and seeing you with the girls, I know that this is what Andy would want. Please talk about it and pray about it before you do anything. I want to know that you are both fully on board. Like I said before, I know that this is a lot to ask of anyone, especially a young married couple. Please consider doing this, I know that Andy thought the world of Liz and I am sure that you, Jack, and Andy would have been great friends.

Sincerely, Andrew Russell, Sr.

Elizabeth sat stunned for a few moments. She looked at the letter and then at the picture frame that sat before her. Suddenly she knew what she wanted. She looked at Charlotte at the table then, she looked at Jack. Finally, she found her voice.

"Jack." Elizabeth said.

"What?" Jack said.

"I think that you need to read this." Elizabeth said.

"What is it?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth came over and sat next to Jack. She had the photo frame and the letter.

"Here." Elizabeth said.

Jack took the frame and looked at it.

"Where did this come from?" Jack asked.

"It was in the paperwork." Elizabeth said. "Along with this letter. I think that you need to read it."

Jack took the letter from Elizabeth's hand. He started reading and then looked at her. She just nodded for him to continue reading.