Chapter 140 – Filling Jack In (long)

After Charlotte had gone done the steps, Bill turned around and looked at Jack.

"What was that?" Bill asked.

Jack just let out a frustrated groan. Wynn and Dee looked at each other and Jacobs looked at Jack. Jacobs didn't really know Jack, but he had had a few conversations with Charlotte and knew that she could be demanding. From everything that he had learned, Charlotte had not had an easy life and Jack had struggled, especially after losing his father to the job. Jacobs wondered if that didn't weigh on Jack a little more as he learned that he was going to be a father. Jacobs knew at that moment that he would do everything in his power to make sure that Jack's family was taken care of if anything ever happened to him. It wasn't that Elizabeth would need the financial support, but the support of friends and those close if something were to happen.

"Ma said something to Elizabeth this morning." Jack said. "She had a tone and attitude with Elizabeth. Elizabeth took exception to the way that Ma was talking, and calmly defended herself. She then went upstairs. After Elizabeth went upstairs, I looked at Ma and basically told her that if she couldn't accept certain things, then she needed to reconsider future visits. I then went up to check on Elizabeth. We were able to talk a little about things before Lee showed up to bring up into town. Now apparently Ma is upset and wants an apology."

"Oh." Bill said.

"I take it that there is more to the story." Wynn said.

"Yes." Jack said. "But I don't want to get into it right now."

"Okay." Wynn said. "All I am going to say is that you need to do what is right for you and Beth."

"I know." Jack said. "That is basically what I told Ma."

"Well, I am here if you need to talk." Wynn said. "But if Beth was upset and spoke in an eerie calm voice, she was more upset then she let on. Just be careful when she gets like that. She is likely to lash out when you least expect it when she gets like that."

"Thank you." Jack said.

"When she gets like that." Dee said. "She is in her own head and that can be a dangerous place to be because no one is harder on Beth than herself. Just be there for her and don't take things personally. She will probably have to write things out to make sense of them. Just make sure that once she does that, that you talk or nothing will change."

"Got it." Jack said.

"Just let me know and I can try to talk to Charlotte." Bill said.

"Thank you all." Jack said. "Now can we talk about something else."

"Okay." Wynn said. "I know that you are technically not back at work, but there are things that you need to know. Like I said last night."

"So what do I need to know?" Jack asked.

"We will get into that." Wynn said. "But I want you to promise me that you will let us know when you need a break."

"Okay." Jack said. "I am fine sitting for now, but I may tire later."

"Just let us know." Bill said.

"I don't remember where we left off last night." Wynn said. "So I apologize if we have already covered some of this. Just so everyone is on the same page, I think I might just go over the whole list. Granted I think that Jacobs and Bill know most of this, but just in case. If anyone has anything to add about any of this let me know. That goes for questions as well."

"It is okay." Jack said.

"So we covered what happened with William." Wynn said.

Jack nodded.

"We also talked about the plan with the children." Wynn said. "And I talked to you about Will Walker."

Jack nodded.

"Speaking of Will Walker." Jacobs said. "I had a conversation with him and his mother."

"How did that go?" Jack asked.

"She felt bad that Will was still causing trouble." Jacobs said. "She is making him write another apology to little Opal. Also starting Monday after school for as long as I am here, he will be spending time with me while he does his homework. He also has extra chores that his mother and I agreed on. I also clearly spelled out what would happen if he continued to act out and disrespect authority. I told him that I wasn't that far and any of you would have no problem letting me know what was going on. I promised him that he would not be happy if continued to act as he was."

"Why is he sitting with you?" Bill asked. "Also just so we are all on the same page, what did you tell him was the next step if he continued."

"Because I want to give his mother a break." Jacobs said. "I also think that he needs to learn that not all men are like his father. He needs to learn and I figured if he is with me, he can't cause trouble. As for the continued problem, my grandfather has a program that he started for young boys who get into trouble and the Mounties have to get involved. It is not well known, but he has used it and it works well. He bought some land and built a house on it. He will take one to three boys at a time who need some extra attention. Between my grandfather, uncle and a few other men they spend time with the boys on this land. The catch is that the boys do most of the work – chopping wood, hauling water, learning to cook and do their own laundry. They also learn fishing and navigation by stars. They learn survival, things we were taught the first year in the academy. He makes it fun, but also a lot of work. Of the two dozen boys that he has brought out there, three are now in the Mountie academy, five have joined the military and the rest are in or have finished college and are working."

"Wow." Bill said.

"I heard about that." Wynn said. "Glad he has had success. I am sure that he makes sure that they keep up or catch with their studies as well. I can see you grandfather making sure that the boys learn what they need to and yet being quite firm with them."

"You're right." Jacobs said. "They are cut off and have no contact with the outside world for up to two months, so it really isn't all that."

"If you are not available." Jack said. "I would be willing to sit with him somewhere other than our house. I hope that we don't have to take that step with Will, but if it comes to, know that I will support your decision. Honestly, I think part of the reason that he is acting out is that his life has been so out of control with moving and then his father leaving. It also seems like his mother and brother are overwhelmed most of the time."

"I will keep that in mind." Jacobs said. "For now, I was thinking that he can sit here in the office or over at the jail, depending on what is going on there. That was another reason that I wanted to give his mother a break and also make sure that he is keeping up with his studies."

"We will make sure one of the Mounties or cadets is around to sit with him." Wynn said. "We will talk more about this later."

"Sounds like a plan." Jacobs said. "I want to show him that we mean what we say and that he has to listen to us. It will also help him to see that not all men are like his father and that we can be trusted."

"Agreed." Wynn said.

"I would be willing to spend time with him as well." Dee said.

Jack and Jacobs both nodded. They knew that there would be no shortage of help, but it was whether or not they were able to get through to the boy or not. Jack liked the idea of the program that Jacobs' grandfather had started. He wanted to learn more about it, so he made a note in his little book to talk to Jacobs more about it. He wondered if he could do something like that for a week with some of the boys here in town.

"Moving on." Wynn said. "We also talked about the man that had been out at the Silverton settlement. Do we have any more information on that?"

"I have talked to the women." Dee said. "I showed them my sketch. They agree that it is a very good likeness of the man. I have put the description out. I have also made a copy of the sketch and put it in the mail to Union City for them to put out. So far, I haven't heard anything."

"I suspect that it will take a few days." Wynn said. "Stay on it."

"I will." Dee said. "I have my original sketch. Hopefully, I will get a chance to sit down and talk to Abigail and Clara. I also want to make sure that other people see it such as Sam over at the saloon and Ned at the mercantile."

"Good idea." Wynn said. "Wire Union City and make sure that the description and sketch gets shown around the train station. I also want it far and wide back in Hamilton and Toronto. For those that don't know, Beth recognized the sketch and said she had seen the man at least twice at the cafe. She was also sure that she had seen him before, but wasn't sure where. I will follow up with her."

"I will do that." Dee said. "And I will talk to her again as well."

"We talked about the wire about your brother, Jack." Wynn said. "Were there any questions about that?"

Wynn looked around and everyone was shaking their heads.

"No questions about Tom." Jack said. "I just hope that whatever that he has done or not done has no bearing on the way that I am treated. You also mentioned the escaped prisoner and that there is a protection detail coming in. You also said that he was a member of the Romero family. You said that there was more about that situation, but we would talk about it later. Today you mentioned that he was also connected to my father and you can't rule out that what happened this morning is connected to the escaped prisoner."

"Okay." Wynn said. "So first your brother's actions don't factor into my decisions. He needs to own his mistakes and make something of himself. When I came into town last night it was to deal with some men that were drunk and fighting about a card game. Lee has fired the two men and they have been moved to Buxton to be held for the circuit judge."

"We wrote them up on drunk and disorderly." Jacobs said. "As well as property damage for the chairs and glasses that were broken at the saloon."

"Okay." Jack said. "Was there anything in the information that I requested?"

"Yes." Jacobs said. "Also I included some of that information in the papers that I wrote up for the judge. Between that and what was in your file about previous contact the judge will have a good picture of those two who had plenty of chances."

"Good." Jack said. "I mean I don't like to see people put behind bars, but some people don't seem to learn any other way."

"Agreed." Jacobs said.

"So we need to talk about the escaped prisoner and this morning." Jack said. "I am doing okay, but some coffee would help."

"On it." Bill said.

Bill made the group some coffee. While that was happening, Jack took the opportunity to stand and stretch. While Jack moved about the office, Dee came up and stopped him.

"Are you sure that you are okay to continue?" Dee asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "I am just stiff. My shoulder hurts and it didn't help that Elizabeth fell asleep with her head on my chest last night."

"I didn't need to know that." Dee said. "But that is not what I am talking about. You have been through a lot in the last few months and I want to make sure that you are dealing with things."

Jack just looked at Dee for a moment.

"I am dealing." Jack said.

"Really." Dee said, eyeing Jack. "How?"

"I have been drawing pictures." Jack said. "I have also talked a little to Elizabeth."

"Okay." Dee said. "But I am not going to drop this. You have been up and down for months. There has been a lot that has happened. I know what it is like to not deal with things. I know that it is hard to talk to someone who hasn't been through it. I also know that it is hard to talk to someone who is not on the job. I just want you to know that Dad and I are here if you need. I know that it is hard to be laid up and that it can be frustrating not being able to do things. Please take the time that you need to heal, just not for you, but for Beth and the baby. Dad and I will be here as long as we need."

"Okay." Jack said. "Maybe we can sit down and talk after the weekend."

"Just find me." Dee said.

"I will." Jack said.

"Are you two ready?" Bill asked.

"Coming." Dee said.

Bill poured everyone some coffee and the group sat back down to finish talking.

"The escaped prisoner." Wynn said. "He escaped from Stony Mountain after making several threats on my life over the years. Every Mountie station between here and Stony Mountain is on alert. The rail lines have been notified. I have requested a protection detail for my daughter and her family. One is also arriving for me and my family here. We have learned that the escaped prisoner has ties to the Romero family and a national alert has gone out for information."

"Why did he make threats against you?" Jack asked.

Bill, Wynn and Jacobs all looked at each other.

"I arrested his older brother and shot his father after being fired on." Wynn said. "I later led that investigation that led to his arrest. The exact details don't matter, I have told you all that you need to know. Other than his name is Clyde Younger."

"Here." Bill said, pushing some papers forward. "This is a copy of his description. I am still waiting on a picture or drawing. He shouldn't be hard to spot, he has a huge scar across his face."

"Have people in town been notified?" Jack asked.

"I have talked to Kevin at the livery." Bill said. "I have also talked to Sam and Ned. I have also given a description to the ladies at the cafe."

"I have given one to Mr Coulter." Jacobs said. "He was going to share with his second in command and foreman over at the mill."

"Okay." Jack said. "Do we have any more information about him or the Romero family? How are they connected? Where were they last?"

"Dee? Bill?" Wynn said.

"As far as I have learned." Bill said. "The mother married a member of the Romero family after she lost her husband. Those two were last seen in a small town along the St Lawrence in northern Quebec. Most of the Romero family works out of Montreal, but they have spread all over the place, including heading to the States."

"I don't have much more to add." Dee said. "I am waiting to hear back about known associates of the Romero family and their last known whereabouts."

"Then let's keep our eyes open." Jack said. "The Romero family is ruthless. I have never dealt with them directly, but have had run-ins with peripheral members of the family when I was in Fort Garry."

Dee and Wynn exchanged a quick look, but didn't say anything.

"Okay." Wynn said. "So what do we know about the man that Charlotte found this morning?"

"Like I told Dee." Jack said. "Elizabeth woke with a startle. She couldn't explain exactly what was wrong, but she asked me to check the house. When I got downstairs, everything was fine. I looked out the window and saw three moose in the field. That was when Dee joined me at the window. Shortly afterwards, we heard the shot. When we went outside to check things out, Ma was there in the shadow of the house with her rifle pointed at the grove of trees. She said it felt like someone had been watching her and she knew that the shot had come from the grove."

"Okay." Wynn said.

"I then went back in and quickly changed." Dee said. "When I came back out, Lee was there. We sent Jack back inside. The three of us split up and entered the grove. Charlotte spotted the man first. She had him at gunpoint, when I snuck up behind him. He made a comment about not being scared of a woman, so she fired and hit right in front of his foot. I called Lee to come and take his rifle. Since I didn't know who the man was and didn't want to accidentally give something away, I called Charlotte 'Ma' and asked her to go back to the house to sit with the kids. Thankfully, Lee caught on to what I was doing and didn't address me by name. I sent him ahead with the man's rifle and pack. I then started walking the man to town. Bill and Jacobs meet me and I handed him over."

"Thank you for explaining." Jack said. "Ma wouldn't say anything this morning."

"After we gathered." Wynn said. "We went through the man's pack to try and gather some information. That is where we found these."

Wynn pulled out the folder with the pictures and laid them out. Upon seeing the photos with his face crossed out, Jack gasped.

"Wow." Jack said softly. "He really did want me dead."

"We won't allow anything to happen." Jacobs said.

"There is more." Wynn said. "As you can see. We also found a partial address. We are working to identify where it is."

"I spent the better part of the morning at the jail." Dee said. "The man was speaking a combination of Italian and French. If I had to say, I would definitely put him from Quebec. I have heard that before in Montreal. People come to this country, speak a different language and then they pick up the French that is common in Quebec and mix it with their native language along with a mix of English."

"That makes sense." Jacobs said. "One of my contacts got back to me and I was right, the address is to a place in Little Italy in Montreal. He didn't know much more, but he did let me know that it is a known hangout of the Romero family."

"It is not much." Bill said. "But I think we have confirmation of the connection to them at least."

"I agree it isn't much." Wynn said. "But until we hear otherwise, we need to continue to treat this as if they are connected, but can't rule out that Charles is still behind it."

"You are right." Bill said.

"Why do you think it is Charles?" Jack asked. "I mean that man is an ass, but do you really think that he would stoop that low as to have me killed?"

"Yes." Dee said. "It is the princess' comment."

"The only ones that routinely called Beth a 'little princess' was William and Charles." Wynn said. "I know, I know that several people call Thatcher's Hamilton Royalty, but this feels different."

"I have to agree." Jacobs said. "After that little display at the jail, I have to believe that he wouldn't just let it be. Mr Thatcher did tell us after he signed the agreement that it was Charles that had convinced him that you had forced yourself on Elizabeth and was only using her for her money or to further your career. Between that and what I know about Charles and his father, I honestly wouldn't put anything past those two."

Jack let out a frustrated groan.

"As much as Elizabeth is going to hate it." Jack said. "I think that some security is going to be needed for a time."

"I agree." Wynn said. "We can talk about that later, but right now, we have added you both to the protection detail. You can worry about private security later."

"I will help you find someone that you can trust." Jacobs said.

"I will as well." Wynn said.

"Thank you both." Jack said.

Before the group could do anything else, there was a knock at the door. Wynn looked over and saw McGinty.