Chapter 145 – Working Supper

Before Jacobs could ask anything else, Elizabeth came downstairs.

"Sorry." Elizabeth said. "I can go back upstairs."

"No, it is fine." Wynn said. "I just trust that anything you hear will not be repeated."

"Absolutely." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth went to the kitchen and joined her aunt in finishing getting supper ready.

"Is there anything else?" Patty asked.

"If I show you a map?" Jacobs asked. "Would you be able to tell me the general area where Campbell joined you."

"Sure." Patty said.

Jacobs opened a map and set it on the coffee table. Patty turned the map to better orient it for her. She then looked at it and pointed to where Campbell had joined them.

"Did you see where he had come from?" Jacobs asked. "Or did he say?"

"No." Patty said. "He just said that he was headed to Hope Valley and had ridden south. I figured that he had come from Calgary or something. Not sure of the towns north that he would have been at."

"That is fine." Jacobs said.

"Anything else?" Dee asked.

"Eddie was a little surprised when Campbell joined us." Patty said. "He had said that there was someone else, but wasn't sure if he would join us before Hope Valley. Eddie didn't know who else was coming, but knew that there was a group coming from Medicine Hat. He knew that they wouldn't arrive until some time on Sunday and he didn't want to wait. Since he was working undercover, he wanted to get here before several of the other Mounties, even though he shared some had already arrived. We caught up to the group that took the prisoner about five or six miles outside of Hope Valley. They greeted up and then rode with us the rest of the way, not really sharing. Campbell looked even more distressed when we joined up with them."

"Thank you." Jacobs said. "We don't have any more questions, but for now the same applies to you. Anything that you hear is not to be repeated."

"I understand." Patty said.

"Now." Wynn said. "What is going on?"

"We don't think Campbell is who he says he is." Dee said.

"Why?" Wynn asked.

"When I wired Montreal to confirm Giovanni Romero's identity." Dee said. "They said that Giovanni Romero was killed two days ago just outside of Montreal when he was struck by a car. When I asked them if they knew who our prisoner was, they replied that it sounded like Dominic Amto. A low level member of the Bernardi family. The Romero and Bernardi families are huge rivals and are locked in a battle as to who will control Little Italy in Montreal right now."

"So how does Campbell tie into this?" Wynn asked.

"I had to wonder why he was so interested in William Thatcher and Charles Kensington." Dee said. "So I did some checking on my own. Jacobs and I basically commandeered the telegraph from Ned and have been furiously sending messages back and forth since I left the office. I personally wired Corporal Kyle Waters in the records office in Hamilton. He confirmed that there was an open investigation into Charles Kensington senior, but he didn't know much as it was being handled by the Toronto office. He said he would do some checking and get back to us. I also had him send me a current description of one Captain Lawrence Campbell and what he sent me doesn't match the man that we met."

"Wait." Wynn said. "Before we go any further. Where is the man claiming to be Campbell?"

"He is in the saloon playing cards with Charlotte and some other men." Jacobs said. "Before you ask, McGinty and Bill are there keeping an eye on everyone. Bill knows that there may be a problem with Campbell."

Elizabeth Rose walked over just then.

"Supper is ready." Elizabeth Rose said. "Jeremiah, please join us so you guys can finish talking."

"Only if it won't be an imposition." Jacobs said.

"I insist." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Best not to argue with her." Patty said.

When they looked at the table, they only saw it set for four people.

"Us ladies will eat in the sitting room." Elizabeth said. "Please come. Once we pray, we will take a plate and go sit in the other room."

Everyone gathered around the table. Jack looked at Wynn and nodded.

"Heavenly Father." Wynn prayed. "Please be with us tonight. Protect us as we move forward. Give us wisdom and understanding as we navigate this situation. Please protect and keep safe all the Mounties who are working to protect your people. Bless this food to our bodies and bless the hands that made it. Amen."

"Amen." Was echoed by the group gathered.

As the men took their seats, the ladies each made a plate and went to sit in the other room to allow the men to talk. Before Elizabeth Rose left the kitchen/dining room she made sure that the men all had everything that they needed. She then squeezed her husband's shoulder as she walked past with her plate.

"Just so we are clear." Jack said. "What was the description you received?"

"According to his file." Dee said. "Captain Campbell is a man in his mid-forties, with salt and pepper hair that is slightly balding. He is about five seven and slightly overweight. If that isn't enough he has a distinguishable scar on the left side of his neck he received from a knife fight."

"Yeah." Jack said. "That is not the man that we met in the office this afternoon. I would put him about five ten or five eleven. Also he wasn't balding and had dark hair not salt and pepper. I didn't make out a scar either. Any idea who the man we met was?"

"Headquarters believes he is Marco Bernardi." Jacobs said. "They aren't sure and are checking with Montreal and Ottawa. They will let us know when they are sure."

"Any idea why he is here?" Wynn asked. "Also is anyone looking into what happened to the real Captain Campbell?"

"Calgary had dispatched a team." Jacobs said. "They are looking into what happened to Captain Campbell. They know the route he was expected to take and are going to be following that, checking with people who might have seen him."

"As far as the man claiming to be Campbell." Dee said. "Headquarters thinks that he is here to silence Amto before he can tell us anything and/or divert attention away from the Bernardi family. We have orders from Sr Deputy Commissioner Connor to observe only. We are not to intervene unless he makes a move to harm someone. We are to keep watch and wait until the team from Calgary reports back. If he harmed Captain Campbell, we don't want to tip him off that we know."

"It goes without saying that we are to limit the information that we share with him." Jacobs said. "According to headquarters, the real Captain Campbell is fluent in several languages including Italian, French, and Irish."

"Okay." Wynn said. "I don't like not doing anything, but since the order came from Connor we have to abide by it. Any word on when the reinforcements are arriving?"

"There is a group arriving from Medicine Hat some time tomorrow." Dee said.

"Any idea who?" Jack asked. "I met a few when I took the Tolliver gang to prison."

"Let me see." Dee said, pulling some notes out. "Five cadets, Captain Cook and Constable Lane. I don't have the names of the cadets handy."

"I met Captain Jack Cook and Constable John Lane." Jack said. "Cook is a good guy. Lane is young and eager. Might have to keep an eye on him."

"Good to know." Wynn said. "It won't be your concern. We are going to use the cadets as guards here and at the schoolhouse. Since they are supposed to be out here learning, I thought about also having them ride on rounds with McGinty. I will also be making sure that they are caring for the horses."

"To keep them busy." Jack said. "I would suggest chopping wood. There are plenty of widows that will use it. I would also suggest that they don't get used to Abigail's cooking."

"I already thought of the wood chopping." Wynn said. "I think limiting their time at Abigail's is also a good idea. Most of these cadets are seventeen and eighteen, so we are going to have to be careful. I don't want them drinking in the saloon. I wouldn't mind them talking to some of the boys, but again we need to be careful."

"I agree." Jack said. "There are only two or three boys that I think would make good Mounties."

"Who?" Elizabeth asked, coming over.

"Gabe Montgomery." Jack said. "Caleb Dunbar and Robert Wolf. I know that Caleb and Robert have some time, but they have a good head on their shoulders. I think that Gabe would be great. The problem is going to be convincing his mother."

"I thought about Gabe." Wynn said. "I was going to have Dee talk to his mother once things slowed down. Maybe having a few of the cadets spend some time with Gabe might not be a bad idea. They would be able to talk to him about what it is like. Since they are not that much older than him, it might give him a different perspective than if we talk to him."

"Please just be careful." Elizabeth said. "I know that Cat is struggling with Gabe wanting to leave school this spring. She is trying to convince him to stay one more year despite the fact that he will be sixteen in June."

"I will talk to him." Dee said. "I think I can convince him to stay another year, especially if he wants to join the academy."

"Is it alright if us ladies join you for some pie." Elizabeth Rose asked.

Wynn looked at the others at the table. He saw them nod.

"If it is alright with you." Jacobs said. "I will excuse myself. I have a few more wires that I want to send out. I also think I should be in town."

"Another time then." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Count on it." Jacobs said.

"Jacobs." Wynn said.

"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said.

"Please talk to Bill." Wynn said. "Let him know that we talked. Also let him know about the observe only order. Tell him that if he acts without cause, he will have to answer to me and I won't be happy."

"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said. "I will let him know."

"Abigail said to have the Mounties come over and eat or get coffee if they need." Elizabeth Rose said. "She is not going to be open tomorrow, but we are going to be there after services."

"I will." Jacobs said. "I will most likely be joining you as well. We still need to have someone at the jail at all times. The cadets will also be guarding Jack and Elizabeth."

"That reminds me." Wynn said. "Please let them and Charlotte know so they don't shoot each other. They are supposed to be out there soon."

"I will, Sir." Jacobs said. "But she did say something about staying with Abigail to help Becky tonight."

"As long as the cadets know that she might return to her tent." Jack said. "It isn't often that she sleeps inside when she is away from home, especially if the weather is nice enough."

"Got it." Jacobs said.

With that, Jacobs grabbed his things and left the house. Elizabeth waited until Jacobs was gone and everyone was seated with some pie and tea.

"Uncle Wynn." Elizabeth said. "Please be honest with me. How much danger are we in?"

Wynn took a deep breath and looked at Jack. Jack slightly nodded that he needed to be honest.

"We aren't sure." Wynn said. "We have the shooter in jail. But we don't know if there are other people. We also don't know who is behind it. Until we know more, we need to be extra careful. I wish I could tell you more."

"Is it true that you think that Charles or Father are behind this?" Elizabeth asked.

"We can't rule that out." Wynn said.

"I doubt that Father would do something like this." Elizabeth said. "He may not like Jack or that I want to teach out here, but I don't think that he would put me in harm's way."

"What about Charles?" Wynn asked.

Elizabeth didn't say anything, but closed her eyes to try and stop the tears that she felt. Jack reached over and squeezed her hand. She nodded to his unspoken question. Elizabeth need to reassure Jack as much as she needed to reassure herself.

"Yes." Jack said. "Elizabeth shared with me that she wouldn't put anything past Charles to get what he wants."

"I wouldn't either." Dee said. "I have heard several people mention how Hamilton Shipping and Thatcher Industries will look different when Charles Kensington is in charge. These people didn't know that my mother was a Thatcher and we would never allow it to happen."

Elizabeth's head popped up and looked at her cousin.

"Godt han er I fengsel ellers ville jeg drept ham." Elizabeth grounded out in Norwegian. (Good thing he is in jail or I would kill him.)

Elizabeth was still muttering in Irish as she sat there.

"Beth!" Wynn said sharply.

Jack looked between Elizabeth and Wynn.

"No!" Elizabeth spat. "I would never allow him to have the company my family built. I know that Father wants him to run the company one day, but I don't trust him. He is a snake and cheat. I don't even like that he is working there."

"Before your father left yesterday." Wynn said. "I told him to rethink his relationships with the Kensingtons and Monclairs. Hopefully he takes what we said and what happened to heart or he is going to have a rude awakening later."

"Can we please talk about something else?" Elizabeth Rose asked. "It is the night before Easter. Can we please try and have some pleasant conversation? I know that there is plenty of work that needs to be done, but I doubt that anything is going to happen before Monday. Can we please try and have an enjoyable holiday?"

Everyone looked at Elizabeth Rose and then around the room at each other.

"You are right, dear." Wynn said. "Sorry."

"I am sorry as well." Elizabeth said.