Chapter 153 – Talking to Cody
"You promise that you won't be mad?" Cody asked.
"I promise." Wynn said.
Cody nodded.
"The day we left, I saw the man again." Cody said. "He was at the orphanage that morning. I heard what he said to the lady in charge before we left for school. I heard him talking that he was looking for his nephew who he thought was there. I told Becky on the way to school that they were going to separate us. She told me not to worry about it, she would figure something out."
"What happened after that?" Wynn asked.
Cody took a couple deep breaths and then looked at Wynn again.
"It is okay." Wynn said. "You can tell us."
"That afternoon on the way home." Cody said. "Becky told me to put my things together and then she would be up to get me after lights out. When she came, she was dressed to go out. She quickly helped me get dressed and we left. That was a Friday night. Becky kept us moving all night. As the sun started coming up, she found us a place to hide. We moved at night for days before Becky felt it was safe to move in the daylight."
"Okay." Dee said. "So you saw the man that had been upset with your mom and that is why you told Becky that they were going to separate you. I still don't understand why."
"I was afraid that he was going to take me or hurt Becky." Cody cried.
"Did Becky ever see the man?" Dee asked.
"I don't think so." Cody said. "I never said anything and she didn't ask."
"It is okay." Wynn said while he tried to calm Cody.
"We won't let anything happen to you." Jacobs said.
"I understand that you were scared when you left the orphanage." Dee said. "But why did you have a nightmare last night? Abigail hasn't said anything about you having trouble sleeping since you came here."
Cody turned, buried his face in Wynn's chest again crying. Wynn wrapped his arm around Cody and rubbed his back to try and calm him enough that he could talk.
"Shhh." Wynn said. "We aren't mad, we are just concerned."
Jacobs pushed the notes over to Dee and then turned to Wynn.
"Give him to me for a moment." Jacobs said.
Wynn looked at him for a moment and then moved to hand Cody over to Jacobs, but Cody clung to him. Jacobs pulled Cody to him.
"It is okay." Jacobs said in a low voice. "I am not mad, I am worried about you. You know that it is my job to keep people safe and I can't do that if you don't tell me what is wrong."
Cody continued to cry, while he clung to Jacobs.
"If you tell me what is wrong." Jacobs said. "I promise I will keep you safe."
Jacobs continued to rub Cody's back and softly hummed to calm him down. Once Cody calmed down he looked up at Jacobs and then back at Wynn.
"What is it?" Wynn asked, looking Cody right in the eye.
"I saw the man again." Cody said softly.
"When?" Wynn asked.
"Yesterday." Cody said.
"Where?" Jacobs asked.
"He rode into town with the other Mounties." Cody said.
Wynn, Dee and Jacobs all looked at each other.
"Campbell." Dee said softly.
Wynn and Jacobs nodded. Jacobs moved Cody away from him and looked him in the eye.
"I promise that nothing will happen to you." Jacobs said. "Just stay away from him and we will keep him away from you."
"But …." Cody said.
Wynn turned Cody to face him.
"I can't explain right now." Wynn said. "But I promise I will deal with him. We are waiting for more information and other Mounties to come into town. I promise nothing is going to happen."
"Okay." Cody said. "You promise that nothing will happen to Becky or Miss Abigail."
"I promise." Wynn said.
"Cody." Dee said. "I know that you haven't known my dad and I for long, but have we ever lied to you?"
"No." Cody said.
"So please trust us." Dee said. "There is other stuff going on and we can't explain everything right now, but I promise that you are safe."
"Okay." Cody said.
"Now let's go check the horses." Dee said. "Then I will take you back to the cafe before I go check on Mountie Jack and Mrs Thornton."
"Dee." Wynn said.
"Yes." Dee said.
"Before you leave." Wynn said. "I have something that I need."
"Okay." Dee said.
"Cody." Wynn said. "Please go back to the cafe and if anyone asks, we will be back in a little bit."
"Okay." Cody said.
Wynn waited until Cody was out the door.
"Dee." Wynn said. "I want you to get information on what Cody talked about and I want it yesterday. I also need you to check in with your sister and Hamilton. I also want an update from Calgary about the real Captain Campbell. I don't want that man running around this town a moment longer than we have to. When you are done with those, please check in with Bill and McGinty and make sure everything is getting done.
I know that it is Easter Sunday and most people are relaxing today, but law and order waits for no man. I want answers and I want them now. There are a lot of things that need to happen and we need answers. I also want the file from Fort Garry about the orphanage. I want to know where every child ended up and where everything from the facility ended up. I want personal items returned to the rightful owners as soon as possible. If I have to, I will order Captain Green here personally to answer my questions and you can tell him that."
"Yes, Sir." Dee said.
Dee didn't wait for anything else, but was out the door. After Dee was out the door, Wynn turned to Jacobs.
"I want you to take a couple of horses and go get Jack." Wynn said. "Bring them to the cafe. If he wants to rest, he can do it there. I have a bad feeling and I want them close."
"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said.
Jacobs turned and hurried out the door to do what he was told. Wynn sat down and took a couple of deep breaths. It wasn't long and Bill knocked on the door and entered. Bill looked at Wynn and knew whatever was going on was not good.
"What is it?" Bill asked, taking a seat.
Wynn just looked at him.
"Don't give me that look." Bill said. "Dee is running around like a cadet scared to make a mistake. I also saw Jacobs take off toward the row house with Thornton's two horses."
Wynn relayed what Cody had told them. Wynn had barely finished and Bill pushed his chair back in a huff.
"William Spencer Avery!" Wynn commanded.
Bill turned and looked at Wynn.
"Until we hear otherwise." Wynn said. "The previous order stands – observe and report only."
Bill huffed twice and then took a seat again.
"I don't like it any more than you do." Wynn said. "But if we move too soon, we lose the element of surprise. Right now, Campbell doesn't know that we know. We need him to make a mistake or for Calgary to find the real Campbell.
"You are right." Bill said. "I don't like it, but you are right."
"On another subject." Wynn said. "Have you seen Charlotte this morning?"
Bill just shook his head. Wynn knew that Bill knew more than what he was saying.
"I know that her horse and tent are gone." Wynn said. "I also know that you were gone for several hours this morning. We both know how she can be. She had words with Jack and Beth. This is after she had a hard week. I just want to know where she is, so I don't have to worry about it."
"Fine." Bill said. "She is out at a cabin about twelve miles from here. She has her rifle and plenty of ammo. I also gave her three days worth of provisions. She said that she would be back before she needed more. I figured that she would be back Monday night or Tuesday morning. She needed some space."
"That is all I needed to know." Wynn said. "I figured that was what she did. I take it you took her to the cabin?"
"Yes." Bill said. "It is on one of the plats of land that I own. She is fine and no one will bother her. Whatever is going on, she will be able to work it out. Please leave her alone and let her come back on her own."
"I will, but if Jack asks I am sending him to you." Wynn said.
"Fair enough." Bill said. "So what are we going to do today about Campbell or Bernardi or whatever his name is?"
"For now." Wynn said. "We are going to keep him away from Abigail and the children. We are going to keep an eye on him until Dee and/or Jacobs are able to verify things. Then we will move."
Bill nodded.
"Learn anything new from the one sitting in your cell?" Wynn asked.
"No." Bill said. "I have picked out a word or two in French and what I can make out, I am not going to repeat."
"Okay." Wynn said. "Dee is positive that he is speaking a combination of Italian and French. Dee also said that he would bet his pension on the fact that the man is from Quebec and was a native Italian speaker before moving to Quebec."
"Any word on his name?" Bill asked.
"They believe he is Dominic Amto." Wynn said.
"Should I try calling him Dominic and see how he reacts?" Bill asked.
"Couldn't hurt." Wynn said. "But be careful. We need information from him."
"I will get him to talk." Bill said.
"Bill." Wynn said with a warning tone.
"I know." Bill said. "I have ways that are legal."
"Please be careful." Wynn said.
Bill just smiled and nodded.
"We better go." Wynn said. "Lunch will be ready at about one. Make sure that you come eat or at least get a plate."
"I will." Bill said.
Bill and Wynn headed out. Wynn went back across the road and Bill headed back to the jail.
