"Listen, Maisey. What I am asking for is going to benefit the citizens of Benson Hills as much as the citizens of Hope Valley," Lee Coulter said as he sat in a visitor's chair in Lucas's office, with Henry sitting in Bouchard's chair to help with the negotiations. They had been there for over an hour and a half.

"It's not helping me," Maisey replied.

"Now, Mayor Hickam, hear him out," Henry responded.

"Fine," she said. "You have twenty minutes then I have to be going."

As the two continued talking, the door to the office opened and Mike Hickam carried in a tray with iced tea and several glasses for their nourishment.

Henry leaned over as Mike placed the tray on the table. "Got anything stronger?" he asked, nodding his head quickly toward the two mayors.

Just then, a knock came on the door frame to Bouchard's office, and Bill Avery poked his head into the room. "I hate to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could borrow Henry for a bit."

"Can it wait?" Lee asked. "We're still in the middle of…"

"Mike can handle it," Gowen said, standing.

"Me?" Mike replied, being pushed toward Lucas's office chair as Gowen moved toward Avery. "Isn't that a conflict of interest?"

"Only if you're making the decision for them or acting unfairly," Henry said. "Just keep them talking. I'm sure they'll come up with some agreement."

Walking toward the door, he joined Avery and then turned back to the others. "Let me know if you decide on anything that needs the governor's intervention."

Stepping out into the hallway, Gowen thanked Bill and then asked where he wanted to meet.

"My office," Avery responded.


"Fancy meeting you here," Nathan said as he entered the Mercantile and spotted Elizabeth gathering supplies for Allie's party.

Elizabeth smiled. "We were out of candles."
"Ah," he stated, putting his hands behind his back.

"It's funny how you never realize something is missing until it's missing," she said, putting the candles in her basket. "Speaking of which, I was talking with Rosemary a few minutes ago, and she said Lucas is expected back in the morning. I suppose that means his business with Jeanette is taken care of?" she asked, looking at some items on a shelf.

Nathan tilted his head slightly. "I suppose so."

She continued to shop. "What I don't understand is if she is in prison, how could there possibly be any danger for Lucas or the community – unless there's something more."

"Like what?" he said, taking her basket.

"I don't know. I read that her accomplice, that Mr. Malory, just hanged himself."

Nathan's eyes shifted, and he frowned, taking in his girlfriend's demeanor. "Well, if there is something more, Lucas wasn't interested in sharing it."

"That's obvious," she said dismissively. Elizabeth turned the corner, and Nathan followed, walking to the other side of the shelves. "But I wouldn't necessarily think he would," she continued, her brow furrowing with concern.

Grant recognized the look, and his jaw clenched. "Say, how did we get from birthday candles to Lucas Bouchard?"

Elizabeth looked over at him. "It was just on my mind."

"But why?" he asked.

"What?"

"Why are you so interested in what he's doing? If it involved you or this town, I'm sure he would tell you," he responded.

Elizabeth looked down uncomfortably. "I'm interested because I care – and I know how he is. Lucas is a dear friend and I know that he tends to hold things in when he's in trouble. I've seen that look on his face before. So, I suppose I'm just worried."

"About Bouchard?"

"That is who we are talking about. Isn't it?" she said.

"Yes, but…"

"Why are you acting jealous all of a sudden about me and Lucas?"

"I'm not acting jealous."

"I think you are."

Nathan looked down the aisle toward the cash register where Florence was raising an eyebrow, taking in every word. "This isn't the time or place to discuss this. I just stopped in to pick up a newspaper. Forget we even talked."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm not going to forget it. If you're feeling threatened, we need to discuss it."

"Need I to? Feel threatened – that is?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You're right. We'll talk about it later."

Grant paused, his mind considering all that was happening. "It may not be until tomorrow sometime."

Elizabeth stopped and looked at him. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah. Over to Buxton. Hargreaves wants me to look over some evidence concerning the train robbery there from last week. I may not be back until late tonight."

"So, I shouldn't worry about dinner?"

"No. Just take care of you and Jack. Allie's staying with the Weise's while I'm gone."

"Alright," Elizabeth responded, feeling slightly uneasy by both the fact he was going out of town and the tension that lingered.


"What's this about?" Henry Gowen said as he entered Bill Avery's office at the end of Main Street.

"Take a seat," Avery responded.

As Henry moved to the visitor's chair on the opposite side of Bill's desk, Avery sat down and leaned forward in his chair.

"I know Lucas went to see Jeanette," he said. "And given the recent death of James Malory, I suspect that the two events are related. What can you tell me?"

Henry shook his head. "Nothing to tell," he responded.

"Nothing to tell, or you won't tell?"

"Not my story to tell," he said. "Listen, Lucas should be back in the morning. Ask him."

"Was the letter he received from Jeanette?"

"Bill."

"Henry. If Bouchard is reaching out to that woman after all this time, there's a reason. As Judge and a member of this community, I deserve to know what it's about."

Gowen looked at Avery with resolution. "As I said, it's not my story to tell. If I believed there was an immediate danger to anyone around here, I would let you know. Right now, let's just let him handle it.

"Can you tell me this much – did the note he received mention Jeanette? And is that why he went?"

Gowen nodded. "I would say the two are related, yes. Beyond that, you'll have to ask Lucas. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go see Joseph about something up at the church.


Parker Scott stepped out of his black 1920 Model T onto the pavement outside Granville Prison at nine in the morning. He reached through the back window, knocking his notepad into the floor, and then ripped a small hole in his jacket when he sought to retrieve it. Finally capturing it in his fingers, he straightened his stance and then tried to smooth down his appearance as he walked passed a few visitors and a prison guard who were eyeing him oddly.

Entering the penitentiary, Scott submitted to a pat down and then proceeded to the lead Correctional Officer, Wade Spencer's office, who led him to Malory's cell.

Entering the room, Scott noted that the bed was made and a photograph of an Asian man and woman was sitting on a desk attached to the wall in the corner. He looked at it with confusion.

"Do you know who these people are?"

"Yes. That's Wu. He's the current occupant of the cell. Out in the yard right now."

"You've already filled the cell?"

"Yes," the officer nodded. "Demand is high, and the system is overcrowded."

"But…wouldn't you want to preserve the scene…?"

"Why?" Spencer responded. "The guy hung himself."

"Yes…but it seems there would be some form of investigation."

"There was," he responded. "Milley came in and saw him hanging. The Coroner came in and took his pulse. Declared him dead. End of investigation."

"Was there any sort of forensic investigation, any interviews?"

Spencer shook his head. "It's a prison, not a newspaper agency. The cell was locked."

"And a guard was on duty at all times doing bed checks?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Scott set the image down and looked around the cell. "And nobody noticed a man hanging here, nobody heard?"

The officer didn't answer.

"Hey, Spencer…is someone coming to take me to the commissary? I need to pick up some smokes," a voice yelled from the end of the cell block.

Spencer stepped out of the cell. "I don't keep the schedule for your escorts."

"They were supposed to be here forty minutes ago. What's the hangup?"

The officer shook his head. "I'm sure they'll be here. Now, if you can't see, I'm busy."

"I don't give a rat's ass if you're busy. I want my smokes, and I want 'em now."

"Now you have done it, Stoney," another inmate said.

"What did you say to me?" Wade responded, stepping out of the cell and down toward Stoney's door.

Parker walked to the edge of the cell to observe the treatment of the officer and soon the guards toward the inmate. The situation was not a pleasant one. As a verbal argument escalated and began to include other inmates, still more guards arrived, and soon Stoney was dragged from his cell. In the confusion, Parker glanced into the cell of a man two doors down from Malory's old domain and noticed a very serious-looking man staring back at him. He nodded toward the man but received no response. Finally, the man spoke.

"There were no guards."

"I'm sorry. What?"

"There were no guards. They were all in the next cell block playing cards. I could hear them. We were in here alone until someone showed up late at night and I heard them enter his cell.

Parker began to walk toward the man's door, but he cautioned him against it. "If they ask you, I never said anything, and I'll deny it under oath if I have to. But I think they killed him."

"Who?"

"The ones he worked for. Some big wig from Union City. Real money bags. Regardless, there weren't no guards here, just like there aren't most nights."

"But you didn't see who entered the cell?"

"No. They never made it down this far, but I think there were two."

"Did they say anything?"

"No. But I heard Jimmy ask what they were doing – and then told them to get back. I feel like he was starting to scream, but I heard a sound like he was punched in the gut or something, and next thing I heard this cracking sound, and he went silent."

"And you mentioned this to nobody?"

"I don't have a death wish. And I didn't say it to you either. But I thought you should know. He's lying. There were no guards."

Scott quickly moved back into the cell when he noticed Spencer was finishing up with Stoney.

"I apologize. Were you able to see everything you needed to see?"

"Yes, in the cell," Parker replied. "There is something else. Would you happen to have the names of the guards on duty that night? Perhaps there's a log of who goes in and out and at what time?"

Spencer paused. "I should have that in the main office. If you'll follow me."


Returning to his hotel, Parker telephoned Lucas just as the latter was preparing to leave the office to go to the train station.

"Hi Park, what've you got?"

"Just left Granville Prison. Seems they've swept Malory's cage clean and already have it occupied. So, there wasn't anything there in terms of physical evidence. However, the cellmate two doors down gave me a tip."

"What was that?"

"He said that there were no guards on duty that evening and that Malory was visited in the middle of the night by two men. The guy sounds like he heard him murdered."

Lucas frowned. "Then we need to arrest whoever did it. Did he see them?"

"No. And he promised to be an uncooperative witness if we ever called him – but I used his tip to get to the log file for who was on guard that night. By regulation, they log in and log out, even if they're just going to the facilities."

"And?"

"There was about a two-hour period where there were indeed no guards. Now, unless one of those guys left the cell doors open -which by that, I mean all of the cells because there are at least three doors you have to go through to get to his block, I'd say it was an inside job."

"Which means that if Malory was killed over what he knew concerning my shooting or who initially hired him and Jeanette, then whoever it was works within the prison system."

"Correct. Or has a direct line there that they can call the shots."

Lucas sat in silence for several seconds, wondering how Jeanette got tied up with people from Granville Prison.

"You still there?" Parker asked.

"Um…yes. What are your plans?"

Parker leaned back in his chair. "I'm going to make an appointment to see Jeanette Aucoin at the Women's Reformatory. Probably won't get in today with their schedule, but if I can get in tomorrow, I'm going to try to probe and see if she will tell me more about how she and Malory got involved. Any hints about how to deal with her?"

Lucas raised and lowered his eyebrows. "Yes. Watch your back."


"Aucoin. You have a phone call."

Jeanette looked up at the guard from her position at the game table and smirked. "My, aren't I popular," she stated, rising from her spot. Given their earlier visit, she expected the call would be from Lucas, given nobody else ever telephoned, but when she answered the line, she was surprised.

"Jeanette speaking."

"I heard Bouchard stopped by to see you. Is that correct?"

She paused for a moment, disappointed it wasn't him. "Yes."

"You didn't tell him anything, did you?"

Jeanette rolled her eyes, crossing her arm in front of her. "Of course not! Why would I do that?"

There was silence at the other end.

"Listen. We had a deal and I plan on living up to my end of it. The last thing we want is Lucas sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

"I agree. You don't know me."

"No. Vous n'êtes qu'un étranger – or almost."

"Whatever that means," the caller responded.
"Don't worry. We both have too much to lose if this ever came out.'

"Thank you for the reassurance. I need to go."

"Au Revoir..."

"Au Revoir to you too."


Edwin Mitchell made his way through the dining car. He crossed into the passenger cabin area, fully cognizant of the fact that, unlike his previous employer, Lucas Bouchard chose to travel second class. And while the politically astute front man understood that such frugality in spending the district's budget played well with his constituents, he missed the creature comforts of luxurious living that Governor Balfour had insisted upon. Still, he was no fool. He knew how to discern the shifting tides and had always weathered the storms that confronted him during his political career, steering away from disaster in some cases and abandoning ship in others. He was, above all, a pragmatist – adopting whatever strategy kept him alive regardless of the cost to others. It was, after all, just politics.

Of primary concern this afternoon was Lucas's meeting with Jeanette, which had the potential to destroy everything.

"So, did your meeting with Miss Aucoin go well?"

Lucas looked up from his paper as his frontman entered the cabin. "News travels fast."

"Yes, it does – which is my concern. Lucas, what are you thinking? Did we not go through enough when the news of your 'Gangster Girlfriend' hit the stands?"

"Our relationship was not like that. Not exactly."

"It doesn't matter. What the public saw was corruption – and I'm sorry, but any change in your pocket has been squandered by all of your major initiatives running into major roadblocks. You are being seen as fumbling and unprepared per your most recent polls."

"Thank you for the confidence booster."

"I am just speaking the truth. If you add to this perception involvement with a rum-running ex…."

"I am not involved with Jeanette. I just spoke to her."

"What over? I would think her conviction would have ended anything the two of you had to say to one another."

Lucas sighed. "I would have thought so too. But a situation has come up that necessitated a discussion."

"What situation?"

Bouchard didn't respond.

"Listen, Lucas. My job is to keep you from stepping on any land mines and get you reelected."

"The election is the least of my concerns."

"Well, it needs to be a concern. You have supporters, but trust me when I say this: the support is dwindling. You are on your way to becoming a one-term governor."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"What does that mean?"

"Edwin, when I ran, I ran with one goal and one goal only – to save Hope Valley and surrounding communities from being drained of their water."

"Yes."

"I've achieved that – AND I have gotten Parliament to pass a law mandated that the water rights of the communities be secure. If I accomplish nothing more than that, my term has been a success."

"You accomplished that because of the support of the people. You owe them. You were their champion, and the people love you."

"Nobody loves me, Edwin. Nobody. People love what I can do for them. They do not love me. There is a difference.

It is a sad and terrible feeling to recognize that fact – that you are unloved, but that seems to be my lot in life, and I accept it. As to owing people anything, what more can I give? I've given a family that I was promised, a business I loved, every friendship I ever had, my sense of belonging, my confidence, and my health. Short of giving my life, which was close to happening, there is nothing more for me to give. Unless, of course, you would prefer I provide that too."

Edwin stepped back. "No. Why would you say such a thing?"

"Oh…I don't know. Perhaps it was your words. Nothing like an attempted assassination to boost popularity? or something like that. Imagine what the real deal could do. Maybe you could name a bridge after me or something – The Lucas Bouchard Memorial Bridge – a bridge to nowhere."

Edwin rolled his eyes. "Poke fun all you want, Lucas. But this is serious. Jeanette Aucoin is trouble. You need to stay away from her."

"I know Jeanette and you don't have to tell me who she is. As to staying away from her, that will depend on how some things go. I have questions that need answers, and she may hold the key. I'll be discreet and see no reason any of this should reach the public ear. But there are some things that I need to investigate.

Now, if you're done berating me, I think I'll try to take a nap. I didn't get much sleep last night and have a bit of work to do before we reach Hope Valley in the morning.


Traveling the road from Buxton to Hope Valley at night could be a treacherous pursuit by automobile or by horse unless one knew the terrain. But as dangerous as it was, there was generally something peaceful about it, especially in the Summer when the night breezes blew and the sound of crickets and katydids filled the air. Nathan Grant had taken that trip many times, mostly to assist other Mounties in various cases, but none of those trips had felt like this one did. There was an ominous feeling in the air, a calm before a storm.

Exiting the woodland trail, Grant made his way to Rowhouse Way, stopping as he reached Elizabeth's home. It was late, but her light was on, and he could see her at her typewriter working on what he knew was to be a new novel – something she wouldn't share with him until it was finished. Dismounting Newton, he tethered his reins to a post and then took off his hat as he walked to Elizabeth's door, knocking gently so as not to awaken Little Jack, who would be sleeping. A short few moments later, she opened the door.

"Nathan! Come in," she said, stepping back to let him in.

Grant stepped just inside but did not sit down. "I, um…I wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier today. Of course, you'd be concerned, and you have every right to be. So, I'm sorry for acting jealous."

Elizabeth considered his words and then nodded. "It isn't becoming of you or anyone to behave in that manner – particularly in front of Florence. I had to answer questions from three different parents who were questioning me if everything between us is okay."

"And you told them it was?"

"I told them I hoped so. Nathan, Lucas is always going to be an important part of my life. When he and I started dating, he said he could accept a friendship between you and me but wasn't sure that you could accept it. Are you able to accept the fact that Lucas and I will always have a bond? And that my son will always love him? We both will?"

Grant swallowed, nodding slowly. "I will try. But it's not like there isn't a lot of water over this bridge."

"Which you knew when you decided to court me – frankly, you knew it when you were spending more time with me just before Lucas and I were to be married. That probably wasn't right on either of our parts."

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

Elizabeth looked at him. "Yes. That wasn't fair to Lucas. Everything was happening, and little Jack was reminding me of Jack, and I believe I became confused. I acted in ways I can't explain and talked with you and Rosemary when I should have been talking with Lucas, so yes, I have regrets. I was wrong."

Nathan frowned. "What about us? Do you regret us getting together?"

Elizabeth paused, then shook her head. "No. I knew I cared for you and believed that giving us a chance was what I should do. I think we're happy. Aren't we?"

Grant shook his head. "I know I am. Having you and little Jack has made a world of difference in my and Allie's life. I am not sure what I would have done without you navigating these teenage years."

Elizabeth nodded. "They are challenging. That's for sure. But you know I would have been there for you even if we weren't together."

"Yeah. I know that," he responded. "But we wouldn't have had the opportunity to have dinners together and picnics and to hang out."

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes reflecting some deep thought that Grant couldn't figure out.

"What?"

She shook her head and smiled. "So you love what I do for you?"

"Yeah. Of course. It's great."

She smiled softly but there was still something behind her eyes he couldn't see.

"You are happy, aren't you?" he asked.

She looked at him and smiled. "Yes. I'm happy. And I'm a bit tired. There's school in the morning…"

Grant looked over at the wall clock, noting a picture of Jack Thornton sitting next to it, and nodded. "Yeah. I have to get cleaned up and go to bed myself. Goodnight," he said, leaning in for a kiss. After a short peck, they pulled apart, and Nathan noticed that Elizabeth's eyes would not meet his own. He felt a wall between them but wasn't sure what to make of it, and so he left.

Behind her closed door, Elizabeth felt the same thing, considering that it could just be a residual sting from their having quarreled or her resistance to feeling controlled over her relationship with Lucas. Or perhaps it was something more.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head over her uncertain feelings. "I can't do this again. I've made my choice. No turning back." Turning out her light, she went to bed.


It was ten o'clock at night when one of the female guards at the Reformatory knocked on the lock plate on Jeanette Aucoin's cell.

"Aucoin. You have a visitor."

"At this hour?" she asked. She received a nod.

Quickly standing, she looked at her reflection in the polished metallic mirror that was bolted to the wall. "Chéri!" she said to herself, considering Lucas was the only one with enough clout for the prison system to open their doors that late at night. She was soon to find out she was wrong.

Moving quickly to the visitation room, she pinched her cheeks and smiled as she entered the room, intent on seducing her former beau. But when she stepped through the doorway, Jeanette went pale. Stopping, she felt herself tense.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Checking on my investment. Making sure she's staying quiet. I heard you had a visitor."

She shook her head, unsure of what to say.

"What did he want to know?"

Jeanette looked down. "Nothing."

The visitor nodded toward the guard, who elbowed Jeanette hard in the abdomen. Alcoin doubled over.

"You know better to lie to me, Jeanette. I'll see through it every time. What did he say?"

Jeanette was shaking. "Not much. He asked me about Malory and Malory's death. He..he said something about Malory writing a note saying that he worked for someone else, not for me."

"Did he? What else?"

"He asked me if it was true."

"And you told him?"

"Nothing! I swear it. He wanted information, but I knew better than to say a word. I promise." She looked down toward the floor.

"Good. Because prison is full of dangerous people, Jeanette and I would hate for you to be hurt. Do you understand?"

Alcoin swallowed as a shiver went down her spine, and she didn't answer.

"Do you understand?!"

Jeanette looked up in fear, and just as she did, the visitor nodded and the guard grabbed her by the back of her shoulder and her arm, twisting it behind her. Alcoin cried out as a sharp pain traveled down her arm.

"Stop! You're hurting me!"

"Do you understand?"

"Yes! Yes! I understand. Please let me go," she said, tears flowing down her cheeks. A nod from the visitor bought her release.

"I'm glad we have this understanding. See that it stays that way."

The guard pushed Alcoin to the floor as the visitor left, and Lucas's former girlfriend began to sob.

"Get up now," the guard ordered, and Jeanette struggled to do so due to the pain. Soon, she felt herself jerked to a standing position, and more pain permeated through her shoulder. "Back to bed," the guard said, and Alcoin went - although the fear of the moment would plague her throughout the night.


The next morning, as Lucas arrived in town, he already had a message waiting for him at the hotel's front desk.

"A Mr. Scott called to talk to you," Mike said, handing him a slip of paper.

Quickly, Bouchard made his way to his office, shutting the door behind him where he called the number Parker had left behind.

"What do you have?" he asked once Scott answered the phone.

"I visited with Jeanette Aucoin this morning."

"And?"

"She said nothing."

Lucas nodded. "I figured as much. I guess we'll have to look someplace else."

"Perhaps," he responded.

Lucas noted a hesitancy in his friend's demeanor. "What is it?"

"Lucas, there were bruises – on her arm, calf, and the side of her jaw and neck – about the size of a hand."

Bouchard furrowed his brow. "Are you saying…?"

"They're hurting her."

Lucas swallowed as his mind at once filled with turbulent thoughts.

"Lucas?"

"Thank you," he replied. "Continue your investigation."

"I will," Parker responded. "Heading to the Treasury right now to see what sort of work she did for them. Perhaps we can make a connection between her and Malory."

"Good thoughts. Let me know if you find anything out."

Hanging up, Lucas pondered Scott's revelation, disturbed by its implications. He could not allow them to kill her, particularly when he may have been the one to endanger her. He picked up the phone.

"Yes, Florence. I need to speak with Bill Avery. What? Okay, call Nathan's office. I need to speak with them both."