Chapter 16

Granville State Prison

Saturday, January 24, 1925

As the door closed on the interrogation room, Lucas leaned back up against the wall and let out a deep breath. Andrew looked at him. "I assume from that breath you just let out that the name Wyman Walden means something to you? You certainly didn't give anything away in there so I don't think Dixon knows that. You were unflappable and you had him rattled that was obvious." Andrew told him.

Just then the warden came walking down the hall. "Lucas, it's so good to see you again. I thought I would save you a trip to my office." The warden told him as they shook hands.

"Frank, good to see you again as well. I'd like to introduce Captain Andrew Donovan, retired RAF." Lucas told the warden as the two men shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Captain." He told Andrew. "How was your talk with Dixon? Did you get what you came for?" The warden asked turning his attention back to Lucas.

"Yes. I got what I needed." Lucas told him with a smile. "But I need to ask another favor. If you could hold any mail Dixon might send out until I let you know, would be greatly appreciated. I don't want him tipping anyone off. Same would go for telephone calls." Lucas told him.

"No problem, Lucas. You and I know how important it is to keep things close to the vest. I will have my most trusted guard keep an eye on him. If there is anything I think you need to know, I will be in touch." The warden told Lucas.

"Much appreciated Frank." Lucas told him as the men shook hands and Lucas and Andrew left the prison.

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As the men slid into the back seat of Lucas's car Andrew couldn't contain himself, he had questions. "So, do you know where this Walden fellow is?" Andrew asked with curiosity.

"Not exactly. I believe he might be in prison in New Orleans. He had sentences hanging over his head in both Canada and America. I believe he was to serve his time in America first and then be extradited to Canada to serve his sentence here for fraud and attempted murder. I will have him tracked down. If he is in the Canadian judicial system, it will be much easier to get to him. At the moment we are at a standstill until I can find that out." Lucas told him

"The attempted murder charge, was that against you?" Andrew asked with concern.

"No. It was the attempted murder of a hotel owner in Brookfield. It's a long story but he was trying to get control of all the businesses in Hope Valley. I attempted to run a con on him in hopes of stopping him. I thought Jeanette who was at the Treasury Department at the time was going to help me with Walden, unfortunately that was when she went silent. She left me high and dry and I called off the sting since I now found myself attempting it on my own." Lucas told him, really not wanting to dredge it all up again.

"Did Walden find out what you were up to?" Andrew asked.

"Not until Bill Avery arrested him. But as pay back he tried to set me up to take the fall for illegal gambling activities in America and then laundering the money in Canada. He hid incriminating evidence in my office to use to blackmail me whenever he wanted. His blackmail would have worked but luckily a key witness was willing to exonerate me for a plea deal in another case. Thankfully, Nathan was willing to let the witness take the plea deal." Lucas told him.

"And now, he might have been involved with Matthew as well. The two of you sure got around. What is our next move?" Andrew asked enthusiastically.

We need to locate Walden and hopefully get the reports that Thornton and Collins wrote back in 1914-1915." Lucas smiled at his overzealous brother-in-law. "Come on, let's go see our wives."

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Capital City, Alberta Canada

Monday, January 26, 1925

Lucas walked into MaKayla's office at the hospital, carrying a bag from the deli next to the hospital. MaKayla looked up at him with a telling smile. MaKayla loved having lunch with her husband. But she also knew that having lunch in her office with sandwiches from the deli was generally reserved for when Lucas had less than great news to share with her.

MaKayla got up from her chair and walked to the front of her desk. "Pastrami sandwiches?" She asked as she gave him a kiss.

Lucas smiled, "You got it, Doc."

"Let's eat before you tell me what new information you have." MaKayla told him as she walked back to sit behind her desk. "Since the weather is unusually warm for January, Andrew and Jenny are going to take the twins to the park for a little bit this afternoon." She told him with a smile.

"They need to get some practice in. You know just in case they have twins the first time." Lucas joked.

"One of my cousins had fraternal twins too but it is usually more associated with the mother's family history than the father's as far as twins running in families. I don't know Jenny's family history but we will see." She told him as she finished her sandwich.

"Ok Governor. What information did you find out that you are nervous about sharing?" MaKayla said with a chuckle.

"Will I ever be able to get away with anything with you ever again?" He asked her with a laugh.

"No. Now spill what you know." MaKayla said while giving him a stern look.

"Henry was able to locate Walden. He is in prison in New Orleans." Lucas told her with frustration. "I was really hoping he was here in Canada. I will have to wait at least two months to talk with him now." Lucas told her with regret.

"Why would you have to wait two months to speak to him?" MaKayla asked knowing why but wanted him to tell her.

Lucas looked over at her bulging abdomen. "I think that is pretty obvious Doc. I am not taking any trips until after the baby is born." Lucas told her.

"The baby is not due for seven more weeks. How long would you be in New Orleans? A few weeks at most?" MaKayla asked him.

"I am not leaving you. And you certainly cannot travel to New Orleans. This will just have to wait until after our new little one makes his or her arrival safely into the world. You have already experienced too much stress with this pregnancy due to me and my exploits." Lucas told her.

MaKayla picked up the receiver on the telephone and handed it to Lucas. "Call Henry and have him book you and Andrew on a train leaving tonight for New Orleans. No, is not an option. I will promise not to go into labor until you get back." She told him with a grin.

Lucas took the receiver and hung it up. "No," he said firmly. MaKayla got up from the desk and walked around to where he was sitting and sat on his lap.

"Lucas, we both know you will obsess over this. I would prefer to get this mystery solved before our baby is born. Besides I will not be alone if something happens. I have my father, Henry, Edwin, Jenny, Mrs. Cleveland. Do I need to continue?" She said with a smug expression.

His wife was an amazing woman, Lucas thought. He stared at her for a long moment. "You're absolutely sure?" He asked her.

MaKayla leaned down and kissed him, "I'm absolutely sure, Governor." She said softly.

"Ok, you win." Lucas said as he reached over and picked up the receiver. "I love you MaKayla Bouchard." He said before kissing her deeply.

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New Orleans, Louisiana

Thursday, January 29, 1925

Lucas and Andrew stepped off the train with the sun shining and temperatures in the 60's. "Wow, this weather is great. Sure, beats the cold of Alberta." Andrew said with delight.

"That's why Matthew loved it here so much. He was not a fan of the cold weather." Lucas said with a sad smile. Despite the pleasant temperatures in New Orleans, Lucas felt a cold shiver run down his spine. This town held nothing but bad memories for him. The sooner they could get out of here the happier he would be.

They walked to the front of the train station and hailed a taxi. "Hotel Monteleone," Lucas told the taxi driver. "We'll check into the hotel, call our wives, then we go have dinner at the Queen of Hearts Saloon." Lucas told Andrew.

"The saloon is still in business?" Andrew asked surprised. "I thought Dixon set fire to it and it burned down."

"He did and there was a great deal of damage, the roof caved in. But Jeanette sold the property after she left town. The land was worth money even if the burnt structure wasn't. My understanding is the new owner rebuilt the saloon. We shall see if that is true." Lucas said with unease.

As they drove to the hotel, the sites whirled around Lucas. Memories flashed in his mind. Everywhere he looked he saw Matthew. The taxi stopped at a street light and Lucas could see the courtyard where Matthew proposed to Jeanette off of Canal Street. The fountain was still there. He smiled wistfully at the lost memory.

They checked into the hotel and both men went to use the telephones in the lobby to call their wives.

"Lucas, it is so good to hear your voice." MaKayla told him when she picked up the telephone in her office. "When are you meeting with Walden?" She asked him.

"We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. Hopefully we can get out of him what we need and I never have to see this city again." Lucas told her emphatically. MaKayla's heart broke for him. She prayed he solved this one last mystery so he could truly put the past behind him once and for all.

"Are you feeling good? Are the twins behaving?" Lucas asked hopefully.

"We are doing fine. I will tell the twins you called. Take care of yourself Lucas. I love you." She told him with a longing in her voice.

"MaKayla, I love you so much. You mean everything to me; I hope you know that." Lucas told her with passion.

"I know my love. We will talk tomorrow after your meeting with Walden." MaKayla told him as she hung up the telephone.

Lucas looked up and saw Andrew walking towards him. "Everything good with Jenny?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, she is enjoying spending time with the twins. Your adorable twins have her hoping to have a set herself. I think she's a little crazy. Just one will do just fine, thank you very much." Andrew said with a laugh. Lucas laughed along with him remembering the early days with the twins.

"OK, you ready to head over to the Queen of Hearts?" Lucas asked.

"Lead the way. I'm curious to see Matthew's place of business." Andrew told him.

"It may not look anything like it did ten years ago." Lucas told him to warn him against getting his hopes up. Lucas needed to remember that as well.

As they entered the saloon, Lucas was surprised at what he saw. The place looked much like it had ten years before. A hostess was walking them to a table when Lucas heard his name being called. "Lucas Bouchard, is that really you?" Lucas turned to see who it was.

"Sophie, oh my. I had no idea you would still be working here." Lucas said as he hugged the woman. Andrew stared at the pretty red head and hoped this wasn't another old flame. "I don't just work here; Robert and I own the saloon now." She told him happily.

"I didn't know that. Congratulations. I knew Jeanette sold the property but she never said to who. Is Robert here?" Lucas asked. It was very fortuitous that Robert was still here since he was working the night that everything happened.

"He will be here in about an hour. We got married and we have two children now. I work the early evening shift and Robert works the later evening." She told him.

Lucas smiled happily at the woman. "That is wonderful. I am happy for both of you. Let me introduce you to my brother-in-law, Andrew Donovan." Lucas said as the woman gave Andrew a cordial smile.

"So, you finally found that soulmate you were always on the lookout for." Sophie said with a perceptive smile as she looked at the wedding ring on his finger.

"I certainly did." Lucas said with a genuine smile.

"And Jeanette, has she remarried? Everything that happened was so sad with Matthew. I hope she went on to find happiness again. Matthew would have wanted her too. We actually have a great picture of the three of you that still hangs behind the bar." Sophie told him.

Andrew stepped away for a moment to go look at the photograph. Andrew stared at the picture and smiled. Matthew and Lucas were so young. Lucas did not have a full beard, just a few days stubble and his hair was longer than he wore it now. He was sporting his usual dimpled grin. Matthew with his sandy brown curly hair and those eyes that were twinkling. Jeanette was beautiful with her long hair hanging down over her shoulders with a bright smile as Lucas and Matthew each had an arm around her back. They all looked so young, happy and carefree, before their lives imploded." He thought sadly. "Little did the three of them know what was to come.

Andrew returned to Lucas and Sophie. "That's a great picture. When was it taken?" Andrew asked.

"It was taken on Lucas's visit to New Orleans right before Matthew died in 1914." Sophie said sadly.

"Andrew went to university with Matthew and I." Lucas told her.

Sophie started to laugh, "So you're that Andrew. Matthew would tell stories about you." She said with a grin.

"Believe none of what he said. We all know Matthew knew how to spin a yarn." Andrew said with an impish grin.

"Have a good dinner and I will send Robert over as soon as he comes in. It was great seeing you, Lucas." Sophie said as she gave him another hug. Lucas and Andrew then sat down at their table.

"Robert was working the night that everything went down. The fact that we will get to speak to him is a good sign. He would have seen the man who told Matthew about the ambush." Lucas told him. "Let's enjoy our dinner until he gets here."

"Didn't you talk to him after it initially happened?" Andrew asked confused.

"Yes, I did. But remember this crime happened in America. I had no jurisdiction here. I spoke to him as a friend but I'll be honest what he told me back then is very vague in my mind now. I was a bit crazed after everything occurred and Jeanette was so angry… other than finding Matthew in the warehouse, everything else is pretty fuzzy in my recollection." Lucas told him honestly.

An hour later, Robert walked over to Lucas. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I couldn't believe when Sophie called and told me you were here." Robert told Lucas as he stood and shook hands with his old friend.

"Robert, let me introduce my brother-in-law, Andrew Donovan." Lucas said as the two men shook hands.

"Yes, the infamous Andrew." Robert chuckled.

"Hey wait a minute here. What did Matthew say about me?" Andrew said with mock annoyance.

"I promise you it was all in good fun." Robert said with a smile as he turned his attention back to Lucas. "It's been a long time, Lucas. What finally brings you back to New Orleans? The last time you left here, I thought we would never see you again." Robert told him honestly.

"I never thought I would be back either. The closest I came was a few years back when I made a trip to Grand Isle to help some other friends rebuild a school. Some new information has come to light about the night Matthew was killed. Andrew and I are just trying to piece it all together. It's possible what happened all those years ago did not quite play out the way I thought it did." Lucas told him.

"You were so distraught after Matthew died. You and Jeanette were gutted. Sophie and I wanted to help but we really had no idea how. You wanted vengeance Lucas. I had never seen you like that. I'll be honest, I was afraid to tell you too much for fear that you would end up dead too." Robert said with great sadness.

"You were probably not wrong about that, Robert. But now, I'm hoping you will tell us everything you remember about that night. Especially about the man who came into the saloon and told Matthew about the ambush." Lucas said as he looked at his friend pleadingly.

Robert looked between the two men. "Ok, Lucas what would you like to know?" Robert asked.

"Did you know the man who came into the saloon to tell Matthew I was in trouble?" Lucas asked.

"I didn't know his name, but he had been in the saloon quite a bit in the months before Matthew passed. He was older, maybe in his forties. He had dark hair, long, with a slight beard and a menacing look. The kind of guy you wouldn't want to meet in an alley alone, if you know what I mean. Sometimes he and Matthew would go back to his office to talk. I think they were up to something." Robert said not really wanting to speak ill of his dead friend.

"Around the time this guy started showing up, Matthew started taking these trips, where he was gone for weeks. I asked Jeanette about it and she said Matthew was doing something on the side to bring in some extra money so that they could fix up the place. It sounded reasonable to me so I never really gave it much thought after that. That is, until the night he came in and told Matthew you were in trouble." He told them as the memory seemed to cause him great pain.

"I overheard him tell Matthew that the men you were working with were on to you. That they planned to eliminate you that night. The guy left after that. Matthew was obviously upset. He just told me to watch the bar, he would be back as soon as he could. That was the last time I saw him alive." Robert said unhappily.

"Thank you for telling us. This has been a big help. If I had you look at some pictures, do you think you would recognize this man?" Lucas asked hopefully.

"Lucas, after you left to go back to England, Jeanette shared with Sophie and I about what profession you and Matthew use to be in. I can certainly believe it of both of you. But Lucas, Sophie and I have a family now. I don't want any trouble." Robert told him earnestly.

"Robert, I understand. I have a family now myself. I can tell you that I am no longer in that profession either. Believe it or not, I am now the Governor of Alberta Canada. I promise you; no one will know that you told us anything. Tomorrow I will stop by and show you some pictures and you can let me know if you recognize the man that Matthew was meeting with. Can you do that?" Lucas asked.

Robert hesitant for moment. "Sure, Lucas. For Matthew, I at least owe him that." Robert said.

"One other question, did Matthew ever mention a man named Jack Thornton?"

"I can't say he ever talked about him but a couple of times Matthew asked me to mail a letter for him. He was sending correspondence to a Constable Jack Thornton in Canada. I only remember because the letters corresponded with his trips. It made me curious as to why he was sending a letter to a Mountie in Canada." Robert told them.

Thank you, Robert. I'll be back tomorrow with the pictures." Lucas told him as he and Andrew got up to leave.

When they were outside Andrew turned to Lucas. "I hope that all made sense to you, because again I am totally lost." Andrew said perplexed.

"Everything is starting to fall into place for me. I can't wait to talk to Walden tomorrow." Lucas said with a look Andrew had never seen before. Andrew thought that Walden didn't know it but he was lucky he was already in prison as he was not sure what Lucas would do to him otherwise.