CHAPTER 21

Hope Springs, Alberta Canada

Wednesday, March 11, 1925

Lucas and MaKayla had just gotten the twins settled into bed when the telephone rang. Lucas went downstairs to answer the call.

"Lucas, it's Daniel. We found him." Daniel told him with a note of glee in his voice. Lucas sank down into his office chair. He closed his eyes for second as Matthew came into his mind's eye and he smiled as he could see his friend so clearly. Those piercing blue eyes staring at him, He heard him say, "Luke, go get our man," with that mischievous grin….

"Lucas are you there?" Daniel asked.

"Sorry yes, Daniel. Where is he?" Lucas asked as he forced himself to listen.

"I'm not going to tell you where he is until we have a plan in place. I don't want you to go off on a one-man vendetta. Do you understand me?" Daniel asked him sternly.

"Daniel, I understand. Is he close by?" Lucas asked.

"Yes. We could arrest him right now as he is an escaped convict but if we did that, he would not pay for what he did to Aucoin and possibly Thornton. We need to get him to confess to those crimes so he spends the rest of his miserable life in prison. Would you be able to come to Union City tomorrow and meet at the safe house there?" Daniel asked. "We need to get to him before he catches on to us."

"Daniel, can I call you back in just a little bit. I need to speak to MaKayla first." Lucas told him.

"Sure Lucas. I understand. I'll be waiting for your call." Daniel told him.

MaKayla was walking down the stairs as Lucas came out of the library.

"Who called?" MaKayla asked as she walked towards him.

"It was Daniel. They found Spurlock." He told her as he took her hand and led her to the couch.

MaKayla lowered her head for just a moment. "And you need to leave so you can be the one who brings him in." MaKayla said knowingly as she raised her gaze to meet his.

"I want to, but the baby is due any day now and I want to be here for you." He told her as she could see the conflict in his eyes.

MaKayla reached up and touched his cheek. "I want you here when our baby is born but I also know that it is important that you bring Matthew's killer to justice. I can't promise you this time I won't go into labor while you're gone but the baby and I will try to hold on for you to get back. All I ask is that you come back to me alive." MaKayla told him as her eyes welled up with tears.

"MaKayla, I don't know if I should…" He said unsure as he trailed off.

"You have to be the one to do this. I want you to be able to put this ten-year nightmare in the past. You need to be able to start to remember your best friend with joy and not guilt. When do you need to leave?" MaKayla asked him.

"Daniel wants me to meet him in Union City tomorrow." Lucas told her.

"Call Daniel back and tell him you will be there. Mrs. Cleveland and Henry are here. I'm not alone Lucas. It will be fine." She told him with confidence. "I'll wait here, go call Daniel." She told him.

"MaKayla, I am so…." Lucas started to say but stopped as MaKayla put her finger to his lips.

"Lucas, you never have to be sorry for doing the right thing. I want Matthew's killer brought to justice as much as you do. The baby and I will be fine. Go call Daniel." She told him as she gave him a soft kiss.

Lucas got up and went into the library. MaKayla massaged her abdomen and whispered to the baby in her womb. "You have to hold on a little while longer until your daddy comes back home to us before you make your appearance."

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Hope Springs, Alberta Canada

Thursday, March 12, 1925

Lucas was up early and dressed as he gently shook his wife trying to wake her. "MaKayla, wake up." He said quietly not wanting to startle her.

MaKayla opened her eyes and blinked at her husband. "You look handsome this morning." She said as a small yawn escaped.

"You like the blue suit?" He asked with a wink.

"Yes, actually I do. I mean you look handsome no matter what you have on. She told him as her smile faded. "Please be safe Lucas. Don't take any unnecessary risks." She told him as she moved some stray hair off his forehead. He looked so young and handsome with his hair falling on to his forehead.

"I won't. I'll be back soon. No signs of labor, right?" He asked her still not sure he should be leaving her.

"No, all is good. Now go and finish this. The baby and I will be waiting right here for you." She told him as he leaned in for a passionate kiss.

"I love you MaKayla Bouchard." He told her, as he then leaned down to kiss her abdomen. "And you little one, wait for me to get back. Do you hear me?" He asked his unborn child as he smiled at his wife.

"We'll be waiting, hurry back." MaKayla told him quietly as Lucas got up to leave their bedroom. Her gaze followed him out the door as a tear escaped her eye.

Lucas went into the twin's room and kissed them goodbye. Ciara started to stir. "Daddy." She said sleepily.

"Go back to sleep, princess." Lucas said quietly.

"Daddy go, bye bye?" Ciara asked

"Yes, just for a little while." He told her gently.

"Me come to." She said as she raised her arms for Lucas to pick her up. Lucas felt his resolve wavier. How could he leave his family? He sighed deeply.

"Daddy will sing you a song so you can go back to sleep." He told her as he started to softly sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Ciara was the only one who liked his singing, he thought as a smile crossed his face. She turned and cuddled into his arm as she drifted back off to sleep. Lucas gently extracted his arm and kissed the top of her of head. He went to Matthew's bed and gave his son a kiss as well then left the room.

Lucas went downstairs and made himself a cup of tea and some toast. He was putting on his shoulder holster when there was a knock at the door. Lucas opened the door to find Bill Avery standing on the other side.

"Bill, what are you doing here?" Lucas asked surprised as he was expecting Declan.

"Daniel, called me last night. We had a long talk." Bill told Lucas as he walked inside. "Listen Lucas, I don't give much credence to your theory that Spurlock is possibly responsible for Jack's death. But the way that Daniel feels about you is the way that I feel about Jack Thornton. Also, Daniel told me about Jack's letter to you. Do you mind if I read it?" Bill asked him. Lucas went to his library to retrieve the letter.

He returned to the front room and handed the letter to Bill. Bill read the letter and then looked over at Lucas. "It looks like your friend saved Jack's life making it possible for Elizabeth and Jack to marry. Not to mention he wanted Spurlock to pay for what he had done to your friend. If Spurlock was in anyway involved in what happened to Jack, I want to hear him say it. I want to be there when you bring him in." Jack told him in his usual gruff tone.

Lucas stared at him for a moment before breaking out into a smile. "Alright, Bill. Glad to have you along." Lucas told him.

There was another knock at the door. Lucas went to open the door. "You ready sir." Declan asked.

Lucas looked over at Bill. "Yes, we are." Lucas said with a grin.

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Union City, Alberta Canada

Thursday, March 12, 1925

The three men reached Union City a few hours later and went straight to the safe house. When they arrived, Daniel was already there.

"Gentlemen, come in." Daniel told them when he answered the door. They sat at the kitchen table while Daniel explained what he knew.

"Spurlock has been calling himself Harvey Ledbetter since he broke out of prison. He moves around to new towns but has always stayed in the Province of Alberta. Currently he lives about 5 miles outside of the Union City limits on a ranch. He has a lot of security around the perimeter. I have men strategically placed along the perimeter out of view. I hope to keep the gun play to a minimum but his men are heavily armed. The only way to get in quietly is through the front door. Lucas, that is where you come into play." Daniel told him with a smile.

"Of course, who could turn down a visit from the governor." Lucas said with a cocky smile.

"Exactly." Daniel said. "My office called this morning and set up a meeting between the governor and Ledbetter for this afternoon."

"Lucas is just supposed to waltz in there and tell him to confess to the murder of a CSIS agent and a Mountie? Honestly Daniel, why would he do that?" Bill asked not really sure how this was supposed to play out to their advantage.

Daniel looked at Bill and started to laugh. "Bill, you know Lucas as a saloon owner, a gambler, and governor. But you never really saw Lucas in action as an agent. I assure you Lucas really shines when it comes to getting men and women to say out loud what they normally never would." Daniel told him as Bill looked at Lucas skeptically. Lucas wondered when he would stop having to prove himself to Bill, as he let out a sigh.

The men got in the car to drive out to the Ledbetter ranch. As they neared the ranch Daniel and Bill lifted the backseat up and crawled inside. It was a tight squeeze but extended into the truck. The guards examined the car then allowed Lucas and Declan to passed through the front gate. Declan parked in front of the house.

"Showtime." Lucas told everyone in the car as he and Declan got out of the car.

Lucas knocked on the front door as a man opened the door. "Good afternoon, I'm Governor Bouchard. I have a meeting scheduled with Mr. Ledbetter."

"Yes, Governor. Mr. Ledbetter is expecting you. Please come in." The man told him as he escorted Lucas and Declan into the parlor.

A few minutes later a young man about 5'9 with black hair walked in. "Good afternoon, Governor. Harvey Ledbetter, nice to meet you. What brings our esteemed governor here for a visit today?" The man asked as they shook hands. Surprised that it was not Spurlock, Lucas schooled his countenance and gave a dimpled grin.

"Well, I have some information that I came across that concerns you." Lucas told him as he took a seat in one of the armchairs. "You see I recently learned about a murder that was committed by you ten years ago, well actually possibly two murders." Lucas says calmly.

Ledbetter started to laugh, "Seriously Governor. Who have I murdered?" He asks nonchalantly.

"A CSIS agent named Matthew Aucoin and Constable Jack Thornton." Lucas said succinctly.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know those men. I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else. And since when would you as governor go out of your way to arrest someone for murder?" He asked coldly. "Unless of course it was for your own attempted murder. You know that nasty business with Balfour."

Lucas smiled at the man sitting in front of him and then eyed the man standing in the corner of the room.

"I see, you also have a bodyguard. Any reason for that Mr. Ledbetter?" Lucas asked evenly.

"I'm a very rich man and I may have acquired some enemies along the way. One can never be too careful, as you yourself have found out. Haven't you been shot a time or two in the past few years?" The man asked with a steely look in his eyes.

"That is true. But you and I have never met. Surely you would have nothing to fear from me." Lucas told him coolly.

"Well Governor, you did just accuse me of murder, did you not?" Ledbetter asked him.

Lucas gave him a smug smile. "That I did. My wife is expecting a baby any time now and this is the last place that I want to be. But I'm also not leaving here without the man who murdered Aucoin and Thornton." He told him with a knowing look while glancing over at the man in the corner.

"What proof do you have that I murdered these men?" Ledbetter asked.

"I have a signed affidavit from Wyman Walden stating that you killed Matthew Aucoin as retaliation for his interference with your operation out of New Orleans in 1914. As insurance, Walden kept the gun used in the killing which I have already had checked for your fingerprints and imagine that, it was a perfect match. Then the ballistic report is a match as well. All of which are in my possession now." He said with a wide grin.

"I also have letters from Aucoin and Constable Thornton stating you were running guns up to the northern territories. Not to mention I was there the night Aucoin was killed and I'm prepared to testify that I saw you leaving the warehouse right after Aucoin was shot. I have a stellar reputation in Alberta, no one is going to take your word over mine." Lucas told him as he schooled his face to look menacing. "And I'm not leaving here without my best friends' murderer in custody." Lucas told him.

Ledbetter started to sweat; he hadn't bargained on going to prison for murder. "So, Mr. Ledbetter, or whatever your real name is, are you going to go down for a murder you yourself did not commit." Lucas told him while looking at the man in the corner who now raised his head and stared at Bouchard.

"Listen I never bargained for a murder rap. I'm not the man you want. I'm not Harvey Ledbetter, actually…" The man said as he was cut off by another man who walked into the room.

"That will be quite enough, Richard." The man told him as Lucas turned to the man and stared in disbelief.

"Cat got your tongue, Bouchard? I assume you never expected to see me here. I wouldn't have revealed myself except that I couldn't resist seeing that look on your face." Bernard Montague told him with a laughing smile.

Lucas quickly regained his composure. "Well, Montague. I admit I never suspected you as the mastermind of this whole gangster operation. You had everyone fooled." Lucas told him shaking his head.

"I was smart enough to keep my identity a secret, and you my friend will not live long enough to reveal it to anyone. Only Julius here knew who was behind everything. He was my front man and then we brought Walden in. But I've tired of this game with you. Time to get someone else in the Governor's seat that I can manipulate once again. I do admit you have been a worthy adversary." Montague told him.

Spurlock left his spot in the corner and walked toward Lucas. "You think you're so smart, Bouchard. This is a heavily guarded compound did you honestly think you could come in here and arrest me for murder and walk out of here alive?" Spurlock said as he stared at Lucas with a murderous look.

"You're the one man that has eluded us." Montague said grimly. "You seem to have nine lives, Bouchard. I convinced Judge Avery that I had no part in your election night assassination attempt which by the way would have worked if Jeanette didn't have a soft spot for you. In all fairness she had very little idea of what was actually going on." He told him with a mocking grin.

"You then had the resort idea which seemed like a way I could use you to my advantage. Once I was out of the bidding for the resort, I thought for sure you would accept Jeanette's bid with no questions. I do admit I overplayed my hand there. Then Kingston was supposed to eliminate you but you bested him too in the end. Not an easy thing to do, but you did it. Nice job." He told him with another mocking smile.

"I thought you would leave when your first term was done and Balfour would be re-elected but again, always the do-gooder. By the way, that was all Balfour's idea to hire Johnny Barker to eliminate you that time, I had nothing to do with it. Although I applaud his attempt but yet another failure. I heard you were looking into Aucoin's death and well it became very clear to me that it was time to end this game with you. Checkmate, Governor." Montague told him.

Lucas stood up and looked both men squarely in the eye then turned his attention to Spurlock. "Since you seem so sure that I'm a dead man. Admit you killed Aucoin and you set up Thornton. I didn't know Thornton personally, but you are well aware that I was once engaged to his widow. The story goes that Thornton was killed in a mudslide and that he pushed two men out of danger but couldn't get out of the way in time to save himself. But you see, I think you had something to do with that accident. The entire time I was with Elizabeth I had to live in the shadow of Thornton. I'd like to know how you got the drop on the great man himself? Give me that much." Lucas asked curiously as Spurlock eyed him menacingly.

"Alright Bouchard, I'll let you go to your grave knowing what happened to Thornton. Harkness told me that Thornton was at Fort Clay training new Mounties. Good thing that other Mountie messed up, putting Thornton in my sights. I had every intention of killing him. As chance would have it the mudslide happened first before I got the chance to take him out. Mother Nature did me a favor where he was concerned. Although I was prepared to kill him." Spurlock told him with a cocky smile.

"So why did you want Thornton dead?" Lucas asked

"He kept looking into Aucoin's death and who was behind the influx of guns into Canada, despite his having been told by his superiors to stop investigating. Another one who couldn't let things go. The three of you were just alike." He told him with a maniacal laugh.

"And Aucoin?" Lucas asked.

"As for Aucoin, he walked into that warehouse looking for you and found me. He was trying to ruin our operation. He needed to go. Having you believe you were the cause of Aucoin's death was icing on the cake." Spurlock told him with a smug smile.

"Now you know everything Bouchard. It's time to end this charade, once and for all." Montague told him glibly.

Lucas gave a soft laugh. "Do you really think, I came here with just one bodyguard?" Lucas asked calmly.

Spurlock looked at him suspiciously. "I don't see any other men. You're stalling." Spurlock said with a sardonic laugh.

"Daniel, Bill, can the two of you come in here? My hosts seem to think that I'm stalling." Lucas said with a snarky grin. Daniel and Bill came into the parlor with guns drawn.

"Nicely played, Governor." Bill told him. "Daniel and I heard everything. Montague, I admit you had me fooled, that doesn't happen often." He told him as he gave him a steely glare. Declan went over and pointed his gun at Montague.

Bill went to frisk Spurlock who turned suddenly and punched Bill in the face causing him to fall back into Daniel as both men went down on to the floor dropping their guns. Spurlock pushed past Lucas toward the front door. Declan was dealing with Ledbetter and Montague so Lucas took off after Spurlock.

Spurlock was out the front door and down the porch steps as Lucas leapt to grab him around the legs causing Spurlock to fall to the ground. Spurlock and Lucas were sprawled on the ground in fisticuffs. Lucas was younger and in better shape gaining the advantage over Spurlock when he finally landed a knockout punch.

Back in the house another man came out of a back room with a gun drawn. The man pointed the gun at Declan. "Drop your weapon or I shoot your friends." He told him menacingly.

Lucas was out of breath but he slowly started to get up off the ground, as he got to his full height a shot rang out and Lucas fell to the ground. Inside the house the men heard the gunshot ring out.

"Damn!" Daniel said as fear struck his heart.