Ransom on the River: Deep River Inn

by Bettie Jane

  Unwilling to allow Mr. Birnie time to to argue with her, Sadie kept going, barely sneaking in a breath.

  “Gus, what do you know about Carl Collins?”

  “He’s a bit of a vagabond. Last I heard, he was living over in Swedetown with Olga Svenson, but I can’t say for sure that that is still the case.”

  Sadie nodded. “Who would know where he lives for certain?”

  Enoch, a blonde beanpole of a man, obviously Scandinavian, who had arrived with William to help search, spoke with a quiet, but firm voice. “I’ve seen him working for the Phillips out in Skamokawa, but they don’t have any telephones out there save the general store/post office.”

  Henrietta stifled her cries and sat up. “Wait. Did you say Olga Svenson?”

  Olga’s name apparently pierced the fog of panic for Henrietta.

  Sadie nodded. “Supposedly Carl was last known to be living with her in Swedetown.” Sadie was repeating information, but it was clear that Henrietta Brix was in and out of awareness.

  Henrietta sniffled again and stood. “I’ll call Margaret. Olga does some part time housekeeping for her. If anyone would have the latest gossip on one of her employees, it would be Margaret Butler. Mother Brix might also know something.”

  While she watched Henrietta retreat into another portion of the large home, Sadie made her next decision.

  “While Mrs. Brix is finding the location of the Collin’s residence, can someone tell me what they know about him? Does he hold any grudges against your family, Mr Birnie?”

  Frederick Birnie appeared to be shocked that he was directly addressed. He began to bluster then stopped.

  “Carl, what I know of him, is nothing but trouble. I know of no particular reason he would have to harbor ill will against my family.”

  Henrietta re-entered the room. “Margaret confirmed that the last she’d heard Carl and Olga were staying together out in Swedetown.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Brix. Do you know of any reason why Carl Collins might be involved in something like this?”

  Henrietta resumed her pacing back and forth, wearing a pattern in the lush carpet and didn’t seem to have heard Sadie.

  “Mrs. Brix?”

  “What? Oh, yes, I’m sorry.” Her vision seemed to focus and then she answered. “I don’t know Carl very well. Oscar has hired him to do some odd jobs from time to time and I suppose he’s been around the children just a bit, but he never seemed like someone to be concerned about.”

  Fredrick Birnie started to bluster. “Henrietta, the man’s a vagrant. We should have run him out of town long ago. The Sheriff should have seen to it.” He glared in Sadie’s direction and muttered, “Sheriff’s clearly off his rocker these days.”

  Ah, there it was. She knew his type and they couldn’t suppress their need to bluster. She’d watched her father handle men like this for years in the tavern and it seemed like the best way was always to simply ignore their very childlike, grown up temper tantrums.

  Sadie ignored his statement. This wasn’t the time to fight about politics or who should have done what when. This was the time to find Jemmie.

  “Is it possible,” Sadie said carefully, “that Jemmie’s been taken for some kind of ransom, given your family’s, er, financial position?”

  It was an awkward question, but one she felt should be addressed.

  “I’ll not give that vagrant one red cent,” Mr. Birnie blustered. “Not one cent.”

  “Papa,” Henrietta pleaded with her father. “Think of Jemmie.”

  That quieted him down for the moment.

  Sadie pressed again. “Nobody has received a ransom note or a phone call, correct?”

  Anna, who was back in the room now, answered her.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t think of it sooner. It was very odd at the time, but now that—well, I got a phone call while the family was at church this morning asking after Mr. Brix. I told the caller, it was a man, but I don’t know who it was, that he was at church with his family. He told me that I should tell Mr. Brix to be expecting a letter to be hand delivered today and that it was of vital importance to his family. I don’t know if that’s important but that’s the only thing that’s been the least bit out of the ordinary today.”

  “Why are we just now hearing about this?” Mr. Birnie bellowed.

  Sadie kept her eyes trained on Anna and ignored him.

  “Thank you, Anna. Every detail could be important. Have you received any such correspondence?”

  “No, ma’am. Mr. Brix isn’t home yet…”

  “That’s perfectly all right, Anna. You’ll let me or Mrs. Brix know if you receive any additional phone calls or letters that are unusual?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I mean, Yes, Deputy Andersen.”

  Sadie smiled at her gratefully. It seemed she had another friend, or at the very least someone who didn’t hate her and wasn’t going to fight her on her role in this. She made a mental note to herself that when Daniel was feeling better, she’d skin him alive for putting her in this position.

  “Thanks, Anna.”

  “Anna,” Henrietta spoke up, her voice sounding a bit stronger. “Would you tell Matthew to go and wait at the ferry for Mr. Brix? I want him to know immediately when he gets back what has happened.”

  Enoch Redmond, the other member of the search party William recruited, addressed Sadie.

  “It seems we should get out to the creek where Joel last saw Jemmie. We’ll see what we can find and talk to Old Man Ostervold. If that’s pleasing to you, ma’am?”

  She was reminded again how much respect her husband had garnered in the community. For these men to just blindly follow a newly sworn deputy with no formal training—and a woman no less—spoke volumes about her husband’s character and influence even in absentia.

  “William you’ll enlist the help of the guide you mentioned?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wonderful,” Sadie said. “I’ll make my way to Carl’s residence in Swedetown. If he’s taken Jemmie there, which seems unlikely, we’ll wrap this up right away.”

  5

  A thought occurred to Sadie.

  “Mr. Redmond, would you accompany me to Swedetown? William and Gus are headed out the Elochoman. Why don’t we all regroup here in two hours and we’ll compare notes. Mrs. Brix, in the meantime, will you wait here? If any of us learns something urgent, we’ll call it into you and you can share it with others who call in.”

  “Certainly.”

  “I have one more request, Mrs. Brix. I’d like Joel to accompany William out to the area by the creek. He might remember something else and he can show William exactly where they were when Jemmie was taken.”

  Henrietta paled at Sadie’s request. “I—I don’t know if that is such a good idea.”

  Her hesitation was completely understandable.

  “Gus will be there as well. What if he stayed with Joel the entire time? He could bring him home as soon as Joel’s pointed the search party in the right direction.”

  Sadie turned to Gus, who’d been watching the goings on. “Gus, would you be willing to do that?”

  “Yes, certainly. Henri, I’ll watch him carefully.” His nickname for his sister was adorable.

  “I suppose. But on one condition. Joel needs to agree to it. I worry for him returning out there with his brother still missing. It might be to much for him.”

  “Agreed. We only take Joel if he agrees to it.”

  “Oh, this is ridiculous,” Mr. Birnie complained. “Letting the women and children manage this.”

  He stormed out of the room when nobody agreed with him or even acknowledged him and Sadie had to work to maintain her smile. She knew Mr. Birnie’s type of man. The kind that assumed women were helpless and little children had little to no value. Sadie knew differently. The only information they had right now had come from a child, the single eye witness. To exclude his potential help from the investigation would be foolish. This wasn't the first time she’d seen men who were too full of th
eir own ego refuse to see reason. She let him go because she had no time to fight with him.

  “It’s started snowing,” Henrietta said flatly. “I don’t think Jemmie was dressed for snowy weather.”

  A lone tear fell down her cheek.

  “Mrs. Brix, why don’t you see if Joel is willing to come with us and get him nice and bundled up for the weather. Perhaps pack some extra warm clothing for Jemmie to wear when we find him.”

  Henrietta Brix flashed a warm smile at Sadie and Sadie was grateful she’d used the word when and not if.

  “Don’t worry, Henri,” Gus said, using his sister’s childhood nickname. “I won’t let him out of my sight.”

  She nodded and walked out of the room. The look in her eyes was something between numb and terrified. Sadie recognized that look. She’d seen it on herself many times during the last year.

  Once Henrietta Brix was out of earshot, Sadie addressed the room. “There are some things we need to learn and the quicker the better. One, why would Carl Collins kidnap Jemmie if not for a ransom? Is there a ransom note that just hadn’t been found yet? And why did he take one boy and not the other? Was it happenstance since the boys were separated or was Jemmie always the intended target? Finally, we should begin considering anyone else who might have a motive to hurt the Brix or Birnie family. If it wasn’t Collins, who was it?”

  The room was quiet for a moment. She wasn’t the only who was shocked at how quickly she’d fallen into her new role as Deputy in charge of a kidnapping investigation. It didn’t matter why or how she was able to do this, only that she was going to find Jemmie and soon, before it was too late.

  She shivered at what too late could mean when she saw the snow falling even thicker than it had been before.

  Gus nodded. “I agree. When Oscar returns, maybe he’ll have some insight as to who else might have had a reason to do something like this.”

  The small group continued their conversations and best guesses for a few more minutes until Henrietta returned with a bundled up Joel and a leather satchel. Joel held the badge in his hand.

  “Deputy Andersen?” He held out his hand and his little voice quivered. Sadie’s heart went out to him. What a brave little boy. “Yes, Junior Deputy Brix, have you decided to help us out a bit more today?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I think I should wear my badge on the outside of my coat.”

  Sadie smiled, cheered by Joel’s confidence.

  “Absolutely. We want everyone to know that you’re the law in these parts.”

  She knew she was being a bit Wild West in her speech to him, but it was the thing that had managed to pull him out of shock and grief so she was going to follow this track with him as long as it worked.

  She made a big deal of pinning it on his coat lapel and then turned him to face the rest of the men, including his Uncle Gus.

  “Men of the Search Party, I’d like to formally introduce you to Junior Deputy Joel Brix. He’ll be accompanying you to aid in the search.” She was definitely hamming it up, but Joel seemed to go along with it.

  Joel beamed with pride and practically grew two inches in front of her eyes. He really was a delightful child. She hoped, for his sake and for other reasons, that Jemmie was found unharmed. And quickly.

  William followed her lead and addressed Joel.

  “Deputy Brix, let’s go find your brother.”

  William, Gus, and little Joel filed out of the room and Sadie silently wished they’d recover Jemmie right away and that this was all some horrible mistake.

  Mrs. Birnie entered the room and stood next to Henrietta who looked as though she might crumble into a million pieces watching her second son walk out the door.

  “Mrs. Brix,” Sadie said. “I want you to know that I’ll do everything I can to find Jemmie and return him safely to you.”

  Henrietta sniffled in return and nodded. “Thank you.”

  Then, unable to hold it together any longer, Henrietta fell into her mother’s arms and the sobs she’d been holding back took her.

  Sadie turned away to give her privacy.

  “Mr. Redmond, shall we go to Swedetown?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I brought my truck. Would you like me to drive?”

  “Thank you,” Sadie responded.

  They left Brix House without another word.

  When they stepped outside, she saw that William and his search party were just passing on the street, all of them on horseback.

  William motioned for Sadie to come over.

  “You’re doing an outstanding job, Sadie. Keep it up. The Sheriff was wise to put you in charge.”

  The reminder that her husband was sick made her stomach roil. She forced a smile, hoping that she didn’t look as worried as she felt.

  “Well, thank you, Barkeep.” She used the name she’d come to call him in her time at the saloon. “I’m surprised he got in touch with you before.”

  “Oh, he didn’t.” William grinned. “I just thought I’d give you a little backup. I knew Fred would hassle you and waste time if I didn’t shut him down right away.”

  She nodded. “I appreciate that. Do you suppose this is actually a ransom and we just haven’t received the demand yet?”

  “It’s possible,” William shrugged. “The Birnie family is one of, if not the, wealthiest families in town and Oscar Brix has made quite a name for himself with his investment in the Willamette Paper Company, plus his other real estate holdings from Astoria all the way to Longview.”

  He looked around and then lowered his voice, Sadie assumed it was to make sure Gus—a Birnie family member—wasn’t listening. “I think Oscar Brix has made a fair number of enemies in his business dealings and so if Carl Collins isn’t behind this, digging into Oscar’s business dealings might turn up other suspects.”

  “Thank you, William. For everything. I hope you find Jemmie. I’ll be in touch.”

  With that, William set his horse to a gallop. Sadie watched him go first, then Gus and Joel who shared a horse. It was a small search party. She hoped it would be enough. She watched them for a moment, willing their search to be successful and then walked toward Enoch’s black Model T truck where he waited for her.

  Before she climbed in, she saw a teenaged boy racing to keep up with Oscar Brix who was running toward the house. Apparently his ferry had returned from Astoria.

  “Enoch, just a moment, please. I’d like to speak to Oscar briefly before we head out in case he has any additional information about Carl Collins that we need to know about before we drive to Swedetown.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Enoch said. She’d interacted with him a few times at the Columbia Saloon and he always seemed like an agreeable fellow. Her assumption seemed to be correct.

  Oscar was up the stairs and into the house before Sadie could get to him so she just followed him inside.

  Henrietta ran to him and he pulled her close.

  “Mathew told me about Jemmie, Henrietta. What happened?”

  Sadie watched quietly while Henrietta gave him the rundown. It seemed important to let her be the one to tell her husband the circumstances around their son’s disappearance. Joel and Jemmie had been playing in the woods, someone took Jemmie, Joel thought it might have been Carl Collins. She was remarkably composed. Sadie was impressed with her ability to pull herself together

  Oscar swore under his breath. “Where’s Joel now?”

  “He went with Gus and William out the Elochoman where Jemmie was last seen. They are hoping to find tracks of some sort, although in this weather…I’m not confident.”

  Oscar startled when he finally noticed Sadie standing in the entry hall.

  “Oh, forgive me, Mrs. Andersen, I didn’t see you there. Where’s the Sheriff?”

  “Unfortunately, he’s ill and in bed. He’s deputized me in his place since Deputy Fisher is out of town.”

  “I see.”

  Silence settled between them for a moment. Unasked questions about the Sheriff’s illness in the time of the dead
ly influenza lingered between them until finally Oscar said, “I will pray for his full recovery, Mrs. Andersen. Thank you for your help in this matter.”

  “I’m sure he will be fine. His daughter Olivia is caring for him.” She changed the subject back to Jemmie. “Mr. Brix, Joel suspected Carl Collins might have been the one to take Jemmie. Joel reported that he left the area with Jemmie and was walking in the direction of Old Man Ostervold. Do you have any reason to think that Carl Collins would do this to your family?”

  He shook his head. “No. He’s worked for me before. We’ve never had any unfriendly exchanges. He’s a hard worker.”

  “Do you know if Mr. Collins has any relationship or dealings with Old Man Ostervold?”

  He shook his head. “Ostervold keeps to himself. I don’t know of any interaction between the two of them.”

  “And is there anyone else you can think of who might want to hurt your family?”

  “I’m sure their are folks in town who aren’t fond of me, but I can’t think of anyone in town who would do this.”

  Sadie nodded.

  The teenager, Matthew, spoke up. “Mr. Brix, sir. I have something for you.”

  “What is it?” Mr. Brix asked.

  “I found this in the stables this afternoon.”

  He held out an envelope. Mr. Brix took it and Sadie craned her neck to see what it was. There was writing on the front.

  “Give to Oscar Brix when he returns from Astoria. Regarding his sons.”

  Sons, plural. Interesting. This indicated that the plan was originally to take both boys. Sadie wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or worse.

  Oscar’s face paled at the rough words and tore open the envelope.

  By now, Sadie was right next to Oscar and reading the note along with him. Just as she suspected they would, they’d received their ransom note.

  The kidnapping was about money.

  “If you want to see your boys again, it will cost you. $100,000. Wait for further instructions.”