She looked to Jayce as if expecting him to use this as an excuse to draw attention. Instead, he shook his head. “I’d prefer she sign.”
He then looked away as if bored and indifferent with the entire process. Jayce heard the clerk mutter in a thoroughly annoyed manner.
“It’s all right,” Helaina declared. “My husband can be a bit eccentric. You must forgive him.”
Jayce looked back to find her signing the register. The clerk then handed her the key and summoned a bellman. “Take their bags to room 212.”
“We only have one small bag,” Helaina said, smiling. “We can manage it ourselves.”
The clerk rolled his eyes. “Very well.”
They climbed the stairs to the second floor in silence. Jayce wanted to ask Helaina detailed questions about her plans, but he figured she would never reveal anything to him unless it suited her purpose. For now he’d give her the idea that he was cooperating, but if he felt things were getting out of hand, then he’d have to do otherwise. There was only one thing he would insist on.
Once they were secure in the hotel room, he tossed the cloak aside and faced Helaina. “You know that I could overpower you.”
She looked at him for a moment and nodded. “No doubt.”
“But I want you to understand and believe in my innocence. I want your help to clear my name. In return, I will stay here for a time. But I have two demands of my own.”
“And what would they be, Mr. Kincaid?”
“I want a lawyer, and I want to write a letter to Leah. She’s not going to understand my disappearance, and I won’t have her misunderstanding this situation. I love that woman. I plan to marry her, and not you or the entire Pinkerton Agency is going to stop me.”
She pulled off her hat and tossed it to a nearby writing desk. “I cannot allow you a lawyer at this time. If we involve anyone else—anyone—it will only jeopardize my ability to learn the truth.”
“A lawyer could get to information you’d have no right to,” Jayce protested.
“You are very naiïve, Mr. Kincaid. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I have my connections and my processes for getting things done. I am willing to learn the truth about this and see your brother rightfully take your place. However, you must yield this to me. I need time. As it is, my brother is going to be livid. I took you off that ship right under the nose of a half-dozen Pinkerton agents. I couldn’t see letting them take you, however, without at least trying to prove your claims one way or another. If I get you a lawyer, you’ll have to go to jail and sit in a cell. Is that what you want?”
Jayce looked around him. The room was comfortably situated with a sofa and several chairs, a writing desk, and a luxurious fireplace. The bedroom door was closed, so he had no way to know what that room held. He had to admit a grand hotel room was better than a cell any day. “I suppose I can wait it out for a while. Will you in return trust me to be without these?” He held up his cuffed hands. “After all, we’ve already established that it wouldn’t take much for me to overpower you—even manacled.”
She considered this for a moment, then went to her purse. Producing the key, she drew a deep breath. “I hope you will not disappoint my trust, Mr. Kincaid. If you do anything to cause me difficulty, I will end my quest to prove the truth.”
“I understand. If it helps at all, I give you my word that I’ll remain here as you attempt to get your proof.”
“Very well.” She unlocked the cuffs and tucked the key in her pocket. “As for the letter,” she said, crossing the room to open the bedroom door. “I suppose it will do no harm. I didn’t want Leah or Jacob hurt in this situation. I know Jacob believes me to be a horrible liar, but I had my job to do.”
“And that justifies telling lies?”
She reddened a bit at this. “Yes. Yes, I believe that I should use whatever means necessary to put evil criminals behind bars.”
“Does that include breaking the law yourself—as you’re doing now?”
She grew angry. “I’m doing this to help you. You’d do well to remember that. Believe me, I don’t understand my own choice in this. It’s all because of Jacob and the nonsense he tried to feed me about justice and mercy. If not for that, I’d just forget about the discrepancies and turn you over to the authorities. Furthermore, I’ll let you write your letter, but for now this bedroom is your cell.
I need to lock you in there to ensure that you won’t escape while I’m out trying to gather information.”
Jayce shrugged and walked to the door. Inside he could see a huge plush bed. “Suit yourself. I could use the sleep. Just make sure I have what I need to write that letter.”
She went to the desk and took out paper and ink. “This should serve your purpose.”
Jayce went into the room and waited for her to bring him the items. He stood at the far side of the bed so as not to unnerve her. Helaina placed the articles on the bed. “You should be able to use the nightstand for a table. I’ll be back in a few hours. I’ll bring you something to eat and drink at that time.”
“All right. You have my promise that I won’t try to leave.”
She met his gaze. There was something almost sad in her expression. She seemed troubled and confused. Jayce figured it was an inner war—a battle within her that she’d never had to confront before. Apparently Jacob had given her cause to see the flaws in her logic. Jayce silently thanked God for this, because he was certain had Jacob not planted those seeds of doubt, he’d even now be on a train bound for Washington and a hangman’s noose.
Helaina penned her words carefully. The telegram would cost her a precious amount of money, but she didn’t care. She’d already requested more money from her bank in New York; after all, the Sorrento was far from inexpensive.
Stanley. Send me the fingerprint file for Jayce Kincaid. I believe he is innocent and the prints will prove this. Send a courier as soon as possible to the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle. Please don’t be angry with me. I just learned Kincaid has an identical twin brother named Chase. We need to be certain which brother committed the crimes. Helaina.
She reread the words several times and afterward handed the paper to the telegraph operator. “I need this to be sent immediately. Here’s the address.”
The man looked over the message and nodded. “There’s an extra charge for rush delivery.”
“I don’t care. This is a matter of life and death.”
He looked at her oddly and nodded. “Okay, but it won’t be cheap.”
“It’s already costing me everything,” she murmured.
Leah settled down onto a pallet beside her brother. She would have laughed at her circumstance had it not been such a grave situation. The only transportation they could get to Seattle was aboard a freighter. There were no cabins or beds to be had. Just a quiet corner in the hold.
“We’ll never get there in time,” Jacob said. His voice was so full of regret that Leah instantly felt sorry for him.
“So much has happened to bring us to this place, Jacob. I know it isn’t what either of us planned. We have to trust that God has everything in His hands.”
“But what can we possibly hope to accomplish?” Jacob refused to look at her. “Leah, we’re days behind them, and obviously Helaina had plans to be aided once she arrived in Seattle. Jayce is probably already gone.”
“I know that’s a possibility,” Leah agreed, “but I don’t feel like it’s the reality. Besides, Karen promised to help. Her nephew is a private investigator in Seattle. Adrik has wired him, and he’ll already be on the job before we arrive. God willing, he will have even found Helaina and Jayce and kept them from leaving Seattle.
Remember, he has many friends to call upon for assistance.”
“I know you’re right. There is hope. There is always hope. I’m just . . . well . . . I guess I don’t know what to think. Helaina told me there was more to her than what I thought, and I couldn’t begin to guess the half of it.”
“I think we have to put
aside those kind of concerns and just focus on the future. I’m terrified for Jayce, but I know my fear will do him no good. He’ll need us now more than ever. I don’t intend to give up my husband without a fight.”
Jacob turned and smiled. “You aren’t married yet.”
“No, but my reputation is ruined just the same. After all, we spent all of that time alone . . . Well, Mrs. Wilkerson was there, but she was very sick,” Leah said with a grin.
“Did you get to see her before we left?”
“Yes. She’s doing better, but the doctor fears her heart is very damaged. She must always take it easy—lots of bed rest,” Leah recounted. “I hope to see her in Nome when we return. It was her daughter’s desire to get her back before the winter closed in.”
“Wish we could be doing the same. I’m telling you, Leah, the thought of a city like Seattle unnerves me. I don’t have any desire to go there, and we have no way of knowing what we’ll encounter or how long it will take. I’ll probably have to get some kind of job if it drags on too long.”
“With a city that size, there is bound to be plenty of work.
But don’t worry about that just yet. Like Karen said, we can stay with her sister or one of the other relatives for a while. If things look like they will go on for a lengthy time, then we can reconsider what to do.” She paused for a moment and grew thoughtful. “There’s also another possibility.”
“What’s that?”
“Once we make it to Seattle and I’m safely in the care of Karen’s family, you could return to Nome. There are more opportunities to get to Nome out of Seattle than Sitka or Ketchikan.”
“I won’t desert you. I won’t desert Jayce either. I don’t have to be happy about the circumstance to honor my commitment.”
Four days later they docked in Seattle. Leah had never been so glad to see land in all her life. She wanted to run from the ship but comported herself in a ladylike manner down the gangplank. She wore a woolen skirt and coat, compliments of Karen. It felt rather strange to wear a dress after so many years, but at least she didn’t feel too out of place.
The good thing about taking a freighter to Seattle was that they didn’t have to endure the swarming crowds of a passenger liner. This made it much easier to spot the man who was to meet them.
“You must be Timothy Rogers,” Leah said as a man approached them. He wore a stylish blue suit that complemented his tall, lean body and curly red hair.
He tipped his hat. “I am. Aunt Karen said you’d be arriving on the freighter, but I thought surely she was jesting.” He looked beyond Leah to Jacob. “It’s good to finally meet you both. My aunt has spoken of you as though you were her own children.”
“In many ways, we were,” Jacob admitted. “She has been a mother to us both.”
Leah nodded but quickly changed the subject. “Tell me, have you any news of Jayce and Mrs. Beecham? Have you found them? Are they still here?”
Timothy smiled. “Indeed they are. I put my men to work immediately, and we searched every hotel in the downtown area.
They are staying nearby, registered as Mr. and Mrs. Beecham. I’ve had them under surveillance now for days. He never leaves the hotel—the maid said he’s always in the bedroom and the door is locked. Mrs. Beecham, however, has made some interesting trips.”
“Such as?” Leah asked, casting a quick glance to Jacob before refocusing on Timothy.
“Such as wiring the Pinkerton agency in Washington, D.C.,
for a fingerprint file on Jayce Kincaid. It seems our gal is starting to doubt his guilt. She snuck him off the ship right under the noses of the agents her brother had sent to arrest Kincaid. It infuriated her brother, who sent a wire back telling her to forego this nonsense of worrying about whether or not Kincaid was the right man and that he was sending his men to arrest Jayce immediately.
To which she sent the message that if he didn’t help her and cooperate, she would disappear into the city until she had better answers.”
“She cares about whether or not he’s guilty,” Jacob murmured.
“Yes, isn’t that a change?” Leah said, catching Jacob’s gaze.
“Perhaps there’s hope for Mrs. Beecham. Maybe she’s learned that truth is more important than the letter of the law.”
“And maybe she’s finally learned what mercy is all about,” Jacob said with a hint of a smile forming on his lips.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Helaina had finally convinced Stanley to send the fingerprint files by courier. She breathed a sigh of relief and headed into the hotel. The past few days were beginning to take their toll. Jayce had been a well-behaved prisoner, but his attitude and actions only caused her more guilt and frustration.
I never would have worried about any of this before. Jacob Barringer has been a thorn in my side with his talk of mercy and compassion. Now I have Stanley angry and have jeopardized an important case . . . all in the name of mercy.
She made her way upstairs to the shared suite. For days she’d been sleeping on the sofa, and it had proved to be most inadequate. She longed for a bed but knew that it was better to keep Jayce imprisoned in the bedroom, rather than allow him free-range of the suite.
Unlocking the door to her room, she had nothing on her mind but to rest and rethink the information she’d gathered over the summer. But a roomful of people caused her to realize her plans were for naught.
“Mrs. Beecham.”
Jacob stood by the windows and watched, as if waiting for her to do something dramatic. Beside him stood a tall, redheaded man. Jayce sat on the sofa along with Leah, while a fourth man sat at the writing desk.
“What’s going on?” Helaina asked.
“We might ask you the same thing,” Jacob retorted. “You kidnap a man in the dead of night and have the nerve to ask us what’s going on?”
Helaina squared her shoulders. “I have a warrant for his arrest.”
“So why isn’t he in a jail, Mrs. Beecham?” the man at the desk questioned. He stood and came to where she stood.
“And who are you, sir?”
“Magnus Carlson, attorney-at-law. I now represent Mr. Kincaid.”
Helaina eyed the man for a moment. He wasn’t all that tall, and he carried an extra fifty pounds or more, but there was a certain presence to him. His pudgy face sported gold-rimmed glasses, from behind which icy blue eyes watched her every move.
“I see.” She looked to Jayce. “I thought we had an agreement.”
“I didn’t bring them here,” Jayce replied. “They found me.”
“Might I inquire as to how you located us?” Helaina posed the question to Jacob.
“A private detective was hired by cable the night you left,” Jacob replied. “He’s been on the case ever since and brought us here to set Jayce free.”
“I’m sorry, but that isn’t possible,” Helaina stated. She opened her purse. “I have the papers right here that entitle me to capture and arrest Mr. Kincaid.”
“Then why hasn’t he been properly remanded to the local authorities?” Carlson asked.
Helaina looked to Jayce. “Haven’t you already told them this?”
“He has given his side of it,” Carlson replied, “but we’d like to hear yours. This man’s rights have been violated. Whether you have a warrant or not, he has constitutional rights.”
“Yes,” Helaina replied. “I’m very aware of that.” She drew a deep breath. “There have been many discrepancies in this case. I chose this path to save Mr. Kincaid the drudgery of a jail cell while I researched and received the information I felt would help either convict or clear him.”
“What exactly are the charges against Mr. Kincaid?”
Helaina looked around the room. “Why don’t we sit down? This will take a while.” She took her place in a wing-backed chair and smoothed the skirt of her new plum-colored traveling suit. Taking off her gloves, Helaina draped them across her lap while the others took their places.
Jacob joined Leah and Jayce o
n the sofa, while the other two men took up the remaining chairs. Helaina felt almost relieved to finally be able to explain to Jacob, but at the same time she could see the anger in his expression. He would never believe her. There would never be anything she could say to win his approval.
“Earlier this year my brother, Stanley, a Pinkerton man in Washington, D.C., captured a man calling himself Jayce Kincaid. The man was responsible for the death of two Pinkerton agents, as well as a theft of goods at the British Museum in London.
There were other charges of thefts and assaults as well. Stanley took the man into custody and boarded a train for Washington, D.C. On the way, Mr. Kincaid managed to free himself from his handcuffs. When Stanley realized what had happened, they fought.
Eventually, the fight took them out on the open platform of this private car. Mr. Kincaid was a powerful man whose larger size gave him advantage against my brother. After throwing several punches that nearly rendered my brother unconscious, Mr. Kincaid threw Stanley from the train. This resulted in Stanley being severely injured.”
“I’m quite sorry for your brother, Mrs. Beecham, but how could he be certain that this man was the responsible party?”
Helaina opened her purse and pulled out the folded sketch. “Stanley had this drawing made.” She handed it to Carlson and waited while he passed it along to the others. “Kincaid had never been photographed by the authorities, and this was the only thing we had to identify him. This and a set of fingerprints taken from the train car.”
“Fingerprints?” Leah questioned.
“Each person has a unique design of swirls and ridges on their fingers,” Helaina explained. “No two are alike.” She looked at Jayce. “Even in the case of twins—although I have heard of twins having prints that were alike, but reversed in order.”
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