Summer of the Midnight Sun

by Tracie Peterson

  Helaina composed herself. She pulled away from Jacob and got to her feet. “I’ve heard those answers before. But they make no sense. God is supposed to be all-powerful and all-knowing. It makes no sense that He allows these things to happen to good people.” She smoothed her skirt and wiped her face. “If you’ll excuse me.”

  “I will,” Jacob said as she moved to the door. “But I won’t stop praying for you. God won’t let me.”

  The words burrowed into her heart. She didn’t want to admit that Jacob’s concern touched her. “Do what you will,” she murmured. “I don’t believe it will help, but you do what you like.”

  ————

  Later that day the courier arrived from Washington, D.C. To Helaina’s surprise, he turned out to be her very annoyed, very angry brother.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this. You know better. I’ve brought my men with me. They’re waiting to take Jayce Kincaid into custody.”

  Helaina stood her ground. “No, Stanley. Not until we compare those prints.”

  “Helaina.”

  “No. I know without a doubt that this man is innocent. I want the prints as proof. I have his fingerprints all ready for the comparison. You cannot send an innocent man to prison or to be hanged. You would never forgive yourself.”

  Stanley calmed a bit at this. “Very well. I can’t believe you’re doing this, but since I have no choice, let’s get the job done.” He took a folder from his case. “Here they are.”

  Helaina nodded. “Come with me into the library.”

  “Where’s Kincaid?”

  She smiled over her shoulder. “In the library.”

  She saw her brother’s reaction when he came into the room and stood face-to-face with Jayce Kincaid. For a moment his scowl deepened and his hands balled into fists.

  “Kincaid,” he muttered.

  “I don’t have the pleasure of knowing you, sir.”

  Stanley stiffened. His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. He seemed to be searching Jayce’s face—almost as if looking for proof. Helaina saw Stanley’s expression change. “You aren’t the right man. You look like him—but you’re not him.” There was a sense of awe in his tone.

  Helaina looked at her brother curiously. “Why are you saying that now?”

  “I cut the man who threw me from the train. I cut him deep across the left eye. It bled so badly that his blood covered me as well. It would have left a considerable scar.” He shook his head. “You look just like him.”

  Helaina spread the prints atop the table and drew out a magnifying glass that Timothy provided. She looked at the set that she’d made. The ridges and lines were nearly committed to memory. Then taking the glass to the pages her brother had provided, she could finally prove the truth she’d known since leaving Alaska.

  “They don’t match,” she whispered and looked up to meet Jayce’s face. “Jayce Kincaid is an innocent man.”

  Chapter Thirty

  J ayce felt a profound sense of relief with those six words.

  Though he’d known the prints wouldn’t match, to have legitimate proof of his innocence was almost overwhelming.

  “But if it’s not you . . . then who is it?” Stanley asked.

  “My brother Chase Kincaid is probably responsible,” Jayce replied. “He is my identical twin.”

  “Which is what I’ve been telling you since I arrived in Seattle,” Helaina declared.

  “Yes, yes. I remember well your list of discrepancies, though I’d disregarded them until now. Has Chase a record?” Stanley asked.

  “He has served time, but overall, he’s done a remarkable job of not getting caught. He has a long list of friends who are happy to help him in his endeavors because Chase has always been generous with money,” Jayce answered.

  “What is his goal, do you think?” Helaina asked. “For example, why steal from the British Museum?”

  Jayce shrugged. “My guess is that he needed money first and foremost. Second, I would imagine that, rather than simply steal from someone’s home or from individuals, my brother saw real excitement in taking things from the prestigious British Museum. He was always in pursuit of a good thrill. And of course, the chance to taint my name would add to the benefits.”

  Stanley seemed to consider this for a moment. “So where is he now? Do you have any idea?”

  “Not really,” Jayce admitted. “However, we might know someone who can give us some information. Captain Latimore is here in town. He is the man we spoke of earlier, who captained the ship Chase was on earlier this summer. The expedition met with problems and ended their trip early. Latimore can at least tell us where he parted company with Chase.”

  Stanley nodded. “Very well. How do we reach this Captain Latimore?”

  “I’ve already sent for him,” Helaina said with a smile. “We figured that he might prove helpful.”

  Stanley squared his shoulders and eyed Jayce. He shook his head as if he still couldn’t believe his eyes. “I must say, the resemblance is uncanny. Had I not been assured that my cut left its mark and had the fingerprints not proved your identity, I would have seen you hanged.”

  “Captain Latimore has arrived,” the butler announced.

  The group turned to await the captain. Jayce both dreaded and looked forward to what the man might have to say; his own gut ached as he struggled over his dilemma with Chase. If he refused to turn Chase over to the law, he was allowing a vicious criminal to go free. But if he saw to Chase’s capture, he was turning over his own flesh and blood to die.

  “Captain Latimore,” Helaina said in greeting. “Thank you for coming.”

  “You said it was urgent,” the man replied. He looked to the group and nodded. “I came as soon as I could.”

  Jayce stepped forward. “We need some information regarding my brother Chase and his affairs while with you onboard Homestead.”

  The captain nodded. “I’ll give you whatever I can.”

  Leah reached out for Jayce’s hand, and he felt strengthened by her support. She had never once doubted him. Neither had Jacob. This thought gave him courage to face what he knew must be done.

  “Captain, my name is Stanley Curtis. I’m a Pinkerton agent. I live in Washington, D.C., and have been on the trail of a dangerous criminal for some time. We had thought the man to be Jayce Kincaid but have since learned that it is probably his twin brother, Chase. I understand you had opportunity to employ Chase this summer.”

  The captain rubbed his beard for a moment. “I did employ the man—thought he was Jayce. We had met a couple of times prior, and the man seemed exactly as I remembered Jayce. I had no reason to doubt him when he agreed that he was Jayce Kincaid.”

  “Did the man in question have a scar over his left eye?” Stanley asked.

  The captain seemed excited at this question. “Yes. Yes, he did. Although I hadn’t really thought about it until now. It was positioned just above the eyebrow on the left side. The scar was not that old; it hadn’t faded as a scar will over time.”

  “Yes,” Stanley said, looking to Jayce. “It must be him.”

  “So what do we do now?” Jayce asked in return.

  “Sir, when did you last see Chase Kincaid?” Stanley questioned.

  The captain considered this question for a moment. “When the expedition broke company, we returned the natives to Kotzebue, but Chase asked to be taken to Nome. The rest of the crew returned to the States or to Vancouver.”

  “You left Chase in Nome?”

  Latimore nodded. “Yes. I believe that would have been in early August. He told me he planned to spend the winter there.”

  “So he may still be there,” Jayce said. He exchanged a brief glance with Leah before letting go of her hand and getting to his feet. “We’ll have to return to Nome as soon as possible.”

  “Why would Chase Kincaid remain in Nome?” Stanley didn’t sound at all like he believed this possibility.

  “He must think it best to lay low and hide out for a time. He
might have even gotten wind of what was happening with your search and how you were after me,” Jayce said.

  “That’s impossible,” Helaina replied. “I was very careful with my investigation.”

  “True enough, but I wouldn’t trust that he counts himself safe for the time.”

  “Does he know much about Alaska—about survival up there?” Stanley asked.

  “I wouldn’t have thought so,” Jayce began, “but then, I wouldn’t have expected him to handle the dog teams like a professional. Captain Latimore said he was quite proficient with the teams.”

  “Well, he was clumsy at first, but he quickly recovered and then took on real proficiency. We were well into the northern reaches of the Arctic where the ice never thaws. Some of the team had discussed staying throughout the winter. We had plans to locate one of the Canadian islands for this purpose when we started having so much trouble. But Mr. Kincaid was perfectly capable with the dogs and even volunteered to be one of those who stayed behind.”

  Jayce knew it was his brother’s way of thwarting the law. “I’m going to Nome,” he stated firmly. “If he’s there, I will capture him and take him to the authorities.”

  “I’ll send my men with you,” Stanley said. “I have at least two who won’t mind the trip and have no family to hold them back.”

  “I’m going too,” Helaina suddenly declared. “It was my job to catch him—I don’t intend to fail at this mission.”

  Jayce intervened. “No. You cannot go. Chase is too dangerous. He’d have no regard for the fact that you’re a woman.”

  “He’s right,” Stanley added, “this is too dangerous.”

  “It wasn’t too dangerous when you sent me out here five months ago,” Helaina remarked.

  Though Jayce sensed her anger, he couldn’t let her go along with them—not after realizing the extent of his brother’s ruthlessness. “It wouldn’t be right, Helaina. Chase may already be onto you. If he’s heard about a woman hunting me down, then your cover will be no good. You won’t be safe.”

  “Besides, you had your chance at this,” Stanley said firmly. “You figured out that Jayce wasn’t the right man. That doesn’t make you a failure at this mission. You succeeded in saving an innocent person from the gallows.”

  “But it’s not enough,” Helaina replied. “I want to see the right man caught. I want to be the one to capture him.”

  Jayce shook his head. “It doesn’t matter who catches him. It only matters that he be caught.”

  Helaina said nothing, but Jayce knew she was seething. He hoped she might learn to trust him again, as she had before, when she’d needed him to remain her prisoner.

  “So we need to book tickets to Nome,” Jacob said, shaking his head. “That won’t be easy. The season is nearly over and most captains are going to be unwilling to risk their ships and the lives of their crew.”

  “It’s not impossible, though,” Latimore stated. “I could probably be persuaded to help.”

  As Latimore, Jacob, and Stanley circled together to make plans, Jayce felt more confused than ever. He believed he was doing the right thing, but his conviction troubled him more and more. Chase was in Nome. Chase, the murderer—the thief. But he’s also my brother. Jayce felt as though his heart were torn in two.

  Helaina fumed over being excluded from the upcoming trip. She had worked hard on this job, and now Stanley wanted to keep her from being a part of actually apprehending the right man. It infuriated her.

  She sat at the music room window staring out at the pouring rain. There had to be a way to maintain her role in this situation. She knew herself to be a woman of means, not only financially, but mentally. She had often come up with crafty, witty plans for catching criminals. So why couldn’t she take charge now and make it all work to her benefit? Chase Kincaid might have heard of a woman’s involvement, but it was doubtful he’d recognize her. Jayce and her brother were simply being too careful.

  “I know you don’t agree with my decision,” Stanley said from the doorway to the music room. “I hope in time, however, that you will see it as sensible.”

  Helaina knew in that moment she had to be cautious. If she was to be successful in managing to maintain a role in the capture of Chase Kincaid, she would have to convince Stanley that she had given up her part. “I’m just disappointed,” she finally replied. “I know it’s possible that Chase could know about me, but I doubt that he does. I understand your fears for me, but at the same time I hope you understand how very much I wanted to be a part of the team that caught Chase.”

  “I know. I know how disappointing it is because I’d like to be a part of that group myself,” he said, crossing the room to where she sat. “No one wants this man behind bars more than I do.”

  She sighed, knowing he had a valid point. He had suffered far more embarrassment and physical pain than she had. “I know, Stanley. He wronged you, and you have a right to see him taken— to take him yourself.”

  “I’m sorry that I ever got you tangled up in this. I knew at the time I assigned it to you that it was dangerous. I suppose to my way of thinking, if I couldn’t be there to get Kincaid—you were the next best choice.”

  Helaina understood. “So do you intend to leave for Washington right away?”

  “Yes. Probably tomorrow or the next day, although it might be nice to see something of Seattle. This is my first time here— probably my only time. Perhaps you could show me something of the town and then we can head back to Washington together.”

  Helaina hadn’t counted on that. She forced a smile. “But of course. That would be wonderful. We could spend the travel time catching up on things. Do you already have the tickets?”

  “No.”

  She got to her feet. “The trip home will be taxing, so you should rest. I’ll go get tickets; I am quite familiar with the station, as I’ve been there several times.” At least that much was true. Helaina had gone there every day this last week checking on the courier.

  “Thank you. That would be great.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Then I’d best get to work. I’ll see about the tickets, and after I return we can go out into the city. I know several wonderful restaurants. The seafood is incredible here.”

  Stanley smiled. “I think I would like that very much.”

  Helaina headed to her room to change her clothes. She threw her day dress on the bed and took up a lightweight blouse of white lawn. The simple lines and high neck matched her desire to appear businesslike and less the vulnerable female. She then chose a dark brown wool suit—her plainest and least feminine article of clothing. Though the war crinolines with their full bell skirts and widecollared bodices were more popular, Helaina could not get used to the shorter skirt lengths. Why, some fashions were edging up as much as eight inches from the floor. It seemed rather scandalous—just asking for unwanted attention.

  She looked in the mirror, pleased. She had business to tend to. Business at the station where she would buy her brother’s ticket home, and business at the docks where she would hopefully book passage to Nome. Passage she hoped would get her there before the others.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Leah stood beside the fireplace in the front parlor. She wore a beautiful white muslin creation that Jacob had insisted she buy for the occasion. “A woman only marries once,” he told her. “She should have something beautiful to call her own and to always remember the day by.”

  I’ll have no trouble remembering this day, she thought. Her stomach churned as she waited for the minister to finish complimenting Timothy on his house and get to the job at hand.

  “I was glad to see that the rain had stopped,” the older man said as he took up his Bible. “It’s always a pity to have rain on a wedding day—not that I believe in the wives’ tales of rain representing the number of tears a bride will cry during her years of marriage.” He laughed as though even suggesting such a thing was completely out of place.

  “We were glad to see it stop as well
,” Jayce said, coming to stand beside Leah. He winked at her. “You are beautiful. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined.”

  Leah felt her cheeks grow hot. “I feel rather silly,” she whispered. “It would have been more appropriate to wear sealskin and mukluks.”

  He laughed and took her hand in his. “You’ll be wearing them again soon enough. But it does my heart good to know that you still desire that kind of life after living in the comfort of this lovely home.”

  She looked into his eyes. “The only home I desire is the one we share together. I really don’t care where it is—so long as you are there and happy.”

  “I feel the same way.”

  “Shall we begin?” the pastor asked.

  “Posthaste,” Jacob declared, surprising them all. “Let’s not waste any more time.”

  “Helaina and Stanley never came back?” Leah asked as her brother and Timothy took their places as witnesses to the wedding. The butler, cook, and housekeeper had also come to join the festivities at Timothy’s request.

  “No,” Jayce said. “When I told them the wedding was to be this afternoon, Stanley informed me that he and Helaina had plans. I think they both felt out of place.”

  Leah nodded. “Then let’s start.” She turned to the pastor and smiled. “I’ve waited ten years for this.”

  Jayce pulled her close against his side. “And I have waited a lifetime.”

  The wedding proceeded in the simplicity and joy that Leah had always imagined. She could hardly believe that, after all this time, God had brought about her dreams. So many years had been spent in the bleak hopelessness that the one man she dearly loved would never love her. Now all of that had changed.

  “Will you, Leah, have this man, Jayce, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  The words blurred in her ears. Of course I will have him. She trembled as she gazed up to meet Jayce’s face. I will have him and love him forever and always.

  ————

  “You know,” Stanley said as they allowed the cab to drive them through Seattle, “I’m sorry I doubted your intuition about Kincaid.”