“Oh, I don’t know Harry, I kind of like being away from dreary old London,” said Sheppard. “Look, the lawyers can finish tidying up my brother’s estate. Come see New York.”
A smile formed on Campbell’s face. “I’d like that…I’d like that a lot, sir.”
After several days travel, as they approached their destination, all of them became restless and looked forward to finally getting off the train and relaxing somewhere safe for a while.
Sheppard opened the door to the cabin and stepped inside. Everyone was sitting playing cards. “I’ve wired ahead to some of my uncle’s associates and they have arranged for an agent to meet us in New York. From there, Nadya and Elena will be moved to a safe location until they figure out what to do with both of you,” said Sheppard as he sat down beside Campbell in their small cabin.
“Christopher, do you think it will be all right?” asked Nadya.
“Sure, what could go wrong? We’re almost home.”
The train slowed down and came to a shuddering halt in the main station in Pittsburgh. Sheppard warily looked around and then got off the train to stretch his legs on the platform. Sitting for hours really made him restless, so any opportunity Sheppard had to move around was taken advantage of. It was only a matter of hours now until their long journey finally came to a close. He lifted his arms above his head and tried stretching his sore muscles out. Eyeing a small confectionery stand, Sheppard decided to wander over and purchase a few drinks and snacks for his companions before getting back on the train.
Stuffing his pockets full, Sheppard was about to head back to the train when he saw something that jarred his memory. A beautiful young woman dressed in tight tan pants and a long white leather jacket walked passed him and then boarded the train. At first Sheppard thought nothing of it, but somehow he knew that he had seen that girl somewhere before. It bothered him to no end that he seemed to know her. However, he dismissed the idea as ridiculous, thinking he must have grown paranoid over the past couple of months.
Still something nagged him with every step he took. Sheppard decided that he should be careful nevertheless.
He promptly boarded the train, handed his goodies around to his compatriots, grabbed a pistol, had Campbell lock the door to their cabin, and then went in search of the woman. He walked the length of the train twice before deciding that he had made something out of nothing and started to walk back to rejoin his companions prior to supper.
Opening the door, he slid inside. “One last meal before we reach New York and proper living accommodations,” said Sheppard to everyone.
“Yes, I must agree, I am getting tired of all this travelling. To sleep in a bed not connected to the wall will be splendid,” replied Nadya.
“Well, that settles it. Everyone get cleaned up. We’ll go for one last meal and then get ready to leave this and all other trains behind us.”
Fifteen minutes later, they assembled in the hallway and made their way to the dining car. No one was particularly hungry as they were all tired of eating food on the train, and the girls in particular were too excited about getting to New York to care if they ate or not.
Sheppard tried to relax, but the image of the young woman that he had seen earlier at the station in Pittsburgh kept coming to mind. Looking around the dining car, Sheppard couldn’t see her with anyone, so he assumed that she was dining alone in her car that night.
Campbell could sense something was up. “Sir, you keep looking around. Is there something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. Just a little anxious to get off the train, I guess,” Sheppard replied with a smile.
An hour later, they decided to pack it in and head back to their cabins in anticipation of arriving in New York.
Sheppard tailed behind.
Opening the door to their carriage, Sheppard suddenly felt uncomfortable, immediately sensing the car was not empty. Looking over his shoulder, he could see at the far end of the narrow corridor was the woman Sheppard had seen earlier. She was looking out an open window and seemed not the slightest bit interested in whoever was coming down the hall, but Sheppard wasn’t sure.
He grabbed Campbell’s arm and pulled him back slightly. “Take the girls into the cabin and then lock the door,” he whispered to his friend. “If anyone who isn’t me tries to get in the room, kill them.”
Campbell nodded. He followed Nadya and Elena into their room, fastened the door, and then dug out his pistol.
Sheppard ducked back around the corner and watched as the woman stopped what she was doing and then looked around. Once sure that she was alone, she carefully crept up to their door and ever so slowly tried the handle to the woman’s room to see if it was locked. Seeing that it was, the woman looked up, took note of the cabin number, and then left.
Sheppard slowly drew his pistol from its holster, cocked the action back, and waited silently for the woman to turn the corner. A moment later the woman appeared, stunned to see Sheppard standing there with a pistol in his hand. She nearly tripped over her own feet.
“Oh my! You startled me,” said the blonde woman, with a thick Boston accent.
“I doubt it. Now raise your hands like a good girl,” said Sheppard, pointing the pistol at her.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she begged. “I don’t have any money on me.”
“Quit the charade. I know who and what you are,” said Sheppard in Russian.
The woman dropped any form of pretense and looked coldly at Sheppard. “Killing me won’t change a thing. I’ll simply be replaced by another agent,” she replied in Russian.
“Well, killing you would bring me great pleasure, but I have seen my share of death recently. I have another idea. Turn around and walk towards the door.”
The blonde-haired woman reluctantly complied.
“Open it,” ordered Sheppard.
The Red agent did as she was told and slowly opened the door.
“Now, step ever so slightly to the edge if you wouldn’t mind my dear.”
Seeing the ground racing past her feet, the woman hesitated. However, Sheppard wasn’t going to give her the slightest break. Placing the muzzle of his pistol in her back, he nudged her forward.
“Please don’t kill me. I’ll give you anything you want. I won’t report seeing you to anyone. Please don’t kill me,” she pleaded.
Sheppard stepped in close behind her. “You really need to think these things through next time. When you see your minders, tell them that they should not have sent an identical twin to do their dirty work.”
With that, Sheppard gave her a nudge off the train. The woman flew out and then hit the ground, tumbling out of sight from the train. Sheppard closed the door and then holstered his pistol. Moving cautiously, he went back to their cabin and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Campbell called from inside.
“It’s the big bad wolf. Now please open the door, Harry.”
The door opened and Sheppard stepped inside.
“What on earth is going on, sir?” asked Campbell. “The girls were frightened half to death when I took out my pistol and told them to lie down.”
“Sorry, I had a hunch but couldn’t be sure that I was right until a few seconds ago.”
“Why’s that?”
“Remember the girl who died in that train crash after murdering General Alekseev’s brother?”
“Yeah, I remember her. Pity about that; she was real pretty, if I recall.”
“Well, she has a twin who came here looking for us.”
“What happened?” asked Nadya.
“Let’s just say that I asked her to get off before the next stop. Things have changed. We have to leave early ourselves. I have arranged for transport to be waiting for us in Albany.”
“Sir, what are you up to?” asked Campbell.
“No time for explanations. We can talk later. Let’s get packed and ready to go. We arrive in Albany in less than ten minutes, if my watch is correct.”
On schedule,
the train stopped in Albany. Sheppard disembarked alone, found his contact, and then quickly returned to usher his friends off the train.
Waiting for them were two cars with their drivers. Sheppard led his party to the cars and then shook the hand of the lead driver.
“Ladies and Harry, let me introduce you to Darcy Wright, he’s my second cousin, twice removed, on my father’s side, I think,” said Sheppard.
“Pleased to meet you all,” replied Darcy, a tall man in his late thirties with a broken nose and several deep scars running down the length of his face.
“Now, we must depart here, before anyone is the wiser,” said Sheppard, hurrying his friends into the two waiting cars.
It was only a short drive to a sprawling mansion on a private lake on the outskirts of New York. Waiting at the door was Sheppard’s Aunt Elizabeth.
“Evening, Auntie,” called Sheppard, enthusiastically waving from the lead car.
“Good evening to you, Christopher,” replied Sheppard’s Aunt. “Don’t stand around out there you’ll catch your death from a cold. Come in, come in.”
Elizabeth Sheppard, a petite, beautiful, bespectacled woman with silver grey hair led her houseguests into the dining room and quickly had a spread of freshly cooked meats, vegetables, breads, fruits and several chilled bottles of wine laid out for them.
They ate and chatted until the wee hours of the morning.
Sheppard rose early the next morning. He composed a long message and then asked Darcy if he could have it sent directly to his uncle in London. He then ate a quick breakfast and went for a stroll along the lake. With envy, he watched a small flock of geese fly over. To be able to go and come as one pleased now seemed a luxury that was no longer his.
“Christopher, wait up!” Nadya called from behind him.
Sheppard turned around and smiled at her as she ran to join him.
“You can’t go for a walk without me,” she protested as she grabbed his arm and started to walk with him.
“It’s nice to see you smiling, Nadya. Back there in Mongolia I was worried you might never smile again.”
“I have you to thank for that, Christopher.”
They walked silently, arm in arm, around the lake. Arriving back at the manor house, Sheppard saw Campbell sitting outside with his aunt, drinking coffee, chatting away as if they were old friends.
“Please come join us for coffee,” called Elizabeth Sheppard.
“How could we possibly turn down such a generous offer,” replied Sheppard, as he pulled out a chair for Nadya to sit on.
“Tell me Nadya, how long do you and Elena intend on staying here in New York?” asked Elizabeth in fluent Russian as she poured some coffee.
Nadya didn’t know what to say. It quickly dawned on her that Sheppard had not told his family about whom or what she was. Her secret was safe. “Madame, I am really not sure. For you see, Elena, and I are homeless. Your brave son and his equally brave friend saved us from the ravages of the Reds in Mongolia.”
“Do you have family here in New York or elsewhere in the U.S.?”
Tears welled up in Nadya’s eyes. Turning her head, Nadya had to fight from breaking down in front of Sheppard’s aunt. “No, no I don’t. I am all alone in the world,” she replied mournfully.
“Oh my child, I am so sorry. You must come live with me. I most certainly will not take no for an answer.”
“Thank you, Madame, your kindness and generosity is overwhelming,” said Nadya as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Elizabeth Sheppard, a lifelong spinster, placed her tea down and gracefully reached over and took Nadya’s hand in hers. “My child, please don’t call me Madame. It makes me feel old. Please call me Beth. This house is so empty. I never found the time to get married. As of today, you and Elena are both part of my family.”
“Thank you, thank you so much Beth,” said Nadya, still fighting back the tears. “I may have lost my home…but it seems that I now I have another.”
Time passed by. Weeks became months. The leaves on the trees had all started to turn a beautiful patchwork of browns and golden yellows as the summer turned into fall. Sheppard had been planning to leave for weeks, but found himself not wanting to leave Nadya’s side. He knew there was no future for them. Sheppard was more than ten years her senior, but he was falling in love with her. Leaving her would be difficult. Their morning routine consisted of an early breakfast followed by a long, slow walk around the lake together, and Sheppard treasured every one.
“Christopher, what is on your mind?” Nadya asked. “You seem distant this morning.”
Sheppard turned and faced her. Taking both of her hands in his, he looked down into her beautiful blue eyes. “Nadya, I need to deal with some unfinished business in England. Even though he never says it, I know Harry wants to go home and see his aging parents before they pass on.”
Nadya lowered her head to hide her disappointment.
“Please don’t be upset. I’ll be back in no time, I promise. Until then, you, Elena, and Beth can have a great time on the social circuit. New York is an exceptional city.”
“I knew that this day would come. I just lied to myself that you would stay here forever.”
“Nadya, this isn’t the end, just a break in time.”
“Christopher, I cannot be selfish, you can go. You must do what you must. Also, my dearest, I am letting you go because, true to your word, I know that you will be back.”
Nadya took Sheppard’s hand again and together they finished their walk around the lake.
It was a cold dreary October evening in London.
Commander Hensley got out of the cab, paid the driver, and then fished around in his coat pocket for his door key. Finding it, he inserted it into the lock in the door and then opened his front door. It had been a long day at the office and Hensley looked forward to a late supper by the fireplace before turning in for the night. A loner, Hensley had never married and preferred not to deal with people outside of work. Taking his heavy woolen blue naval greatcoat off, he headed straight to the kitchen and made himself a beef tongue sandwich, poured himself a glass of cold milk and then stepped into his living room. Flipping on the light switch, nothing happened. Hensley flipped it up and down a few more times before finally giving in. He walked over to a side table, picked up an oil lamp, lit a match and then went to light the lamp, when he heard a weapon being cocked.
“Finish lighting the lamp,” ordered a voice from the darkness.
Hensley, his mouth suddenly dry with fear, did as he was told. Soon the room was bathed in a warm light from the lamp. Sitting down directly across from him was Sheppard, a pistol aimed straight at his heart. Looking up, he saw Campbell standing directly behind Sheppard. Hensley’s heart sank when he saw that a painting on the far wall was gone and his wall safe normally hidden behind it was wide open. His personal papers were laid out neatly on the table in front of Sheppard.
“Put your hands in your pockets and then sit in the chair,” ordered Sheppard, motioning with his pistol.
Hensley did as he was told.
“How long?” asked Sheppard.
“Pardon?” said Hensley.
“I asked you, how long have you been a traitor?”
“Mister Sheppard, what on earth gives you that silly idea? You completely vanished. I thought you were dead. I’ve been looking for you for months.”
“Precisely. Did every lead given to you by my uncle and your boss Captain Scott prove to be yet another dead end? You see I never really trusted either of you, well, you more than the others, so I tried out my suspicions. I knew that my message sent to my uncle just before we arrived in New York would spur you into action, especially if you were a double agent. Then, true to form, you let the opposition know exactly where we were. Too bad for you though.”
“Go on.”
“Well, after I saw off the Red agent sent to kill us, it confirmed my suspicions that you were the leak, so I arranged for us to disappear off the face of
the earth.”
“How astute of you,” said Hensley contemptuously.
“So for the past couple of months, I hate to break it to you, but you have been fed a steady diet of bad information, which you have in turn passed onto the Reds. It also turns out that Harry here is quite mechanically inclined, so after we found your safe it was too easy to break in and find your personal correspondence and confirm everything that we already suspected.”
Hensley glared at Campbell. “So you tried out some of the things you learned as a child stealing from others, did you?”
“Now, now, sir there’s no need for that kind of language. I’m not the bloody traitor here and don’t forget sir, that you are staring down the barrel of a pistol, not me,” said Campbell smiling.
“So Sheppard, what do you intend to do with me? You can’t go public. A trial would expose this government’s nasty secrets. I know the entire Red network and all the operatives in the country. I am worth more to you alive than dead,” said Hensley, trying to bargain his way out of this mess.
Sheppard leaned forward in his chair. “I had thought about that until we found your safe. You are quite a meticulous fellow, aren’t you Hensley?” said Sheppard, picking up the letters from the table and then handing them over his shoulder to Campbell. “The authorities have been warned. I expect them to arrive any minute, where they will find you and your papers.”
The colour drained from Hensley’s face as he realised that he was finished. “Please Captain, please don’t harm me. I have more money upstairs in another safe. I was paid very well for my services.”
“Oh, I’m sure you were. Not to worry, we already found that safe too,” said Sheppard as he pulled the trigger of the Mauser.
The bullet struck Hensley square in the stomach. A look of disbelief filled the doomed man’s face.
Sheppard raised the pistol and then took careful aim at Hensley’s head. “This one’s for all the people who died because of you,” said Sheppard coldly, as he pulled the trigger.
The Last Eagle (A Christopher Sheppard Adventure Book 1) Page 29