Turner's Vision

by Suzanne Ferrell

  Claudia’s tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

  The naïve act sent heat sizzling through his blood. Controlling the desire to crush her beneath him, he lowered his mouth to hers, inhaling the sweetness of her breath as he sampled what she so innocently gave with a soft gasp.

  Micah slowly increased the pressure on her delicious lips. His hand slid off her chin, down over the smooth column of her neck, urging her closer. When she moaned, he took advantage of her parted lips and slipped his tongue inside her warm mouth, dancing with hers. He fought his own urge to groan.

  He moved his other hand over her shoulders, moving her upwards. With his hands and lips he guided her off her knees, very slowly onto his lap.

  When her soft bottom settled on his thighs, Micah enfolded her in his arms. He groaned.

  For a few moments longer, he let himself sample what the inexperienced little lady offered him. From the first touch, he’d known just how deep her innocence ran. Gently, he eased her back, his lips tasting one last time her forbidden fruits.

  “Claudia?”

  “Yes, Micah?” She whispered his name.

  Watching her eyes slowly open, he let himself stare into the depths of their whiskey color. They intoxicated him a little more. Fighting off the urge to resume the kiss proved a bit difficult.

  He cupped her face in one hand.

  “How do you know Jonathan Gibson?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Micah’s words slowly seeped through the sensual fog surrounding Claudia’s mind. She struggled to pull her thoughts back to his question. The warmth of his chest beneath her hand, the wonderful feel of his hand slowly kneading the muscles of her back, the firm support of his thighs beneath her bottom where it rested on his lap, made the effort difficult.

  His lap?

  How had she ended up on his lap?

  She blinked once, twice. A roguish smile played upon his lips, his steel-grey eyes held amusement at her predicament.

  Claudia pushed against his chest. “Unhand me, sir!”

  His hand tightened. For a brief moment, she thought he meant to keep her trapped. Then he released her, laughing as she scrambled away.

  “How dare you take such liberties, Mr. Turner!” Indignation flooded her cheeks with heat.

  “I was only taking what was offered, ma’am.” He drawled in that low, Southern voice again. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed one leg over the other, once more the image of the manor lord.

  Claudia hurried over to the settee, settling into the furthest corner. “You…I…never offered…on your lap!”

  “You most certainly did. Your little game was most intriguing. I’m sure many men have wanted to taste the luscious fruits you offered. I simply indulged myself.”

  “I have never offered fruits or anything else to a man!” She shot up out of her seat, both hands clenched at her side.

  “Sit.” The quiet order stilled her tirade before it could begin. Claudia opened, then closed her mouth. The look on his face suggested she obey for the moment. As gracefully as she could, she perched on the settee’s corner once more.

  “Now, madam, if you are done playing the wanton, perhaps you and I can discuss the situation we find ourselves in.” He lifted an eyebrow at her, waiting for her reply.

  “What do you mean, playing the wanton?” She tried to think like the scatterbrain once more, even though she sensed he no longer believed her act.

  “Please do not insult my intelligence any further, madam. I admit your disguises are quite intriguing and rather diverse. The spinster leaving the library this afternoon was extremely off-putting. The crone tonight completely fooled me. Except for the scent of spring flowers both women wore, I never would have suspected they were you.”

  Claudia blushed at his praise.

  “Even tonight’s little inane flirt was something of a masterpiece. The costume caught me slightly off-guard.” He paused, letting his gaze roam over her from head to toe. “But however tempting the vision you have offered me tonight, I am weary and no longer care to play the audience for your little drama. I wish to speak with the woman who had the foresight to send Laura to Colorado to save her from a murderer. We need to have a serious discussion on the problem at hand.”

  He’d seen two of her other characters tonight. No wonder the flirt didn’t have the desired effect on him she’d hoped for. Not trusting her voice or her temper, Claudia simply nodded.

  “Good. Let me tell you a little about what brought me here tonight.”

  “I thought you came to deliver Laura’s letter.” Could he be here for some other, more sinister purpose? Perhaps she had given in a little too easily?

  “Yes, I did. However, that is only part of my reason for coming east to Washington. You see, Claudia, I am in search of a young woman who is very dear to me.”

  Claudia read the concern on his face. He’s lost a lover. For some reason, that thought didn’t settle easily on her mind. She shook off the feeling. That was his concern, not hers. She wasn’t going to be swayed from her own mission by a man searching for a lost love.

  “She is missing? You must love her a great deal to be seeking her here.”

  “Yes, I do. She came from Georgia to Washington to visit a friend, but she never arrived at the friend’s. No one has seen her since she left the family home. Through some inquiries, I have learned she was in the company of a man of dubious principles. So once again, I ask, how do you know Jonathan Gibson?”

  “Before I answer, may I ask whom this young lady is?”

  Micah tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair several times. Pain crossed his strong features. “She is my younger sister, Patrice.”

  He wasn’t looking for a lover. He was searching for a sister. A lover was one thing. A sister was another matter altogether. Her heart sank. She knew she could do nothing but help him, even if it meant turning over all the information she had gathered on the murder and Gibson.

  “Claudia?” he gently probed.

  A deep sigh escaped her. She settled back in the cushions of the settee a little more comfortably, compassion resting on her heart, resignation weighing heavily upon her mind. “When Laura left town the day after the murder, I received several interesting visitors, beginning with Laura’s aunt and cousin. They inquired as to her whereabouts and were none-too-happy to hear that I truly had no idea where she might be. As they left, they hinted that I would be in big trouble if I didn’t divulge any information I might have. The very next day, who should arrive on my doorstep but Nigel Blackwood.”

  “He was here?”

  Claudia smiled at the fierceness in his question. “Yes, the worm tried to pass himself off as some government official. The problem was, he couldn’t hide his British accent very well.”

  “What did he want?”

  “The same as Laura’s relatives, to know where she was.”

  A sardonic look crossed his features. “And you lied to him as well?”

  “Oh, there was no need to lie, Micah.” She laughed. “I truly had no idea where Laura was. Spinster Jones showed the most appropriate amount of confusion, distress and surprise at her dearest friend’s disappearance.”

  Micah’s eyebrow rose. “Blackwood left none the wiser than when he arrived, I take it.”

  Claudia lifted her hands in confirmation. “But of course.”

  “This is all very interesting, Claudia. However, it doesn’t answer my question regarding Gibson.”

  “I’m getting to that.” He was impatient about her tale. Good! He wanted her information, he could just wait while she told it in her own fashion. Otherwise, she wouldn’t tell it at all. She looked up as Henderson and the boys came back into the room.

  “I’ll be seeing Master Adam and Master Joseph to bed now, Miss Claudia,” Henderson said from the doorway. He looked pointedly at Micah, then back to her. “If you have no further need of me.”

  Claudia smiled at the trio. “No, I think Mr. Turner and I will be just fine. Good night
, Adam. Good night Joey.”

  The boys wished her goodnight. With a wary glance at Micah they turned, heading up the stairs to the room they shared.

  “How did those two lads come to live with you?” Micah’s question turned her attention back to him.

  “I met them some time ago through Laura. They were orphans, living on the streets. She clothed and shod them. Then she and I took turns feeding them meals. When Laura left town, they both came to live with me. We were afraid to leave them out on their own with a murderer loose. So, Henderson suggested to them I needed extra bodyguards.” She shifted slightly on the settee. “This may be the first home either has ever known.”

  He nodded. “They’re very lucky, indeed.”

  His praise touched an odd spot in her heart. Shoving it aside, she focused on their discussion. “Now, where was I?”

  “I believe you were telling me about your visitors,” he reminded her.

  “Oh, yes.” She smiled at him. “You are patiently waiting to hear about Mr. Gibson.”

  “Madam, I am waiting, yes. Patiently? I’m not quite so sure.” The rich baritone eased over Claudia like a warm blanket.

  Blushing, she hurried into the remainder of her tale. “When Laura arrived at my house the night of the senator’s murder, we went directly to the police. The officer in charge was a pompous man who dismissed Laura’s story without a thought to investigating it. However, a younger man, Officer Howard, met with us and suggested that Laura not go back to her boarding house, but remain safely with me.”

  “And you never heard from the officer again?”

  Claudia smiled at him. “I never said that, sir.”

  He lifted that damn brow again in silent question.

  “It was Officer Howard’s suggestion that Laura leave the city. He knew of her plans to travel to Baltimore to become a mail-order bride. Periodically, for a few months, he would stop by to be sure the boys and I were safe. On his last visit, he informed me Laura’s name had been added to a special file the police had started.”

  “What file?”

  “That is the same question I asked. He said the file with all the other young women missing from the area. When I asked him about that, he stated there had been a rash of young women reported missing in the past year and a half. Most were between the ages of sixteen and thirty. Laura was a little old for this list, but if there was no other lead to go on, she would be added to it.”

  “Sixteen to thirty-year-old women.”

  “May I ask how old your sister is?”

  A dark stillness settled on his features. He stood and paced before the parlor window like the caged panther Claudia had seen at the National Zoo. “Patrice celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday a month prior to her disappearance.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Micah.”

  He nodded to her words of sympathy and stopped his pacing right in front of her. Placing one hand on the arm of the settee, he leaned in. His intense gaze held her pinned to the spot. He was done being patient. “How does Gibson fit into this, Claudia?”

  Claudia’s heart jumped into her throat. She leaned backward. The seat back was the only thing keeping her from fleeing. “I had both Adam and Joey spying on Blackwood and Officer Howard after their visits. First Blackwood left town, then Officer Howard disappeared. I had no further clues or suspects to watch. So, dressed as Spinster Jones, the lady you saw this afternoon, I approached Mr. Goldberg about working in the library as Claudia did.”

  “Gibson.” he growled at her.

  “Really, sir. You’re making me quite nervous.”

  “Claudia.”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sakes. He’s using the library as a place to leave messages for someone.”

  Micah released his grip on her chair and resumed pacing. His hand rubbed his forehead in frustration. What the hell was going on? He stopped, his back to the fireplace, his attention completely focused on Claudia. “How do you know he’s using the library for a message center?”

  “A woman always notices such a handsome man, sir.” She fanned herself with an open hand.

  “Claudia,” he warned, quelling her with a withering look. He wasn’t in the mood for the scatterbrain to return.

  “Because—” she rolled her eyes “—once I started working at the library, I noticed that Gibson came and went on a regular basis. However, he didn’t spend much time reading, never withdrew a book, never took home a newspaper as so many others did. So, one night I watched very carefully. He spent all his time in the section about China. After we closed for the night, I made a pretext to stay late. Then I searched every book until a note fell out of one.”

  “What did it say?”

  She toyed with the lace on the sleeve of her gown. “Well, that’s the problem. I have no idea.”

  “What do you mean? Was it written in Chinese?”

  “Micah?” She looked up at him. The real woman behind all the disguises was there for him to see, sweet, vulnerable, confused. “Do you know how to decipher codes?”

  He walked back over to the settee, this time sitting beside her. The urge to take her in his arms once more surged through him. He tamped it down. Despite the kiss they shared earlier, he knew he would frighten her more if he touched her the way he wanted to. “What kind of code, Claudia?”

  “Just a collection of words. They make absolutely no sense.” Her voice held a great deal of frustration.

  “Have you any here?” Part of him hoped so, he needed to see them to try and decipher them. The other part hoped she hadn’t taken them and put them all in greater danger.

  “No. I thought it best not to move them.”

  “Good.” He exhaled. Apparently the woman did seem to have some modicum of sense. “Who picks them up?”

  “A boy. Always a different one. Adam and Joey take turns following them.”

  “What? You let those boys follow the couriers to who knows where? This is not a game, madam. They could get hurt.” Perhaps she was more the scatterbrain than he’d first thought.

  She laughed softly. “Adam and Joey are quite capable of taking care of themselves on the city streets. As dear as they are to me, I know they weren’t angels before Laura and I found them. They’re quite adept at following without being seen.”

  “Perhaps you’re right.”

  “I would never ask those boys to do anything I thought would truly put them in danger.” This time she smiled up at him. Once again her eyes reminded him of Kentucky sipping whiskey, the kind that burned going down your throat, but warmed you from the inside out. The feeling unsettled him.

  “Let’s see what we know so far.” He pushed himself off the seat, pacing the room once more. “Gibson’s name came up at my family home in connection with Patrice. Supposedly, he was among the group of people with whom she traveled north. However she never arrived at her school friend’s home. Meanwhile, you tell me that Gibson is leaving some sort of coded messages at the library. He’s been doing this for how long?”

  “At least nine months.”

  “We don’t know who these messages go to, correct?”

  “Correct.”

  The smugness in her voice caught his attention. He paused in his ruminations to look at her. “You don’t know who they go to, but you know where, don’t you?”

  She smiled, slowly nodding her head.

  “Where?” She was purposely making him drag it out of her. He didn’t know whether to strangle her or kiss her—again.

  “The boys who pick up the messages, take them to one of three places. A dock tavern, a warehouse on the docks, or an old house near the same area.”

  “Once Gibson leaves a message, how long does it take for a courier to pick it up?”

  “Usually two days.”

  “So, he left one today?”

  Again she smiled. “Yes, he did.”

  “Good. Let’s go over and find it.”

  The clock on the mantle struck midnight. Claudia stood, adjusting the hem of her skirt. “The
message will be there tomorrow, Micah. We can look at it then. I have had a very long day.”

  “Patrice’s life may depend on this message. Just tell me which book. I will break into the damn library myself.”

  She began turning off the oil lamps. “There is no need to distress Mr. Goldberg with a broken window or door, sir. I’ll simply tell him I need to stay late tomorrow. Then, after everyone is gone, I’ll let you in. That way we’ll have all the time we need to decipher the code.”

  “You aren’t going to tell me which book, are you?”

  She stood at the doorway to the foyer. “No, Micah, I am not.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if I do, you’ll shut me out of this investigation.”

  “Claudia, Patrice needs my help.” He followed her to the front door.

  “And she’ll have it. Tomorrow.” She opened the door, waiting for him to exit.

  “Madam, I could kill you for this.”

  She simply smiled once more, a very sympathetic smile. “No, you won’t. You need me to show you the book tomorrow.” Then with a click of the door, she shut Micah out in the night.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  One hand on the hilt of the knife in the scabbard strapped to his back, Micah read the paper once more. He slipped it into his pocket then glanced up and down the once fashionable, but now shabby, hotel’s dark hallway. The mysterious note had summoned him to this room.

  He rapped on the door then stepped to the side to give himself space to maneuver, if needed.

  Footsteps sounded on the other side of the door.

  Micah gripped the knife handle tighter.

  The door eased open just wide enough to allow the cautious occupant to see out.

  Suddenly, the door swung open.

  “Captain. Right on time, you are.” The bald man grinned at Micah, extending a hand.

  “Kelly, you Irish reprobate.” Micah laughed and shook the smaller man’s hand. “I thought you were heading to New Orleans after the war. What are you doing this far north?”