The Harvey Girl - Part 18
Surprise - it's not the last one!
Jump into the story with the audio recap now or go to The Harvey Girl Index.
SURPRISE this isn’t the last one just yet! Willa demanded more, so there’s still one more installment coming next week to tie-up the adventure with Part 19.
“Where is Lewis Abbot?”
The question came from the Land Officer, who had once asked me to identify a dead body. By his sour expression, which skimmed right over me, he must have figured out that I could not be trusted. At least not to identify my father.
“Where’s her father?” Fin clarified with an edge to his voice that should not be ignored.
Reggie Brown must have heard it, too. He nodded toward a mahogany wardrobe. One of the policemen went over and opened it, revealing my father unconscious inside.
A pang fluttered in my heart. I wanted to go to Father, but Fin moved forward and took my arm. He leaned close and whispered, “Your work is done. I implore you to retreat.”
The policeman eased my father out of the wardrobe, eliciting a moan. I could breathe again, knowing he was alive. Until that moment, I barely had hold of my will, as it threatened to shatter. Fin’s gentle words, however, lingered. I knew he meant well. Good men usually did.
Fin remained close, and I pulled at his lapel. The leather jacket was soft to the touch with a woodsy scent. I wanted to linger and breathe it in, but we only had a second. In my most earnest tone, I whispered, “Get my father and remove him to safety. Leave me with Reggie.”
“I cannot!”
“You will,” I kept my voice low and blunt, “if I mean anything to you.”
My eyes flicked up to his as I tried to convey my plan—or at the very least that I had one—and his presence could ruin it.
Fin studied me briefly, cleared his throat, and stepped back. “Officer, Miss Abbot and Mr. Brown have nothing to do with this matter. We’ll take Mr. Abbot and the others for questioning.”
The Land Officer shot Fin a look filled with questions that threatened to cause a revolt. However, he nodded acceptance and signaled his men to comply. Fin was doing as I asked. My heart swelled. Every indication told me he was a keeper.
Fin signaled for the Land Officer to clear the room. With one last desperate glance my way, he left, leaving me alone with the despicable Reggie Brown. The man who had used my father’s identity to steal and undermine a whole town of respectable citizens.
The cockney accent sounded particularly smug as Reggie turned to me. “You kept your word. How unexpected.”
“I still might let the Pinkerton Man take you,” I countered.
A redness piqued his cheeks. “You don’t seem to understand, missy.” He moved toward me in that threatening way men exhibit when their size—in this case, girth—overshadowed another’s. Luckily, I held something bigger and more powerful: my mind.
“You may have gotten your father away from me, but only in body. I have others that bear his continuance and can pass as him. Lewis Abbot is mine and shall dance to my whim across this vast country.” Reggie relished his position, puffing out his chest. He believed he owned my father as one would a hound. “You will take me to the gold.”
“No, not until we come to an understanding,” I said. “I want one more concession.”
“Our deal is struck.” His fists clenched.
“I will have Father’s other ring,” I said. “You took two from him.”
“A ring?” Reggie scoffed.
“I will take the ring in exchange for the gold and the map.” I pointed beyond the house to some location that only I knew. “My roommate is waiting to bring it all to you. I have only to signal her that it is safe.”
He went to the window. I doubted he could see far; darkness had taken over the night. Soft lights shone from the street and the homes beyond. They did little to abate the shadows, languishing in a welcoming stretch across the yard.
Seeing nothing, Reggie snarled at me. “I want the gold, not the map.”
“Think on it a moment, dear Reggie,” I advised. “Your scheme can be reproduced… if you have the map. Why would you only take the gold when the map is an investment in future dirty deals?” My sweet smile softened the insult.
At least, it appeared to work its magic as dawning crept across Reggie’s craggy face. “I accept. Signal your girl.”
I shook a finger at him. “I’ll have the ring first. You have not proven yourself trustworthy.”
He grunted, almost sounding like he approved. “I do wonder why you did not sic your Pinkerton Man on me; perhaps Sullivan and Tuck were right about you.”
I concealed my pleasure that con men Sullivan and Tuck had served me well. I’d hoped my “cooperation” would get back to Reggie. It certainly made him more accepting than I’d anticipated. He dug the ring out of an inner pocket hidden between his vest and hairy chest. He wiggled it into the palm of his hand and held it out to me.
Drawn to the ring, I moved closer. Granted, I’d been keeping my distance and held no delusion of wrestling it from him. He could clamp his hand shut and keep it from me. Nor were my thoughts on escaping if he chose to attack. I braced myself. For what? I did not know. I reached a hand out for the ring.
“The Pinkerton Man was an option,” I admitted, “but what if you did not have the ring on your person?”
“You could not risk it,” he added. “Clever girl.”
With quick fingers, I grasped my father’s ring from his hand. I was fast—but he was quicker. His beefy hand wrapped around my wrist and held tight. The iron grasp stalled any efforts to move away as pain shot up my arm.
“Send the signal,” he hissed.
Our eyes locked, and his intent was so clear I knew he would not let me leave with the ring—or with my life. Darkness hovered within his soul, making me gasp. I never had a chance with Reggie, not from our first meeting on the train when he appeared as a helpful friend of my father’s.
It struck me that I’d fallen into his trap from the very beginning. The realization chilled my soul.
I thought this storyline would end today… but there is one more episode! See you next week!