Napoleon's Gift (25 page)

I bid
adieu
to Abel and Marry, then headed for Claudette’s home.

Ciel ici-bas 

Plantation
…

I was taken aback she was not in her garden.

I was even more surprised when I
did not see
Monsieur
Marcus on his lofty balcony.

I frowned, then
hesitantly walked towards the house. However, before I could reach it, a hand came over my mouth, my eyes closed, and I could not help but breathe in the scent.

“And you promise you will not h
arm her?” Claudette cried, then frowned as Mr. Charles and Declan looked down of her.

“Yes, it is as I’ve told ye. I am
the only protection she has from him. How would she ever know that the English bastard was a murderer? Ask the constable yerself.” Mr. Charles cried, Claudette nodded, then looked at Geneviève’s unconscious form.

“I shall be in touch once this is over. She will be fine until then.” Charles called, as Declan lifted
Geneviève and placed her in the carriage.

“But…”
Claudette tried, but Mr. Charles shook his head.

“There are no but’s
chér
, if she is yer friend, and ye truly love her; then ye will allow this, and tell no one.” Charles commanded, and Claudette nodded.

She would finally be rid of him, and
Geneviève would return to her.

    When Geneviève sent that note two days ago, informing her that she had married Benjamin, Claudette knew then what she must do to save her from him!

She would not allow Geneviève to so easily slip away from her.

Claudette frowned as the carriage rolled off towards Mr. Charles plantation.

“What have you done
chér
?” Ms. Millie cried shocked as she walked into the yard, and Claudette turned.

Before Ms. Millie could say anything further, Claudette brought the shovel down on her head, then watched as she fell with a look of horror on her face.

She motioned to Fabre as he came from behind the magnolias stunned; he gasped, then frowned as he looked down on Ms. Millie, the look of horror forever etched on her aging face.

“What have you done
?” He hissed, and Claudette turned on him.

“
Reposition her body! You are in debt me, or shall I tell
père
what you have been up to with his servant girls?” She hissed back, Fabre frowned, heaved up Ms. Millie’s body, then threw it on the buckboard.

“Someone will begin to look
for her, then where shall you be
mon amour
? I shall wait with abated breathe, for you are foul, and unnatural. Abel and Isaiah will know of this, whether I tell them or not.” He spat, and she slapped him across the face.

“Then you shall best hope no one finds her.” Claudette spat back, then placed the
jewel-encrusted saber to his throat. He grinned, then jerked himself away from her, climbed aboard the board, then slapped the horses forward. He looked back on her one last time, then rattled off.

Claudette frowned.

What would she do now?

Père
was not due back from town for another hour.

She needed to be seen elsewhere, because Fabre did speak the truth. If
Isaiah did find out, he would surely kill her himself. Madame Soleil suddenly came to mind, and Claudette hurried off.

French

Quarter…

“I daresay, ye my friend are in love.” Bartholomew stated laughing, as Benjamin searched through the stationary, looking for just the right set. He looked up grinning, then sighed.

“I must declare that I am. I
by no means distinguished marriage could be akin to this.” Benjamin grinned, and Bartholomew laughed again.

“Shall we have a spot to commemorate yer removal from the market?” He said, and Benjamin laughed as he handed the woman the pound note, the stationary set, then asked if she
would wrap it. She nodded, then disappeared with the stationary set.

“Sounds jolly well.” Benjamin replied as the woman reapp
eared minutes later, with his package, and he and Bartholomew exited the establishment.

As they walked into the Absinthe House, Benjamin got a peculiar feeling.

Something was a miss.

His mind told him, but as Bartholomew caught the barmaid, he put if from his mind
as fearful suspicious. As he and Bartholomew sat toasting his newfound nuptials, he immediately felt off balanced. Bartholomew gave him an irregular look, and Benjamin realized his vision was suddenly blurred.

As the glass crashed to the floor, he
became conscious of the fact that someone had prepared an improper drink. He looked up to see the barmaid smiling above him.

“Take them out the back.” Declan
spat as Benjamin toppled to the floor from the chair, Bartholomew immediately following suit.

Gonrey frowned.

“And do what wit em?”
He spat back.

“The Earl is to go to
Charles; I don’t care what you do with the other. But get it done now!” He snarled, Gonrey nodded, then motioned for Fitzgergan and Holt. They lifted both men, then went out the back of the establishment.

Benjamin was placed in the
carriage; Declan climbed aboard, then told Varney where to go.

Before Gonrey could get Bartholomew into the next carriage,
Nedrick Hayward lit the cigarillo, then cleared his throat.

“That won’t be necessary boys. The jig is up. Place your hands where I can see them.” He
called; Gonrey turned, pointed the revolver, then toppled to the ground as a shot rang out.

“Much obliged you were in the vicinity.” Haywa
rd called, as he looked up to see Conrad Lincoln, his partner, then stamped out the cigarillo.

“Al
ways ready to do my best.” Conrad called grinning, as he tipped his hat.

“Get the local constable down here, and have him take this business under hand.”

“Sure thing, where will you and Garret be?” Conrad asked as he climbed down the side of the building, then frowned as he jumped to the grown.

“I believe this entire thing is connected to the Opium, the
train robbery, and Cole Younger. I spotted him two days ago, speaking with the local opium runner. I would bet my ridiculous amount of pay, that the three of them are in on this together.” Hayward stated frowning now himself, and Conrad nodded.

“And the Earl? Was that not him the other one took?”

“Yes, but I have an idea where they’re taking him. Now, off with you, and be quick about it. I will need you at this address in one hour. Bring Murphy and Clemens with you as well. This is bound to be bloody. Have you ever known a Younger to just come quietly?” Hayward commented as he handed Conrad the slip of paper, and Conrad laughed.

“Not in my lifetime.” Conrad chuckled, then hurried off to do Haywa
rd’s bidding.

“You
sir, come here.” Hayward called to the mulatto man, and he looked up frowning.

As Ab
el approached, he was surprised when he saw Mr. Bartholomew lying on the ground. He quickly kneeled next to him, then looked up at the man with the badge frowning.

“What has happened to Mr. Bartholomew? And where is Mr. Benjamin?” He cried looking around, and Hayward frowned.

“Good, you know of this man?” Abel nodded, and Hayward sighed.

“Fine, have him taken home, then tell no one.” Hayward commanded, and Ab
el frowned.

“And you are sir?”

“United States Pinkerton. Now, please do as I say.” Hayward instructed, and Abel nodded.

“And Mr. Benjamin?”

“Soon, is all I can say. Now please hurry, before you’re seen.” Hayward told him, Abel nodded, threw Mr. Bartholomew over his shoulder, then walked to Mr. Benjamin’s carriage.

Hayward turned and headed off towards the telegraph office. He needed to wire the home office. They would need more than a stage for this one.

Plantation…

“And what is it that you would have me do with him now that you have him?” Declan asked as Charles began to pace back and forth.

“I have nary a clue now!
Who the hell called in the bloody Pinkertons?” He shouted, then threw the whiskey glass across the room.

“I don’t know, however if I am to dispose of the both of them, it needs to be now.” Declan hissed, then frowned as he saw Cole Younger walk into the parlor.

“Who invited him to the party?” Cole asked grinning as he saw Declan.

Before Charles could answer, both men had their pistols pointed at each other.

“Now, now gentlemen. This is quite unnecessary.” Charles cajoled, however it did not seem to be working, as both men drew on the other.

“Seen James lately?” Declan asked, and Cole laughed.

“No, but its plum likely you’re gonna be seeing him sooner than you think if what they say is true.” Cole grinned, and Charles realized he was out of his league.
Maybe that coward Jefferies had been correct in his notions.

“Gentlemen, if we could only….” Charles dove to the other side of the room as the bullets began to fly.

He gasped as he felt the sting in his arm, looked down and saw the bullet hole. He crawled to the other side of the room, then gasped as he saw the men rush into the room dressed in black.

Thank
God, this plantation had been built during the French Revolution for sympathizers.

Charles thought, as he pulled the crank, the panel popped open, and he crawled through
it.

He hurried for his horse, heading straight to town. If those Pinkertons
seized Sing, he would spend the rest of his life in
Angola
.

When he reached town, his gasp of terror left him before he could contain it, as the place was over-run with Agents. He saw Sing tied to a chair, the establishment being turned upside down by Pinkertons.
Charles saw the blonde man from Madame’s the day before, and as he turned to flee, someone called his name.

“There he is! It’s Mr. Charles!”

“Halt!” The Agent cried, but Charles refused, and they opened fire on him.

As he sank to the ground, Charles cursed the
day; he ever laid eyes on one
Geneviève Marié Basil.

Hayward kicked the body over, then frowned down on Mr. Charles.

“Is this the proprietor?” Hayward asked Sing, and he frowned as he nodded.

Sing had no clue what would become of him now, but he
presumed it would be much better to corporate with them, than to die shot down as Mr. Charles had.

Hayward turned towards Conrad then.

“And Younger?” He asked as Standish rode up on his horse.

“Sir, there’s a shoot out at…”
He paused to look at the paper. “Some French plantation sir, I can’t make it out. But Younger and Addison’s younger brother are involved.”

“Bloody hell. I knew this was bound to happen. Rally the men now.” Hayward commanded
Conrad; he nodded then ran into the establishment.

Terre’s Main

Plantation…

I woke to gunshots, but thank the merciful lord they
were not coming from the room I was in. I surged to my feet, then looked around the bedroom. I was surprised to see Benjamin lying next to me. I patted his face, he did not wake, however I knew I had to get us out of there and quick.

I was surprised, when Claudette came tearing through the door.

“Come, we must go now.” She said, and I smiled.

“
Yes, but help me with Benjamin.” I said, she frowned, then shook her head.

“
Non
,
Je ne suis venu pour vous.”
No, I only came for you. She stated, and it was my turn to frown.

“
Que voulez-vous dire
?” What do you mean? I countered, my suspicions confirmed as she took out the revolver, then aimed it at Benjamin.

“Come with me now, or I shall make you an early widow.” She grinned, I gasped, then frowned.

“Fine, only aim that thing somewhere else.” I said as I kissed Benjamin’s cheek, then rose.

She dug the revolver into my back, then guided me from the house, to the waiting carriage.
With all the chaos, not one of the men shooting noticed us!

As I climbed in, I looked at her.

I deduced I was two for three now
.