Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain (24 page)

They walked toward the hotel, their joined hands clutching tighter with each step.

“Eva…” Lee began as he pulled her around to stand in front of him.

“Yes?”

His breath hitched. Everything he wanted stood before him, gazing up into his eyes, waiting. He couldn’t speak. All he seemed capable of doing was lowering his mouth to hers.

Eva responded eagerly, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling him down. The feel of his lips, warm and firm, sent a tremor through her. His arms tightened, drawing her against him until their bodies were perfectly aligned, the heat emanating from his warming every part of hers. His mouth devoured hers, as if he could never get enough and would never let her go.

He edged away on a ragged breath, his breathing fast and uneven, then rested his forehead against hers, not loosening his hold. He started to lower his mouth again when a procession of carriages moved past, coming to a halt in front of their hotel.

“What’s going on?” Eva asked as she pulled her arms from around his neck and let them drop to her side.

“I’m not certain, but it appears the president may be staying at our hotel.” Lee grabbed her hand in his and started to walk the additional block to the hotel entrance. He spotted Mayor Pound and his wife climbing from their carriage and walking toward the front of the procession as the police spread out to keep away curious onlookers.

Moments later, a medium height, bull-like man with a thick neck and large stomach stepped from the lead carriage. Lee had seen him several times. The man’s unique characteristics made the president recognizable to anyone who’d met him in the past.

“We’ll wait until everything calms down,” Lee suggested.

“Lee!”

They turned to see Chaz move up to them at a rapid pace. “We have another visitor.” He gasped, trying to catch his breath.

“Besides the president?” Eva asked.

“Yes. We need to deal with this before morning. Before Cleveland makes any speeches.”

“What is it?” Lee pressed.

“The man Traxton and Hardy have been waiting for arrived in the city. They met with him briefly.”

“Did you get a good look at him, learn his name?”

“No, but I have enough to start the search.”

Lee flagged a carriage. “We’ll need to bring Pierce and Mollie into this.” He wrapped his arm around Eva and helped her into the carriage. The ride to Nob Hill wouldn’t take long.

******

Conversation stopped as everyone turned in the direction of pounding on the front door. Pierce waved Penelope aside and opened the door to let Lee, Eva, and Chaz enter. He directed them to the library. The three stopped when they saw four unfamiliar men.

Pierce quickly introduced Drew, Colin, Quinn, and Brodie. “It’s all right to speak in front of them. They’re aware of what’s happening.”

“Not the latest,” Chaz added before taking a seat and glancing at Lee.

“Chaz has been following Thomas Traxton, believing he may be the main contact to the man we’ve been unable to identify. Chaz’s work may prove important, especially given that the president arrived this evening. Chaz?”

“I followed Traxton to a home on the other side of the city. William Hardy was already inside. About an hour later, another gentleman arrived. I wasn’t in a position to get a good look at his face and they never used his name. I can, however, provide a description. We’ll need it for what they plan.”

“Which is?” Pierce asked.

“Assassinate the president.”

Pierce glanced at Drew, and they both turned their gaze to Colin, who sat stone-faced between Quinn and Brodie. A chill passed through the room.

“When and how?” Lee paced the floor.

“I don’t know how, but they did say it would be tomorrow during his speech.”

“Where will the speech take place?” Eva moved next to Lee and placed her hand on his arm.

“The police station, at noon,” Lee responded and wrapped his hand around hers. No one seemed to notice except Chaz.

Mollie walked to the desk to pick up a piece of paper and pen. “You said you can describe the man?”

“I’d estimate a little over six feet tall. His shoulders sloped a little. Blonde, wavy hair, long—to his collar. No beard. I couldn’t tell if he had a mustache. His accent is what you hear in the upper class of New York or Boston. I believe it was closer to a Boston accent. And expensive clothes, like Lee wears.” He looked at Lee, but there was no amusement in his expression. “He had a large ring on his right hand, huge ruby in the middle. One last thing. I did see a thin white scar that ran from the edge of his ear to his chin on the right side, then cut into his mouth. That’s the most I saw of his face.”

“It can’t be?” Eva murmured and searched Lee’s eyes seeking confirmation or denial. What she saw turned her stomach. “Why? The man has everything.”

“Not everything, Eva,” Lee whispered.

“Do you know the man, Lee?” Pierce asked.

“Eva and I believe it is Owen Kendall.”

“But, isn’t that the agent Eva mentioned to us? The one she believed Noah would send instead of you?” Mollie put down the paper and sat on the edge of the desk. What they’d thought of as a futile assignment had turned into a critical, life-or-death situation.

“The same. What I can add to Chaz’s description is that he has a thin mustache, close-cut, that matches his hair. He is an expert shot with a handgun and can hold his own in a fist fight.”

“And you’re sure he’s the man?” Quinn MacLaren had stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt those who’d been involved for weeks on this case.

“The description, the ring, and the scar all point to him. Plus the fact that our man has connections in the government and can move around at will,” Lee replied.

Eva was still reeling from the realization that Owen was behind everything, still not comprehending why he would jeopardize everything or be involved in murder.

“Why would a man like Kendall risk it all on a plot to kill the president?” Pierce couldn’t understand why anyone with so much would throw it all away.

“He was never satisfied with his life, always craving what he couldn’t have and believing he was entitled to whatever he wanted. Everything came too easy to Owen.” Lee mourned his old friend, but not the man he’d turned into. “Now, we must determine what to do about him and his partners. Before tomorrow.”

Chapter Twenty-One

It was almost six in the morning. No one had slept and the rest of the MacLarens never left. Lee had sent a driver to the police station to pick up Chief Curtis, along with several others, and bring them to the house. Meeting at the police station wasn’t an option—Owen could have eyes everywhere.

Lee introduced Curtis to everyone. He’d met some of them before at the Mayor’s Ball, and was familiar with the MacLarens in Settlers Valley even though he’d never met them.

At first, the police chief was reluctant to believe what he considered an ill-conceived theory. It took quite an effort to bring him around. The urgency, and the fact that he knew Traxton and Hardy, guaranteed he couldn’t turn his back on their idea. Curtis decided he must put his full energies into locating and arresting those involved before the deadline.

A message was sent to the president suggesting that he postpone or cancel his speech because of the threat. He’d sent back a note firmly declining the proposal and stating that he’d go forward with his speech. The only concession the president made was to change the location from the police station to the front of the hotel, eliminating the need for him to travel across the city.

Police officers were dispatched to pick up Thomas Traxton and William Hardy. Neither man was found at his home or office. Virginia Traxton hadn’t been seen in several days. The servants had mentioned it several times to her husband, yet no police report had been filed. Police were posted to keep watch for both men as well as Mrs. Traxton.

According to her butler, Georgiana Grayson had left the city earlier that day. None of her servants had any idea of her destination. Wang Tao had also disappeared. His son hadn’t seen him since the day before. Police were posted at both the Grayson and Tao residences.

The group turned their attention to finding Owen Kendall. Unless his disguise was extraordinary, his personal features were distinct enough to help identify him, especially the scar that ran from his right ear to his mouth. It was assumed he’d remove the ruby ring, cover his head, and wear clothing dissimilar from his normal attire.

Curtis noted that everyone had useful skills. Though some of those present—Drew, Colin, Quinn, and Brodie—were volunteers, their help was welcomed. Curtis ordered several sketches with a description of Owen Kendall be prepared and passed around.

 “I’d suggest that the MacLarens, except for Pierce, be located here, here, and here.” Lee stood at the desk, pointing to specific locations on a rough drawing of the area where the president would be speaking. “Pierce, Mollie, Chaz, Eva, and I should circulate through the crowd along with some of your officers.”

Curtis glanced around the room. “Sergeant Flynn,” he called to an officer across the room who’d been speaking with Brodie MacLaren.

Flynn broke off and walked over to Curtis. “Yes, sir.”

Curtis outlined Lee’s proposal for locating the MacLarens and his group. “I need you to identify the best officers to be part of the president’s detail and let them know what we expect.”

“Yes, sir.”

Curtis leveled his eyes on his sergeant. “The best and most trustworthy, Flynn. I know many of the current officers were assigned in an honorary capacity. We now require men who are crack shots and prepared to protect the president with their lives.”

“Understood, sir.” Flynn nodded at his boss and Lee before turning to leave.

“Flynn. One more item. Take the MacLarens with you. I want our men to recognize them and know they are part of our group and not random spectators, or worse, part of the conspiracy.”

Pierce watched as Flynn spoke with Drew, Colin, Quinn, and Brodie, and saw them nod in agreement before they followed the sergeant to a waiting police wagon.

“Drew, what’s going on?”

“Chief Curtis has asked us to join his men near the front, where the president will be standing. We’re leaving to meet the other officers, make sure they recognize us and don’t shoot us by mistake,” Drew explained, aware of the danger he and his cousins were walking into.

“You don’t have to do this.” It was clear to Pierce that everyone involved would be putting themselves at risk. He wasn’t prepared to lose a family member to some maniac bent on murder.

Drew turned to Pierce. “We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t believe it was right.” He clasped his cousin on the shoulder. “You do what is needed and so will we. I’ll see you afterward.” He squeezed Pierce’s shoulder once, dropped his hand, and followed the others outside.

Pierce let the reality of the peril he’d put his family in take root and hoped he hadn’t made a mistake by bringing them into it.

******

“Is everything clear?” Lee asked the others as they stood a block away from the hotel, finalizing their roles and locations. The president was due to speak in one hour, and already the area was flooded with people.

“Clear.” Chaz answered for everyone.

“All right. Let’s go.” The others dispersed to their assigned locations as Lee took Eva’s arm to guide her through an open doorway and into a secluded corner. He turned her to him, searching her eyes for something—he wasn’t sure what—and suddenly, he was at a loss for words.

Eva saw the turmoil in Lee’s face—concern, fear, and, what four years ago, she would have thought was love—and placed her hand on his arm. “It’s going to be all right.” The confidence in her voice was what he needed to hear. “We’ll get through this. Afterward, if you still want to…” Her voice trailed off.

Lee offered a half-smile. “I’ll see you in your room at the hotel after this is over.” He kissed her once then grabbed Eva’s hand to lead her outside toward the job they had to finish.

******

Pierce followed Mollie across the crowded street in front of the police station and stopped beside her as each took a slow turn around, looking for anything that might be considered a threat. Seeing nothing except curious onlookers, he took her elbow and guided her to a spot sixty feet away from the podium at the top of the steps.

“Lee and Eva believe Owen will use a handgun, which means, in a crowd this big, he’ll need to get close. Watch for men tall men with wavy blond hair. Don’t rely on clothing. I’ll be on the other side of the podium,” Pierce finished, realizing Mollie was already aware of everything he’d said but unable to control his need to confirm it once more.

He tried to swallow the growing lump in his throat. His concern for Mollie and her safety grew with each passing minute, encouraging him to ask her to step aside and let the others handle it. Pierce remained silent.

Mollie could see the growing agitation on Pierce’s face—the way his jaw worked, the narrowed eyes that refused to stay still, and breathing that had become uneven. She acknowledged her fear that one of them might not make it through this assignment and reached out to touch his arm.