Butterfly Palace (32 page)

“I don’t know. I hope not.” She held his gaze. “Did you?”

He chuckled, a laugh that sounded genuine. “Is it any wonder I’m so fond of you, Lily? You’re so refreshingly honest. No beating around the bush.”

She managed to smile back at him. “I could stew about it for months or just ask. So I’m asking.”

“As well you should.” He sat his chair back upright. “But no, I did not kill your father. My wallet was stolen two nights before. Ask the police. I reported it.”

She wanted to believe him, but his story sounded entirely too well planned. Did he think she wouldn’t check with the police?

“I’m glad we have that settled.” He rose and came around the end of the desk.

She rose to meet him, and he embraced her. The hug felt as though it held genuine warmth. Or did she just want to believe it did?

He released her. “So you believe me?”

She nodded. “Thank you for not getting angry. I had to ask.” She wanted to ask him about Norris, but it might reveal she knew too much. Still, this was her opportunity. “Does Norris know a man named Vesters?”

His brows drew together. “I would suppose so. Vesters purchases some of our products, and Norris sells for us. Why do you ask?”

“I saw them together the other day.”

“Where?”

“It’s not important.” She moved toward the door.

“Stop by anytime, Lily. I’m always glad to see you.”

He closed the door behind her, and she stood blinking in the bright sunshine. Though she’d hoped to have a clear feeling about his truthfulness, she found she was still full of questions.

Thursday came with a moonless night, clear enough that the stars sparkled in a black sky. Drew’s feet ached from standing in the same
position for half an hour, and he shuffled a bit from his vantage point behind a stand of live oak trees. He wasn’t entirely sure this was the right spot along the river walk, but he’d spent most of the day strolling the area and figuring out where a secret meeting might best take place.

Lily had been despondent since they saw Jane, and he had vowed to do his utmost to clear her. Once he’d saved Everett, he could focus on Ballard again too. He didn’t buy the man’s story about losing his wallet.

He crouched down when he heard voices approaching. The shape of Stuart’s head was unmistakable, bull-like with big ears. He didn’t recognize the other person from this distance. There was only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, he slithered along the bank and came out at a curve. He brushed himself off and began to stroll as if he’d been on the path all along. When he rounded the crook, he came face-to-face with Vesters.

“Stuart, how pleasant to run into you.” He thrust out his hand to shake.

Vesters hesitated, then took his hand in a firm grip. Drew got a better look at the man behind him. About fifty with a neatly trimmed beard and close-set eyes. He wore a bowler, and his suit was expensive. And Drew knew the man very well.

His boss, Ian Richardson.

He sent Ian a friendly smile. “Hello, I’m Drew Hawkes.”

Ian masked his surprise well and shook his hand. “Ian Richardson. Pleased to meet you.”

I’ll bet
. Drew managed to keep his simmering rage from erupting. “Beautiful night.” He tipped his hat. “Good evening.”

He didn’t wait for a reply and strode away before he could throttle Ian. What was going on? Ian never seemed to be interested
in politics, but here he was embroiled in a murder plot. No wonder he’d wanted Drew to stay out of the assassination plot and focus on the counterfeiting. He’d hoped his involvement with this wouldn’t be discovered. For a moment Drew considered the possibility that Ian had other agents on this plot, but after consideration, he shook his head. There was no reason to keep it from Drew. He would have been the likely person to be involved.

Ian was a dirty agent.

Drew intended to go straight to the hotel and send a telegram to Washington. He might not be able to stop Ian, but the Secret Service could. And would. A rogue agent wasn’t unheard of, but the agents worked hard to make sure a bad one didn’t taint their reputation.

He heard rapid footsteps behind him and turned to see Ian practically running after him. He put his hands in his pockets and curled his fingers around his gun. Ian would likely try to persuade him of a lie and then would eliminate him if that didn’t work. He stood and waited until his boss reached him.

“Drew, we need to talk.”

The cold steel in his pocket was comforting. “You’ll be able to explain yourself to Washington.”

“It’s not what it seems.” Ian touched his arm. “We can’t talk here. Let’s go to your room. Too many people are around.”

“I’m not sure it’s safe to be alone with you.”

Ian sighed. “How long have you known me?”

Drew looked away from the appeal in Ian’s gray eyes. “Four years. Goes to show you how deluded we can be about people, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t have pegged you as a man who would ever sell out. How much money are you getting for this? Or is it power you’re after? Maybe a cabinet position?”

“I thought you had more trust in me than that.”

“Don’t reverse the guilt here, Ian. I’m not the one who was playing two sides.”

Ian glanced around at the couples strolling the walk lit with gaslights. “This way.”

Drew followed until they were far enough away to be able to speak privately but not so far that the shadows would hide them if Ian tried to harm him. “Get it over with. I have a telegram to send.”

Ian steepled his fingers. “We have an agent out there who has been living as a counterfeiter for fifteen years. He’s the reason we’ve been able to put so many of them behind bars. His work is indispensable. You’re putting his life in danger by your behavior.”

“Right. You’d better come up with a better story than that, or I’m leaving.”

“It’s true.” Ian held his gaze. “Think, Drew. I’ve never lied to you.”

Drew struggled to hang on to his temper. “That I know of. You’d better tell me more details or that telegram is going out.”

Ian stuffed his hands in his pockets. “This is a ring we’ve been tracking for eight years. It was too important to let slip away. There are lots of nuances to the plan to bring them in. And the plot to kill Marshall involves an attempt on an even bigger target.”

“Who?”

“It depends on the results of the election. If Roosevelt wins, he may be assassinated.”

“His stand on ending patronage?” Drew didn’t need Ian’s nod to recognize those behind it. Appointments for civil-service jobs had been based on favors and not merit. The elite hated that.

“The assassination plot is already in play.”

Drew took a step back. “I don’t believe you. If it was that serious, you would have brought me in on it.” But the level gaze on Ian’s face made his stomach clench.

“I’m telling you the truth.”

“Then who is our inside man?”

“I’d rather not say.”

Drew took a step toward the city lights. “Then this conversation is over.”

Ian caught his arm. “Drew, it’s Ballard.”

Drew stared at him. “You’re not saying
Ballard
is one of us?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Drew shook his head, unable to take in the conviction in Ian’s face. “What about the fire? You told me . . .”

“An accident. I am ashamed to admit I used it to fuel your determination to find the counterfeiters. A vendetta is a good motivator for a justice seeker.”

Wrong
. Drew had been wrong about everything. “Ballard has been trying to get to the bottom of the assassination attempt. Norris has gotten close to Vesters for that reason?”

Ian nodded. “Your meddling has nearly derailed what’s really important. We don’t care about the counterfeiters. We need to be able to stop any plan to kill Roosevelt. You need to back off.”

“Vesters is part of that plan too?”

Ian nodded. “The plot goes deep.”

Drew turned and plunged into the darkness. He’d been consumed with a blind vendetta.

THIRTY-THREE

T
he noise of the cicadas rose in a raucous concert around Lily as she waited on the porch with Belle. Little Hannah slept with Emily watching over her. Drew should have been finished by now. He’d promised to stop by to report on what he’d discovered. No lights appeared in the windows of any of the houses down the street since it was after midnight.

She rose and walked along the length of the porch. “Surely he’s done by now.”

Belle’s voice spoke out of the darkness. “Calm down. I’m sure he’s fine.”

“The meeting was supposed to be two hours ago.” Lily stepped closer to the steps and peered down the dark street with its occasional illumination of gas streetlights.

Belle turned to face her. “Everything has changed in the last few weeks. My life is upside down. I never realized before how difficult life is for people like you and Jane. I’ve always had enough food, nice clothing, a beautiful home. I’ve taken it all for granted.”

“My life hasn’t been hard,” Lily said. “We didn’t have a lavish home, but it was nice enough. I’ve never gone hungry, and I’m thankful my mother taught me a skill.”

Belle wore a softer expression than Lily had ever seen. “She
taught you to care about other people too. It’s a lovely trait, Lily. I’ve taken you for granted as well. These last few days have shown me how selfish my life has been up to now. All I’ve thought about is what I want.”

Heat rushed to Lily’s cheeks. “I have plenty of faults myself, Miss Belle. I’m no one to admire.”

“I’ve been raised to believe life is all about power and money. I see now how silly that is. I’ve watched you pour yourself into other people ever since you’ve been here, both to people a bit higher up the social ladder like me and to those less advantaged like Jane. You don’t seem to notice status.”

Lily turned away from the admiration on Belle’s face. “We are all the same inside. We have the same heartaches and joys, the same fears and ambitions. Money doesn’t change who we are.”

“Such a novel concept, but I suppose you’re right. It’s something I need to learn more about. I’ve watched you and Mr. Hawkes, you know. You’re very fortunate. I’ve never been loved for myself alone. Stuart only wants me for my status and money.” She sighed and turned away.

A figure approached from the street, and Lily recognized the wide shoulders. “Drew.” She rushed down the steps, and everything in her sighed when his arms came around her in a solid embrace. He pressed his lips to her hair.

“Where have you been?” she whispered.

“I’ll explain.” There was a strange weariness in his voice.

Belle came to join them. “I want to hear everything.”

Lily had her hand on his arm, and she could feel the tension in his muscles. “What’s wrong?”

Drew looked weary, with drooping lids and circles under his eyes. “I’ve failed. I still have no idea what the plan is.”

Belle put her hand to her mouth. “We have to tell Uncle Everett
then. There’s no choice. I have to make him stay home on Tuesday night.”

“He’ll pooh-pooh your concerns,” Drew said. “You can try, but I don’t believe there is any way of making him stay home.”

Lily tightened her grip on his arm. “Then what can we do? Inform the authorities and have the police stake it out?”

Belle nodded. “Could we have the police arrest Stuart? I’m his fiancée. If I turn him in, surely the police will listen.”

Drew hesitated. “There seems to be an even bigger matter at stake. A possible assassination attempt on the governor or even Roosevelt. I still don’t know who all is involved. Even my boss doesn’t know yet. We can’t tip our hand until we know.”

“So you’re willing to let my uncle be killed instead?” Belle pointed her finger at Drew. “Well, I’m not. If you won’t help, I’ll inform the police of all I know.”

“Give me a few more days,” Drew pleaded. “I won’t let anything happen to your uncle. I have some sources to check.”

“And if you are unable to find the assassin?”

Drew held her gaze. “Then we’ll go to the police together.”

Belle pressed her lips together. “Very well. You have until Tuesday morning. If this plot isn’t terminated, I’m telling Uncle Everett.”

“Telling me what?”

Lily whirled and saw Mr. Marshall in his robe standing on the steps of the porch. Close enough to have heard everything. She glanced at Belle to see if she would be able to cover what they’d said.

Belle took a step toward her uncle. “About these two sneaking around behind my back.”

Mr. Marshall came down the steps. “It hardly involves a plot. You’d better tell me all of it right now.”

Lily glanced at Drew who was staring at Everett. Perhaps they’d been discovered for a reason.

Drew pocketed his hands. “I’ve uncovered a plan to kill you after you’re elected.”

Mr. Marshall frowned. “What’s the reasoning?”

“The person involved plans to be appointed in your place,” Belle said.

Mr. Marshall laughed. “That hardly sounds like a surefire way to get to be senator. What if the governor changes his mind? Or do you think the governor is in on it?”

“No, we don’t believe the governor is involved.” Drew explained what they knew so far.