Madison's Gift

by Marie Higgins

  “Where do you think Miss Westland is hiding?” Flannery asked.

  Cameron held his breath. Hiding? Did these two men know his sister was missing? How could they?

  “I couldn’t say. However, my dearest Miss Trent seems to think she ran off with a man. According to the very lovely Miss Trent, Miss Westland was itching to get away from her wallflower sister and overbearing brother. I’m sure she hooked up with the first man who’d take her.”

  Anger boiled in Cameron, and yet, he knew the words were true. Mr. Bailey must not have been the first man to come along. Well, that was what Miss Trent hinted to him, anyway.

  “I think everything is clear down here,” Flannery stated. “Let’s head upstairs now. I’ve not felt very comfortable down here since that one prisoner was found murdered.”

  Careful not to be heard, Cameron took soft steps back up the stairs.

  “It’s definitely rattling to realize that someone here at the station could have been the one responsible for that man’s murder.”

  “Indeed, it is.”

  Cameron wanted to sigh with relief. At least these men didn’t know that Orwood was looking for Cameron and wanted him arrested.

  The voices were closing in on him, so Cameron moved faster. When he reached the ground floor and strode around the corner, he spotted Thomas Banks entering the building. Thomas, one of the older officers, worked most nights, and Cameron prayed the man would remember something about Mr. Bailey’s death.

  Quickly sitting on the nearest bench, Cameron tried to appear as though he’d been waiting there this whole time. When Thomas spotted him, the middle-aged man gave him a nod and proceeded toward Cameron.

  “What are you doing here this late at night?” Thomas asked.

  “I dropped by to talk to those of you working tonight, but so far, you are the only one I could find.”

  Thomas jabbed a finger toward the front door. “I was in the privy, but Luis and Flynn should be here.”

  “I haven’t seen them yet.” At that moment, the two men walked around the corner into the main room. Neither where fully dressed in their uniforms, for Garrick’s coat wasn’t buttoned and Flannery’s hat was missing. Then again, in all the times Cameron had seen Tom Flannery, the man’s hat was never on his large head. It was difficult to find a uniform for a bloke of his size.

  When they saw Cameron, their eyes widened.

  “Oh, there you are.” Cameron tried to keep his voice calm, even if he still wanted to rip Garrick’s head off his shoulders. Garrick had always thought of himself as a lady’s man. Cameron had reservations about the other officer’s belief. He didn’t think Garrick was a very handsome man at all. The blond officer’s hair was too long for Cameron’s taste, and his body was, in fact, on the puny side.

  “Thomas and I were just wondering where you two were.”

  “Downstairs,” Garrick said in a rush. His Adam’s apple jumped in his thin throat. “We were checking the rooms as part of the shift.”

  “Why are you here?” Flannery asked as he scratched the side of his chubby face.

  Cameron stood. “I’m trying to find some answers.”

  “About what?”

  “I’d like to ask you about last night when Mr. Bailey was killed.” He folded his arms. “Can either of you recall if he had a visitor during the night?”

  “A visitor?” Flannery asked as he reached over to his desk and picked up a biscuit from his leftover dinner

  “Yes. Someone who might work here.”

  Garrick stepped closer to Cameron. The shadows from within the room made the man’s dark eyes appear almost black. “Do you believe he had a visitor and they killed him?”

  “At this point, I’m not ruling anything out.”

  Garrick narrowed his gaze on Cameron. “I thought Captain Orwood was in charge of this case.”

  Inwardly, Cameron growled. “Yes, he is. I’m just curious, is all. I want to see the criminal brought to justice.”

  Flannery finished shoving the biscuit into his mouth and licked his fingers. “It was rather a busy night. I don’t know if you recall, but Judge Gruber’s grandson was found...alive. The station was alert with the happy news.”

  Cameron nodded as Madison’s lovely face popped into his mind again. Judge Gruber was the very reason she was here at the station in the first place. “Yes, I recall.”

  “The judge’s family came soon afterwards,” Thomas added as he moved behind his desk and sat. “Because of the commotion, I think it would be hard to spot anyone getting the keys and going downstairs in the basement.”

  “I understand,” Cameron grumbled as he flexed his hands. “But try to remember anything at all. I’m desperately grasping for something that might help with Orwood’s investigation.”

  Garrick cocked his head sideways. “Why are you so concerned about it, Westland?”

  Cameron continued to hold his temper. “Because I want this killer found before something like this happens again.”

  The three other men nodded.

  “So,” Cameron continued, “if you remember anything, please tell me.”

  “Come to think of it,” Thomas tapped his aged and crooked finger on the desktop, “I do recall seeing someone who looked like Douglas McGreer taking the cell keys from the wall.”

  Cameron straightened and faced the older man. “What do you mean? It was not McGreer?”

  Thomas shrugged. “It looked like McGreer, but I thought he was off work with a broken leg.” He swished his hand through the air. “I dismissed the doubt, thinking he was back and I just hadn’t realized it yet.”

  “And you saw him take the keys from off the wall?”

  “Indeed, I did. I recall wondering how he was going to try to make it down those stairs with a broken leg, but then my mind was sidetracked when Judge Gruber came into the office.”

  Hope grew inside of Cameron. “Did McGreer have a crutch?”

  Thomas’ mouth crinkled with more lines as he scratched his neck. “I honestly cannot recall if he did or not. But he was the same height and build as McGreer. He even wore the uniform.”

  “I thank you, Thomas.” Cameron smiled. “I shall visit McGreer first thing tomorrow morning.” He turned to the other men and arched an eyebrow. “And I pray you’ll inform me of anything you remember from last night that seemed suspicious.”

  “Of course we will.” Garrick rocked back on his heels as he linked his fingers behind him.

  Cameron narrowed his scowl on the reed-thin man and stepped closer to the other officer. “And I promise,” he lowered his voice, “if you dare try to ruin my sister, I will kill you. Is that understood?”

  The man’s face whitened while Flannery, who stood nearby, sucked in a quick breath.

  Garrick swallowed so hard, it echoed in the room. “It’s very clear, sir.”

  As Cameron left the office, he felt slightly more at ease. Then again, having Rosie run off with a man didn’t settle well in his conscious. Why would his sister want to create a scandal? Hadn’t their father embarrassed them enough? And yet, Rosie never thought of others. She only worried about what pleased her.

  And what of Madison’s visions? From what she had described, Rosie was frightened of something. Had something possibly gone wrong with his sister’s plan for escaping the Westland estate? And who was Gaynor?

  At least there was a small break-through with who killed Mr. Bailey. Cameron prayed they’d find the killer quickly. He wasn’t a patient man.

  Groaning, Cameron scrubbed his hands over his face. Frustration was building inside of him quickly, and if he didn’t solve one of these cases, he would go mad. For certain, he would have the same fate his father had...if he wasn’t arrested and hung for murder, first.

  NINE

  The morning sun streamed through the sunflower yellow lace hanging around the window in the dining room. On the table, scones with honey-butter, strawberries, bananas, and sausage were spread. Madison sat beside Alice at the table for breakfa
st, struggling to finish the food piled on her plate. Never had Madison seen so much at one breakfast table, and took one of each item, hoping she didn’t appear overly eager.

  With a full stomach, she leaned back in her chair and stared at her empty plate. Perhaps she shouldn’t have eaten so much. But she didn’t know how to politely refuse the large meal brought from the kitchen by a very cheerful Mrs. Trumble. The middle-aged woman appeared so delighted that she could serve Madison.

  As Alice chatted on, Madison stifled a yawn. Last evening, Alice had begged Madison to stay the night when Cameron didn’t return home as promised, but Madison knew it wouldn’t be proper. Thankfully, she had arrived back at the boarding house before dark. She hadn’t slept well because her mind was full. Thoughts of Cameron plagued her. She desperately wanted to help him find Mr. Bailey’s killer, and his sister, of course. But once everything was finished, would Cameron follow through with his promise of telling his captain about her? So far, Cameron seemed like an honorable man, but...she’d been hurt before and she feared she would be hurt again by this particular handsome man who made her smile so much yesterday, her cheeks hurt.

  Bright and early this morning, Madison had dressed in another of her favorite gowns—a soft lavender ensemble trimmed with silver buttons and bows. Whenever she wore this dress, she could picture herself at a ball, dancing the night away. This time, however, Cameron was the gentleman in her image as they danced in each other’s arms.

  Alice’s nonstop talking brought Madison out of her thoughts. She delved into Rosie’s life and described what it was like growing up in the Westland household. Madison could connect to Alice and her siblings well, mainly because they were orphans, too. Madison understood their heartbreak, and anguish. Madison also understood Alice’s need to feel accepted. Their father’s death had left rumors circulating that he’d lost his mind. Madison could certainly relate to that aspect of their lives.

  “Shall we adjourn into the sitting room?” Alice asked sweetly.

  “Certainly.” As Madison followed the other woman, she glanced up the hall toward the front door. When would Cameron grace them with his presence? Had he discovered anything after spying on Miss Trent? Madison would give anything to know what secrets that woman was hiding.

  “So Madison,” Alice began after they’d reached the room and sat. “You really haven’t told me very much about yourself. How did you start having visions?”

  Madison thought back on that first day when she’d known she was different. “I was about seven or eight. I was in school, and we had just come back inside after having lunch. As I walked by the cloak room, I stumbled and fell against a broom. There was an old man who cleaned our school at night. As soon as I touched the broom handle, I could see him lying on the floor by his bed. He was pale and weak, and crying out for help.” She rubbed her forehead as the emotions from yesteryear resurfaced. “I told my school teacher, but of course, she thought I was daydreaming or making up stories again. It frustrated me that she wouldn’t listen. When I returned home and told my aunt and uncle, they didn’t’ believe me, either.” She paused. “The next day in school, we learned that the old man who cleaned our room had died.” She shook her head. “I wanted to scream at my school teacher for not believing me. If she might have done something after I told her, that sweet old man would have lived.”

  Sadness covered Alice’s face as tears gathered in her eyes. “How awful. It must have been dreadful feeling so helpless.”

  “Indeed, it was.” Emotion tightened her throat, so she swallowed hard. “That was when I realized my visions might actually help others. I also realized I had to help those people anyway I could, whether they believed in my gift or not.”

  “You have a caring heart.” Alice touched the tip of her finger to the corner of her moist eye. “I’m so glad you’re here to help us find Rosie, and help my brother find Mr. Bailey’s killer.”

  Madison took a deep breath and slowly released it, trying to relieve herself of those maddening feelings she’d had over the years. “I won’t stop trying until both cases are solved.”

  Sighing, Alice relaxed back against the sofa’s cushion. “If only we’d known about you when my father was alive. He would have loved you. And I’m certain you would have helped him overcome his melancholy.”

  Madison had heard both Alice and Cameron hint about their father’s problem, but they never went into detail. Hopefully, Alice would do that now. “What exactly happened with your father?”

  Alice tapped her finger on her chin as she stared blankly at the wall. “I can’t recall exactly when this happened, but the child of a prominent, wealthy couple was kidnapped while they were shopping in town. I can’t exactly recall their names. Anyway, their child was taken while the woman was at a shop. Immediately Scotland Yard was called on the case, because of course, it was before Metropolitan took over.”

  Madison nodded.

  “My father was one of the top men, but even he couldn’t find the child. He never stopped searching. The case consumed him. I don’t know why this one case affected him so greatly, but it began to affect his ability to work. Eventually, he retired and talked about taking up carpentry, but nothing made him happy. Not even Cameron, Rosie, or me.”

  “I think I know how he felt,” Madison said softly. “When I have a vision, that person becomes part of me, and I’m not at ease until they are safe.” She sighed as a memory popped into her head. “I remember when I was nine or ten, I had a vision about the neighbor next door. She had made me a doll and this one time when I touched it, I could see that she had fallen and she couldn’t get up. She cried out for someone to help her, but she lived alone, so nobody could hear.” Madison rubbed her arm, recalling the desperation she’d felt in wanting to help the poor old woman. “My aunt and uncle were very strict about me leaving the house without their permission, and since they didn’t believe in my visions, I knew I had to do everything I could to escape and help her. As luck would have it, my uncle was gone and my aunt had passed out, drunk, so I ran next door to help the lady. When I returned home, my uncle was there, so I had to sneak back into the house.” She chuckled. “I actually climbed up the tree into the attic window, and then from there, moved down the narrow staircase onto the main floor. Thankfully, they didn’t even know I was gone.”

  Alice gasped and jumped up from her chair. “Oh, dear! I’d forgotten the attic.”

  Madison arched an eyebrow. “What about the attic?”

  “I just remembered something about my sister. One day before she disappeared, I caught her coming out of the attic. She was holding a broom.”

  “A broom? Whatever for?”

  “I asked her the same thing,” Alice answered, her eyes wide. “She told me she was trying to find something in the attic. When I kept pursuing the subject, she snapped and told me it was none of my business.” Alice frowned. “I never did get an answer.”

  “Obviously, she was doing something up in the attic she didn’t want anyone to know about.” Madison stood, suddenly feeling energized. This might be exactly the break she needed in the case. “Take me to the attic, and we’ll look for clues.”

  The color in Alice’s face faded and she took a step back, shaking her head. “I...I can’t go up there.”

  Madison took hold of the girl’s shaky hands. “It’s all right. If you don’t want to go with me, just show me how to get up there and I’ll go by myself.” She tried using her most comforting voice.

  “You probably think me a coward—”

  “Not at all, Alice,” Madison added quickly.

  “I just don’t like dark places.”

  “I understand that perfectly. I don’t like closed, dark spaces, either. But...wouldn’t there be light in the attic? After all, it is morning.”

  “No. There are some places in that attic that don’t get the light.”

  “That’s all right.” Madison swallowed down the panic trying to climb up her throat. “Fetch me a candle and I’ll go up m
yself.”

  While Alice searched for a candle and holder, Madison took deep breaths. Attics in particular had never scared her before. Closed, dark spaces did, but there shouldn’t be many of those in the attic.

  Alice walked her up the stairs toward the back of the house, holding the lit candle. When they reached a point in the hall, she stopped and pointed to the door latch on the ceiling. Carefully, Madison pulled it down, and with it came some steps that were attached. Alice held the wooden steps as Madison climbed up. As she peeked her head inside, she was relieved to see this was part of the attic that wasn’t dark.

  “Hand me the candle.” Madison reached toward Alice, and she gave it to her.

  “If there’s something amiss up there,” Alice said in a quivering voice, “call down and I’ll fetch Cameron.”

  “All right, but I should be fine.”

  Madison placed the candle holder on the floor of the attic before she finished climbing inside. The first thing she recognized was that the floor had been swept recently. This was probably what Rosie was doing when Alice caught her.

  The opened space was very roomy, and she stood without her head touching the ceiling. In fact, Cameron could probably stand in here without scraping his head. She brushed her palms against the sides of her dress. As long as she could see the windows—which looked to be only a few—she’d be all right. You can do this, Madison!

  Surprisingly enough, the large space appeared clean. There were no boxes, and very little dust. Even the walls looked as though they’d been wiped down. Madison moved to the nearest wall and pressed her palm against it.

  No visions came.

  She moved to another wall. Nothing there, either.

  Why would Rosie want to clean this area? Very strange...

  Madison moved toward the back. There seemed to be a few more rooms. As she neared, she realized she was losing a little light. That was all right, she reminded herself. She wasn’t a child anymore. She shouldn’t have fears about dark spaces any longer.