by Madison Kent
Jonathan added, "Because it was Sunday, there was limited staff present, and as we went to the entry area to the hall, no guards were present."
Hugh said, "It was amazing luck―it could never have been if Emma's parents were there. Emma was bored and pleased that we had arrived unexpectedly. She was more than willing to show Jonathan through the estate.
"I inquired if I could see the room again, where Mr. St. Fleur displays his wild animal acquisitions, saying I was extremely interested in big game hunting. She didn't appear to be suspicious of my request."
Madeline was leaning in toward Hugh―hanging on his every word.
She said, "Go on. What happened next?"
"I slipped into the hall easily and followed your diagram. I found the staircase and crept down, and when I arrived at the landing and looked inside the room, I was surprised to find it was empty. I'm assuming because it was a Sunday; the workers were let off for the day."
Madeline interrupted, "Amazing! You had access to the entire room. What did you discover?"
"I don't know what I saw. It was complicated, and unusual, to say the least.
"There was a myriad of model buildings―it looked like a miniature city―except one thing. Of course, I only have England as a reference, but many structures looked like military barracks.
"There were also architectural plans that included plans for buildings in many cities in Florida. I know they have extensive wealth, but these were plans were on such a scale, I would estimate it would take millions of dollars to complete such a venture. I can't understand what it could mean."
Madeline said, "I cannot fathom a reason for it. What is your opinion, Jonathan?"
"I am at a loss, as well. The family is so eccentric and lives in a world I've never known. Their money affords them the opportunity to experience life in a different way from the rest of us. Perhaps Jean was hired by some criminal to do this. Didn't you say he has some affiliation with Andrew Carnegie?"
She replied, "I've heard Mr. Carnegie's name, as well as other moguls, connected to Jean. At both dinner parties I attended, I overheard these names myself."
Hugh added, "Tomorrow is our fishing junket with Jean. We'll leave at dusk, and will stay for several hours, it will give us the opportunity to talk with him. Between Jonathan and I, perhaps we will learn something about this unique man, and his unusual life."
She asked, "Will Oliver and Austin be joining you?"
Jonathan replied, "No. I found it odd that they both declined, saying that they were unable to go. I would have imagined they both would want to endear themselves to Jean, and would be anxious to go along."
Madeline said, "I also have something to tell you. Something Fitz told me while you were away."
The three continued to discuss the observations made by Mr. Fitzgerald, and the findings at Emma's home. Hugh offered his opinion that everyone, including the inspector, his deputy, and Matthew, also behaved in ways that made one wonder what their involvement might be in this enigma that seemed to have no answers.
On Tuesday, Edgar and Emily were invited to spend the day with Winnie and Odean. They rarely visited the twins, but Mrs. St. Fleur had persuaded them that the two old women were in need of company and cheering up. Clifford's death had greatly affected them, and they were delighted to have the Montgomery's visit their home.
After her father, Jonathan and Hugh left for their fishing trip, Madeline spent the afternoon reading in the garden gazebo. It was her favorite place on the estate, the fragrance of the many blooming flowers enhancing the pleasure of her surroundings.
As there were only two for dinner, Madeline and Fitz were content with a bowl of soup, salad, and a tray of cheese and bread.
Afterward, she and Fitz enjoyed a game of chess in the drawing room. Neither of them spoke again about Oliver or Austin and kept the conversation light, Fitz telling her about his adventures when he was a boy.
The elderly man said he was tired, as his injuries continued to bother him, and Madeline assisted him up the stairs at eight, and then retired to her room.
She sat in her favorite place at the window, and continued to read, periodically looking up to see if the men had returned. A sliver of moon, in the black night, gave the stars the ability to shine brightly, but the darkness kept her from seeing anything clearly. That is until she saw movement behind a cluster of palms. She blew her candle out, to see a little better, and then she was certain she saw a figure moving on the grounds.
Moving away from the window, she quickly ran to her bedroom dresser drawer to retrieve her derringer. She was in her night clothes, and barefooted, but she felt she must try to confront the intruder. Grabbing just a robe, she hurried downstairs.
She attempted to find Reggie or Frederick, but neither were in their rooms. She thought they might have gone into town, as Emily and Edgar had given them the night off.
Madeline would have to steel herself, and go alone.
Walking in the direction, where she had seen the figure―she neither saw nor heard anything. She moved to the other side of the estate and still saw nothing. She thought, in her agitated state, that she might have imagined the incident, but then she saw a muted light in the distance.
She continued walking towards it, realizing it was in the same area where the intruder hid. Madeline's hands began to shake, and she had to stop to steady herself.
Her feet sunk into the wet grass, and she suddenly felt clammy, and unable to concentrate. Hesitating to gather her wits about her, she then started out again. When she was within a few feet of the firelight, she saw a lone figure standing quite still. The person, garbed in a monk's robe, made not attempt to move, even though Madeline was certain the individual was aware of her presence. She steadied the hand that held the derringer and moved forward.
Madeline said, "You! I thought it could be you all along, but I could find evidence to link you to the crimes."
Madeline's hand was calm now, as she pointed the gun at the intruder. She continued,
"Why would you come here alone? Did you think I wouldn't have a weapon?"
The trespasser laughed, "On the contrary, we predicted every move you would make, and you have not disappointed us. Robert has watched you these many nights and knew you would be at your window, and you would see him in the garden and come down. I planned for Edgar and Emily to be away, and insisted Jean take your father and friends on the fishing trip. I planned everything; nothing left to chance."
Madeline felt a heavy arm from behind her, hit her right arm with a strong force, and her derringer flew from her hand.
The man held her arms behind her and began twisting a rope around her hands.
"Robert, be gentle, after all, she is our guest for the moment," said Corinne St. Fleur.
Madeline cried out, "Why? How could those dear boys have threatened you―with all your wealth and power―how could anyone threaten you?"
Corinne, in her dark monk robe, looked like the grim reaper to her. She pointed one skinny, long finger at her and said, "That fool Clifford, he thought he could blackmail me. He had discovered our plans and said he would go to the newspapers if he weren't allowed to marry Emma. He assured me he would be a faithful participant and a devoted husband to Emma. Of course, I told the idiot child that I agreed. It was easy to coax out of him that the Armstrong boy knew something, also―that was a pity, because the sniveling Clifford, I thought a waste of human life, but Lonnie I liked. He had to be done away with because of that silly Clifford."
"What could you possibly be hiding that you would take the lives of two such men, or is it three, with Jeffrey?"
"I'm afraid much more than three, but they all were justified. In wartime, causalities happen, most people involved, like dear, Robert, fully understand this."
"What do you mean―wartime?" asked Madeline, while Robert stood guard over her.
"You foolishly stumbled upon something that had its birth over twenty-five years ago. Longer than that, it began with me when my
childhood home was burned down by the Yankees in 1863. I watched my mother slowly die; she wasted away after that. I was just a child, but right then, I knew what I must do. After we had lost the war, my father and I vowed that we would do everything we could to regain our Southern heritage and way of life.
"My Father started the underground, and our plan to secede from the Union. It took years to gain any support at all. People were not ready yet, but by the time I was an adult, we had some success.
"It was necessary for me to marry well, someone wealthy and powerful, like Jean St. Fleur. Lynrose was weak, sickly, and timid―someone who didn't deserve a man like Jean.
"As her midwife, and one of her closest friends, it was easy to eliminate her. Suffocation was my plan, but the woman had a heart attack while I was struggling with her and made it all the easier for me.
"I had intended to rid myself of both twins, but then decided Jean would need me more if there were, at least, one surviving twin that required care. Storm was scrawny, and not as beautiful as Emma, so I chose her as the one to die."
Madeline thought she was listening to a demonic, insane woman, but Corinne spoke about the murders she committed as a soldier talking about a combat mission.
"Since then―you have planned this all this time?"
"Yes, my precious orphans, like Robert, have helped me achieve miraculous things. They're trained from early childhood to understand and believe in the importance of the cause. They were given love, security, and the promise of high-level positions when Florida was no longer in the Union.
"Of course, Robert is my most trusted facilitator. It was his rosary that you found at the river, I gave it to him when he was just a juvenile after he completed his first task for me.
"Of course, when you turned it over to the police, the good Inspector returned it to him, no questions asked. Davis has been invaluable to me. Our families are related, he is my third cousin, and we are both related to Jefferson Davis, thrice removed, but we have the same blood."
Madeline asked, "The Inspector knows about the murders and is complicit?"
"Good heavens, no, the poor feeble minded man, he wouldn't have the fortitude for that. But he does listen to me when I encourage him to let investigations drop and to lose evidence when warranted.
"We have people like him in every city, just waiting to begin the process of secession. It won't be long now, perhaps another year, before our plans will be able to go forward."
"Even if you kill me, my father and my friends will hunt you down. They've suspected you all along."
"Robert, tell her our plans."
"I'm sorry, Miss, I tried to warn you. I didn't hurt you at the tower, and when I pushed you in the water, I knew you'd survive. I was sure you would stop investigating.
"There's a grave dug for you in the middle of those pine trees out there. People will just think you've gone missing. They'll never find you.
"And as far as your friends, and your father, I'm afraid, Miss, you're wrong about that, too," Robert concluded in a monotone voice.
Corinne said in a cold, deep voice, "It was just whimsy on my part, I thought you should all die at the same time for daring to infringe on my lifetime endeavor. The plan to regain our Southern heritage, and for all Floridians to hold their heads high again, has taken decades to achieve.
"At eight, the boat your father is on will explode, and all will die. It will put an end to any further interference."
Madeline said, with tears running down her face, "No...why must you do this? Your husband is on that boat―I don't believe you―I don't believe you. You can't be that cruel."
"Unfortunately, Jean has served his purpose. He was unaware of certain things we had to do for the cause. He began questioning me about the boys. I felt it was only a matter of time before he uncovered the truth. He was weak, he wanted Florida to secede, but he wanted no bloodshed, and, of course, that was impossible."
Robert added, "It's war, Miss, you must understand. It's not murder, not murder at all. It had to be done, anyone who threatens us must pay the price."
Madeline felt that if she must die, so be it, if her father and her friends were dead, there would be no reason to live.
Mrs. St. Fleur continued to talk, expounding about the cause, about the pride she felt at what she had achieved, and her feeling that her underground network was nearly ready to achieve her ultimate goal. Madeline felt physically ill and defeated, but as Robert untied her hands, she wanted to grab Corinne by the throat. He gripped her arm, and said, "It's time to go, Miss, I promise, it will be fast. I'll make it as easy as I can."
Robert's sorrowful face was in deep contrast to Corinne's smug, satisfied face. Madeline wondered how such an insane woman could appear to be so normal. She saw her derringer lying in the dirt and thought she had nothing to lose in trying to get it, and defend herself. Corinne stood in front of them with a gun pointed at her, and she knew she had little chance of not being killed if Corinne shot at such close range, but it no longer mattered. She knew her life was about to end one way or another.
With as much strength as she had, she kicked backward into Robert's thigh, and simultaneously she heard a shot ring out. She looked for blood, or to feel pain, but there was none. Then Robert released his hold on her, and fell, bleeding from the shoulder. Madeline looked at Corinne and knew she was about to fire at her, and she threw herself to the ground. Another shot pierced through the air, and this time, knocked the gun from Corinne's hand.
A rough voice said, "Sure am glad I'm the one to get you. I heard what you said. You killed those boys, didn't you? My boys, those were my boys, Lonnie, and Jeffey. You crazy old woman, may God have mercy on your soul, for no one else will. I hope they lynch you from the highest tree.
"We all praised you for taking in them young'uns. We thought "what a great lady", and here you were just using the poor lads."
Holding his shoulder to stop the bleeding, Robert said, "No, sir, she didn't use us. She loved us. We wanted to do this for her, and the cause."
The old man said, "Poor boy, you don't even realize. You had such a hard life, and she showed you some kindness and took advantage of you, and you don't even know it. I feel sorry for you, son, very sorry."
Fitz stood there, in oversized pajamas given to him by Edgar, and a rifle in his hand, and said, "I'll keep an eye on this one. Do you want to tie the other one up?"
"With pleasure," Madeline said.
Corinne didn't accept the rope easily, and tried to bite Madeline, and clawed at her. But Madeline had regained her strength, the adrenalin now rushing through her and tied Corinne's hands together. In her nightgown pocket was a handkerchief, which she used to shove into the murderer's mouth. Madeline felt great satisfaction in doing this and had to calm herself so that she would not do more harm to the nefarious, Mrs. St. Fleur.
Mr. Fitzgerald and Madeline walked the pair back to the house at gunpoint. The house was quiet, and she thought that murder was intended, and almost carried out right under the nose of the people in the house, without anyone being aware that anything was amiss.
Madeline called out for Charlotte. She was a light sleeper and awoke whenever there was a disturbance in the house.
By the time they had walked the two into the drawing room, Charlotte had appeared looking shocked at what she was seeing.
Madeline said she could not explain at the moment, but asked if she would watch over Corinne while she fetched Frederick.
By the time she reached his door, she was weeping uncontrollably, and said, "Frederick, they're all dead―they're all dead,"
"Who, Miss, who?"
"Father, and my friends―Mrs. St. Fleur had them murdered. You must bring Inspector Davis here."
"You're mistaken, Miss, you must be. I won't believe it; I just won't.
"Wait here, Miss, and I'll get my coat, and we'll go together."
But Madeline didn't wait there, she ran into her father's room, looking for his medical bag, and the morphine s
he knew he kept there. She sat there looking at the white bottle with the healing liquid inside. Her hand was shaking as she picked it up, but then she placed it back in the bag and started slowly down the stairs. She felt paralyzed inside. Frederick rushed up the stairs and took her by the arm.
"Miss, you'll get through this. You must be strong."
"For who, Frederick? For who?"
He said nothing, and they continued down the stairs. Before they reached the bottom, she heard a great commotion outside the door. Someone was banging on the door, and Reggie hurried to open it.
Rushing through the door was Inspector Davis, followed by her father, Jonathan, Hugh and Jean St. Fleur.
Madeline's head spun as if she were a twirling ballerina, and then everything went black.
When she awoke, she was in her room, underneath the cool, silk sheets. Her father was sitting in a chair next to her bed, wiping her forehead with a damp cloth.
She jumped up, and threw her arms around him, and held him as tightly as she could, saying over and over, "I thought you were dead."
Chapter Eighteen
The Orphan
Within a half hour, she was feeling well enough to go with her father to the drawing room to see her dearest friends, and to hear their story.
Madeline said to Hugh and Jonathan, "I can't tell you how overjoyed I am to see you. You both look so handsome and healthy and..."
She was unable to speak further, and instead hugged them and kissed them on the cheek. Then she continued, "I thought I lost all of you. Corinne said she had someone place explosives on your boat. Her intention was to kill all of you, including her husband."
Hugh spoke first, "But for the grace of God, she may have succeeded.
"The excursion was pleasant; a clear Florida night provided the perfect background for an enjoyable evening. Jean is a skilled fisherman and gave us tips on how to land a flounder, and other methods to enhance the experience. He was a gracious host and did not display any of the arrogance he usually does when he's with his wife. He was a different man.
