Cora hunched her shoulders and started to shake. Frederic wrapped his arms around her and smoothed her hair. Her expressions of fear had Frederic wishing he'd waited to break the news, but he just couldn't. He had to tell someone.
Frederic laid Cora against the pillows. "Don't move too much or you might pull your stitches."
She whispered, "Are you sure? How can you possibly know?"
"By the power of deduction."
"I don't understand."
Frederic sauntered to the door and peered into the hallway. It appeared empty. He closed the door and braced a chair beneath the knob before returning to sit on the edge of the bed. He clasped Cora's cold hands and rubbed his finger across her knuckles.
He stared into her face as he said, "Rosa told me some time ago that her husband left for the city and never returned. Naturally I assumed he had perished. Why would one stay away so long when they had a family and a nice home? But then she said right after her husband's disappearance money began to arrive. That is how the house is in such good repair. How she has barns and livestock beyond the means of just one woman and a child.
"Anyway after she told me of the money, I made a cursory look of the house. Portraits of Josh and Zeke signed by Rosa's own hand are everywhere."
"What?" she whispered with a hiss.
"I can't believe it either. I found a painting with Josh and Rosa's husband hunting in the woods and pictures of what I presume is Zeke and his family. I believe Zeke and Rosa must be related and that Josh is an acquaintance."
"And you think Rosa's husband is the one leading the opium ring in New York City?"
He sighed and returned his hands to his lap. "Though it saddens me to say, yes, I believe that is the case."
"B-but if Zeke and Josh know about this place then when they recover from the boating accident they'll come here!" Cora's voice quivered.
"Yes, I'm afraid you maybe correct."
"What are we going to do?"
Her hands trembled and he retook them and squeezed. Here comes the hard part. "The truth is you're in no condition to travel."
She pulled her hands free and pushed to a sitting position. "Does that matter? We have to get out of here. Help me up."
He laid her back. "No, you can't move yet. If you pull out a stitch or get the wound dirty, it could set up infection and then Josh and Zeke won't need to find you. No, we have to think of another way."
Cora gnawed her lip. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she said, "What about telling Rosa the truth about her husband?"
Frederic frowned. "I don't think–"
"She helped save me. Maybe she would do it again."
"Cora, she doesn't know you threaten her existence. That could change things."
Cora turned her head away and her shoulders shook. Footsteps echoed along the hallway and Frederic rushed to remove the chair barring the door. Rosa entered, a smile plastered on her face.
"Can I check the patient's wound?"
Cora faced the door, her tears wiped away, and nodded.
Perhaps Cora was right and their only option was to trust Rosa, but then again what if she was wrong? If they trusted Rosa, and she told Zeke they were hiding in her home, then everything would be over and Cora might die.
****
The scream welled inside her. Shadows came from the walls as a hand covered her mouth. She couldn't breath. She struggled against the assailant but it was no use, he was stronger than her.
Released, she stood back. Jeffers was there, his mouth open in shock as he stared at the end of a smoking pistol. Her heart beat rapidly against her ribs, she gasped…
Her shudder shook the bed and she woke with a scream. Rosa placed a rag on her fevered brow. She murmured soothing words like to a scared child. Cora grabbed her hand and she stopped.
"You know who did this to me, don't you?" Cora asked. Rosa tried to look away but Cora held her chin. "Your husband was a good man but you were poor. He wanted to make things better. You lied to Donnie and told him his father left to find work or to join the military, anything to make his father sound like a hero, but when the money started rolling in you knew. You knew something wasn't right."
"I-I–"
"Rosa, I witnessed your husband murder one of his men in cold-blood and now he is trying to kill me."
Rosa jumped from the bed and covered her mouth as she ran from the room.
Cora fell back instantly exhausted. Frederic appeared in the open doorway a frown covered his features.
"What did you do?" he asked.
"I confirmed what she already knew."
****
In the parlor Rosa paced angrily. "I will burn it all. I will torch it tonight and run away with Donnie."
Frederic settled his elbows on his knees as Rosa displayed violent emotions and mood swings. One minute she ranted to the ceiling about believing her husband good, the next she wept and offered thanks for the roof above her that was provided by her husband's unclean funds. She dropped to the sofa.
"In my heart, I knew, I knew," she wailed.
Frederic waited until she calmed before saying, "May I ask your husband's name?"
Wailing louder, she said, "Arthur Wiggins, Arthur Wiggins, notorious criminal."
Her body shook and more recriminations flowed from her throat. Frederic bid his time. The wailing diminished to sniffles and he asked, "How do you know Zeke?"
She patted her reddening eyes. "Zeke is my brother, why?"
He didn't answer, instead he said, "And Josh Woods?"
"He's a family friend and one of Arthur's fishing buddies. Why do you ask?" Frederic mulled the answers over but didn't reply. She grabbed his arm, pleading, "Please tell me."
Frederic held both her hands in his. "Rosa, you seem like a decent person, and I don't want to dispel your illusions, but–"
"They're all involved, "she stated matter-of-factly.
"I believe so, yes."
"Why don't you tell me what you know for sure?" Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
Frederic sighed and massaged his temple. The woman deserved to know the truth, but the sadness around her eyes and the slump of her shoulders kept him silent.
Sniffing, she drew her shoulders back, looked him in the eye, and said, "Please tell me. I can handle it."
Gulping, Frederic said, "I know the man in this portrait you painted killed a Mr. Jeffers that worked at a fish house. I know Zeke is pursuing the young lady healing in your bedroom, and I know Josh Woods is helping, really more like leading, Zeke into taking Cora."
"But why?" she asked.
"Because Cora witnessed Mr. Wiggins shoot and kill Mr. Jeffers."
"But I don't understand. Why would he do such a thing?"
"Because your husband is the boss of a massive opium smuggling ring and he is on the verge of being caught."
Rosa buried her head in her hands and wailed louder. Donnie entered and she drew him into an embrace. Tears staunched, she ruffled Donnie's hair and sent him out of the room. The boy obeyed, but dragged his feet.
"I will help you and your friend any way I can."
Frederic nodded. He'd take any assistance he could get.
****
The next few days fever racked Cora's body. Rosa sponged her skin to keep her cool while Donnie and Frederic kept out an eye for Zeke, Josh, or their fellow companions.
The letter to Amelia grew heavy against Frederic's heart. It was one letter he never wanted to send.
Dawn of the fourth day, Cora's fever broke. She sat upright and sipped soup prepared by Rosa. Everything appeared to be looking up.
"Donnie, why don't you play a game of chess with Mr. Francis?"
Frederic cringed at the use of the fake name but didn't correct her. It was better if they didn't know everything. If he had to take Cora and leave in the middle of the night it was the only way to protect them and Rosa and Donnie as well.
"Sure Ma. Would you like to play, sir?" asked Donnie.
Frederic agreed. Donnie brought ou
t a wooden set. The pieces were handcrafted in fine detail.
As Donnie set up the board, he explained, "This was the last present my father gave me before he went away to join the war." The boy picked a wooden piece and lovingly stroked it. "I used to watch my father whittle, always wondering what he was making. Then when he gave me this gift I knew. It was a gift for me." Donnie lifted his face, a grin split his lips.
Frederic smiled in return. "This is a very nice. You're father is very talented."
Donnie's smile broadened. Pieces in place, he made the first move. They spent the afternoon on the wraparound porch. The sun shone and warmth enveloped him.
"You can't do that," said Donnie about one of Frederic's moves.
"But, why not? You said I could just moments before."
"No, I said you could move there if a set of reasons existed, but right now they don't exist."
Frederic rolled his eyes and Donnie laughed. "You're a lot of fun to play with Mr. Francis."
"Humph. Thank you for allowing me to humor you."
"You're welcome." The boy lowered his head, studied the board, and made another move. "Checkmate."
"What?" asked Frederic studying the layout and frowned.
"Yes, sir, checkmate. There is nowhere for you to move that I can't stop you. Every piece is in my control."
The words struck fear in Frederic's heart. Rosa had offered to help them, to protect them. Diligently she'd cared for Cora. But something wasn't right. Nowhere for you to move that I can't stop you.
He scooted his chair and it crashed backward as he raced inside. Cora's door was open and he stepped into the opening. She lay there stretched out, her hair flared around her face covering the white of the pillow.
"She's sleeping," came Rosa's voice from behind him.
He turned. She stood at the end of the hallway with a shiny knife in her hand. She dried it over and over until it gleamed and shone.
Frederic reached behind him and shut Cora's door. Sliding along the hallway, he entered the front room. Rosa followed.
"You know I really wish you wouldn't have told me who you were. I so had hoped she wasn't the young lady that Zeke was supposed to bring here. I thought someone was coming to visit with me. Arthur stays away so often. And then when he is here I can't let Donnie know. All the secrets, just once I wanted to have a friend." Rosa lifted the knife. Light caught the metal and it gleamed. She lowered the weapon and sighed. "She had to go and tell me the truth. Well, now Zeke and Josh are coming and when they do, they aren't going to be happy."
Frederic held his hands out in a form of surrender. "Rosa, why don't you put the knife down and we can talk about this. There is no need for you to get wrapped up in Arthur's mess."
She threw her head back and laughed wildly. "Don't you think I'm already wrapped up in Arthur's mess? Why I'm in deeper then you could ever imagine."
"I-I don't understand." He dropped his hands to his sides and furrowed his brow.
The maniacal laughter grew. "You men are all so stupid. There is not a one of you that could run a good smuggling ring. I had to convince Arthur to leave this place. We lived in a one room shack, but after Donnie was born I wasn't going to do it anymore. Arthur didn't want to work so I found something else he could do. He was real good at following orders. So I sent him to the city."
"You run the opium ring? You're the leader?" asked Frederic, his throat constricting.
"Don't work so hard to hide your astonishment. Of course I run the ring. The shipments, everything goes through me."
"But Jeffers–"
"Jeffers was one pawn among many. They are others scattered throughout the city, men willing to use their businesses to transport my goods."
"Th-then why did you have him killed?"
She waved her hand. "That was an unfortunate mistake. A miscommunication on my part perhaps, or maybe my assistant provided the wrong instructions, I'm not sure."
"Why did he steal Cordelia's clothes?"
"What?" She blinked as if confused by his question.
"She worked for Jeffers and he stole her clothing bag. Your husband took it from him when he shot Jeffers."
Rosa turned on her heel and stomped her foot. She swore under her breath for several minutes, when she finished she faced him. Hair lay in her face and she swooped it back, her eyelid twitched and Frederic covertly searched the room for a weapon.
"Hmm…again, a simple misunderstanding. That alleyway was a common drop place for our product."
"Kind of a small shipment if it would fit into a knapsack of that size."
She ran at him with the knife, backing him against the wall. The tip of the blade lay across his neck. His pulse throbbed.
"It was just a shipment for Jeffers' personal management. He w-was in training, obviously he blew his chance."
Slowly she backed away from Frederic, and he placed his hand to his neck coming away with a dollop of blood. How was he going to get out of this? Cora was incapacitated in the other room. Donnie was outside waiting on him. And Rosa was welding the knife in front of him like she was ready to gut him.
"I still don't get it," he said. Tactic number one: keep the assailant talking.
The knife hung slack at her side until she lifted it and dug under her nails. "What is there to get? Arthur dropped a sack of drugs in the same alley that the young lad or lass or whatever hid her clothes. Jeffers picked it up, she thought it was hers and fought him. Arthur heard the commotion and helped Jeffers escape. Your friend in there doesn't let the sack go but like an idiot follows them to the warehouse. She watches Jeffers die. That's it."
"Why did Arthur kill him?"
She lowered the weapon and stared at him. "You ask too many questions."
"In case you don't know, it is my job to ask questions."
"Oh, I know. Trust me, I know. You've been on our tail for months. If Josh hadn't been steering you in the wrong direction then you would have caught us long ago."
Frederic frowned but kept his thoughts to himself. Josh had steered him right to Jeffers and the docks. How could that have been wrong?
Trying one last time, he said, "Why did your husband kill Jeffers? Why didn't he shoot the girl instead?"
"Shoot the girl? Do you know what the cops would have done then? They would have been all over us. We would never have had any peace if we'd just shot some innocent girl who spent her spare time teaching kids at the church. No, better to just shoot Jeffers."
"You didn't have that planned, did you?"
"Of course I didn't have that planned! My stupid fool of an assistant ordered it without me!"
Now things were becoming clearer. "Just like your second-in-command didn't tell you about Cora, or that she'd witnessed Jeffers murder."
Rosa wrung her hands, her knuckles whitening on the grip of the blade. "You should really stop asking questions."
She held the knife as if to sling it. In mid-throw, she froze. An expression of wonder covered her face and she slumped to the floor.
Chapter Twenty-Five
"Come on brother, we've got to get Cora and get out of here," said Josh as he tugged on Frederic's arm.
Frederic stared at the hilt of a blade sticking out of Rosa's back. The sight paralyzed him. He looked up, stunned to find Josh. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to rescue you and Cora, but if we don't hurry then it will be too late."
Frederic jerked away from him. "We're not going anywhere with you. You're working with Arthur and Rosa. You've been helping them this entire time."
"Nonsense. I've been leading you in all the right directions to discover what they've been doing."
"B-but, why the kidnapping, the boat ride, the ominous conversation where you acted like you were doing away with Cora, but letting me go?" He shook his head in disbelief. "And, why didn't you just turn them in? Why lead me when you knew who was doing all the smuggling?"
Josh stared at his face, swallowed, and wrung his hands. "Listen, we can talk about th
is later, when we're safe. But right now Zeke, Arthur, and the other two are on their way and they have more weapons than we do."
Frederic rushed to Cora's room. She laid on her side a smile lighting her face in peaceful sleep. He shook her. "Cora, you have to wake up."
She rolled over, smiled, and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
Josh stepped in front of him and Cora screamed. Frederic clamped her mouth shut and she kicked him in the gut. He grimaced, but held firm. Her resistance slowed and she moaned and reached for her bandaged side.
He released her mouth. Her breaths came in short rasping gasps. "I don't have time to explain right now, but we have to get out of here. Arthur and Zeke are coming."
Voice trembling, she asked, "Where is Rosa?"
Josh replied, "Dead."
"What?" she asked, looking between them.
Frederic swallowed. "Later."
She nodded and he assisted her to her feet. Josh stuffed a knapsack with clothing and they raced out the back door.
"What about Donnie?" she asked, as her head jostled against his arm.
"Don't worry about him," said Josh. "His father will take care of everything."
Cora opened her mouth to protest but Frederic whispered, "Everything will be okay. I have a feeling."
Cora leaned heavily into his side as they crossed the yard and entered the barn. A buckboard wagon with two attached horses awaited them.
"Lay down in the back and I'll cover you two."
"I don't think so Josh." Frederic planted his feet.
"What?" Josh blinked rapidly.
"No, we will not hide under a blanket in an exposed wagon."
Josh leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest in a haughty know it all attitude. "Then how else do you propose to get out of here?"
Frederic replied, "I propose to get out of here by staying put."
"What?" asked Josh, his voice raising an octave.
Frederic pointed at him. "You're going to tell Zeke, Arthur, and all your other buddies, that you've searched the place but you didn't find us and that you believe we've left."
"I-I can't!"
Cora (Southern Hearts Book 3) Page 13
