Time of Fog and Fire

by Rhys Bowen

  “Who?”

  “Someone high up in city government. Maybe the mayor or the city attorney. They were both in the room tonight. I have to say I rather enjoyed that.” He grinned, and I saw Daniel’s old cocky smile.

  “But why did the mayor or the city attorney want you dead?” I asked. “The police chief said you were on the trail of some kind of land fraud. Was that just a cover?”

  “Yes and no,” he said. He looked up as music started again below. “Good. They sound as if they’ll be occupied for some time yet. I’m not sure if we could be heard through this door.”

  “That Tiny person seems to prowl around a lot,” I said.

  “He does, doesn’t he? I wonder why?” He got up, went over to the door, and opened it cautiously. He then closed it again and came back to sit close beside me on the bed. “So far, so good.”

  “How did you get up to my balcony?” I asked. “Surely you didn’t climb up the wall?”

  He smiled. “I shot back up the stairs after we had supposedly left,” he said, “and let myself out onto your balcony. I would have hid in your wardrobe but there wasn’t much room and I was scared of giving myself away by sneezing.”

  I laughed. It felt wonderful to laugh again. “You were telling me why somebody would want to kill you.”

  He nodded, putting his lips close to my ear to talk in a low voice. “My first assignment from John Wilkie was indeed to chase up a man who had made a fortune selling land deeds. It was before your time in New York but it was a big scandal. His name was Douglas Hatcher and he was selling parcels of oil-rich land in Texas. The deeds guaranteed mineral rights. He showed prospective buyers the geological survey with oil beneath the whole area, and he promised that the oil companies would do the digging. And of course he reminded everyone that this would be the age of the automobile and everyone would need oil. They’d be rich beyond their wildest dreams. There were plenty of poor suckers back East who paid a thousand dollars each for acreage in Texas, only to find it was a desert wasteland with no hope of oil.”

  “And he wasn’t caught?”

  Daniel shook his head. “By the time the land was found to be without value he had vanished. Not a trace of him, until now.”

  “Here?” I asked.

  He nodded. “One of the investors was a little suspicious. He paid his share with marked fifty-dollar bills. A couple of those bills showed up at a San Francisco bank recently.”

  “So this Hatcher man is in town? Did you find him?”

  “Not yet,” Daniel said. “He may well have changed his name and appearance and come to San Francisco to make a new life for himself.”

  “Do you have your suspicions?”

  “It’s a big city,” he said, “but the guy is obviously rich and it seemed possible that he’d hobnob with Bella and her like. That’s why I agreed to stay with her. It might have been a mistake.”

  “You don’t think she was in on any plot, do you?”

  “No, but as you can see, she’s very thick with the city bigwigs. They could have asked her to keep tabs on me and notify them of my movements. I’m sure I was followed every time I went out.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “Why would the city bigwigs feel threatened by you? They weren’t part of this land swindle, were they?”

  He shook his head. “Something quite different all together. When John Wilkie sent me to California he told me also to seek out a man called Dennison. It seemed that this Dennison had been sent by the federal government to San Francisco to gather evidence for corruption charges to be filed against the mayor and city attorney. But he had not been heard from in weeks. The men in Washington were worried that something had happened to him.”

  “Corruption charges?” I asked. “Don’t most city governments have their share of corruption?”

  “Yes, but not at the level it is going on here. They are raking in millions in bribes, paybacks, protection money … all the brothels and bars as well as the legitimate businesses. It’s been going on brazenly and there have been so many complaints that Washington decided to put a stop to it. Dennison was ready to file charges against the mayor and city attorney in federal court.”

  “And then he vanished?”

  “As you say, he vanished.”

  “He was killed, do you think?”

  “Not until later, when he met me on a cliff top.”

  “Oh, he was the man you met that night?”

  “He was. He had gone into hiding after threats against his life, and was waiting until the case came to court before he could reappear to nab the city fathers. He told me the preliminary court date was arranged for April 18 and he asked me to be there, just in case something happened to him and needed to be reported back to Washington.”

  “How horrible,” I said. “Something did happen to him.”

  Daniel gave a long sigh. “I feel guilty. I rather think that I was the bait. They followed me hoping I would lead them to him. And I did and they took care of both of us.”

  “So what will you do now?” I asked. “If they are prepared to kill so ruthlessly I don’t want you trying to take over the case.”

  “Someone has to,” he said, “but obviously I can’t in current circumstances. It’s far better that they think I am dead. I’ve been trying to retrieve the evidence that Dennison was going to present and take it back to Washington but the problem is that I can’t go rushing around the city in my current disguise.”

  I had to smile at this. “Daniel, how did you come up with such a ridiculous alter ego?”

  “Thanks to Father O’Brien. He is not only a good, reliable fellow, but as Bella told you, he is remarkably keen on amateur theatricals. He actually puts on plays for the parish children. He was able to raid their costumes and props, as well as the clothing in the poor box, and came up with this. We decided on an old Irishman as there would be little chance of bumping into anyone who might move in musical circles in Ireland. And people don’t get too close to an old man with a nasty cough, do they? The beard and hair covered most of my face. And the thick glasses disguised my eyes well.”

  “And you took the risk of coming to a gathering where you knew you would meet your enemies.”

  He nodded. “It had to be done. And of course I came to see you. I couldn’t believe it when Father O’Brien let me know that Sullivan’s widow had arrived in the city.”

  “You did send for me, didn’t you? I didn’t read that letter wrongly?”

  “No, you didn’t read it wrongly. I did want you to come,” he said. “At least part of me hoped you would come, and another part wanted you to stay home safely in New York.”

  “I really wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing,” I said, pausing, as there was more applause downstairs. Then I heard voices in the front hall and the sound of the front door slamming.

  “I suppose I was feeling desperate when I wrote that,” he said. “I realized that my every move was being watched and I might well be in grave danger. I wanted you to know, just in case something happened to me. I didn’t want to disappear without a trace and have you never knowing.”

  I smiled at him. “All that nonsense about embroidery and opera and being a good little wife,” I said. “I wasn’t sure whether you were being funny or deadly serious.”

  “I thought there was a good chance that any letter I wrote would be read by the wrong people,” he said. “And since I was pretty sure that any mail would be intercepted and read, I couldn’t risk writing to Wilkie either. The problem was that Bella wouldn’t leave me alone. If I went out, she sent Tiny with me. I couldn’t tell whether she was just being a solicitous hostess or whether she’d been asked by the mayor to keep an eye on me at all times.”

  “She seems so nice,” I said, “but who knows. The mayor and attorney are powerful men. She may enjoy being in their social circle.”

  “We don’t know whether she owns businesses here. Most of those respectable folk have their fingers in all sorts of shady pies. She may enjoy
considerable kickbacks too.”

  “So what do we do?” I asked. “Admit defeat and leave the city as quickly as possible?”

  “I’d still like to get my hands on the evidence that Dennison gathered,” he said.

  “Did he leave it in his hotel room?”

  “Absolutely not. He wasn’t stupid, poor fellow. He had a safe-deposit box at a bank.”

  “And you’d need the key for that.”

  He nodded. “I have the key, except that I haven’t dared to use it yet. My old Irish professor is a wonderful disguise, but I would certainly be noticed if I went to the Crocker Bank and claimed to be young Mr. Dennison.”

  I took his hand, stroking it lovingly. All I wanted to do was to touch him and reassure myself that he was real. “Let’s just collect Liam and go home,” I said. “There is nothing more to be done here.”

  Daniel shook his head. “I can’t just give up and go home with nothing,” he said. “I’d feel like a failure. I’d feel I let Wilkie down.”

  “Daniel, they tried to kill you. If they got any hint you were still alive, your life wouldn’t be worth a brass farthing. You know where the evidence is being kept. You have the key. Nobody else can get at it. Go back to Mr. Wilkie and tell him what you know. That’s all you can do.”

  Daniel looked doubtful. “I could at least try to find Hatcher,” he said. “That was my primary reason for being sent here. Or at least their excuse for sending me here.”

  “You say he might have changed his appearance and name,” I said. “Do you have any suspicions?”

  “Only one, so far,” he said. “That Scottish man. Douglas.”

  “Why him?”

  “He claims he came to America with nothing, and yet now he’s bought up large tracts of the Californian Central Valley. One has to ask, where did the money come from?”

  “Anything else?”

  “His name is Mr. Douglas. The man I am seeking is called Douglas Hatcher. Convenient, don’t you think?”

  “But not in any way conclusive. Douglas is a common name for a Scot.”

  “Ah, but if you wanted to disguise yourself what better way than a luxuriant beard and a strong Scottish accent. He’s rather young for such a beard, don’t you think?” He looked at me suddenly. “You could help me there, maybe. Do you know much about Scotland? Perhaps you could ask him some questions about his homeland and catch him out?”

  “I don’t know that much detail,” I said, “but I could give it a try. What did Douglas Hatcher look like? Are they physically about the same age and size?”

  “Close enough. I had a couple of photographs of him in my valise.”

  I was suddenly alert. “Bella must still have your bags here, presumably. I’ll ask for them.”

  He nodded. “Good idea. And this is an ideal chance to find out about people. There are parties every night because of Caruso. Everyone is trying to lure him to their particular party and everyone is attending in case he turns up. So please agree to attend and I will too and between us we may find out a thing or two.”

  Downstairs there were more voices in the hall, then the sound of the front door shutting again, and soon after the sound of an automobile cranking up and then driving away.

  “How are you going get out?” I asked.

  “Wait until the middle of the night then climb down the creeper.”

  “Daniel. That’s dangerous.”

  He chuckled. “Much of my life seems to involve danger at the moment, my darling. But luckily not many windows overlook this side of the house, nor does it face the street. I will be fine.”

  “When will I see you again? How will I get in touch with you?”

  “Better not try to contact me at the moment. You never know, they may have put someone to follow you, although I can’t see why. But they may think I’ve told you more than is prudent. They may see you as a threat.”

  “Then let’s just go home now,” I said. “They won’t be surprised if I want to leave. We’ll take tomorrow’s train and put this all behind us.”

  “First I must do some more checking on Douglas,” he said. “I can’t abandon a task simply because there is some danger involved. And you can help me this time.” He grinned. “I never thought I’d say that. I’d really like you to chat with him yourself. Pretend to know Scotland well and see how he reacts. And also…” He paused. “I’d dearly like to know if Bella was in on the little plan with the mayor and Ruef. Did she tip them off that I was going to meet Dennison? Does she have something to lose if corruption charges are brought against the city fathers?”

  “The Chinese servant Ellen told me that men were watching the house all the time you were here,” I said.

  He nodded. “I thought as much. But in a way that’s a relief. It means that they were not relying on Bella to watch me.”

  “I hope not,” I said. “She has been really kind. I can’t picture her sending someone to his death.”

  “Perhaps she didn’t know the full circumstances or what they planned to do. She may have been an unwitting accomplice.”

  He took my face in his hands again. “God, Molly, it’s so wonderful to have you here with me. I love you so much.”

  And then he kissed me again, with passion and urgency. I felt my own passion arouse. I wanted him badly, but I was also conscious that I was in a house where our mortal enemies might still be downstairs.

  “No, Daniel,” I whispered. “Not here.” I looked at him and started to laugh. “And I couldn’t make love to a man with such awful white hair.”

  He smiled too and kissed me on the forehead, tenderly this time.

  “You’re right. We can’t get carried away. Move over.” He lay down beside me and I rested my head against his chest. I could feel his heart beating. In utter contentment I closed my eyes.

  Nineteen

  I blinked as a bright light shone down on me. I sat up, heart thudding, only to see that it was the morning sun, shining directly into my face. Memories of the night before came rushing back to me. I turned to look at the bed beside me. Daniel was not there. There was no indication he had ever been in the room. I began to wonder whether I had dreamed the whole thing. Whether it was my subconscious wanting him alive again. But then I noticed a strand of white hair against the red coverlet. I picked it up, cradling it in my hand. He had been here. He was real. Then I noticed that my lip tingled when I ran my tongue over it. So that part had been real too.

  I got up, feeling energized and excited. I’d help Daniel in any way I could and then we’d go home. I washed, dressed, and went up to see Liam. How strange it was to have someone else taking care of him. When he was in my care at home I’d never have allowed myself to sleep late. His cries would certainly have awoken me if I had dared to sleep a minute after he had woken up. I found him up and dressed, being fed a boiled egg for his breakfast. He gave me a delighted grin as I came in.

  “Look at you, eating like a big boy,” I said, going over to kiss the top of his head.

  “He eat good,” Li Na said, nodding approval. “Soon he be big and fat and strong.”

  “He has certainly taken to you,” I had to admit. Then saw her looking puzzled. “He likes you a lot,” I corrected.

  She smiled. “I take him out again, all right?” she asked. “He like to run and feed birds.”

  “Yes,” I said. “That would be fine.”

  I left Liam to finish his breakfast and went downstairs to have my own. Ellen looked pleased to see me.

  “You look better. I make breakfast for you?”

  “Thank you,” I said, and went through to the dining room. The room had already been cleared of last night’s food and it struck me that someone must have stayed up very late or gotten up really early. I took a seat and with miraculous speed a pot of tea and an egg and toast appeared.

  “I go shopping in Chinatown this morning,” she said. “I make you good chicken soup. Chinese soup. You like.”

  I nodded that I probably would like it. I was still
eating when I heard voices.

  “You know why he’s here.” It was Bella’s voice, raised and strained. “There can be no other reason.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it. It will be all right. We’ve made it this far.” The other voice was Tiny’s.

  I was surprised that Bella was up so early, but then I remembered that she had told Señor Garcia to call on her in the morning. I came out of the dining room to greet her. She started with a shocked look when she saw me.

  “Mrs. Sullivan. I had no idea you were awake. How wonderful.” The smile was forced.

  “I thought I should go out this morning and see if the police chief is making arrangements to have my husband’s coffin returned to me,” I said. I realized as I said it that this was no longer true. I couldn’t be responsible for moving another man’s remains. But it did give me an excuse to be out and about.

  “Yes, yes, of course you must. Good idea,” she said. I noticed she didn’t offer to have Tiny escort me.

  “Oh, and my husband’s effects,” I said.

  “His effects?”

  “I thought he must have left his luggage and clothes at your house when he went out that night and didn’t return. I should like to have them for sentimental reasons.”

  “The police came for them,” she said. “I expect they wanted to see if they could find his home address and send the bag home to you.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, I can ask Chief Dinan for them when I see him, can’t I?”

  “Of course you can. Well, that’s settled then.” She patted her hair, smoothing it down. “I must tell Ellen what I need when she goes to Chinatown. She brings me a perfect face powder, so much better than one can find at the City of Paris or the White House. Shall I have her fetch some for you?”

  “I rarely wear face powder,” I said.

  “Ah, but you have that lovely, clear Irish complexion. You don’t need it.”

  I grinned. “I wouldn’t say that. I have freckles in the summer. I’d dearly love to cover them.”

  “Then I’ll have her buy some for you too. My little treat,” she said. She looked around, almost as if she was confused. “Dear me. What a complicated day. And the big performance tonight. I’m so very sorry you won’t be able to attend, but there isn’t a ticket to be had for love or money. But at least you’ll come with me to the party before the show. Now you’ll know everybody there. And I hope to persuade Caruso to join us here tomorrow. Won’t that be something?”