Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

  “Someone in your family learned of my true identity and turned that information over to the local authorities. They have dogged my heels ever since. When you recognized me, I knew I could not let you make it back to your father. You would alert him about my presence and my circumstance would be known to everyone.”

  “Why would my father care about your presence on this ship? Why would the local authorities care about your true identity? I know you sold fake jewels to Helaina. Is that what this is all about?”

  Mills laughed. “Hardly. That is the least of my offenses as far as the criminal authorities are concerned. You need to understand, Miss Ivankov, I am a wanted man. I had thought to seek refuge for a time in Alaska as many of my cohorts have done in the past. But alas, your friends and family made that quite impossible.”

  “But whatever are you wanted for?” Ashlie looked at him hard. “Not for the fake jewelry sales?”

  He shrugged and looked almost proud. “I’m wanted for murdering foolish women who nai vely believed themselves capable of handling a man like me.”

  Ashley raised a brow. “Are you suggesting that I am foolish or nai ve with regard to you?”

  “That remains to be seen. I will weigh that matter momentarily after I have told you what I mean for you to hear.”

  “Then please be quick about it. My father will soon be looking for me, and you will have to explain yourself to him.”

  Mills shook his head. “I do not think so. You see, I saw him in the dining room with your brothers. They were only beginning their meal. I had thought myself safe because no one even noticed me, but then I crossed your path on deck. I seriously doubt they will worry over your whereabouts for some time. But I am just as anxious as you to be done with this. Here’s the matter as I see it: I managed to slip out of Alaska under the nose of the authorities, but if anyone believes me to have made it this far, they will no doubt have the authorities waiting for me in Seattle. That would prove to be quite uncomfortable for me. Therefore, I plan to utilize your services in two ways.”

  “Do tell.” Ashlie tried her best not to appear afraid. She had no idea what Mills was up to, but the idea of his causing harm to either of her brothers left her feeling both angry and fearful.

  “I have a friend on board who is happily assisting me. I spoke to him just moments before coming to you. He will let me know when your father and brothers are nearly done with their meal. He will also help me keep track of you and your family for the duration of our journey. Therefore, do not think that you can return to your father and declare my presence. Ridding yourself of me will not be beneficial. My assistant has his orders to slay all of you if any harm should come my way.”

  “That still doesn’t tell me what you want,” Ashlie said in what she hoped was her most severe, no-nonsense look.

  “I want protection. I want help when we get to Seattle.”

  “Help in what way?”

  “Well, I cannot trust you. You may yet manage to slip a note to someone or get word to the captain about me. This could cause the ship’s crew to try something stupid in order to take me hostage. I won’t tolerate that. So I have come up with a plan. A rather unsophisticated one, but one that should nevertheless be useful.

  “I’m certain that your family will have little trouble passing from the ship to the dock in Seattle. If there are police officers to greet the ship, I will find it more difficult to debark, as you can well imagine. Now, my assistant will have no trouble leaving. He is not known nor expected. He will follow closely by your family and carry out my plan.”

  “What plan?” She wanted an end to this matter, but Mills just kept dragging it out.

  “You will walk a few paces behind your father and brothers. Pretend you have a problem with your shoe or whatever. My assistant will bump into you. You will scream and declare that he is trying to rob you. He will run of course, but you will raise a ruckus that brings every officer—either in uniform or out—running. It will be up to you, Miss Ivankov, to make it appear real and to draw the attention of everyone. That way, I can slip from the ship and safely make my getaway.”

  “You are quite mad. I would never help you.”

  “You will help me, or you will be the cause of one of your brothers dying. Let me make the decision less difficult.” He got to his feet and came to stand directly in front of her. “You will do this, or I will see your youngest brother dead even yet tonight. Do you understand me? You cannot protect him. I have my means … and my friends. It will be very easy to have the boy simply fall overboard.”

  Ashlie stiffened. Her father would no doubt have beat this man to a pulp for his threats, but Ashlie had no ability to fight him. At least not physically. It would not be a good idea to create a fuss at this point, she decided. “Very well. I will do as you say, but what kind of assurance do I have that no harm will come to my family?”

  “You must understand, Miss Ivankov, I hold your family no personal malice. I simply want my own survival. If you do as you have promised, I will have no reason to further concern myself with your family. Otherwise, you have no guarantee— no assurances. I am what I am, and I really have nothing to offer you otherwise.”

  The man’s dark eyes seemed lifeless—his expression void. Ashlie repressed a shiver. “Then I suppose I have no choice.”

  He smiled, but there was nothing of joy in his look. “Exactly. You have no choice.”

  A knock sounded three times on the cabin door. “They’re finished,” a voice called from the other side.

  “Ah, we must conclude our business. It would seem your family has eaten their fill. Do you understand what is required of you? We dock in less than twenty-four hours.”

  “I know what I have to do,” Ashlie replied.

  Mills nodded and opened his cabin door. “Then you’d best return to your family, lest they believe some harm has come to you.”

  Ashlie moved quickly out the door and nearly ran down the passageway. She made her way back up to the deck where her father had booked their stateroom. Mills’ boldness irritated her in a way she could not set aside. His threats to Christopher and Oliver were beyond all reason.

  Opening the door to her cabin, Ashlie met her father’s concerned expression. “Where have you been?”

  “You won’t believe me when I tell you,” Ashlie declared. She looked at her brothers, then back to her father. “We have some trouble aboard. His name is Mr. Mills.”

  Adrik shook his head. “Mills?”

  “He was first known to us as Mr. Babinovich. Remember him?”

  “He’s here? The authorities are scouring Ship Creek for him. He’s a thief and a murderer.”

  “Yes, I know,” Ashlie replied. “He told me after he forced me to accompany him to his cabin.”

  “What!” Adrik’s booming voice caused all three of his children to jump. “I think you’d better explain everything.”

  Ashlie told her father in vivid detail everything that Mills had related, right down to the knock on the door from his accomplice. She could see her father was enraged, but he held his temper.

  “Did you get a look at his assistant?”

  Ashlie shook her head. “He merely knocked on the door, then disappeared. I would guess that Mr. Mills keeps him completely removed from his presence.”

  “Do you remember which cabin Mills has?” Adrik was moving to a trunk at the foot of one of the beds.

  “No, I ran out of there so fast, I didn’t even take note.” Ashlie paused and looked at her brothers. “Father, I have an idea.”

  Adrik pulled a revolver from the trunk. “I have an idea too.” He checked the cylinder.

  Ashlie reached out, gently touching her father’s arm. “Mine doesn’t involve bloodshed,” she said with a grin.

  Her father’s angry expression softened. “All right. Let’s hear it.”

  “I think we should let Mr. Mills believe he’s got the upper hand. Let him think that I’m cooperating with him. The boys and I can stay here in the c
abin. After all, we have less than twenty-four hours before we arrive. If you can manage to sneak away to meet the captain, you explain the situation and have him radio the authorities. They can be prepared to meet him when we arrive.”

  “But obviously he has someone watching us,” Adrik said, still considering the situation. “But I suppose we could pay someone to do our bidding—maybe even watch him.”

  “Remember the cabin steward?” Ashlie asked. “He seemed eager to earn his gratuities. Perhaps he could be persuaded to get a letter to the captain. Perhaps he would even watch Mills and his friend for us. Sooner or later Mills will have to meet with this accomplice in order to issue instructions and get information.”

  “That’s good thinking,” Adrik said with a grin. “You are your mother’s daughter.” He smiled and checked the revolver. “But it’s always good to have an alternative plan.” He pushed the open cylinder back into place. “This is my alternative plan.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  But why would that man want to hurt us?” Christopher asked innocently.

  Ashlie ruffled his hair and shook her head. “Because some people are just evil, Christopher. We must do exactly as Father tells us in order to be safe.” She looked out her cabin window but could see nothing of the docks.

  Oliver sat at the door, his father’s revolver in hand. Ashlie knew the boy would do whatever was necessary to protect her. He felt a huge sense of importance and responsibility when their father had asked him to perform the task of guard.

  The night before, Ashlie had managed to recall the general location of Mill’s cabin. She wrote down the information in as much detail as possible, and her father managed to get word to the captain via the cabin steward. The young man was more than happy to assist for the large sum Adrik offered. The captain sent word back in return that the Ivankovs should remain in their cabin and that he would deal with the matter utilizing his crew and the authorities in Seattle. When they believed they had the right man in custody, they would send for Adrik to identify him. And that was where their father was at this moment.

  Ashlie tried not to appear worried. She knew the boys were already fretting over the situation, and she didn’t want to add to the problem. She almost regretted insisting they come to Seattle, given the situation.

  “What if he tries to hurt Papa?” Christopher asked.

  Oliver scoffed at this. “Nobody can get the best of Pa. Especially when they don’t even realize Pa knows all about them.”

  “Oliver’s right, Chris. Mr. Mills doesn’t know that I’ve said anything to Father. He probably thinks that I would be too frightened to tell Father the truth.”

  “But you weren’t afraid at all,” Christopher said, admiration in his tone.

  Ashlie smiled. “I’m not afraid, but I do believe that it’s important to be obedient and cautious. We will be safe here and wait for Father’s instructions. That way we won’t be in harm’s way, and he can focus on the things that are important for the moment.”

  “Are you really going to get married?” Oliver asked from his perch.

  Ashlie had discussed her wedding plans off and on while sailing to Seattle. It seemed only natural that her brother might be curious about the situation. “I am,” she replied. “I think you’ll like Winston a lot. I’m really excited for you two to meet.”

  “Will I like him too?” Christopher questioned.

  “Absolutely.” Ashlie sat on the edge of the bed. “Winston is so much like Father. He’s kind and considerate and loves Jesus. He’s tall and broad at the shoulder like Papa, and when he smiles it lights up his whole face.”

  “And he’s a doctor, right?”

  “That’s right, Chris. He’s a doctor, and he’s studying extra hard so that he can be a surgeon and operate on people who are wounded or hurting. He loves helping people.”

  “He’s probably good, then,” Oliver said. “I don’t want you to marry somebody who isn’t really good.”

  “And the best part is that we plan to move up to Alaska. I won’t be very far away from you.”

  “Will you live in Ketchikan?” Christopher’s expression looked quite hopeful.

  “I don’t know,” Ashlie admitted. “We’ll go wherever we feel God leads us.”

  Adrik listened as the steward explained the situation. “I’ve not seen him with anyone else. It’s just like I told the captain. I think the gentleman is working alone.”

  “Well, he’s no gentleman, but I’m glad to hear it. Still, my daughter said someone knocked on his door to let him know when I finished eating with my sons.”

  “I know about that,” the steward said rather excitedly. “It wasn’t an accomplice that did it at all. It was one of the dining room staff. The man was nearly fired for the event because he left his station.”

  Adrik shook his head. “Are you certain about this?”

  “Absolutely. The man requested to be brought before the captain when his superior threatened to fire him. The man explained that he was paid a large sum of money to watch you and your boys. He was to report to Mr. Mills by knocking and declaring you were finished with the meal. I believe he’s the only one who has assisted Mr. Mills.”

  “Then no doubt Mills is hoping that we are the type of people easily threatened—especially Ashlie.” Adrik laughed. “He doesn’t know my daughter. She’s an Alaskan. We aren’t easily intimidated.”

  Six armed police officers from Seattle appeared with the captain just then. Adrik knew from the information he’d been given that the captain had wired ahead and that Seattle was sending the men by launch. With them on board before the ship docked, they could have Mills in hand without involving any of the other passengers.

  “Are we ready?” the captain questioned. “I mean to see this thing done.”

  Adrik nodded. “Let me go first.” The police officers assembled on either side of the door. Adrik lowered his voice and leaned toward the steward. “If he asks to know who it is, call to him and tell him you’re the cabin steward.”

  The young man nodded. He seemed so thrilled to be a part of the capture that Adrik nearly laughed out loud. Instead, he controlled his amusement and knocked. The sooner Mills was in custody, the better for everyone.

  “Who is it?” a voice questioned from the other side of the door.

  Adrik nodded at the cabin steward. The young man looked to his captain only momentarily, then answered in a loud voice, “Cabin steward, sir.”

  “What do you want?”

  Adrik felt a momentary sense of panic, but the young man was completely under control.

  “We’re about to dock in Seattle. I’m here to assist with your baggage.”

  Adrik held his breath, wondering if this would win the day or if he’d end up having to knock down the door. He heard the latch give way and saw the knob turn slowly. As soon as the door was open a fraction of an inch, Adrik forced it back with such power that Mills landed unceremoniously on his backside.

  “And I’m here to assist them with you,” Adrik said, standing over the stunned Mills. The police rushed in to surround the man.

  “What is this all about?” Mills declared. “You have the wrong man.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Adrik said with a smile of satisfaction. “But you certainly messed with the wrong young woman.”

  The police got him on his feet and dropped their hold as Mills adjusted his coat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Really doesn’t matter much. You’re a wanted man and you’re under arrest. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d belt you just for threatening my children.”

  Mills’ lip curled. He gave a side glance to the officer who prepared to handcuff him. Without warning, Mills pushed the man backward and rushed for the door. Adrik blocked him, however, and the officers wrestled him to the cabin floor.

  “Seems he does better down on the floor,” Adrik said, eyeing Mills with great contempt. “Maybe you should just leave him there—roll him off the shi
p like an empty whiskey barrel.”

  The officers laughed, but Mills was not amused. It was clear he saw his defeat and was not happy. The officer in charge quickly took down information from Adrik, then hurried to follow his associates.

  “Thank you for your help in this matter,” Adrik said, turning to the cabin steward as the police led Mills from the room. He looked to the captain and winked. “This young man deserves a raise. He thinks fast on his feet.”

  “I believe you’re right,” the captain replied. “Perhaps he can be moved to a better position. One that deals with our ship’s security.”

  Adrik reached out and shook the cabin steward’s hand. “Thank you, son.” He turned to the captain and extended his hand. “And thank you, Captain. I’ll rest easier now knowing my family doesn’t have to worry about debarking in danger.”

  Ashlie startled as the key sounded in the lock and the door handle turned to admit their father. “The authorities have him in custody,” he announced.

  “Was there any trouble?” Ashlie jumped up.

  “Oh, he tried to protest his innocence, and when he could see it wasn’t going to do him any good, he tried to run. He was no match for the police, however. They easily overpowered him. I gave a statement and Myrtle’s address in case they needed to talk to us.”

  “So we can leave now?” Ashlie asked. She was so anxious to see Winston. Surely he would be worried, wondering why most everyone else had left the ship but not the Ivankovs.

  Her father gave her a devilish look of mischief. “I don’t know. I’m not in any hurry, and the captain said we might wait here as long as we desire.”

  Ashlie gathered her things. “Well, you can wait here, but I don’t intend to.”

  Oliver handed his father the revolver. “I’m tired of this ship. I want to see what everyone’s been telling me about— this great city of Seattle.”

  “Me too,” Christopher said, coming to his father. “Can we go now?”