“Thank you, ma’am. My brother mentioned your boundless hospitality, so when I came to Washington, I thought to come here first.”
The woman swished across the floor in a sweep of black silk. “How kind of him,” she said as she gestured George toward one of the chairs in the parlor.
George took a seat, and the lady arranged her skirts as she took a place across from him. “I currently have two rooms available for guests. The boarding fee also includes all your meals, should you choose to take them.”
“Yes, as my brother said,” George replied. “He stayed here not too long ago. I wonder if you might remember him?”
The lady smiled. “Most likely. What is his name?”
“Mr. Daniels.”
A hard glint came into her eye, but her features remained pleasant. If George had not been looking for her reaction, he might never have noticed it. She took a moment, as if thinking. “Oh, yes, I do remember. He was traveling with a young woman, I believe. They took rooms here a month or so ago.”
George nodded. “That seems about right.”
She didn’t say more, so George decided to take the risk and push a bit harder. He propped his ankle on his knee and tried to sound casual. “I wanted to catch up with him again. In our last correspondence, he said he would be returning to Washington on business sometime soon, and as luck would have it, business has brought me here as well. Has he come back here looking for lodging?”
He watched the woman closely, but she gave no indication that her reply was not sincere. “No, I’m afraid I have not seen him again.” She glanced over to a clock sitting on the mantle and then leapt to her feet. “Oh, I am terribly sorry, sir, but I must be going. I have an important matter to see to that cannot wait.”
George frowned, and hesitantly rose from his seat.
Mrs. Surratt smiled again, though he could tell it was not genuine. “Could you perhaps return tomorrow?” she asked. “I can set up lodging for you then, if that is acceptable.”
Finding no other response, George dipped his chin. “Certainly, ma’am. I understand fully. I dropped by without an announcement. Shall I return at, let’s say, nine tomorrow morning?”
She shook her head. “I will not be back by then. It will have to be later. Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon should suffice, however.” She gestured toward the door.
George obliged and walked past her. He plucked his hat from the peg by the door where he’d deposited it on the way in and smiled at the woman. “Thank you for your time.” He turned to leave, and then, as though it were an afterthought, turned back just as he set one foot out the door. “Oh, if perchance my brother does come by, would you let him know that I was looking for him?”
The woman’s nostril’s flared slightly, but she offered a smile that did not reach her eyes. “As I said, I will be away for the rest of the day, but I will leave word with my workers.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” George said cheerfully, as if it were nothing of importance. As the door closed behind him, his stomach sank.
Where could that fool brother of his be?
Willard Hotel
April 14, 1865
4:00 PM
David O’Malley straightened his collar and sat tall on his horse, positioned just outside the hotel. Any moment now the general would reemerge with his plain wife in tow. The man had sauntered into the hotel a quarter hour earlier, and surely they would be leaving for the train station soon. David had been wise to go ahead and get the horses as soon as the wife finished her luncheon.
The Grants will not make it off that train, David thought. The fact that the couple had decided not to go to the play as they were supposed to would not hinder his plans. He wouldn’t let this amputation be foiled simply because some fool changed his fickle mind. No, the tyrant doing that very thing had cost them too much already. This time, David would not let the whims of the weak-minded spoil his glory.
Next to him the giant sat astride a muddy brown gelding, and the poor beast seemed to sag under the weight. David studied the man from the side of his vision. Daniels appeared oblivious to the precipice over which they now hung. Not that David expected anything different. Daniels was nothing more than a pawn – a bit of muscle and sinew that served as a tool in the master’s hand.
David, conversely, stood at the edge like an eagle, ready to take to flight and glory in all the heights he was about to achieve.
“That them?” Daniels asked, shifting on his horse and gesturing toward a couple across the street.
David squinted at them, the faces little more than a blur at this distance. No matter, the pompous way the man strutted and the scurrying movements of the little mouse at his side were all the indication David needed to know he’d found his prey.
He gave a curt nod, and in a moment the two of them moved their animals into the flow of Yanks. Witless sheep meandering about with no purpose, David thought, casting annoyed glances at any who dared not to dart quickly enough from his path.
One particularly annoying elderly man struggled along with a loaded cart, too old to complete the task with any efficiency. They were stuck behind him as the fool struggled to inch his load down a busy street he had no business blocking.
When David finally got his horse angled enough to squeeze up next to the bumbling fool, he reached out with his foot to give the man a nudge. The codger was probably too old to hear and too witless to realize he had been blocking most of the road with his load. But, instead of looking up and realizing he had been impeding his betters, the old man stumbled and began to fall. As he did, he managed to take the cart with him, turning it sideways and spilling sacks of what appeared to be either sugar or flower all over the road.
David shook his head in annoyance and moved his prancing animal around the obstacle. He scanned the people walking, but had lost sight of the couple. David clenched his teeth and squeezed his legs, making his horse bound forward. There were shouts of shock, but David ignored them all, a lion stalking his prey. They would not escape him!
He cast a glance behind him to be sure his guard dog had been able to follow, and was appalled to see the big man had dismounted. Daniels beefy hands were already righting the cart. Fool! Didn’t he see David had already made his way around the cart and that righting it was not necessary?
He didn’t have time to worry with the man’s incompetence, if he wished to keep up the chase. After furiously scanning every couple he could land his gaze on and not spotting his quarry, David began to feel panic rising in his chest like bile.
But, no, fate had once again given him grace. He might have lost sight of them, but he could guess exactly where they were going. Just up ahead, nondescript black carriages pulled from a small stabling area. Likely, one of these hired rides would enclose the murderous general and his defective wife, bound for the train station.
David burst forward again and moved to intercept a carriage just pulling out into the road. He drew his horse up near and was able to peer into the widow as the lumbering carriage swayed into the turn. Inside, two old hags stared at him with wide eyes.
Curse it! If not for that bumbling old codger and this endless press of sheep, he would not have lost them.
He could not fail again. To fail now would rupture his very will to continue in this evil world. He suppressed a shudder, knowing the gnawing void that often called to him whenever he let his mind relax would become relentless, should he squander what fate had presented to him.
Perhaps he should just go ahead and embrace it now. Let his mind find some bit of peace as he passed from this life and found comfort in the arms of his lost family in what waited beyond. It would be easy, really. Once he was gone, he wouldn’t have to worry about the tyrant still choking this country and….
He shook his head violently to dislodge the thought. No! He must fight on. If only for Liza’s sake. He could not return to her with her death gone unpunished.
He ground his teeth and yanked hard on the reins, forcing the horse to spin
on its hindquarters and face the opposite direction.
There! Another black carriage must have left only moments before the one containing the hags, and it was headed in the right direction. David spurred the horse, causing people to leap from his path, lest they find themselves underneath the pounding hooves.
He pushed the horse harder as the crowd on the road began to thin and galloped up to the window of the carriage. Inside, he could see the same frightened woman to whom he’d pretended to deliver a message from the tyrant’s shrew.
David strained his neck, but from this angle could not see if the person seated across from her was, indeed, her husband. If they had parted ways, and David lost the true prize, he did not know if he could return to Booth with such disgrace.
He lowered himself in the saddle and kicked hard upon the horse’s side, pushing the animal to gallop faster. He darted past the front of the carriage and farther down the road, dust boiling up underneath the horse’s churning hooves. When he’d thought he gained enough ground, David pulled up hard and spun the horse again.
The driver of the carriage seemed startled, but did not pull up on the reins. Instead, he snapped them along the horses’ backs and brought the animals into a brisk trot. David squeezed his calves and his horse surged into a canter. The driver of the carriage raised his arm to shake a fist at David, but he paid the man no mind.
Almost close enough…just a little more….
There! He passed by on the other side of the carriage and peered into the window. Jubilation lurched in his stomach as the bearded face came into view. The sword of the tyrant himself sat seated across from his wife, his dull mind occupied with the newspaper in his hand and completely oblivious to his nearing demise.
He’d done it! Now all he needed was the giant to snatch….
David pulled the horse to a stop and let out a frustrated growl as the carriage rolled away. When he actually needed Daniels, the man had failed him! Of all the worthless….
He’d put a bullet in that dimwit for costing him this victory! He glanced back at the carriage, which had slowed back to a regular walk. He began to form a plan.
Just then, the pounding of hooves made him turn, and he saw Matthew Daniels approaching at a canter. David pinned the man with a withering glare as he drew to a halt at his side.
“I’m sorry I lost you back there, I—”
“Enough!” David bared his teeth and held up his hands to cut off the excuse. “I don’t have time to listen to your babbling madness right now. They are getting away!”
David spurred his horse forward after the carriage, and this time the lout followed obediently. He mentally flipped through the possible means of attack, finally settling on the most perfect of all of his brilliant ideas.
A smile bloomed on his face, and he urged the horse faster.
“I cannot longer resist the inclination, to go and share the sufferings of my brave countrymen, holding an unequal strife (for every right human & divine) against the most ruthless enemy the world has ever known.”
John Wilkes Booth
Washington Train Station
April 14, 1865
5:00 PM
Matthew watched O’Malley. His eyes held a strange gleam as they followed the general and his wife, who waited just down the platform. Thankfully, Matthew had been able to convince O’Malley not to attempt to snatch the general from his carriage. At first, O’Malley had berated Matthew for trying to think above his ability, but in the end, O’Malley’s love for the dramatic had won out, and he’d agreed.
Sweat beaded on O’Malley’s brow, even though the day’s warmth faded now that the sun began to dip low, coloring the sky with deep purples. With dark clouds gathering overhead, evening would come early.
Suddenly, O’Malley turned wide eyes on Matthew. “We will get tickets…yes. Why bother trying to sneak onboard when we can present tickets?” he mumbled.
Matthew couldn’t be sure if the words were meant for him or not, so he said nothing. But then, O’Malley fished some money out of his vest pocket and thrust it at Matthew. “Here. Go get tickets.”
He hesitated only an instant before plucking the money from the man’s grasp. He walked toward the ticket counter, his boots pounding heavily on the wooden walk. He glanced around the platform, but did not see any men in uniform standing among the waiting passengers.
Matthew pushed the money O’Malley had given him through the window and purchased their tickets to Philadelphia. Then he put them in his pocket and turned away, taking his time as he returned to O’Malley’s side.
O’Malley hadn’t shared his idea, but the truth of it was easily surmised. They would board the train with the Grants, and somehow, during the trip, O’Malley intended to murder them.
His pulse quickened with the thought. O’Malley had not said as much, but murder was easy to read in his eyes. His descent into madness now seemed complete, and Matthew feared the man he’d known in the army no longer existed.
Matthew watched the man who had not long ago been under his command as he approached him. It would be a delicate maneuver. Matthew somehow had to find a way to diffuse the situation and protect the general and his wife. With no lawmen around, he’d need to find some way to subdue O’Malley. Perhaps he should just haul him away now….
As though O’Malley sensed Matthew’s suspicions, he sidled out of Matthew’s reach as he neared. Not wanting to chase him and risk losing him in the crowd, Matthew stopped short and plastered the dumb look on his face he knew O’Malley wanted.
“What’s wrong? I got your tickets.”
O’Malley eyed him and took a step nearer, looking like a caged animal with his frantic eyes darting about. Matthew pulled the tickets out of his pocket, tempting the man closer.
Just then, the conductor called for the passengers to board and pulled Matthew’s attention to the sound. O’Malley took advantage of the distraction and snatched the tickets from Matthew’s fingers, dancing off toward the train.
Alarmed, Matthew hurried to follow after him. O’Malley nearly sprinted up to the train car the Grants had chosen, taking the doorway at the opposite end from the couple. Matthew looked at them, hoping to catch their eye, but neither of them seemed to notice. He had no choice other than to stand in line behind two other passengers who had reached the train car between him and O’Malley.
O’Malley handed a ticket to the man at the entry door and stepped out of sight. For a moment, Matthew feared he would move in for the kill before he could catch him. But the Grants were in about the same position in their line as Matthew was in his own, and he could keep an eye on the two.
He stepped up to the man standing at the door, collecting passage and giving directions. “Ticket, please,” the man said, wriggling his fingers.
Matthew gestured into the car. “My companion should have already given my ticket. He’s inside.”
The man shook his head. “Sorry, sir. No one has presented two tickets. Step aside, please.”
Matthew’s heart raced. He glanced over to the other end of the car and saw Mrs. Grant step up onto the stairs. He looked back at the ticket man. “He must have forgotten when we were separated. I can wait here, if you prefer, while you ask him for my ticket.”
Seeing the resolve on Matthew’s face, the man sighed. “Which fellow?”
Matthew gave a brief description of O’Malley and the ticket man stepped inside the train. Matthew glanced back at the other line and saw that the general had already boarded. Panic rose and he stepped inside the car. Ticket or no, he could not let the general and O’Malley out of his sight. The Grants seemed to have chosen seats near the opposite door, and the general helped his wife settle in her seat.
Matthew’s eyes darted around the faces of the passengers crowding the aisle and choosing where to sit, but none of them were O’Malley.
“Excuse me, sir!” A clear voice rang out.
Matthew looked around the bodies of the passengers still in the aisle, and found the ticke
t man had reached O’Malley, grabbing his arm. Relief surged and he let out a heavy breath. Behind him, people were beginning to grumble, but Matthew didn’t spare them a glance.
The two men exchanged words, and after a moment, O’Malley frowned and reached into his coat pocket. He presented the second ticket and allowed the train man to guide him into a seat. His face turned an odd shade of red, and the glistening sweat was visible even from here.
Matthew waited as the ticket man returned to where he stood. “Got it,” the man said, though he looked at Matthew strangely. “Everything all right with your companion?”
“Thank you,” Matthew said, thinking quickly. “No, I’m afraid my companion is not feeling well, and his mind seems to be in a fog.” He leaned in close with a conspirator’s whisper. “Between us, I think his mind has broken.”
The man narrowed his eyes slightly, then, seeming satisfied, gave a nod. “I noticed something didn’t seem right with him. Please make sure he does not cause any disturbances.”
Matthew nodded. “Yes, I do apologize for the inconvenience of becoming separated from him. He is in my charge until I can take him to his family in Philadelphia, and I assure you, I will make certain he remains quietly in his seat.”
“Very good,” the man said, stepping around Matthew to take his place at the door and ease the grumbling of the passengers still waiting to be permitted inside.
Matthew hurried down the aisle and dropped next to O’Malley’s side. “You forgot to give me my ticket,” he said, putting equal amounts of confusion and petulance into his tone.
O’Malley glared at him. “This is twice your slowness has cost me my quarry,” he snapped.
Pretending a gesture of apology, Matthew placed his hand on O’Malley’s shoulder. “You’re right. I’m very sorry. But, of course, this has not changed your brilliant plan.”
“It hasn’t?”
Matthew shook his head. “You were going to wait until the train was under way, so that no one could alert the law until we reached the next station, right?”
The Liberator Series Box Set: Christian Historical Civil War Novels Page 57
