Promise Me Forever

by Janelle Taylor

  “You mean they’re dropping the charges against me?”

  “You never were charged, just suspected and investigated. Since they haven’t come up with any hard facts by now, they have to let the matter go.”

  “That’s wonderful, Peter. But unless your ruse with Harry works and he’s to blame, we might never know who killed Phillip and George.”

  “Most crimes have a way of being solved eventually,” Peter told her.

  Rachel was pleased for herself and Dan, but hated to see a killer go unpunished. “I hope so. What do we do now?”

  “I’ll leave first thing in the morning for Athens. I’ll see you two the minute I return. Hope for good news.”

  “We will,” Rachel and Dan replied at the same time, and smiled.

  After Peter left for the hotel, Dan and Rachel retired to his cabin…

  Peter and his two men left by train on Wednesday morning. Dan went to pick up a report left at the post office by the detective he had hired to check on Milton Baldwin. It told them something very interesting and helpful, so they went to Milton’s office to confront him.

  Milton asked what they were doing there. “The police are searching for you,” he said, noting the odd way they looked at him. “It was in the newspaper two weeks ago, something about gun-running and murder.”

  “I’ve been cleared of all suspicions, Milton, all of them,” Rachel disclosed. “I’m free. The newspaper will have to run an apology and retraction.”

  He appeared surprised and disappointed. “Did you deliver the cargo?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you have my money. That’s why you’re here?”

  “No, but we have something else: proof that agreement is a fake.”

  Milton’s expression altered. “What are you talking about?”

  “Phillip didn’t sign that loan agreement; his signature is traced. And the date is in your handwriting, not his. We have an expert witness who’ll testify against you in court. You’ve broken the law, Milton.”

  “You’re crazy, Rachel. I haven’t broken the law.”

  “That isn’t what the United States special agent thinks. Dan and I have spoken with him in detail. He believes you’re in deep trouble. I’m not lying or bluffing, Milton; I’m taking you to court on this matter. And I’ll win.”

  The man panicked. “Wait a minute, you two! That loan is for real. I’ll admit that isn’t the paper Phillip signed, but he owed me the money.”

  “Why don’t you explain before we’re forced to head to the police station?” Dan suggested. “Unless you prefer to tell your story to them.”

  “All right!” he shouted. “The loan was from Harry to Phillip, but I purchased it. Phillip borrowed sixty thousand dollars to cover a gambling debt, and he put up his share of the arms company as collateral. After he died, Harry came to me and suggested I buy it so I could use it to force Rachel out of the shipping firm. He thought if she was desperate for money to settle a debt or lose part of her inheritance, she would either have to honor the deal we all needed or she’d expose the fact she had the missing money when she took some from it to pay me. After those tricks she pulled on all of us, none of us trusted her or believed her. Harry had my name and company switched with his, Phillip’s signature traced, and I filled in a date I knew you couldn’t meet. When you called my bluff, I got scared and didn’t want to press too hard and provoke you to examine the agreement too closely.”

  “That’s fraud and forgery, criminal offenses,” Dan asserted.

  “What difference does it make which partner he owed or which company he would forfeit?” a frightened Milton reasoned. “The loan was real, and overdue. He couldn’t pay it off and neither could she.”

  “That doesn’t change what you two did to deceive and defraud her. We’ll press charges and you’ll go to prison. Unless…”

  “Unless what?” Milton asked Dan.

  The sea captain had already discussed the course of action with Rachel. “You agree to dissolve the partnership and divide the firm into the same shares as when you merged. That’s how you can avoid prosecution.”

  “That isn’t fair! I’ll be out sixty thousand dollars!”

  “And you’ll be out of prison. We’ll adjust the split to keep you from taking a total loss of the money, which Rachel doesn’t have to do in light of how you tricked her. Is it a deal? Oh, yes, McCandless Shipping will be moving back to Charleston, if that influences your decision any.”

  “How would we work out the details?” Milton asked, cornered.

  “I’ll spend the next few days here working them out with you. Rachel has agreed to let me handle the matter for her because I know how shipping firms work. We should have everything settled within a week.”

  Milton thought a few minutes, then said, “We’ll do it your way.”

  Rachel wanted the distressing situation ended, so she was polite. “Thank you, Milton. I want this handled swiftly and secretly. I don’t want to hurt or embarrass your family because you made a foolish mistake. Over the years I’ve learned that gossip and scandals can be painful and humiliating. Don’t you think this way will be best for everyone’s reputation and business?”

  Milton gaped at her in astonishment and gratitude. “I’m sorry, Rachel. Things were so bad, I got greedy and desperate. Harry’s scheme sounded good at first. By the time I realized it was crazy and hazardous, I was in too deep to back out, and he wouldn’t let me. I was also angry with Phillip for getting us into this trouble. If he’d kept his mind on business and kept away from gambling, this wouldn’t have happened to any of us. If I was going to save myself, I had to get the notorious Black Widow out of my company. I know you can’t understand how I could behave so recklessly, but I was under such pressure that I didn’t think clearly. I’m glad it’s finally in the open and can be cleared up. I never wanted to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

  “So am I, Milton. Sorry this happened. I’ll be gone soon, and we can both be free of the past. I wish you good luck with your new company.”

  “That’s more than kind and generous, Rachel; thank you.”

  “I’ll head home, Dan, while you two begin your work and talk.”

  The sea captain walked her to the door and said, “I’ll see you in a few days. Rest and get things packed for your move. Unless it’s an emergency, stay out of town until everything is resolved.”

  “I’ll wait to hear from you.” Rachel left with two of Dan’s men to protect her along the way and at the plantation until Dan and Peter arrived.

  After Rachel explained matters to Lula Mae Morris and Burke Wells, everyone calmed down from the excitement of her return to Moss Haven. “I have half of Phillip’s shipping firm back, so it should be earning money again soon. Captain Slade is handling it for me for a while. Isn’t it wonderful? My files are closed; no more questions or investigations. Home,” she murmured as she allowed her gaze to roam the lovely setting.

  “Dat’s good news, Miz Rachel. Ah told you to have faith,” Burke said.

  “I’ll help you unpack. I bet you’re bone-tired,” was Lulu Mae’s offer.

  “Yes and no; I’m too elated to decide. As we speak, Harry is being investigated for Phillip’s and George’s murders. If he is found to be the culprit and there’s proof, it will all be over at last.”

  Saturday evening, Peter Garrett arrived at the plantation. Rachel was disappointed that Dan wasn’t with the agent, as she hadn’t seen or heard from him in days. He had teased about letting her miss and crave him for a while to convince her how much she loved and needed him, but she hadn’t taken him seriously. Yet she’d promised to stay home, and obeyed.

  “Have you seen Dan?” she asked after they exchanged greetings.

  “No, I assumed you’d both be here. Where is he?”

  Rachel explained what had taken place with the shipping firm and what Dan was doing in town. “What did you learn from Harry?”

  “Wait until you hear my news. My men and I pretended we were working for
Ramón and we’d come to kill him over his refusal to send the arms and for stealing our money. We bound and terrified him until he was convinced his life was nearing its miserable end. I don’t work that way often, Rachel, but I knew he was guilty and needed persuasion.”

  “I understand,” she said, but wasn’t sure she did.

  “Harry tried to play the ignorant and innocent pawn in your game. If we hadn’t gotten rough, he wouldn’t have talked. I told him we have you and Dan captive in Cuba and we’d forced the truth from you two. He finally spilled all he knew before the night was over. He told us he doesn’t have the money and how he’d tried to scare it out of you: he ransacked your room and had you spied on in Athens during your first visit there; he had a man threaten you with a knife and had your home searched. He shot at you, but only one time, and had your house rocked and painted. He sent that scary note about the deal, but not those weird love notes. It helped knowing all those things from you so I could question him about each one.”

  Peter took a breath and continued. “He even confessed to blowing up the ammunition company, but claims he didn’t know George and that worker were inside. He knows we know he’s lying about that part, and I’ll get him to admit it soon. I have him under guard at the hotel in town. My ship’s coming late Monday, and I’m taking him with me for more interrogation. I convinced him to tell me how he controlled Phillip. He altered the company books to make things look bad so Phillip would sell out to him. When Phillip came up with the arms deal, Phillip’s desperate need of cash and the sorry state of his financial affairs gave Harry the means to keep Phillip from backing out. He has an interested buyer for the arms company, but you and his wife will split the profit after he’s in prison.”

  Presently that wasn’t her main concern. “What about Phillip’s death?”

  “We never could get Harry to admit he killed him or has the money. He was petrified, so I’m inclined to believe him. Evidently Phillip did hide the money from everyone, and either he did die of cholera or somebody else killed him.”

  “What about the guns for Richard and the Cubans?”

  “Harry had them ready, so they’re on the way there now. He had no choice except to turn them over to us. After he spilled his guts, I told him who we are, and he almost fainted. About those licenses, I have them in my possession, but he’s already confessed they’re forged. You’ll be pleased to learn, that Phillip didn’t know anything about that crime.”

  Rachel was relieved by that. “What you’re saying is that my husband hadn’t done anything illegal with the arms deal? His only mistake was creating gambling debts that made him desperate for money?”

  “That’s how it appears to me. He concealed the money to protect it, but that isn’t a crime. If he used any of it for gambling, more than his share of the profit, that’s a different story. Until or unless we locate it, we’ll never know the truth.”

  “I almost wish I never find it, but we need it to pay bills and salaries for the arms, or to repay bank loans. With George’s records burned, I don’t know who the Augusta company owes. Of course, I’ll try to pay any indisputable bill. Once we go over the Athens books, I’ll make certain all honest debts are paid out of the sale price before Mrs. Clements and I split the profit. It isn’t right for innocent people to suffer because George was murdered and Harry was crooked. If the missing money turns up, I’ll let you know.”

  “You’re a good woman, Rachel McCandless. Any message for Dan? I’ll report my findings to him when I return to town.”

  She thought a moment, then replied, “Tell him I said hello and I miss him, but I won’t disturb his hard work.”

  The following afternoon, Rachel visited with Dan’s men in their camp nearby and brought them cookies and lemonade as a treat. They finished a card game as she approached. While they chatted, Rachel said, “I’m sure you’re eager to set sail again soon. Is Turkey an interesting place?”

  “Turkey, ma’am? Don’t know, ain’t never been there.”

  That took Rachel by surprise. “I must have misunderstood; I thought that was where you’d come from before you docked here.”

  “No, ma’am; we came from Scotland. Delivered a shipment of wool.”

  She assumed Dan’s arms deal was a secret even from his crew. Or if the man knew about it, he must have been ordered not to mention it to anyone. If a secret, she wondered what excuse her love had given his crew for his trip here. “What made Dan decide to visit Savannah?”

  “Don’t know, ma’am. When we docked in Charleston in March, Capt’n Slade was in a rush to get here to visit somebody important. He don’t talk about his private business.”

  “Where do you head after you leave Savannah?”

  “Mr. Conner said we’d be sailing on Tuesday. Heading for Africa.”

  Again, she was surprised and intrigued. As the man sat cross-legged and chatted, Rachel viewed the paper lying on his thigh. “What’s that?”

  “My helper,” he replied, then chuckled. “I can’t ever remember from one time to the next which hand beats another in poker. Mr. Conner gave me this paper to use when I play. It’s getting in bad shape.”

  “May I see it?”

  “Sure, ma’am.” He passed the fading page to her.

  Rachel didn’t care about the list of poker hands in winning order. What she wanted to study was the handwriting she was sure she recognized. “If I can borrow it for a short time, I’ll make you a new copy.”

  “I don’t want to trouble you, ma’am.”

  “No trouble. It’s my way of thanking you for being a good protector. Enjoy the snack. I’ll return this to you soon.”

  Rachel went to her room and retrieved a paper she had kept hidden. She lay the two on her bed and studied them. The list handwriting matched the flowing and neat script of the second love note she had received! Luke couldn’t have delivered it; he was here. Dan was with her, so he must have…. But why would he send such a provocative message, then never admit it?

  She paced the floor. No trip to or from Turkey. … No private arms deal…So why had he placed orders with Harry and George? To protect his cover lie about why he had come to visit Phillip? Again, why? Maybe he had witnessed the burial and suspected her of murdering Phillip. Or maybe he was an agent like Peter, assigned to keep Phillip in tow; when he died, Dan was ordered to stick close to her… Whatever the answer, she was thinking too wildly to confront Dan today. It was best to let him come to her and explain; surely that would be soon.

  Monday morning, Lula Mae handed Rachel a letter from Harry, one postmarked the day she sailed for Cuba. “It’s been opened and resealed,” Rachel observed.

  “The man who brung it didn’t say nothing about that.”

  “Maybe Harry forgot something and he did it. Strange. Thank you, Lula Mae,” she said, dismissing the housekeeper.

  When she was alone, she ripped open the envelope and read the shocking letter. In dread, she read it once more:

  Rachel

  I had Daniel Slade checked out with friends in Charleston. He’s lying to both of us, but you’ll be the one to suffer. His real, or I should say full, name is Daniel Slade McCandless, known in the past to friends and family as Mac. By some miracle, he’s Phillip’s missing brother. I don’t have to speculate on what his plans are for you, do I, my pretty spider who devoured his brother? He’s trying to lure you into his web like you did his brother; then he’ll turn on you and murder you before you can kill him, too. What a wicked trap you’re in, my ravishing and foolish Rachel. You’d better get away from him while there’s still time to escape. Oh, yes, the authorities came to visit me again today. They say they have new evidence against you and will be coming to arrest you soon. If I were you, I’d take that stolen money and get myself hidden.

  She wasn’t worried about the law, as no doubt that was concerning those charges Peter had destroyed. Dan was Phillip’s brother? Harry wouldn’t say something she could check out and disprove. She recalled their talk in Athens about �
�Mac.” He had been telling her about himself! Perhaps Phillip had known Dan was alive and had sent for him, as he murmured on his deathbed. But Dan could be trying to entrap her! Maybe Peter had convinced Dan, as he had Phillip, to go along with the arms deal until it was completed, then work on his personal problem of revenge. If Harry wasn’t responsible for those other threats, someone who had the motive and opportunities was. His claims of love and those proposals… What better way to expose a Black Widow than to marry her and ensnare her when she tries to kill you?

  Cruel fate was making another attempt to hurt and destroy her. The first man she loved and wanted hated her and craved her punishment for something she hadn’t done. If he had decided she was innocent and had fallen in love with her, he would have confessed the truth by now. Instead of being with her, he was in town trying to save his family’s shipping firm, probably with plans to snatch it away from her. Would he actually go so far as to marry her to expose her? If he felt she had gotten away with past murders and might do the same with Phillip’s, yes.

  She had surrendered her all to him and told him everything about her. She had come to love him and trust him. But she should never have let down her guard with Daniel Slade McCandless. Lula Mae had mistrusted him and had warned her to do the same, but she hadn’t listened. He had worked on the mystery only to clear his brother’s name and to help their country. Should she confront him, or spurn him and leave? Could she let him see how he’d fooled her and hurt her? As with Craig and Paul, Dan would find a way to keep her from inheriting anything from his brother.