The Visitor - The Bell Tower 1873 - 1875

by Barbara Svetlick

  “Would you join me?”

  “Will you tell me why my son looks like you?”

  “Of course I will.” Conrad put out his hand as she laid hers in his. The smell of the fresh snow filled her with wonder. She was standing in the middle of a snow covered field. The moonlight faded as it bathed a path to her and the simple sound of the flute coming down made each snowflake dance. Mirisa turned as her gown flowed gently as though suspended in the moon. She started to dance as Conrad watched. Her face was toward the stars and her eyes were closed. The music slowly faded as the moon yawned.

  “Conrad?”

  “Your son looks like me because Dominic comes from me. It is not unusual nor is it magic.”

  “I shall have to be satisfied with that but I will always wonder.”

  Conrad watched as an owl swooped down flying between them as he screeched while his talons sunk into a rabbit in mid-air and then he was gone. Mirisa followed him realizing his white feathers made him invisible until his shadow washed over the poor frightened rabbit.

  “Life is full of wonder.”

  “Mirisa.” Meeks said it so softly as Mirisa slowly turned to him. The moonlight passed softly through her silk nightgown making her look surreal. She constantly took his breath away at the most unusual moments and it was during these times that Meeks was torn between his instinctual desire and his need to protect her. Mirisa walked toward him the whole time rubbing the little silver heart as though it had some kind of mystical power.

  “I will always sit and wait for you to come home.” Meeks smiled. Mirisa was so soft to look at, so soft to hold and so soft in the way she assured him that whatever he wanted in life she would stand by his side.

  “We’ll be gone a few days.”

  “Alexander.”

  “What sweetheart.”

  “I’m going to shop every day that you are away so if any of you care at all about your fortunes you won’t be gone very long.”

  “I’ll let them know.” Meeks took her hand and took her back to their room where he finished getting dressed as Mirisa sat on the bed watching him. Meeks grabbed his jacket walked over and kissed Mirisa. He left the room then turned and pulled her up off the bed kissing her deeply.

  “I love you Mirisa Meeks.”

  “I hope so because if you don’t come home I’ll have to entertain Louis’ offer.” Meeks looked at her, furrowed his brow and Mirisa smiled as just the glint of tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. He kissed her again and told her to start with Dominic’s accounts.

  Mirisa locked up the house and crawled in bed with the girls immediately falling asleep. They were so delighted to find her in bed with them and even more so when she told them that the three of them were going Christmas shopping. She brought them all down for breakfast and Maggie asked why no one was at breakfast.

  “They had to go out of town on business for a few days.”

  “Will they be home for dinner?”

  “No darling.”

  “Who will give me kisses and tuck me in at night?”

  “Tonight you can all sleep in the big bed with me so I don’t get lonely.”

  “When I grow up, I am going to marry Garnett.”

  Mirisa looked at her daughters and wondered where life would take them.

  Mirisa bundled up the girls and had the carriage brought around to the front. The snow had stopped but it was still cold and a thin layer of fresh snow covered the town. The three girls were dressed in similar colors with matching capes with little fur lined bonnets and muffs. She found them to be so cute when dressed alike.

  Mirisa told her driver to meet them at the end of the street and she took her daughters through the stores as they shopped for themselves and for Christmas. Maggie was very serious about the gifts she bought, Sara wanted everything for herself and Lizzie was in a needy mood not wanting to participate. Mirisa put it all on Alexander’s accounts and had all the packages taken to the coach or delivered to the house.

  Mirisa crossed the street to their favorite restaurant where she was promptly greeted. Louis stood up from a table and stepped in front of her.

  “Mirisa.” Louis looked at the two little girls standing next to her and the smaller one in her arms. “Your daughters, I assume?”

  “Maggie and Sara, this is Mr. Sampson. And the little one is Elizabeth.” Maggie curtsied and Sara hid behind her skirt and just looked at him.

  “I think your daughters might be more beautiful than you but only one seems to resemble you. Who are their fathers?” Louis looked at Lizzie who had the biggest blue eyes while the other two had green eyes like their mother.

  “Alexander.” She knew that was a deliberate jab.

  “Are you meeting someone for lunch or are you out Christmas shopping?”

  “We are Christmas shopping and spending outrageous amounts of money.”

  Louis smiled. “I doubt seriously if you know how to spend outrageous amounts of money but if you ever want to do that just let me know.”

  “Will you be attending the fund raiser on Saturday?”

  “Absolutely. Will you be auctioning off a new painting?”

  “Yes, but not of me.”

  “Well, that is disappointing. I would be more than willing to pay an outrageous amount of money if you would auction another one.”

  “You should have fought for the first one for I have asked that no other drawings are made available outside of my bedroom.”

  Louis picked up her hand and kissed it lingering just long enough knowing the whole restaurant was watching. “It’s always a pleasure. I hope you and the young ladies have a wonderful lunch.” Mirisa nodded and proceeded to their table by the window.

  The girls loved having lunch alone with their mother. Louis watched her interact with her daughters as the gentlemen at his table continued their conversations until they realized that Louis wasn’t paying attention to them at all. His obsession with this woman was unusual.

  “Louis, don’t you think you need to set your sights on someone who is available. It’s not like there aren’t a lot of beautiful women to pursue and your public displays are attracting too much attention.” Louis turned to his lawyer and absently picked up his whisky.

  “What are we doing with the merger?” The lawyer repeated everything they had been talking about but his mind wandered back to Mirisa as she got up and left the restaurant. Mirisa crossed the street to the book store to pick up their earlier purchases. Louis turned his attention back to the conversation but never took his eyes off the storefront. “Alright, handle everything and send the papers to the house.” Louis got up and left the restaurant. The men watched him leave exasperated with his lack of attention to an important merger.

  Louis crossed the street and went into the candy store because he knew Mirisa would go there next. He ordered an assortment of candy to be boxed in small boxes and delivered to the Manor for the fund raiser. Mirisa walked in and smiled when she saw Louis at the counter talking to the woman.

  “Mr. Sampson, I forgot you had a sweet tooth.” The girls let go of Mirisa’s hand and ran up to the counter to look at the candy. She nodded to the proprietor who indicated she would be with her after she finished Mr. Sampson’s order. Knowing it would take quite a while; Louis turned to Mirisa and asked her if she would like to join him for dinner. Mirisa wondered how Louis knew she was alone.

  “Thank you, but I think it would be very improper for me to have dinner alone with you.”

  “Then maybe I will just have to find a business transaction in which you would have to meet with me.”

  She laughed. “You know that my business is handled by James and Garnett and I don’t think either of them is particularly fond of you or your advances towards me.”

  “You are a challenge. I will just have to be satisfied to dance with you until I can find a way to win your affection.” Louis turned to the lady and told her to put Ms. Meeks purchases on his account; he bowed and left the shop. The girls picked out candy f
or everyone as she put Elizabeth down so she could look in the case with her sisters. She helped the girls into the carriage and when they pulled up in front of the brownstone Matthew met her at the door and told her the trees had been delivered and set up.

  “Well, we will have to figure out a way to get the boxes out of the storeroom so that we can decorate tonight.” She turned to the delivery boy who was walking up the steps with packages. “Can I pay you to bring some boxes from the basement up to the parlor for me?”

  “Yes’m.” He put the packages on the table in the library and she took him down to the basement. He brought up ten boxes that were marked as Christmas decorations. She took cash out of Meeks’ drawer in the library and thanked him. He thought she over paid so he offered to open the boxes for her before he left. By the time they unloaded the carriage and the rest of the deliveries arrived the library had packages everywhere. After a dinner of hearty soup and fresh bread, she sent them up to put on their nightgowns. They gathered around the fire with hot cocoa and Matthew read them a new Christmas story.

  Mirisa took Matthew and Jonathan shopping with her the next day to a different part of town. She finished up all the shopping for the men and put all of the boy’s purchases on Dominic’s account. Then she took them down to the art district to see Mr. Clancey and convinced him to join them for lunch. Mirisa talked to him about painting all of the children. She handed him a sketch that Alexander had made for her with all the children sitting in the back of a wagon filled with hay bales. He looked at the boys before studying the sketch.

  “He’s very good. Why has he never pursued it further?”

  “I don’t know. I think he just enjoys sketching.”

  “I’ll have it delivered to your house before Christmas Eve. I will need an advance for it though.” She reached into her purse and handed him two hundred dollars. He counted it then looked at her. “Exactly how big do you want this painting?”

  “I actually want three paintings all wall size so if you need more money let me know. I also would like them framed but I don’t know how much that will cost.” She handed him another hundred.

  “Do you want this sketch done exactly?”

  “Yes.” Mirisa paid for lunch and they walked back to Mr. Clancey’s studio. She took the boys through the street vendors and little shops before it started to snow again.

  The library had so many packages that you couldn’t do anything except maneuver around them to the desk. The smaller tree was set up near the window but it would have to wait until she moved the packages. She paid the last delivery boy to help her put the empty Christmas boxes back in the basement.

  They had a light dinner as they decorated the music room tree. The children loved having her to themselves. They were just finishing up when the maid came upstairs and told her she had a guest. “Thank you; I will be right down. Also, will you serve fresh coffee and Christmas cookies?” She told the children to keep working and she went down to the living room.

  Mr. Sinclare was standing in front of the tree when he turned to her as she came down the stairs. “I apologize for the lateness of my visit. I just returned from the Manor and wanted to let you know that the outside decorations are very impressive and the inside is now completely decorated for the fund raiser.”

  “Thank you for stopping.” Mirisa poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. “Please have a seat.”

  “Are you decorating the house yourself?” Mr. Sinclare motioned to the tree and she turned and looked at it.

  “The children are decorating this year and I am just supervising though they override me in most decisions. That is the problem with having so many children.”

  “How many do you have?”

  “I have five.” Mr. Sinclare nodded. “Is there anything you need from me?”

  “No, we had a display board made for the small paintings which turned out really well. I have to tell you that the auction piece is beautiful. So far we have over 400 responses so I am concerned with the space. Also, while I was there today a delivery was made from the Confectioner Shop on Park Avenue with over 500 small boxes of candy. There was no name on the delivery invoice.”

  “Those are from Mr. Sampson, I believe.” He nodded again. “Thank you Mr. Sinclare. I appreciate your time.” He stood, picked up his hat bidding Mirisa good night. Mirisa closed and locked the door before she rejoined the children. Lizzie and Sara had fallen asleep on the floor wrapped around each other. Mirisa took them to the nursery and let the rest of the children stay up reading.

  Dominic decided they should take the train to Washington since the weather was unstable.

  “Captain Lanfear, I want to thank you for agreeing to ride down to talk to me.”

  “Sir, it’s been a long time. I thought that you had retired after the war.” They were standing in a very opulent library that spoke of a long military history. He offered them a cigar and cognac. Garnett and Meeks sat down on the couch as James stood next to the fireplace facing him.

  “The problem we have is that two major payroll deliveries were hit this month resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars and the death of five soldiers.” He hesitated as they waited. “We are almost certain that it is an inside job because they are executed along a route that is decided within hours of them leaving. So there's no time to plan a heist unless you are close to my team.”

  James took a hit on his cigar and wondered why anyone who drank great cognac would smoke horrible cigars. “Who has access to that information?”

  He took a list out of his folder and handed it to James. He went over it several times looking for something to jump out. “Have you done backgrounds on these men?

  “Yes.” He handed James a packet which he reviewed and passed to Garnett.

  “There’s nothing obvious which means that one of these men is talking to someone very close, someone possibly in bed with them.” He sipped his cognac. “Have you looked into their habits with women?”

  The General nodded and handed him a second sheet. Meeks hated the fact that you had to ask the right question to get any answer. Why couldn’t the government just give you everything and let you decide what was missing. James handed it to Meeks who went down the list.

  “You have three men who have questionable habits and would be easy to manipulate.” Meeks put his cigar down and took out his own lighting it. He didn't care if it was rude he wasn't smoking a bad cigar. “Other than wanting to find this leak, I assume that you want to set up a trap to catch the culprits?”

  “Correct.” The General cleared his throat. “We will send out an empty payroll unit and since we don’t know when they will be hit we need you to actually be in the transport unit.”

  “We’re part of the bait then?”

  “Yes. It’s the only way we can do it. The payroll travels at night so there is less chance you will be recognized.”

  Meeks handed the list to Dominic along with the other papers. “What if your leak is part of the transport unit? If you replace everyone, they will know it’s a trap and if you leave the unit in place with us joining the will know to be prepared for a heavy guard and there will be a danger of someone turning on us before the trap is sprung. It’s a bad plan.” They all agreed.

  “There’s absolutely no other way to do it.”

  “Then we’re out.” Meeks stood up and put the folder down on the table.

  “There’s no one else I can rely on.”

  “The ineptness of the government has nearly gotten one us killed on the last three assignments because we were given inaccurate information, information was withheld or we had to follow your plan. If you want us to handle this matter for you, get us the complete files on everyone who has been involved, both robberies, any botched or near robberies and the name of every single girlfriend or whore including yours. I also want a list of everyone who is aware of this plan of yours.”

  The General put down his cognac and you could tell he was livid at Meeks response. “Then what?”
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  “Then when we’re ready you give us the exact same information that you release to your staff and the unit. We’ll handle the rest without giving you any information on our plans. I also want real money in the wagon. If you leave out anything and one of us is hurt, you won’t see the sun rise.”

  James was listening to the tone of Meeks voice and it was the first time Meeks had ever taken charge of a meeting but the threatening tone was one that they hadn’t heard him use since they had been riding as a unit out west. The General looked at Dominic who just nodded in concurrence with Meeks.

  “I don’t appreciate being threatened but I don’t see where you are giving me a choice.”

  “You have a choice.” Meeks was more than annoyed at that moment. “Find someone else to do the job.” He picked up his jacket and headed for the door.

  “Alright.” The General stood. “Alright. I’ll get the files to you in the morning.”

  They all returned to the townhouse where they took out the whisky and went over what information they had been given. James thought that there was a lot that was missing, just too many holes. The next morning a box was delivered and they spread it out on the table and began to dissect everything. By the time they took a break for dinner, it was determined that something was still missing. Garnett didn’t know if it was a feeling or from his years as a trial attorney but you just knew when a key piece was out of place or not there. They spent all evening discussing and working everything when Garnett threw a paper in the middle of the table.

  Meeks picked it up, read it passing it to Dominic. “How in the world did I miss that name?”

  Because it is out of place. It’s an old prosecutor’s trick. It pinpoints the inside man as his closest aide. So, we need to concentrate on these three men.” Garnett circled the names on the list of employees and began to form their plan. They sent word that they were ready.

  As they were putting the papers back in the box there was a knock on the back door. James pulled his gun out and stepped back as Garnett answered the door. A man spoke to him briefly and handed him an envelope. He closed the door and handed it to Meeks. “It’s from the detective agency. Did you tell her that you had hired new security to follow her?”