A Sacrificial Matter

by Ilona Fridl

  Sarah jumped back as Hiram turned on the light and Luke ran for a pitcher of water. She grabbed the candle, and Luke doused the flames.

  Everyone had gotten out of their chairs, but Sarah made a note that Dora, Fitz, and Maxine were at the other end. Adrian, the young fellow who had thought he recognized her, was also over there.

  Sarah huffed. “I’m sorry, I can’t conduct a séance under these conditions.” She stuffed the soggy cloth and candle into her tote. “Luke, take me back to the hotel.”

  Hiram placed himself in front of her. “Roma, it could have been the spirit doing that.”

  “Maybe so and maybe not. Either way, I couldn’t possibly concentrate now.” Luke offered his arm, and they walked out.

  Back at home, Sarah informed Amos what had happened. Amos stroked his mustache. “Sounds like you were picking at someone’s sore. Hmm―”

  “What?”

  Amos was putting on his hat. “I’m going over to Sam’s place and discuss a hunch with him. Since it’s Sunday tomorrow, maybe he and I can do some snooping at the bank. I’ll tell you when I get back.”

  Sarah gnashed her teeth when the door had shut behind him, but she knew someone had to take care of Nat.

  ****

  After church, Amos split off from Sarah and hurried the two blocks to meet Sam at the bank. Sam was there with Mr. Carson, the bank president, and waved when he saw Amos. “Here he comes, Mr. Carson.”

  Mr. Carson unlocked the door, then paused. “Are you sure it was someone else who embezzled the funds?”

  Sam nodded. “That’s what we’re here to find out for sure.”

  They went into the accounting office. Sam had Abner’s ledger, which he had removed for evidence days ago, tucked under his arm.

  Amos pointed to the bookcase of ledgers behind Abner’s former desk. “Are those the ones Abner had been working on?”

  Carson nodded. “We keep the records behind the clerks so we can check them from time to time.”

  Amos counted two books over. “How long had Abner been working here?”

  “Two years.”

  Amos checked the dates and opened the ledger. “Sam, let me see the one you have.” Sam handed it to him. “Ha, just as I suspected. The handwriting is different.” He turned to Carson. “Are there samples of Abner’s writing in his desk?”

  Carson pointed to a box nearby. “We hired a new clerk to take over here and cleaned out the desk. We were going to send it to Abner’s widow tomorrow.”

  Sam found a notepad in the box and showed it to Amos. “I see what you mean.” Sam turned to Carson. “It looks like someone in this office was embezzling, and that person framed and perhaps killed Abner.”

  Amos thought a moment. “Mr. Carson, could you bring us samples of the other clerks’ handwriting?”

  Carson pulled a single ledger from behind each of the remaining five desks in the office. Amos and Sam compared each with the one Sam held. They finished the stack, then looked at each other. Sam turned to Carson. “None of these are the same handwriting. Has there been a personnel change since Wells’ death?”

  Carson furrowed his brows. “No, just the new man we hired.”

  “Does anyone else write in ledgers?”

  “Mr. Fitzgerald Kendal, our head accountant. He takes care of the special accounts.”

  “Could you bring in one of his?”

  Carson unlocked the office and stepped inside. Amos anticipated what they would find. The puzzle pieces were falling into place. Carson set the ledger in front of them. Amos opened the record book. “This is it!” He pointed to the entries in the two. “It proves my hunch―Abner was framed and then killed.”

  Carson shook his head. “Why?”

  “Kendal must have been planning this for some time. Why he picked Abner, I don’t know. Anyway, he had decided to kill Abner and switch the ledgers, probably the same day. Everyone would think Abner was embezzling funds and would look for the money in his accounts and his home. Kendal could quit and take the money away, and no one would ever suspect him.”

  Carson’s mouth gaped. “But Fitz has been with us for years. He’s never done anything like that.”

  Sam blew out a breath. “That’s why this was a perfect crime.” He turned to Amos. “I’m going to get a warrant for Kendal’s arrest. He should be back at work tomorrow, right?” Sam glanced quizzically at Carson.

  The bank president seemed deep in thought. “Yes,” he finally said.

  Amos picked up Kendal’s ledger and the one with Abner’s handwriting. “You’d better take these for evidence, as well.” As they walked out, Amos had a sense of dread he couldn’t shake.

  The next morning, Mary was at her desk as Amos and Sarah arrived. She handed Sarah an envelope. “This came for Miss Spiros by courier this mornin’.”

  Sarah opened it and read the sheet. “It says Hiram wants to see me behind the Institute this morning at eleven o’clock, to go over the initiation ceremony. I’m to bring the items he requested, except for the wine.” She turned to Amos. “Do you think I should go?”

  “Since we don’t know how many were involved in the murder, you should, but I want you tailed.” He paused. “Since Sam is going to arrest Fitz at the bank this morning, maybe I could tail you. There’s a lot of low-lying brush around the Institute.”

  Sarah headed to her office. “I’ll get Roma ready to go.”

  While Amos was waiting for her to get into her costume, Sam strode in the door. “Amos, we have a problem. Both Kendal and Maxine sent the bank messages that they wouldn’t be in today.”

  Amos thrust the message for Sarah into his hand. “I have a hunch there may be a connection. I was going to tail Sarah. Want to come along?”

  Sam stroked his chin. “If Fitz and Maxine are there, maybe Sarah can get them to confess. Yes, we can go together.”

  Sarah came out as Roma, carrying a tote. “Ready?”

  Amos nodded. “Sam and I will be a couple of minutes behind you. If Fitz is there, see if you can get a confession out of him.” Amos hoped she could do a fancy bit of acting.

  ****

  Sarah parked the car at the Institute and made her way to the back of the building. She saw Fitz and Maxine waiting for her. “Where’s Hiram?”

  Fitz smiled at her, but his face had a hard look. “Hiram wanted us to go over the rite with you. He had some business to attend to.”

  Maxine took her elbow. “We’re going down to the creek by that patch of hemlock.” She pointed down the hill to the thicket.

  Sarah hoped Amos and Sam had time to catch up. “All right.” Every nerve in her body was screaming for her to run away as fast as she could, but she knew what she had to do.

  They stopped by a little opening next to the creek but were hidden from view of the buildings. Maxine placed her hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Since I am the priestess of the coven, I will be the one to lead you through the rite.” She blindfolded Sarah. “You will be led in like this.”

  Sarah heard them going through her tote. They must have taken out the cords she’d brought, because she felt them binding her arms and legs. Then a cord from her arms was draped around her neck and suddenly went taut. She struggled, but the cords were too tight.

  “Now, Roma―or should I say, Mrs. Darcy―”

  “How did you know?” Sarah asked, barely above a whisper.

  “Adrian finally remembered where he had seen you before, while we were at the séance.”

  “You came up with a brilliant plan to embezzle from the bank. How did you manage to kill Abner?”

  Fitz’s voice filled with pride. “It was brilliant, wasn’t it? I slipped Abner some opium when the drums for dancing began, and Maxine took the ceremonial sword when everyone was occupied. In the dark of the graveyard, I drove the blade through Abner. A bucket of water was there for me to clean off before we joined the others again for the ritual.”

  “But I was told that Abner walked back to the camp with you afterward.”

&
nbsp; Maxine laughed. “That was Calvin Wells. He hated his brother, so we had no trouble getting him to substitute for Abner. Without his beard, he looked just like Abner in the firelight.”

  Fitz pulled Sarah’s head back farther. “Now, we’re going to get rid of you, get on the liner in the harbor, and leave with the money. When they find you, we’ll be long gone.”

  It was getting harder for Sarah to breathe, and she prayed Amos and Sam would come in time. She didn’t like playing the bait. Suddenly, there was a crashing of bushes and she heard Sam yell, “Step away from her!” Fitz was pulled away, and the cords around her neck went slack.

  Sarah coughed and gasped for air.

  The blindfold was whipped off her head, and she saw Amos cutting the cords with his knife. He helped her up. “Are you all right?”

  Sarah managed to croak out, “Yes.” She watched as Fitz and Maxine were put in handcuffs.

  Sam turned to his deputy. “Put these two in jail. I’m going to the harbor to arrest Calvin Wells for his part in the murder.”

  Fitz snorted. “What’s this world coming to? I was foiled by a God-damned Eskimo.”

  Amos grabbed him around the neck with one hand. “I’d watch what I say, if I were you.”

  Sam put a hand on his arm. “Amos―”

  Amos gave Fitz a shake, then let go. “Get them out of my sight.” As the rest headed up hill, Amos embraced Sarah, and she gratefully sagged into his arms. “Damn, I hated to have to do that to you.”

  “If you remember, I volunteered for the assignment. Someone had to do it.” She pulled back and gazed at him. “And it worked.”

  “Come on. Let’s go back to the office and close out this case.” Sarah gathered her things, and they walked up the incline. She stopped when she saw a figure at the top, his hands folded in front of him. “Hiram.”

  He glared at her and turned on his heel, striding back to the building, muttering, “Damned Indian.”

  Sarah blew out a breath. “Too many people like that.”

  Amos spit on the ground. “I’m not going to keep apologizing for horses’ asses.”

  She squeezed his arm. “You don’t have to.” They silently went back to the Oldsmobile.

  Chapter 9

  Sarah brought in the hatbox and set it on the table where Kata was working in the dressing area of Golden North. “I’m returning Roma Spiros to you.”

  Kata sat back from her sewing machine, where she had been mending costumes. “I’m glad I was able to help.”

  “May I talk to you?” At Kata’s nod, Sarah drew a chair over and seated herself. “I’ve been troubled since this assignment, and I don’t know how to handle it. I feel like I’ve been through the looking-glass.”

  Kata studied her. “You mean like Alice?”

  “Yes. I discussed this with Amos, but I don’t think he understands.” She paused and drew a breath. “I’ve seen and experienced how Americans treat each other. I felt like a cheat using Roma to get into their world.” Sarah paused for a moment before going on. “We are considered citizens of the United States by law, but I’m afraid you can’t pass a law to make people change their hearts.”

  They were both silent for a moment. Sarah knew Kata understood exactly what she meant. They both had sat in segregated sections of restaurants and theaters. Golden North had a native section, but only because they had to go along with the society or lose business. The Shafers kept the native section just as clean as the rest of the theater, but they were one of the exceptions.

  Kata nodded absentmindedly. “I hope things get better by the time Joey and Nat grow up. Anyway, they are both part American.”

  Sarah rose. “One can only dream.”

  Kata pursed her lips. “If it makes you feel any better, this just proves we want shelter, clothes, and food for our families like any of them. Maybe someday they’ll realize this and give us the respect we deserve.”

  Kata stood, and both cousins embraced. Sarah slipped out the stage door and leaned against the building for a moment. Looking up at the craggy mountains that formed the back of the shelf where Juneau was nestled, she took a deep breath of the breeze blowing off the channel. Her people had lived there thousands of years but had been displaced, first by the Russians and then by the Americans. Maybe someday the Tlingits wouldn’t be looked on as savages. Wiping at a tear that had splashed onto her cheek, she turned toward the office.

  When she returned to the agency, Sam and Amos were going over their notes. Sam was reading Amos’ notepad. “You said Calvin Wells told you he had shaved off his beard and was growing it back when you talked to him.”

  Amos nodded. “That would put it about the time of the murder.”

  Sam tore the page out. “I’ll take this for evidence.” He turned to Sarah. “I’m sorry we had to use you for bait, but I don’t think we could have cracked the case so soon without you going undercover. By the way, the footprint you found at the graveyard matches Kendal’s foot perfectly. You did a swell job, Sarah.”

  Sarah studied her hands. “Thank you, Sam. I must say, it was an eye-opening experience in many ways. I wonder why Hiram denied knowing Abner, when I asked about the body that one time.”

  Amos glanced at her. “Probably he was trying to protect his group. That would expose them to bad publicity.”

  Sam put on his hat and tipped it to Sarah, said his goodbyes, and left. As Amos sat drumming on his desk with his pencil, Sarah drew a chair over and seated herself. “You had trouble with my assignment, didn’t you?”

  Amos sat back and gazed at her. “I hated myself for letting my personal feelings get in the way of our job. I acted like a jackass.”

  She smiled and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I understand, but I’m flattered, too. You know I’m trained and can take care of myself.”

  He sighed. “I know that, but there’s always a chance things won’t go as planned. I still have nightmares about almost losing you before our wedding.”

  She rose and drew him up with her into a warm embrace. When she pulled back, she announced, “Let’s close up and pick up Nat from my mother’s. I want to go home.”

  They sent Mary off with a cheerful goodnight and locked up the office.

  ****

  Amos mused while he got Nat ready for bed, a job he loved and often volunteered to do as Sarah was cleaning up after supper. The baby had almost fallen asleep in his mashed potatoes. If there’s anything we can count on, it’s Grandma Lakat wearing him out. He chuckled as he dressed the boy in his sleepers and put him next to his teddy bear in the crib. Amos rubbed the child’s back, and Nat was out like a light.

  Amos went downstairs to the parlor as Sarah brought in the Parcheesi board. “Challenge you to a game.” She set it on the game table. “Any trouble with Nat?”

  Amos shook his head. “Off to sleep for the night, I’ll bet.” He headed for the kitchen, where he got the stolen wine out of the icebox and took two glasses out of the cupboard. He found an old corkscrew in the utility drawer and popped the cork.

  “What are you doing in there?” Sarah called.

  He brought out the bottle and glasses and poured them each a drink. “Didn’t want the ill-gotten gains to go to waste. It would be worse for us if we tried to take it back.”

  Sarah smiled and gave him a smirk. “It is nice to have some wine again.” She raised her glass. “Here’s to us!”

  They sat across from each other and some sadness shadowed her eyes. “I hope some things change before Nat grows up. When I took the Roma things back to Kata, we talked about attitudes against natives.”

  Amos pursed his lips. “Now that the government has recognized you as citizens, maybe the problems will begin to fade.”

  She shook her head. “That may be so, but I fear it will be a long, long time.” She sighed and set her pieces on the board. The summer daylight sparkled off the water in the channel, and somewhere a seagull called to its mate.

  A word about the author…

  Ilona
Fridl has six novels out, and this is her first novella based on the Golden North and Prime Catch intrepid detective team of Amos and Sarah Darcy in 1920s Juneau, Alaska Territory.

  She lives in SE Wisconsin with her husband, Mark. She invites all her readers to take a look at her web site at http://www.ilonafridl.com

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.