“Neal Bowman is a patrol officer and my right-hand man.” Neal hurries in and smiles as he is introduced to Chase.
“Marshall, nice to meet you.” Neal is young, about the same age as Pierce.
“Bowman, I’m going to assign you to help Marshall Rivers with his investigation. I will pull as many officers as needed to search all seven railheads. This will take more than a day, Marshall. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“I’m here for as long as it takes.”
“Bowman will get you settled in the office across the hall.” He digs in the drawer and tosses a key to the patrolmen. He quickly leads Chase across the hall, unlocks the door and lights a lantern. Chase tosses his canvas bag and shrugs off the duster and hangs it over a chair.
He sets his rifle in the corner, then removes his hat hanging it on a hanger, turning he finds Neal staring at him.
“So, exactly what are we looking for?”
“Evidence, traces of these women. How could four women be loaded onto a train and no one notice?” Chief returns with a map and spread it out on the table. He quickly begins to label each of the twelve rail lines coming into the city. Chase studies the map, watching the Chief label each.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to do the briefing with all the officers at once. Saves time.” Chase asked.
“Of course.”
“Chief, I need you to assign teams to each of these rail lines.” The next few hours are spent organizing. Chase steps in front of the twenty-four officers and fills them in on the details.
“Gentlemen, we’re looking for evidence in a quadruple murder. Four young women were killed. First, they were drugged, then someone bound their hands behind their backs, slit their throat and locked them inside a brand-new refrigerated car. They bled out somewhere between here and Wyoming.”
Chase glanced from person to person as he speaks. “I’m looking for evidence, clues, and any information that might lead to the killer or killers. We’ll interview every runner, pickpocket, drunkard, and employee at the railroad. One team will be assigned to hit all the saloons, these girls were dressed in garb that suggested they were companions. Officer Bowman will call your names and break you up into teams. Let’s get started.”
Chapter 10
Bronnah follows Kai, sticking as close to the shadows as possible. He seems to know where he's going, and her head is pounding. She still can't talk. What did they give her? What is she going to do? Those other girls are in so much trouble. Maybe she can help, but how? It's the middle of the night, and she's sick and desperate for a good night sleep. Stumbling behind Kai, she stops with a glance around. Her knees are growing weak, and she's having trouble standing now. Is this where her journey will end, in the back of some back alley?
"Stay here," Kai whispered and knocks on a door. A door opens flooding the alley with light. Bronnah slides to the ground, and her eyes begin to close. A cold hand touches her forehead, and someone lifts her eyelid.
“Qui est-elle?” Who is she the voice asks? Before Kai answers, Bronnah speaks.
“Mon nom est, Bronnah.” My name is Bronnah. She clutches her throat surprised that she can finally speak. Bronnah reaches for the girl's hand and pleads desperately, “Help me,” she whispered.
Aimee puts an arm around her waist and pulls her up to her feet. "Come." Bronnah stumbles to her feet and leans on the young woman as they stumble inside her shop.
Kai follows and closes the door locking it behind them. They stumble up a flight of stairs inside a private residence. “Kai what have you brought me this time?” Aimee wonders as she helps Bronnah into a chair and rushes to pour them a glass of water. Bronnah sits and shivers as she sips the water.
“Merci,” Bronnah whispered.
Kai steps in front of Bronnah and lifts her chin to look into her eyes. He smiles, “Kai go home, now. Safe here.”
Bronnah’s eyes fill with tears, “Thank you, Kai. How will I ever repay you?” He touches her cheek and turns to Aimee.
“Bad lady give her drops. Looking for her.”
Aimee stares at them and pushes back her long dark hair with a sigh. “I’ll do what I can.” Bronnah’s eyes are closing, she can’t fight the drugs any longer. “Come along, Bronnah. You’re safe here.”
Bronnah stumbles along and collapses in a bed. Aimee covers her with a blanket and stares at the young woman. She is stunning and dressed as a high dollar prostitute, but Aimee is sure that most prostitutes don’t speak multiple languages. She lifts an eyelid and notices the tiny pupil. Her speech is slurred, and she’s stumbling as if drunk. It can only be the drugs. “Sleep well, Bronnah. It is high time I paid my gift forward.”
Cassandra Rivers helped her once by giving her the money to open her own dress shop with a promise that she would pay it forward. Aimee traveled under a famous designer for a year until his advances became too much to stand. Aimee opened her dress shop in New York, and it has been thriving.
She hurries to gather some medical supplies. Kai has a special place in her heart. Aimee pays him to work as a runner. When he's older, she will hire him to help deliver her dresses. Kai is the oldest of four children, and his parents are struggling to survive. For now, she feeds him when she can and helps any he brings to her.
"Who is this bad lady, he keeps speaking of?" Aimee checks on Bronnah and finds her sweating and breathing
