He heard footsteps from the staircase and made haste to his desk. Fortunately, it was only Rose carrying a tray with a kettle of freshly made coffee.
“I thought you could do with something to drink, Dr. Grant,” Rose placed the tray on the table in the open lounge area.
Daniel gave a half-smile and crossed his arms over his chest, “Thank you,” he told her. Rose had worked at the Grant clinic for a long time, and now he watched her thoughtfully. “Rose, have you ever cleaned Alistair’s laboratory?”
She looked at him in surprise and then glanced to one side as if she should be careful about how to answer his question. “Yes, I did. However, only when he was around.”
Daniel stood, went to the lounge, and sat on one of the couches where he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Sit for a moment, please,” he indicated that she should join him.
Rose seemed uncomfortable but did as she was told and declined his offer for coffee.
“Was there anything that may have seemed peculiar to you in the laboratory?” Daniel blew across the steam in his cup.
“Not really,” she frowned slightly, thinking. “Although he would never allow me to clean up the chest of drawers near his workbench, the one with the lock and key.”
“A lockable chest of drawers?” Daniel pressed his lips together. “I don’t remember there ever being one in there.”
She nodded. “I don’t know precisely when he ordered it, but it was sometime after your father died.”
“I see,” Daniel cradled the cup in his hands, enjoying its warmth. He leaned forward and asked, “Why would he keep a lockable chest of drawers in the laboratory? All paperwork is done in the office.” His eyes narrowed. “Only the medicine cabinets are locked. He knows how to mix medicine, and he has plenty of shelving space, so why would he even need a lockable chest of drawers in the laboratory?”
Rose shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, Dr. Grant.”
Daniel finished his coffee and placed the cup on the tray. “I imagine that it’s always kept locked.”
“I know where the key is,” Rose brightened after being unable to answer his previous questions.
“You do?” Daniel’s head came up sharply to see her nodding and he added, “I need access to it.”
“He always tries to keep it hidden, but I have noticed where he keeps it. Whenever he thought I wasn’t watching, he would either fetch it or put it back,” she paused for a breath. “I have been a maid for so long I know when people hide things and where they are usually hidden.”
“I’d appreciate it if you tell me where to find it. I will not speak of it to Alistair. You will not get into trouble with him,” Daniel assured her.
Rose looked nervous but sighed aloud. “There is a small hidden compartment underneath the workbench. It’s to the right corner, near where he keeps the Bunsen burner.”
Daniel gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Rose. This is an important matter.” He reached out and put his hand over hers, squeezing it before leaving hastily.
In the laboratory, he saw the shelves with all types of bottled medicine and pills, some old and some new. Daniel went to the workbench and just as Rose said, there was a small hidden compartment and inside was a key. In the back of the laboratory, in a corner out of sight from the entrance, was a sturdily designed oak chest of drawers.
Daniel held his breath as he inserted the key into the lock, and it clicked open. He pulled the top drawer open and there was nothing but dust inside. The second drawer held nothing either. Daniel had to wriggle the last drawer open and found a stack of documents neatly piled on top of each other. He gathered the documents and placed them on a table and pulled up a chair. If he was going to be ready to help Ruth, he knew he’d better be quick.
He flipped through the documents to the time before his father became ill and frowned as he checked through the orders. Every one of them contained an order for mercury that would cure syphilis for the whole of Wyoming.
Why would Alistair order such a large amount of mercury, and keep it a secret? He would have to answer for this.
Daniel grouped the documents he found and put back the ones he didn’t need, locked the chest, and returned the key to its hiding place.
He thought of Ruth, looked at his pocket watch, and knew he had to hurry.
***
Robert was fast in getting Spark ready and saddled up. Within minutes, Daniel’s stallion had run like the wind to Morrie Street.
“Sorry Spark, I will make it up to you, I promise.” Daniel rubbed his horse’s neck after tying him to the hitching post outside a small saloon on east 18th Street. Next to it was a hall, and it seemed a celebration was going on which overflowed to the saloon and the patrons were acting crazy. Daniel went inside and asked the saloon owner to mind his horse—for a fee, of course. Close by was the H. Kimme Home Brewery,which probably made a fortune off this saloon.
Alistair’s house was just before the end of the block opposite Lakeside Park and from the second level of his house he had the view of the colossal Lake Minnehaha.
Daniel strode briskly and found the house easily. He never understood why Alistair needed such a large extravagant house built just for him. If he had a family or brought his parents or siblings to live with him, then it would be practical and would make sense.
