“You didn’t cut your hair,” Nathaniel said as he dismounted.
Luke merely shrugged. “I don’t recall ever meeting Captain Holland, but he still might recognize me. The hair is a good distraction.”
Probably true. People tended to focus on oddities, and a man wearing a ponytail was certainly odd.
Nathaniel tied his horse to a hitching post by a cluster of trees. The fake telegram was due to be delivered soon, and the park across from Holland’s house had plenty of tables perfect for setting up a chess match. A drawn-out game of chess would allow them to linger for hours without drawing suspicion, except that Luke kept whistling the world’s most grating tune as they set up the chessboard. It was going to be a long day.
Wilkie’s investigation showed that there was no telephonein the Holland household, so Holland would need to leave the house to send a return message to Mateo. Secret Service agents had been posted at the three nearest Western Union stations to intercept any telegram he tried to send. As an extra precaution, Nathaniel would tail Holland in case he made some other move, while Luke would get to the nearest telephone to warn Wilkie their target was on the move.
Nathaniel could only pray Captain Holland would act soon, for Caroline’s brother was annoying. Within seconds of setting up the chessboard, Luke took a flask from his coat pocket and unscrewed the cap.
“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon,” Nathaniel said tersely. “We aren’t drinking.”
Luke took a swig from the flask. “Maybe you won’t, but I will.”
“I don’t work with drunk men.”
“If you think a sip of Madeira is going to knock me under the table, your education in the normal pleasures of life is sadly lacking.”
Nathaniel ignored the comment as he lined up the chess pieces. He needed patience. This man had just endured more than a year of captivity on behalf of the nation and was due a modicum of respect.
“I’ll take the white, you can take black,” he said once the chess pieces were in place.
“Entirely fitting,” Luke replied.
Nathaniel studied the board for a full minute before making his initial move. Luke moved a knight before Nathaniel’s hand was even off the pawn.
“You need to wait until I release the chess piece,” Nathaniel said. “I still had the option to change my mind.”
“Fine, but speed it up.”
There was no need for speed. The telegram hadn’t been delivered, and they might be here for hours. They each moved threemore times, and Nathaniel wondered if Luke was deliberately goading him by carelessly moving his black piece only a second after each of Nathaniel’s carefully analyzed moves.
“Check,” Luke said after moving a knight into position.
Nathaniel captured the knight with a pawn. “That was a stupid move. You weren’t even looking at the board.”
“That’s because I’m looking at Captain Holland’s house and don’t need to win a chess game to prove my manhood. How about I circle around to the back of the house and peek in the windows?”
“To what end?”
“To see if I can find out who’s home and who he consorts with. It’s called being decisive.”
“It’s called an illegal search and can invalidate any evidence we find. Your move.”
Luke casually shifted another pawn, once again acting without even studying the board. “What I’d like to know is if you’re going to capitulate and take Caroline to the Smithsonian. You can still take her to the reception if you delay your trip to Milwaukee by a day.”
Nathaniel wasn’t about to discuss his near-sacred feelings for Caroline with her irreverent brother. Besides, Luke had just dangerously exposed the black queen. He could capture it, but it would come at the cost of his own bishop. He analyzed the board, projecting several moves ahead to see if he could get the queen at a lower cost.
“I think you ought to take her,” Luke continued. “She pretends to be invincible, but if you prick her feelings, she’ll never forget.”
Nathaniel grunted in reply, anything to get Luke to shut up. He slid his bishop, pausing to analyze the downstream implications of—
“Once again!” he said in annoyance. “You need to wait until my hand is off the piece before moving.”
“Such a rule-follower,” Luke sighed as he returned his pawn to its original square. “Really. Take my advice. You need to escort Caroline to the Smithsonian, or she’ll—”
“I want to be in Milwaukee by the end of the week.” Even adding these extra few days in Washington were costly to his mission.
