“Mark Becker,” Sheriff Young said from where he leaned against his desk. “Meet Mrs. McNab. Mrs. McNab, Mr. Becker is the man assigned to protect Miss Montgomery.”
Mark winced inwardly at the description of his job. Fine work he’d done at that. He’d grown too trusting, too sure of himself. Now Charlotte’s life could be in danger. And if he had to hazard a guess, it would be at the hands of Mrs. McNab’s husband.
“The church was a distraction,” he said. It was a more a statement than a question, but the woman slowly nodded her head.
Tears filled her eyes and she looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for everything.”
“Mrs. McNab brought us something very interesting.” The sheriff handed Mark a slip of dirty, crumpled paper.
Mark skimmed the halting message. It read like a telegram, words condensed to lower the cost. He read it through again, and his blood thrummed in his ears.
“It’s a note for ransom,” he said in an even voice that barely disguised the anger and fear hidden below the surface. “For Char—Miss Montgomery.”
“I didn’t know what else to do.” Mrs. McNab clenched her hands together, looking beyond pitiful in her torn skirts and tearstained face. “I couldn’t send it. I’ve already done so much I wish I hadn’t. I couldn’t make it worse than it already was. So I came here.”
“You made the right decision,” Caldwell said, shifting his stance and looking distinctly uncomfortable at Mrs. McNab’s watering eyes.
“Where is she?” Mark’s words were barely restrained. Wherever it was, he wanted to run there, meet this McNab with his fists, and carry Charlotte out in his arms.
Mrs. McNab swallowed as she looked up at him. The fear in her eyes made him immediately regret the harshness in his words.
“The edge of town, far out Greenwood Avenue to the east,” she said in a choked voice. “The last house on the left.”
“I know the place,” Young said. “Dilapidated. Used to be a fellow named Polson lived there.”
“He’s there now,” she said. “Along with my— my husband.” Fresh tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Anyone else?” Caldwell asked.
She shook her head.
“Are they armed?”
She nodded, seemingly incapable of words.
“I’m going,” Mark said before Young could get a word out.
The sheriff nodded. “Harry, will you round us up some more men? We might be in need of help.”
“What are we going to do with her?” Caldwell asked, finally dropping his arms.
The sheriff eyed Mrs. McNab. Mark wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen anyone more pathetic in his life.
“She ought to go into one of those cells,” Young finally said. “But I think she’d be better off upstairs with Penny.”
“I deserve the jail,” she finally said.
“You might, but go on up and get something to eat first.” Young gestured at the nearby stairs, which led up to the rooms he lived in with his wife. “Penny will look after you.”
The woman finally relented, and as soon as the door shut upstairs, they left, Caldwell turning right while Mark and the sheriff went to the left. They walked at a fast clip in silence, until they passed the last of the businesses.
“I don’t know much about McNab,” Young said. “I don’t know if he’s twitchy or calm. I don’t know if he’ll listen to reason or go down with the ship. Might be best to sneak up on the place rather than announce ourselves.”
Mark nodded. “Whatever you say. I just want Miss Montgomery out of there as soon as possible, and unharmed.” It was all he wanted.Shewas all he wanted. And if he got her out of there, he’d tell her that as soon as he could.
As the house came into view, they hung back. It was late enough that the few houses that were even remotely nearby were dark inside. What looked like a single lamp shone from somewhere in the front room of the house in question.
Young gestured at Mark, and they moved silently around the side of the house from a distance. The windows in the rear of the place were dark.
