“When did this happen?”
Esther immediately felt defensive. “I don’t know. It was just a while back.”
Pearl came to stand directly in front of her. She took hold of Esther’s hands. “Esther, please, you must tell everything you know. These men aren’t to be trusted.”
She bit her lower lip. “Addie was reprimanding me for something and was quite harsh. When she left, this man showed up and told me he was Addie’s brother. That was that. He wanted me to help him to get in touch with her ... alone.”
“Well, you see where that got her.”
“I didn’t know he would hurt her. I didn’t know that there would be any trouble,” she lied. She had always known that Hiram meant some harm for Addie, and Esther had thought it an adequate recompense for all that she’d done to cause problems.
“Where are Addie’s brothers now?”
“I don’t know. I only ever knew that if I needed to tell Hiram something, I could leave him a note. He said he would check from time to time and get in touch with me.”
“We need to let Isaac know about this. He’ll know how we should handle this.” She fell silent and looked at Esther with a look of pity and reproach. “I wish you would have let us know when he first approached you. Knowing that her brother was in town—here—would have helped to keep her safe.”
Esther shook off anger at the look on the woman’s face. She wasn’t going to allow the others to make her feel guilty. She’d done nothing wrong.
“Well, it’s not like they can do anything to her while she’s in the hospital,” Esther said, pulling away from Pearl. “I’m sure the police will find Addie’s brothers before she can be hurt again.”
An hour later, Isaac and two uniformed policemen stood in the photo shop, listening to Esther relate her story. It was quickly decided that Esther would leave a note for Hiram in the regular place and hope that she could entice him to meet with her one more time.
Esther carefully penned the request, suggesting that Hiram could meet her near the Swedish building and Ferris wheel at exactly four o’clock the next afternoon. Esther had told them that they needed to give him plenty of time to get the message. She figured at least a day.
“Hopefully he’ll respond quickly, and we’ll have our man,” one of the policemen declared. “I’m anxious to see him caught.”
Isaac shook his head. “For a department that considered this nothing more than a domestic squabble unworthy of their attention, I’m surprised to find you saying so.”
“I don’t happen to agree with my department. I think this is a critical issue, and we must encourage change. My own mother and sisters have been victims of such treatment.”
Nodding, Isaac offered an apology. “I am sorry to misjudge you. It’s just this whole thing has caused me nothing but grief. Addie won’t be able to rest properly until her brothers are caught and put away.”
“I’m finished,” Esther said, holding up the folded letter.
“Good. Now take it as you would have before and put it where Hiram will find it,” Isaac said. “If we are unable to catch up to them before tomorrow, you’ll have to go to the appointed place and wait for Hiram. We’ll have men nearby to keep you from harm.”
Esther hadn’t realized she’d need to be a part of the capture. “Do I have to be there?”
“I know it’s a frightening proposition,” Isaac said, sounding quite sympathetic, “but we must make it look as legitimate as possible. Hiram is a smart man. He won’t be easily caught, I fear.”
Esther nodded. “So do I.”
22
Hiram maneuvered through the crowd of expo attendees. He hoped no one would recognize him. The last thing he wanted to do was have some sort of run-in with Addie’s friends. Then again, he was desperate to know where she was and how he could get her back in his custody. He’d been a fool to leave her alone at the cottage. That was a mistake he wouldn’t make again.
He checked the box where he’d directed Esther to leave him messages and, to his happy surprise, found one waiting. He hurried to pocket it and then moved away from the crowded areas to find a place to read the note.
He finally found a secluded path. Young couples often strolled here to be hidden from view, but luckily no one else was around. He sat down on a rock and pulled out the letter.
“Must see you,” he read aloud. He read on in silence noting that Esther wanted to see him at four o’clock by the Ferris wheel. He had no idea what time it was. They’d returned to the expo around noon. He’d given Shep the task of picking up their final pay and giving notice that they’d quit their jobs. That way, he figured if their boss knew what was going onand had the police watching for them, they’d only get Shep. Shep had been too stupid to worry about the matter. The thought of getting paid was all that he had on his mind.
They were supposed to meet up by the new ferry launch as soon as they each concluded their business, so Hiram tucked the note back in his pocket and made his way down to where the ferry would dock for passengers.
As a man passed by, Hiram asked him the time. “Three thirty,” the man responded and continued up the graveled path.
“Thanks.” Hiram glanced around for Shep, starting to feel a sense of irritation. That’s how it always was when something was about to go down. He didn’t feel afraid, just frustrated—annoyed really. He supposed it was due to the control of the situation being stripped from him.
