He arched an eyebrow. “We have?”
“Yes. In previous reports from the police, they had found witnesses that said they saw a man with your features, which of course, led us to believe it was you. But we’ve discovered this person does not look like you at all. His hair is even a different color.”
Ashton nodded. “That is true.” He took a deep breath. “But I find it curious because the man resembles Glynn Nickerson quite a bit, don’t you agree?”
“Indeed, I do.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Although we weren’t able to see his face, the hair color, and size of the man from the back did point to your friend, Mr. Nickerson.”
“I just can’t understand his motive.” Ashton raked his fingers through his hair. “Why would Glynn want to steal the queen’s money, and when it was being delivered on our own railway, no less?”
“It makes me wonder if he has something against the queen.” She tilted her head, keeping Ashton’s stare. “By chance, do you know anything about why he would feel this way?”
Ashton’s jaw grew hard as his gaze skimmed the crowd. He didn’t say anything for a few awkward minutes, and Nicole figured he was thinking. She hoped he could remember something about Nickerson’s life.
He sighed, blowing out a frustrated breath. “The fact of the matter is...I really don’t know that much about Glynn, and I know even less about Steve.” He grumbled, walked to a bench, and sat. “When I was first interested in becoming a partner, I didn’t know my father had gone behind my back to bribe Glynn and Steve. Glynn had always been outgoing and friendly. Steve, on the other hand, was always distant. At first, I wondered why Steve brought me on as a partner if he didn’t really want me, but then I convinced myself that the man acted this way because that was the kind of man he was.”
Nicole sat beside Ashton. “So, Glynn never told you about his life?”
“Not really. He always seemed more interested in my life and wanting to know about me and my family.”
“What happened to make you discover your father had bribed them?”
Frowning, he shook his head and glanced at his knees. “It was just after my father’s funeral. I had overheard Glynn and Steve in the office talking. They didn’t know I was there, because they didn’t think I had return to work so soon after my father’s death.” He leaned his back against the wall of the building and folded his arms. “They were discussing if they were going to keep me on. Steve was the one who mentioned something about my father bribing them. I remember feeling so angry I walked out of my office and surprised them. I told them that I was legally their partner, and unless they bought out my shares, I wasn’t going to leave. Glynn had mumbled something about me being a good partner, because I had fresh ideas, but Steve never agreed with him.” Ashton shrugged and met Nicole’s stare. “After that, nothing more was said, and nobody brought up the subject again.”
“Well,” she exhaled deeply, “let’s hope Mrs. Phelps or one of the other detectives will be able to discover more about Nickerson and Larson. I agree with you that this man who stole the money today resembles Mr. Nickerson quite a bit.”
He slapped his knees and stood. “Do you think we should do more looking around, or should we head back to Liverpool?”
“When does the railway leave?” She rose to her feet, too.
Ashton pulled out his timepiece from his pocket and glanced at it. “In fifteen minutes.”
“Then I suppose we should board before it departs.”
Ashton studied her face in silence. His gaze skimmed over her face slowly, and then moved up to her hair. Slowly, the corners of his mouth stretched into a smile, and he shook his head. “If you are trying to look like a boy, you need to stay in character.” His fingers brushed by the locks of hair that had fallen out of her cap.
Chuckling, she quickly stuffed the stray hair back into her cap. “Yeah, well...at least I didn’t lose my wig like you did.” She touched the crooked hair above his top lip. “And if you want to keep this mustache, you had better fix it.”
“True.” He adjusted the mustache. “Is that better?”
As she studied his handsome face, she couldn’t help but smile. “It’s not better, but at least it’s on straight.”
“What do you mean it’s not better?” He scowled.
“I happen to think you are more handsome without a mustache, and since it’s blonde, and you lost your blonde wig, it doesn’t match your hair at all.”
The anger lines in his face disappeared. Even the color in his eyes softened. He ripped off the mustache and stuck it in his coat pocket. “Well, um...shall we head back to the railcar now?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
They walked side by side in silence. If things were different between them, she would suggest staying here for an extra day and taking in a little sightseeing. But that really wouldn’t be proper since they weren’t married. And if her father found out—she would never hear the end of it.
Ashton paid for their tickets, and they boarded. He found two seats in the back of one of the cars that seemed disjointed from the others. Wearily, Nicole sat, and she knew she’d fall asleep during the ride back. But what she really wanted to do was cuddle with Ashton. Yet he was still upset at her, she could tell. He was probably put out with her for following him this morning. She should feel that way about him since he was the one that didn’t inform her of his plans, yet he agreed they should work together to catch the thief.
Ashton relaxed in his chair and stared out the window. Nicole wanted his attention, but more than that, she wanted his trust. If only she could gain it soon.
Gently, she placed her hand on his arm. “Ashton?”
His head snapped toward hers. “What?”
