“You are very level-headed, Mr. Lee. I would have never figured you for someone who was intelligent as well as being a lady’s man.”
Ashton cocked his head at Gordon Bastian, not quite understanding what the man was saying. He supposed it was a compliment of sorts. “I thank you...I think.”
Gordon chuckled and peered out the window of the coach, his body swaying back and forth in rhythm with the wheels jutting on the road. “I can see now why you captured my sister’s interest so quickly.”
Ashton bunched his hands into fists on his lap. He really didn’t want to talk about this as they were riding to the jail to confront Glynn Nickerson. In fact, Ashton didn’t want Nicole’s name to come up at all. “Why do you say that?”
The other man leaned back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest. At times Gordon resembled his sister quite a bit. Both siblings had the same hair color, and although Ashton thought Nicole’s eyes were more stunning, Gordon also had brown eyes with flecks of gold. Even some of Gordon’s expressions reminded Ashton of her.
“There is something I think you should know about my sister,” Gordon began. “She has had a hard life. She has grown up without a mother to guide her in the ways of becoming a woman. Instead, she has had a head-strong father who enjoys his job as a detective so much that he is rarely at home. Once our mother died, our father decided he always wanted his children with him, so he taught us how to be detectives.” Gordon lightly tapped his fingers on the seat. “Nicole’s only close friends have been the detectives, and our aunt, uncle, and cousin who live in Meols. Never has Nicole let herself get involved with a man.” He briefly hesitated. “Until now.”
“How sad for her.” Ashton didn’t know what else to say. Was Gordon trying to make him feel guilty? Unfortunately, it was working. He realized that Nicole had told him this story about her life before, so perhaps she hadn’t lied to him about everything. And if she hadn’t lied to him about that, perhaps her feelings for him were real after all.
“Now that I have gotten to know you a little,” Gordon continued, “I can see why she finds you interesting. You think like she does.” He nodded slowly. “I must admit, I didn’t think to have both Mr. Larson and Mr. Nickerson in the same room after the arrest, but now that you have suggested it, I believe it’s a brilliant idea.”
Ashton sighed. “Thank you. I’m certain they will talk more to each other if they think they are alone. Steve Larson is involved somehow, I just know it. He has never been very open with me since I became their partner.” Frowning, he scratched his chin. “Steve has always been bitter. I figured it was just his personality, but now I’m thinking there is a reason for his attitude.”
“And that’s the way a detective thinks.” Gordon pointed his finger at Ashton as he leaned forward in his seat. “My sister would have thought of something like that, which is why I realize she is smitten with you.” He grinned.
Inwardly, Ashton groaned. He really needed to push the topic of conversation away from the temptress. “So, your father is already at the jail with Nickerson?”
“Yes.” Gordon linked his fingers, resting them on his knees. “Father will hint to Nickerson that Larson is talking and naming those involved. Mr. Banks, one of the other detectives, is visiting with Mr. Larson telling him that Nickerson is blabbing his big mouth to the police. It’ll be up to you,” he motioned his head to Ashton, “to carefully listen to the two men when they are finally put together. You’ll know who is telling the truth and who isn’t.”
Ashton blew a gush of air between his lips. “I certainly hope so. I’m tired of this waiting game. I want it over.”
“As do I.”
Not far from the jail, the coach stopped. Ashton and Gordon climbed out and walked toward the building. The palms of Ashton’s hands moistened with nervousness the closer he came. He prayed his partners would be able to say something to help the detectives and the police solve this crime.
Mr. Conrad Bastian, Nicole’s father, leaned against the brick wall, waiting for them outside the jail. When he saw them, he crossed the lawn and met them halfway. He clapped Ashton on the shoulder and nodded.
“I have made Mr. Nickerson nervous. He truly thinks his partner, Steve Larson, is going to confess.”
“Did you check his right arm for the bullet wound?” Ashton wondered.
The older man heaved a sigh and raked his fingers through his grayish-brown hair. “Yes, and the man wasn’t shot in the arm, which means there is another man out there who did this and is trying to frame Mr. Nickerson.”
Ashton shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. If all of this is Glynn’s plan anyway, why would someone go to the trouble of making him look guilty when he is already guilty?”
“That is something I would like to know, as well.” Mr. Conrad Bastian turned toward the jail and walked beside Ashton. “Mr. Nickerson is in a room waiting for Mr. Larson to visit him in his cell. I’ve suggested that Mr. Larson is probably going to pay the money to release him. There is a secret room that connects to this main room, and that is where you will be listening. You’ll need to go in through this back door. A policeman will direct you to where you need to be. Good luck.”
“I really appreciate all the help your family has given me.” Ashton shook hands with Nicole’s brother and father.
Taking a deep breath, and saying a quick prayer, Ashton headed into the jail. Just as Mr. Conrad Bastian had mentioned, a policemen met him and showed him into a small room. There were no windows, so he wondered if he would be able to hear anything at all. He sat on the single chair by the far wall. Perhaps this was the best place to hear what went on in the next room.
Ashton didn’t dare make a sound, just in case Glynn could hear him as well. As Ashton listened closer, he detected heavy footsteps moving back and forth in the next room. It was probably Glynn being impatient as he waited for Steve.
The few minutes that passed, seemed to take forever, but finally he heard the squeak of a door opening, and just as quickly, the pacing stopped.
“You have a visitor, Mr. Nickerson,” a guard announced.
“Oh, Steve, it’s you,” Glynn exclaimed.
It surprised Ashton how well he could hear what was being said in the next room. Once the door shut behind the wall, footsteps knocked heavily against the floor in a hurried pace before suddenly stopping.
“Are you insane?” Steve’s voice growled in the silence.
“Me?” Glynn whined. “I don’t know what you’re referring to, because you are the one insane.”
