Nicole frowned as she applied the medicine to the wound. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Angela shook her head. “He left my sister scarred and pregnant. She was the topic of gossip, and no other man wanted to touch her or even talk to her after that. Women turned away from her as they walked down the street in town. Everyone shunned her, yet it was Glynn Nickerson who should have paid. Instead, he started up a railway business with another man and became rich. There was complications with my sister’s pregnancy, and both she and the child died.”
“Oh, how awful.” Nicole’s heart grew heavy. “I’m so sorry this happened to your family, but you really should have said something to me or at least to my father.”
“I couldn’t. Your father would have taken me off the case if he knew I harbored vengeful feelings toward Glynn.” She took a deep breath. “And I wasn’t about to let him off without a fight. I was determined to find out what really happened.”
“Did you?” Nicole asked as she carefully wrapped Angela’s arm.
“Yes.” She took a laborious breath. “After I discovered Glynn had been blackmailing Mrs. Larson, I followed him closely. I saw him meet with someone I hadn’t seen for a few years. In fact, Glynn had given this man money...but it wasn’t for opium.”
“What?” Nicole stopped her hands. “Are you talking about Joseph Donnelly?”
Angela nodded. “The very man who you caught selling to Mrs. Larson.”
“Was Glynn buying from Joseph as well?”
“No. Glynn had hired Joseph to steal the queen’s money.”
“How...when...” Nicole shook her head. “How did you find this out?”
“I caught Joseph after he had taken some opium and was very relaxed.” She grinned. “He jabbered like a woman. He explained in detail how he had robbed the railway several times. He used opium in the guard’s drinks, and then took the money when they drifted off to sleep. He used a rope to tie at the top of the railway for his getaway.”
“That is how you did it.”
“Indeed, I did it that way. I wanted everything to look exactly like it did when Joseph had planned it, except this time, I wanted people to think Glynn was the thief.”
Once Nicole had Angela’s arm wrapped, she leaned against the edge of the table nearby and sighed. “You really gave a convincing performance, you know. Ashton and I actually thought you were Glynn.”
“That was my goal.” She smiled.
“But the others, as well as the police, need to know this. You are aware of that, right?”
“I know, and I also know, I won’t go to jail for it...only because I placed the money in Glynn’s house so that the police would arrest him. The money that I stole belongs to Ashton Lee, and he’ll get it back.” She shrugged. “I’m really getting too old to play detective, anyway. Perhaps it’s time I find a more relaxing career.”
“I know what you mean.” Nicole nodded. “I’ve grown close to Ashton, and well...I’ve had thoughts about marriage and starting a family. I don’t want to be a detective any longer.”
“Are you and Ashton in love?”
“Well, I thought so.” Nicole’s eyes watered. “But after I told him about my true identity, he thinks he can’t trust me now. Because of that, he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“Oh, my dear Nicole. Give him time. Give his heart time to heal, as well as yours.”
“I’m afraid his heart will never heal.”
“You must have faith, my dear. A man in love will eventually allow his heart to lead the way.”
Suddenly, from the hallway, an eerie laugh bounced off the walls as the creek of footsteps came closer. Nicole jumped up and faced the doorway. Joseph Donnelly sauntered in holding a pistol and pointed it toward Nicole.
“That’s a bunch of rubbish, ye ‘no,” he snickered. “Men will never let their hearts lead the way. But really, it doesna matter if Mr. Lee loves ye or not. Neither of ye will be alive much longer anyway.”
His evil grin sent chills of dread up Nicole’s spine. How could she escape this? For the first time in her life, she was all out of ideas.
Chapter Twenty-One
Being a detective for many years had taught Nicole a lot of things, and not to panic in dire situations was one of them. Unfortunately, because today’s situation looked bleak, she couldn’t stop the fear building inside her right now.
This wasn’t the first time she had faced a criminal as he held a pistol or knife to her, and thankfully, she lived to tell about it. However, seeing the murderous intent in Joseph Donnelly’s eyes let her know that she might not live to tell about this particular tale. His determined expression let her know he was going to get his way and there was nothing she could do to talk him out of it.
