Elizabeth Drake

Chapter Seven

The small town that she had spent most of her life in seemed about as large as a mouse-hole compared to the city. Black smoke rose out of the factory chimneys, and the familiar smell of burning coal surrounded Caterwood. It must have rained continuously since Elizabeth left the town over a week before. Mud covered everything and the road was a mess of ruts and potholes.

“We have to go to the pub first,” Elizabeth called out to Ryan as the carriage moved slowly down through the mess.

“We don’t have time for a drink,” he called back.

For the first time since she had met him, Elizabeth knew that he was joking. Apparently, she had begun to hear the slight difference in his voice when he was kidding.

“Turn left here. It is right across the street from the factory.”

The carriage made the turn and Elizabeth started to feel much more comfortable with the familiar surroundings. The front of the glass factory came into sight bringing more of the familiar setting to her. When they rounded the corner and pulled up to the pub, she was relieved to see Jacob sweeping mud off the pub steps.

“Elizabeth, I was wondering when you would ever get back here,” Jacob said as Ryan helped her out of the carriage. The look in his single gray eye told her that she had been thought of. “There has been a lot of commotion since you left.” As soon as her feet hit the ground, Jacob pulled her into a quick embrace.

“Has anyone heard anything about my Father?”

“I have some real bad news for you.” Jacob lowered his deep blue eye before he cleared his throat. “You and your friend might want to come in and have a seat,” he said as he opened the door.

“What do you mean by real bad news?” She asked as she followed him in.

“You are repeating again,” Ryan pointed out quietly as he followed her into the pub. The situation did not need his brief and rude comment. So, Elizabeth ignored him completely and walked to the nearest chair.

“Go ahead and have a seat Beth,” Jacob whispered in a kind voice. “This is not going to be easy for you.”

There was no way for her to imagine what was about to be said. Nothing could have been worse than someone murdering her father and trying to kill her and her brother, but as she looked at the single eye that stared back at her with concern, Elizabeth became very afraid.

“What is it?” She asked as soon as she could force the words out. Jacob looked over to Ryan and lowered his head.

“It is the house, Beth. There was a fire just after you and I left.” He paused for a moment as Elizabeth reacted to the news. “There is nothing left.”

A deep ache in her chest started to form as she tried to comprehend what he had said. The feeling was as physical as it was emotional. It became difficult to breathe, and Elizabeth held her focus on the scratches in the floorboards as she tried to hold back the tears.  She could hear Ryan give a deep sigh as Jacob leaned forward, placing his hand over hers.

“I’m sorry,” Jacob offered. “I don’t know what else to say.”

Elizabeth began to find the painful ache too much for her to hide. Her eyebrows drew together as she fought the scream that wanted to get out. She had stopped breathing for a few seconds. However, when she lifted her watery eyes to Jacob, she found strength in his compassion.

“There was no one there. It took several hours to put the fire out.” Jacob’s hand squeezed her hand tightly. “We were all just glad that you were safe and far away when it happened.”

“Was there anyone snooping around here that day?” Ryan hated to interrupt the conversation, but he had to ask the question. “Was there anyone looking for Miss Drake or sneaking around the factory?” Jacob released Elizabeth’s hand and sat straight up.

“Mr. Hawke, right?” He asked as he tolerated the banker. When Ryan nodded in agreement Jacob continued. “We haven’t seen anyone strange around here at all.” Looking away from Elizabeth’s anguish, he tried to think of anything important. “The only thing of interest that we’ve heard was what Beth had said. My son went looking over the hill after her and I had left that day.” Jacob motioned toward Elizabeth. “But he did not find anything. There was no sign of Daniel, and no sign of Giles.” Being seated in the chair was helping to keep her conscious. As Elizabeth remained silent, Ryan took over the conversation.

“We need to get into Daniel’s office at the factory.” Ryan sat in the chair next to Elizabeth and looked over to her occasionally, to see how she was handling the news. “Is there anyone that could help us get inside?” Nodding his head slowly, Jacob reached over and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand once more.

“I am sure that Robbie could get you in.”

“Thank you, Mr. Lara.” Elizabeth looked over to Ryan. He seemed more than surprised as she stood up from her chair. “Let’s go. I want to get this over with.”

The way that she held herself made Ryan certain that she was not handling the news well. Her stance shifted slightly from one leg to the other, and she seemed to lean forward more than usual.

“Do you want to stay here while I go?” Ryan asked as he came to his feet and placed his hand below her elbow. Elizabeth shook her head gently and continued to stare at the floor.

“No,” she replied in a whisper with her eyes straying over the floorboards. “I have to go with you.”

“Beth,” Jacob called before she turned toward the door. “You let me know if you need anything.”

“I will,” she whispered as she turned away.

Everything that her father had owned, and all her belongings were gone. The paintings that hung on the walls, the quilt that Fanny had made her for Christmas, and all the little treasures that she had admired through the years had vanished. The pain in her chest began to grow once more as Elizabeth stepped out of the pub.

“Miss Drake,” Ryan called. She ignored him easily and placed her new boots in the mud once more. “Elizabeth, look at me.”

When her eyes met his, all her strength failed her. The tears that had been hidden began to fall. Ryan stood for only a moment as Elizabeth began to cry in front of him. He was not a compassionate man. However, he pulled her to him almost instantly.

Elizabeth resisted the embrace at first. However, when Ryan’s arms slid around her shoulders, she nearly collapsed into him. Her hand covered her eyes as the tears fell. With both arms in front of her, she felt the pain in her chest begin to swell.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear as she huddled in front of him. “You’re alright.”

Holding close to Ryan for just a few minutes more, Elizabeth became more aware of what she still had to do. Whoever had killed her father had destroyed her house and all her belongings with it. Not to mention that she had watched a man beat her brother bloody just a few hours before. Standing on her own, Elizabeth wiped her tears as the anger began to build.

“I want to know why this is happening,” she said before she looked up to Ryan. Her sorrow began to turn to anger right in front of him, and Ryan welcomed the change.

“You have the answer in the envelope.” The reminder was spoken gently, but Elizabeth refused to give in.

“No. I won’t give it to you.”

“Then let’s go,” he suggested as he placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to look into her eyes. Straightening her back and taking a deep breath, Elizabeth nodded her head.

“Alright,” she said as she looked up at the large brick building. “Robbie will get us into the office, but I have never been there. I am not sure where to look.” Ryan almost smiled at his own skills.

“That’s alright. I think I know where to start.”

The mud on the road made the journey slow, but eventually Elizabeth reached the front door of the factory and pulled on the handle. It was hot, smoky, and dark inside. There were crates piled up in the corner. Large metal hooks and platforms hung from the ceiling. A few rays of light seeped into the room from ash-covered windows, but it was still difficult to see.

The main room smelled like soot, oil, and sweat. About fifty workers stood over hot ovens and shouted orders to each other. Elizabeth was more than surprised at what she saw. Large and odd shaped metal tools hung from the walls and from ropes that dangled from the ceiling. Embers and ash flew out of the ovens as men turned soft glass over metal poles and pushed it into molds.

“You can’t be in here,” a familiar voice called to them.

“Robbie,” Elizabeth looked at the barely familiar man and waited for him to recognize her. “I am Elizabeth Drake.”

“Miss Drake,” he repeated as he came to stand in front of her. “We were wondering when you would come back.” He spoke without a smile. “Have you seen my father yet?” Nodding her head slowly she looked back at Ryan.

 “This is Mr. Hawke. He has come to help me find something of my Father’s.”

“I don’t know what you want to find, but you are welcome to look.” Leading them away from the front door, Robbie walked to the side of the factory where a small corner office sat unoccupied. “John McCallister has been handling things around here lately, but he has his own office right next door there,” Robbie said as he pointed to a closed door.

“Has anyone been through here?” Ryan asked as he looked at the men that were close enough to hear.

“Not that I know of, and I’m here every day.” Robbie opened the door quickly and walked inside with them. “Is there anything that I can help you find?”

“Thank you.” Elizabeth shook her head but was still too emotional to offer a smile.

“Well, let me know if you need anything.” He smiled politely before he left the room.

There was one window in the small room. However, the light that came through it made the room look dark and gray. Ryan walked over to the small oak desk and began rummaging through the stack of papers that sat on top. There was nothing inside the office except the desk, two small chairs, and a lamp. Elizabeth watched as Ryan read a few lines on every page and continued to flip through them.

“What are you looking for?” She asked. Setting down another piece of paper, Ryan picked up another and skimmed over it.

“Anything,” he answered. “Mostly, I am looking for money transactions with Andrew Roshire’s name on it.” Lifting a file with more papers in it, he offered them to Elizabeth. “Here,” he whispered. “See if you can find anything with Andrew’s name on it.”

“How can you see anything in here with this light?” Elizabeth asked as she took the folder from him.

“There is plenty of light in here.” Ryan looked over his shoulder to the window before continuing to read through the orders. “Light the lamp if you need to.”

“I don’t know what to look for.” Elizabeth looked at the lamp and back to the file.

 “Just look for Andrew’s name.” Ryan continued to skim over each page as he reassured her.

“Don’t you feel strange going through someone else’s belongings?” Elizabeth lowered the file to her side and waited for him to answer. Holding a piece of paper in each hand, Ryan looked at her like she was a little odd.

“These are not your father’s personal belongings. They are the company’s records.” His eyes looked up to Elizabeth as she continued to hold the folder by her side. “If you don’t want to look then just give me the folder.” Elizabeth lifted the folder and looked at it.

“I just don’t think it is right.”

He was very confused by her morals. Even after Elizabeth had found out that her house had burned down, she was not going to set propriety aside. It was highly likely that Andrew Roshire had set the house ablaze. In fact, Ryan had no doubt in his mind that it was Andrew. However, Elizabeth was not lifting a finger to solve the problem.

“Give me that.” He held up his hand and waited until she handed over the file. “Either sit down or go find something else to do.”

The woman was infuriating. She had a letter with her from the moment she arrived in Burdery that she would not reveal, and now she stood in the office and refused to look for information.  The more that Ryan questioned her behavior the more his anger grew.

“Do you know what,” Ryan said to her just before she reached for the door. “I think it is a reasonable request that you sit there.” Ryan pointed to the chair in front of the desk. “That way, if I do stumble across any information, you can tell me if you know anything more.” Thinking further on his idea he added, “Unless that goes against your morals or your memory only works in life threatening situations.”

“You don’t have to be rude.” She spat at him. Stunned by her idiotic response Ryan continued searching through the papers as she sat down.

“I am pretty damn sure that this situation calls for it.”

“This should not even be a situation!” Elizabeth removed her bonnet and attempted to defend herself once more. Placing her hatpin into the wicker she looked up at Ryan as he read another paper. “I would like to point out that I did not ask for your help in this, nor did I ask for my brother’s. I simply need to get to Oswald Roshire! I do not need to play detective in a filthy factory!”

“Well, at least you are not an ungrateful spoiled brat! That would have been too much fun for me,” Ryan added without emotion as he picked up a piece of paper. “Who is Duncan Carver?”

“I have no idea.” Elizabeth answered as she quietly fumed over his insult. “Why?” Ryan continued to skim the page before he looked at the one behind it.

“I’m not sure. It looks like he made a rather large order and paid for it, but there is nothing stating what the order was.

“It was probably for glass,” Elizabeth stated under her breath before she realized that she had made the comment much like he would.

“You would think so,” Ryan flipped back to the first page once more before reading the order again, “but all the other orders have a quantity, description, and an itemized bill.” Taking a moment to look at a couple of other orders that he had seen, he went back to the one that was strange. “This one simply has last month’s date, Mr. Carver’s name, and an amount.” For the first time since they had entered the office, Elizabeth seemed interested.

“Was it a large amount?”

“The largest I have seen here, but I don’t know if it is enough to kill someone,” Ryan added quietly. “Then again, the amount doesn’t matter. We just need to know the reason.” After looking at the papers once more, Ryan looked over to Elizabeth. “Do you know the name?” Shaking her head slowly, Elizabeth tried to remember if she had ever heard it before.

“I don’t think so,” she added slowly.

Ryan made a low huffing sound without looking toward her. It was very possible that Elizabeth would not remember anything until it was too late to use the information.

“I am going to keep this one on hand in case we need it later.”

The sun began to set just outside the filthy window. Elizabeth tried to hide her sadness as she thought about the destruction of her house. Ryan continued to rummage through the desk and the papers. However, nothing seemed to be out of order except the one strange receipt.

“Alright,” he said after several minutes of the search. “I am not seeing anything. Maybe we should just try to make it to Cameron.”

“Mr. Hawke,” Elizabeth looked out the window and noticed a couple of riders coming down the street. Ryan quickly went to the window and looked toward the approaching strangers.

“I don’t know them,” he whispered. “But we had better get out of here if we want to avoid Gatler and Harland.” Taking a small stack of papers and concealing them inside his jacket, Ryan walked around the desk as Elizabeth stood up. “Where did you want to go?”

“Up that hill,” she pointed out the window. “That is where my house is, was.”

“Listen,” Ryan began. “I don’t think it is a good idea.”

“I need to know if there is anything for me to come back to.” Elizabeth held his gaze with certainty. Inhaling deeply Ryan looked out the window and then back to her.

“Alright, but we don’t have long.”

“I need to stop at a friend’s house too, it is on the way.” Without waiting for an answer, Elizabeth turned around and opened the door to leave. Pausing briefly, Ryan followed her.

“Didn’t you hear me? We don’t have a lot of time,” he reminded her.

“It will only take a few minutes.” Elizabeth fought the urge to raise her hand above her nose to cover the stench and the soot. She nodded to Robbie and walked out the front door of the factory.

“No, we don’t have time now.” Keeping a fast pace, he headed toward the carriage. “You can write to your friend and see her another day.”

“We are stopping,” she nearly demanded.

“I hate to point this out Miss Drake, but I am not your employee.” Before Ryan could walk out the door, Elizabeth turned on him.

“You are not my employee?” She huffed. “I never insinuated that you were. In fact, I am not sure that I would employ someone of your character if I could.”

“Would it be possible for you to stop repeating everything you hear?” Ryan looked down at her with an annoyed glare. “Furthermore, I think my character has been pretty commendable, considering that you are still breathing.” The depth of his eyes returned to the menacing stare that she had seen before.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I am beginning to understand why someone would not want you around.”

“You arrogant…” Elizabeth took a deep breath as Ryan cut in.

“You know Beth, Miss Drake,” he corrected himself. “Your father is dead. Your brother is not looking too good lately, and instead of handing over the letter or helping us figure out what is going on, you want to see your childhood home and go visit a friend!” The tone of his voice and the stern expression on his face infuriated her. “And here is a little something else that you should consider,” Ryan took a step closer to her and lowered his voice. “I am not tangled in this little web of yours. I can walk away at any time I choose.”

There was no way for Elizabeth to know how apparent her fear of him was. The blue of her eyes seemed wide and glossy as she unknowingly took a step away from him.

“Is that a threat?”

“Not at all.” Ryan stayed where he was. “I don’t give threats. Either things get done my way, or I head back to Burdery. What happens to you is not my problem.”