Secrets and Lies

Eleven

New York, one week later

Nicole fidgeted on her chair, waiting for Mr. Walters to arrive so he could give instructions to her and the others who would be working on this case. Her brother and father were also in the room, and sat beside her. Seeing her father again after they'd been away for a few months was a great homecoming. However, it had only taken a few days for boredom to settle in and she wished she could return to Staten Island and finish getting to know Ashton Lee...the man she couldn't stop thinking—and dreaming—about.

President Grant had put his lead agent over this railroad robbery case, and she could tell her father was a little irritated that the president hadn't selected him. The agents had worked with Mr. Walters before, and she didn't have a problem with working with him this time...as long as the old geezer would show up and inform them on what was happening with the train robberies.

Her father and brother leaned in toward each other, whispering about something. She paid them no attention, choosing to let her mind wander. She missed Ashton terribly, which surprised her because she hadn't known him for very long in the first place. But whenever they were together, it brought on a different kind of excitement that she wanted to experience again.

Over the past few days, she'd done a lot of thinking. She decided that once this case was over, she would return to Staten Island and find Ashton and see if they could pick up where they'd left off. She would tell him about her Secret Agent life and if he wanted her to stop, she would. If he wanted to marry her, she would certainly think long and hard about that, too.

The door to the small room where they all waited opened and Mr. Walters walked in holding some papers. After moving to the front of the room and placing the papers on the desk, he faced the room of six agents.

"Forgive me for taking so long, but I have had a few meetings with President Grant who was in town for a quick visit." He took a deep breath. "Now I'm ready to tell you about your newest assignment."

Nicole stopped fidgeting in her chair and folded her hands on her lap, ready to pay attention to every word. They were all good agents, and she was confident that they would find the person in charge of these train robberies quickly.

"About two months ago, one of New York's major railroad lines, Conrail Rails, had some thefts during the time the trains were going from one location to another."

Her mind screeched to a halt. Conrail? Wasn't that the railroad that Ashton Lee was with? Unease churned inside her and she gripped her hands tighter, listening to Mr. Walters as he continued.

"These aren't ordinary thefts." Walters shook his head. "During the war, similar thefts had been happening on the same trains, but back then, not only government mail was being stolen but gold bars as well. Now, however, the thefts consist of the monies being transferred from the government to the U.S. Army to rebuild the south. Because of this particular situation, President Grant wants only his best agents on the case—which is why the six of you were chosen."

As Walters shuffled through some of the papers on the desk, she glanced around at the other agents. Besides her family, there was Mr. George Banks, Mr. Peter Cartwright, and the widow Mrs. Phelps. Nicole trusted them with her life, just as she knew they trusted her with theirs.

Banks and Cartwright were middle-aged gentlemen with no families. They had been married once, but lost their wives to a sickness early in their marriages. A year ago, the forty-year-old widow Mrs. Phelps had lost her husband, who was also a Secret Agent, in the line of duty. Nicole was grateful that the other woman chose to stay with the agency, because there were only a few women agents now that the war was over.

"There are three owners of this rail line," Walters continued, "Glynn Nickerson, Steve Larson, and Ashton Lee."

"Did the robberies happen on the same day of the week?" Mrs. Phelps asked.

"No," Walters replied. "Every robbery happened on a different day."

"Do the police have any suspects yet," Nicole's father asked.

"Not yet, which is why President Grant wants us to look into it. This has been going on for too long without suspects." Walters nodded decisively.

"When was the latest robbery?" Gordon asked.

"Exactly one week ago." Walters looked down at his paper again. "On a Thursday, in fact."

Nicole frowned. That was the day before General Babcock's masked ball...the day before she met the man of her dreams. Had Ashton and the other owners known about the robberies? Of course they did. It was their railroad that was being robbed, for Heaven's sake.

The more she thought about it, the more she found it odd that all three of the co-owners were enjoying a pleasant evening at the Babcock's home that next night after the latest robbery.

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the doubt sneaking in. Ashton wouldn't have known about it and went to a ball the very next day. What was she thinking? That man was so kind and considerate. No, he wouldn't have been so crass to do something that heartless.

Mr. Walters gave the six agents a piece of paper. "These are the names and addresses of the owners. Hopefully, they will be able to help you with this case."

Immediately, she glanced to Ashton's name. The address that was written down was here in New York. Apparently, they hadn't gotten his new address in Staten Island, since she knew he'd recently moved. But, she could certainly get it.

Excitement leapt inside her chest. Because she already knew Ashton, she could get answers from him easily. They'd have this case solved in no time, and then she'd be back in his arms, enjoying their time together once again.

However, she couldn't let him know she was investigating the train robberies. There was a reason they were titled Secret Agents. They weren't supposed to tell anyone their purpose, which meant she couldn't let Ashton know. Not yet, anyway.

Nevertheless, this would be a good excuse for her to return to Staten Island—because Ashton was there.

She had missed the last bit that Walters told the group before excusing himself and leaving. Her father and brother were already turning to the other agents, making assignments. Her father sat on the edge of his chair with his elbows resting on his knees.

"I have a plan," he stated.

She arched an eyebrow. "Already?"

"Yes." He removed his brown felt, bowler hat and scratched his head, tossing the light brown thinning hair with streaks of silver to one side.

"Tell us," Mr. Banks urged.

"I was thinking about having Gordon and Nicole board the train tomorrow."

She huffed and blurted out quickly before anyone else could say anything, "What's that going to accomplish?"

When her father gave her that agitated look, she knew she had spoken too soon. Then again, her father should be used to her questions by now. She'd always been a curious girl.

"If you'd wait a few minutes," he said slowly and in a stern voice, "I shall explain." He took a deep breath, placing his hat back on his head. "While riding on the train, I would like you and your brother to watch and see what happens with the porters and those who load and unload the railcars. If you get a chance to talk to those who work on the train, ask them about the robberies. Maybe we'll be able to get some leads that way."

"Father," Gordon asked, "what will you be doing?"

"I'm going to pay a visit to those who are working at the Conrail business office and see what's going on."

Nicole knew her father always played the part of someone who was assisting the police with the case. That was how he could get more direct answers. Gordon and Nicole always went undercover to sneak around. Not many people knew that they were all related.

She wanted to argue with her father so that she could visit the Conrail offices—both here in New York, and the one in Staten Island—but she didn't want her father knowing what she'd done with Ashton Lee. Right now, that would not be a good thing to disclose.

Gordon glanced briefly at Nicole before nodding to his father. "We can do that, Father."

"You won't have to take a long ride on the train," her father continued. "Buy a ticket for a short trip so you'll be there and back in one day."

"All right, Father," she said softly, trying her hardest not to frown.

"What would you like us to do?" Mrs. Phelps asked as she motioned her hand to Banks and Cartwright.

While her father dished out more instructions, jumbled thoughts created havoc in Nicole's head and she wasn't listening to what the others would be doing. She should tell her father that she'd met Ashton at the ball, yet at the same time, she worried that telling her parent might get her removed from this case. Although, keeping secrets between agents wasn't a good thing, either. Sighing, she rubbed her forehead, feeling the headache come faster than she wanted.

"Are you ill, Nicole?" her father asked.

She offered a weak smile. "I just have a small headache. It'll pass before tomorrow, I assure you."

"Splendid." He patted her hand once before squeezing it. "I'm certain within two days we'll have gathered enough information to have at least one suspect. We'll have this case solved in no time."

"Yes, we will, Father." She nodded. Yet deep down inside, she didn't like that she withheld the truth from the others. If her father ever found out that she held feelings for Ashton, her parent would be disappointed in her.