The Devil's Teeth (Ravenwood Mysteries #5) Page 15

  "Yes, Captain."

  "Right. Stay here. I need to send a telegram."

  "Please do not tell Din Gau I am here."

  "Riot was likely searching for you all of last night. Stay here. And don't hurt Doctor Bright." She gave the girl a pointed look. "One more thing… where did you get that revolver?"

  "From the attic."

  Julius folded his hands over his waistcoat, watching the two interact He looked as if he were dissecting something interesting.

  Isobel pointed at her daughter. "I don't suggest picking apart this one's brain."

  Jin froze, and swallowed, her eyes sliding to the smiling alienist.

  "I don't dissect brains," Julius said. "Well, not in the living. What does Din Gau mean?"

  "Rabid dog," Jin said, proudly. "He has killed many boo how doy."

  Julius looked to Isobel in question.

  "That's enough, Jin. Stop making up stories." Isobel raised her brows at the girl.

  Jin clicked her mouth shut.

  "You're lucky boo how doy didn't catch you," Isobel said.

  "I would have killed them," Jin hissed.

  Isobel didn't doubt it. The revolver in Julius's pocket was proof of Jin's violent streak.

  20

  Lost and Found

  "What are we looking for, Miss Amsel?" Julius Bright asked.

  Isobel stood in the center of what counted as Samuel Lopez's front yard. Trampled grass, a splintered door, and logs from the wood pile were scattered every which way. The mob of searchers had taken out their frustrations on the man's humble abode.

  "I don't know."

  Jin stood by her side. Quiet and attentive. Her eyes taking in the scene.

  As a child Isobel had loathed adults and their tendency to keep information to themselves. It was demeaning and dangerous, in her opinion. So on the road there, she had filled the girl in on the pertinent details. Her purpose was twofold. If she involved the girl, Jin would stay. She also had a sharp mind, and sharper eyes.

  Jin stepped into the shack, and Isobel followed. The girl crouched by the dog bed, but her eyes didn't stay on it for long. She stared at the fire poker leaning against the fireplace. Jin touched it, and shuddered slightly, before wrapping her hand around the iron.

  Jin tapped her foot on the floorboards. Moving methodically around the shack.

  "There are sometimes boards where people keep things. Sometimes they are large enough for a child."

  Isobel clenched her jaw, and gave a sharp nod. She did not press the girl for information, or ask how she knew. The answers were plain as the scars on Jin's face.

  When they found a promising board, Isobel applied the poker to a crevice. The board popped loose easily. The dark cavity underneath was hollow. Isobel took out her candle, lit it, and put it in the hole. It looked like a magpie's nest: a polished bell, a shiny silver button, a pair of cracked spectacle frames, a cufflink, and a mirror wrapped in heavy leather and tied with perfect little bow knots.

  Jin gazed into the mirror for a moment, and quickly wrapped it back up. Isobel could well imagine Samuel doing the same. Isobel wondered what Jin saw in her reflection. Memories of pain and torture? Or self-loathing? And what of Samuel, who lived with a visage that brought nothing but scorn and abuse? If only living with disfigurement were as simple as covering a mirror.

  "Have you found something?" Julius asked.

  Jin spun at his voice, poker in hand.

  His shadow filled the doorway. He raised his hands, and smiled.

  Jin muttered something under her breath in Cantonese, but Isobel didn't catch the words.

  Isobel plucked out a cufflink, and studied it. "Samuel seems to have a fascination with baubles. Isn't this yours, Doctor?"

  Julius started with surprise. Then leaned in to study it. "So it is." He plucked the cufflink from her fingers. "Samuel must have found it at Bright Waters. Everything shiny is a treasure to him. He loves the idea of finding treasure." It was the match to the cufflink in his office.

  "Isn't that everyone's dream?" she asked.

  "Finding what's hidden?" the doctor mused. "I suppose it is."

  "Not metaphorically," she said. "I mean actual buried treasure."

  "I can't say that was ever a fascination of mine, but then I don't name myself after pirates." His eyes twinkled.

  Isobel stood without comment. She walked around the property, but anything she'd hoped to learn had been destroyed by the search party. There was nothing but ruin.

  "Jin." Isobel said as she watched Julius rifle through the toppled lean-to. "What did you say in the shack?"

  "I said he smiles too much."

  The cottage felt small with the press of people. Lotario was propped on a divan, and surrounded by cushions. Marcus Amsel sat on the edge of a plush chair, his long hands folded together and looking pleased as his wife fussed over their youngest son. Mr. Hop stood in the corner, sipping tea. He looked amused, but then he often was.

  All eyes turned to Isobel and Jin.

  "Jin!" Lotario exclaimed. "You're looking far more murderous than usual today."

  "Mr. Amsel," the girl inclined her head.

  "Lotario," Catarina hissed. "How dare you." She focused on her soon-to-be-granddaughter. "Is Mr. Riot here, too?"

  "No. Jin was just missing me," Isobel said.

  "Where were you?" her mother asked.

  "In jail."

  Marcus Amsel looked at the ceiling, and Catarina frowned. "What did you do now?"

  "Mrs. Sheel hired me to find her son."

  "Don't dodge my question, young lady," Catarina said.

  "I didn't dodge it."

  "Please." Marcus made a calming gesture with his hands.

  Isobel took a breath, gripped Jin's shoulders and pushed her forward. "Ari, I need you to watch her."

  Jin bristled. "I do not need a child minder!"

  Husband and wife shared a brief look, and a laugh. "You are exactly like Isobel," Catarina said, taking the girl's hand. To Isobel's relief, Jin did not attack. Truth be told, Isobel was more worried about Jin than her mother. "Isobel used to scream that very thing at us all the time. Poor Mr. Hop heard it daily. You remember our butler?" Catarina asked.

  Mr. Hop bowed deeply. But Jin stood straight, staring at him with suspicion.

  Catarina arched a sharp brow. "Have you no manners?"

  "No." Jin replied.

  Isobel gave Jin's shoulder a squeeze. But the girl remained rigid.

  "Ah, well. Respect is earned, isn't it?" Marcus said. "Come, come, sit down, and you may listen to Lotario be exasperated with us." His warm enthusiasm lured Jin over to a plush chair, but she stopped short of sitting.

  "Won't you sit, mein Kind?"

  Jin glanced at Catarina. "I do not wish to take Mrs. Amsel's chair."

  Isobel heard a faint grunt of approval from her mother. "You will have an eventful life with this one," Catarina said in Portuguese.

  "She's your grandchild," Isobel replied under her breath.

  "I know." There was a trace of warmth in those words. And to Isobel's shock, Catarina brushed Isobel's arm before taking the vacant chair.

  "I'll be back," Isobel said, making to leave.

  "Where are you going?" Four voices said as one.

  "I have a child to find. Doctor Bright will be with me."

  Jin hurried over to stand by Isobel's side like a stubborn shadow.

  "You haven't slept all night. Stay here," Isobel ordered.

  "I will run away," Jin threatened.

  Marcus clapped and chortled. And Jin slowly turned on the couple. She stood on her toes to whisper in Isobel's ears. "What is wrong with your parents?"

  "They had me for a daughter. I ran away every week. They think you're adorable."

  Jin shut her mouth, and studied Isobel under a different light. Before the girl could dig her heels in further, Isobel planted a kiss on her head, and left Sao Jin in equal parts shocked fury and bewilderment.

  Isobel was ten feet fro
m the cottage when Lotario caught up to her.

  "Where are you going?" he asked.

  "The mines. I may not return tonight."

  "Hmm. Have you discovered anything?"

  "Samuel claims Titus came to his home to help bandage Bebé. But when John came to identify him in jail, Samuel charged him."

  Lotario whistled low. "Why the mines?"

  "Despite the evidence…" She hesitated. "I don't think Samuel harmed Titus."

  "The dogs haven't picked up his trail?"

  "They've been sniffing in circles. The animals are either anosmic, or—"

  "Titus hitched a ride," Lotario said.

  Isobel nodded. "And he disappeared miles from Samuel's shack."

  "On my way into town, I hopped on a wagon myself. A miner by the name of Finneas O'Conner was driving. He used to work for father."

  The name sounded familiar.

  "O, you wee devils are goin' somewhere other than 'eaven. Mark my words," Lotario crooned, with an Irish lilt.

  "Finn!"

  "You remember him?"

  "He used to give me cigarettes."

  Lotario laughed. "I always assumed you pinched them."

  She lifted a shoulder. "Occasionally. Are you feeling up to doing something for me?"

  He narrowed his eyes.

  "I need you to question the station agents. Find out what time Charles Sheel boarded a train for Vallejo. And whether he was alone or not."

  Lotario gripped her arm with his good hand. "Only if you don't leave me with mother and father."

  "I'm giving you an excuse to leave."

  "They'll insist on coming with me."

  Isobel patted her twin's hand. "That's why I'm leaving Jin with you."

  "You're a wolf in sheep's clothing. You know that, don't you?"

  Isobel showed her teeth.

  "You know I'm having regrets about coming to Bright Waters for recuperation."

  "You're back in the fold. Although I have to admit…" She glanced at the cottage when a burst of laughter came out. "It is unnerving."

  "They're just happy you're alive," Lotario said.

  "They're happy you are, too. Enjoy their good graces."

  Lotario's lips pressed into a line. "I'm still a stain on the family name. It's not like I can profess my love for a dashing detective, the way you can."

  "I know, Ari. But for now, for whatever reason, mother has extended an olive branch. Don't throw it in her face."

  Isobel felt him sigh, and she gripped his hand. "Besides, you'll never find another dashing detective like mine." She kissed him on the cheek, and left.

  As she was walking away, Lotario called out, "Are you sure he doesn't have a brother?"

  21

  Oat Hill Mine

  Barren, baked ground, and an unforgiving sun beat on the miners from above and below. Dusty, unwashed men milled like ants, with pickaxes and hammers and grim faces. Trees and shrubs gave the area a wide berth. Steam hissed from giant, open kettles where cinnabar was being refined into quicksilver. The air reeked of rotten eggs.

  Miners stopped to stare as Isobel and Julius wove their way through crude wooden dwellings, canvas tents, and fire pits. Isobel pulled her horse beside a group of men. They tipped their hats, but it didn't stop them from leering.

  "Ma'am." One of the men stepped forward to take her reins, but she nudged her horse back.

  "Who's your foreman?"

  The fellow pointed with his tin mug. His fingers were raw and pink under the dust. "You look set to raise hell."

  Isobel gave a sharp laugh. "You have no idea." She tipped her Stetson and clicked her horse forward. The men parted slowly. Julius cleared his throat, but it didn't quicken them any.

  When they were clear, Isobel glanced over at her companion. "You appear nervous, Doctor."

  "This is hardly a place for a lady."

  Isobel had debated disguising herself as a man, but in the end she had kept her blouse and riding skirt. Sometimes there were advantages to being a woman.

  "Those ladies over there seem content." She nodded at several women leaning against a crude shack. Their shoulders were bare, and their skirts were tied up on one side, revealing soft thighs. They looked bored. And drunk.

  "Prostitutes live dangerous lives."

  "And I don't?" Isobel asked with some amusement. "Don't worry, Doctor. I can see to my own honor. Though a knife or a revolver would put my mind at ease. I don't suppose you brought the one you confiscated from Jin?"

  "I still have it, but it's not loaded."

  "Well, don't shy away from loading those chambers if I stir things up."

  "I'd rather you not."

  The foreman was a thin fellow with a crisp collar and immaculate fingernails. His manner reminded Isobel of a razor—one that had never touched a chin. He wore a frown, even after the doctor nodded in greeting.

  The foreman didn't bother with pleasantries. "Why are you distracting my men? If it's whoring you're looking for, talk to Mrs. Gold. She's the madam here."

  "I'm here on behalf of Sheriff Nash," Isobel lied. "This is Doctor Julius Bright. I'm his nurse. We need to know which of your men visited Calistoga in the past five days."

  The foreman stared at her. The word 'sheriff' seemed to be foremost on his mind. He eyed the doctor's chest, searching for a badge. "Why are you here?"

  "There's a syphilis outbreak in town," Isobel explained. "Doctor Bright needs to make a few discreet inquiries to see if any of your men are infected."

  Julius coughed, and cleared his throat. "We don't want it spreading."

  "The infected men won't be of any use to you, anyway."

  The foreman blanched. "Most of them go into town on Sundays. Why the last five days?"

  "We believe we've pinpointed the source," Isobel said suggestively. "Have any of them gone to town for deliveries?"

  The foreman gestured towards the wagons. "Mr. O'Conner handles those. You can question him, but I want to know if any of my men were visiting whores on company time."

  "Of course," Isobel said.

  The foreman returned to his logbook. "And let me know if any of them are infected. Paying an undertaker cuts into profits."

  "We wouldn't want that."

  They left the foreman to his business, and Isobel headed for a cluster of shacks.

  "I can't believe that worked," Julius said under his breath. Although his whisper tended to carry.

  "Anyone will believe anything if it makes them uncomfortable."

  "Ah, I see. They're less likely to ask questions."

  "Precisely."

  "But why didn't you just tell him about Titus? I'm sure word of the boy's disappearance has reached here."

  "That would have been like accusing one of his men of abducting the boy. Inquiries cause delays, and that is the last thing a mine foreman wants."

  "Indeed." Julius sounded impressed. "Do you know, Miss Amsel, you would make an excellent alienist."

  "For Titus's sake, let's hope I make an excellent detective, too."

  Isobel headed straight for a woman who was lounging on the steps of a dilapidated shack. The woman was rough and worn, and perfume de gin wafted from her lips. The woman eyed Julius up and down, and then settled on Isobel. "I don't want savin'. Your kind, with your charity—" The woman finished her sentence by spitting on the ground.

  "We're not here on charity. I want information," Isobel said.

  "You payin'?"

  "Depends on how sober you are."

  The woman cackled, showing off toothless gums. Another woman stepped out from a shack, adjusting a shawl over her shoulders. Her dark eyes were downcast, her hair was pulled into a neat bun, and the lace at her bodice shone white under the sun. A sharp contrast to her skin.

  "Is your friend always drunk before noon?" Isobel asked.

  "No sabe, señora."

  "I wouldn't bother with Maria," the drunk woman slurred. "That gibberish of hers don't make no sense, and her high and mighty ways drive me to dr
ink."

  Julius surmised a distraction was needed. He quickly settled himself beside the drunk woman on the step, and engaged her in conversation. He was clearly the more interesting of the newcomers, so the drunk tugged down her blouse a dangerous inch and ignored the others.

  Isobel introduced herself in Spanish, and the woman's eyes lit up.

  "Maria Garcia. Don't mind Lacy," she said in Spanish. "She's had a rough life. And that's saying a lot here." Maria pulled Isobel away from Lacy and Julius. The doctor must have asked Lacy a question, because she began shouting about all the people who had done her wrong.

  "Saavedra," Maria murmured in thought.

  "Portuguese. I'm afraid my Spanish doesn't sound much better than her English."

  Maria laughed, and shook her head. "No, it's fine. Why are you here?"

  "A Spanish man was accused of abducting a boy. Do you know Samuel Lopez?"

  Maria's eyes widened. "Not Samuel."

  "Is he a client of yours?"

  Maria immediately shook her head. "No. Never. He's simple; he has the mind of a child. But he's kind. I sometimes knit him socks and mend his clothes. Some of the others do too."

  "Does Samuel visit here often?"

  "He occasionally brings us letters from town, but the men treat him badly."

  "Who?"

  Maria looked toward the kettles. "It's mostly the Irish. They lord it over everyone in camp. A few Mexicans do, too. The Negros and Chinese keep their heads down."

  "Anyone in particular?"

  "Finneas O'Conner is the ringleader. Nice enough fellow, unless your skin is on the dark side. And then there's José. But it's nothing brutal. Mostly heckling. It's been going on as long as I've been here. Do you think Samuel did something to that boy?" Concern shone in her eyes.

  "I wouldn't be here if I did," Isobel replied. "Have any of the men mentioned picking up a boy on the road? To give him a ride?"

  Maria shook her head. "I haven't heard. But if anyone knows, it'd be Finneas. He never stops talking, but somehow he knows everything."

  "Do you get the impression that any of these men would hurt a child?"

  Maria frowned in thought. "These men do a lot of a horrible things. But they're a pack, and they wouldn't tolerate someone like that."