To Know Her by Name (44 page)

“I didn't hear you,” Miranda said, suddenly coming through the door.

“I just got here.”

“You look all in.”

“I am. I have the day off tomorrow. Nick told me to come if I had the chance.”

“And a good thing you did. Have you eaten?”

“No, I'm too hot and tired.”

“Well, you get on up those back stairs and I'll come and fix you a bath.”

“Aren't you needed down here?”

“Dinner is over, and I just took the coffee in. I'll check with the Missus, but she'll tell me to take care of you just like she always does.”

Pup would have thanked her, but she was too tired to speak. She made for the back staircase, and just 20 minutes later sank down into a warm tub of water. It would have been lovely to soak for a time, but she knew she would fall asleep in the bath if she did.

“I'm going down to get you something to eat,” Miranda told her as Pup climbed from the tub. “You get ready for bed, and I'll be right back.”

Miranda was as good as her word, returning a short time later, and even bringing Camille with her. But Pup could not eat. She had already climbed into bed and fallen sound asleep.

Sunday morning McKay was on the earliest train that left for Boulder en route to Longmont. It was hard to leave the city. The only reason he hadn't sought out Pup was because he had to leave. He knew that she wanted to be careful, but he was quite certain he could have come and gone without notice. Recognizing that he was starting to think and sound like a man possessed, he finally closed his eyes and asked God to help him maintain a balance.

I need to trust You with Pup. She's in Your care, and I've got to let her go. I keep seeing her in that uniform and blonde hair, and then I worry. I'm not going to keep doing this, Lord. I'm going to believe the truth of Your Word that You will be with her. Thank You for seeing to her every need. Thank You for bringing her into my life. Help her to know Your presence and to remain in the Word.

That was not the end of his prayer, but he had become more restful. He knew that obedience was a constant, daily choice, and joy always came when he claimed God's truth and obeyed. He knew that Pup would still be on his mind, but he didn't have to worry. Indeed, he didn't have time for worry. He had a job waiting for him in Longmont, a job that in one way or another would affect the whole town. With this in mind, McKay turned his attention to the people of Longmont and the case. These thoughts occupied him for the rest of the trip.

“You need to take it easy with her, Nick,” Camille warned him in no uncertain terms, her look stern.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that girl looks exhausted, and she slept all night. She'll be down for breakfast in a few minutes, but you let her eat before you begin the interrogation.” It was an order she expected to be followed.

Nick frowned at his wife but didn't argue. He knew he was slightly berserk when it came to this case, but he was sick to death of Duncan Phipps and wanted nothing more than to put the matter to rest. If they all had to work a little harder to accomplish that, well, so be it! Then they could all breathe easier.

That was the way he felt
before
Pup joined him in the dining room. One look at her too-thin face and he changed his mind. Never one to carry extra flesh, his top undercover agent was losing weight. Even Nick could see the difference.

“Ready for breakfast?” he asked solicitously, working to hide his emotions.

“Yes.” Her voice was fervent. “I think I must have fallen asleep last night before Miranda could come back with a tray.”

“You're certainly right about that,” the aforementioned woman said when she came in with fresh coffee. “You were out cold when I returned. I want you to eat up this morning.”

“You can count on that.” Pup's smile thanked her before she began to eat the sumptuous meal. Eggs, muffins with butter, ham and potatoes, hot coffee, and juice were the fare, and Pup felt as though she hadn't eaten in weeks. Watching her tuck into the food, Nick kept the newspaper in his hand and forced his questions to remain inside of him. He didn't think she had any new information or she would have said so immediately. He was wrong.

“I'm sorry to keep you waiting,” she suddenly said, her food half gone and only a little on her front. “I was just so hungry I had to get a little in me.”

“It's all right.” Nick kept his voice light. “I take it you have news.”

“Good news,” she replied, clearly pleased.

“The files?”

Pup shook her head. “Nothing you're looking for, but there is a panel in this room—I guess you could call it an office—that's not a part of the wall. It's a door if I've ever seen one. It's subtle. I'm very impressed, and although I didn't have time to do anything with it, I know a secret door when I see one, and our Mr. Phipps has one in his office.”

Pup stopped talking and went back to her food, which was fine with Nick. He didn't need her to find a way into this door, just knowing it was there was invaluable. It wouldn't be long before they would raid the Phipps mansion. Nick would see for himself what sat behind the door. By then Pup would be pulled from the case; he couldn't have her at risk. When it came time to shake the house down, she would be long gone. He opened his mouth to ask her to describe the panel to him, but Camille chose that moment to join them.

When she saw that Nick was letting Pup eat, she looked at him with loving eyes. His heart swelled with the fact that he'd done well; indeed, she was still tenderly gazing at him. The wink he gave her was playful and turned into a huge smile when she blushed.

“Do you want more coffee, Callie?” Camille asked from behind Pup, hoping to divert attention from her flushed face.

“Yes, please. The cook at the Phipps' can't make Miranda's coffee.”

“Do they feed you meals at all?” Camille asked and sat down.

“Only lunch, and that's because I'm in the kitchen. By dinnertime I've been sent upstairs to dust or mop, and no one ever thinks to offer me food. By the time I leave in the evening, the kitchen has been totally cleaned.”

“You don't do anything but clean?”

“That's about it. I work in the kitchen some, chopping or peeling potatoes. One evening they wanted me to serve dinner to Duncan and his men, but I dumped a tray and broke several cut-glass dishes. I wasn't asked to serve again.”

“Well, you don't have to worry about any of that today,” Camille told her. “You can lie around all day, go for a walk, or attack the bookshelves in Nick's office.”

“Lying around sounds wonderful,” she said, her hand covering a yawn. “I feel I could take a nap right now.” Pup was done with her food and pushed the plate away.

“Maybe this afternoon,” Nick inserted, keeping his voice neutral, “you could give me the layout of the house and office.”

“Sure. I'll draw it and go over it with you. You don't mind waiting a bit?”

“Not at all.”

Pup stood. “I'm going through the kitchen so I can thank Miranda, and then I'll be in my room.”

Both husband and wife told her to sleep well. Camille's eyes were still on the doorway to the kitchen, so she was unaware of the way Nick had approached. She turned and found him standing close, one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. He was bending slightly over her. Their eyes met and he bent the rest of the way to kiss her, a sweet lingering kiss. Camille spoke when Nick moved slightly away, but his lips were still close.

“Thank you for letting her rest.”

“You're right; she's tired.”

Camille could only nod and try not to worry.

“Are we having company again tonight?” Nick asked.

“No,” Camille answered, a little surprised at the question.

As Nick studied his wife's face, his eyes lit with a slow, intimate smile that went straight to his mouth. Camille found herself blushing all over again.

Longmont

McKay was both surprised and pleased to find Trent Adams waiting for him at the train station. The men talked as McKay walked with Trent back to the hotel, the other agent filling him in. Trent had still more to report, so McKay accompanied him to his room on the second floor, and the men exchanged notes there. McKay was relieved to learn that Stuart hadn't made a move. The senior agent asked Trent to stay on the alert the rest of that day, at least until the trains stopped running that night. McKay would go on duty the next day, but Trent would stay in town. McKay said his goodbyes after making sure Trent knew where he would be that night.

From the hotel McKay went to the livery. He rented a horse and headed home, that sight alone doing his heart a world of good. His father was at a neighbor's, but his mother was there to greet him. After she'd hugged him, McKay put an arm around her and led her to a chair. They made themselves comfortable in the living room.

“Welcome home,” she offered with a smile.

“Thank you. It sure feels good.”

“Is this business or pleasure?”

“Business, I'm afraid.”

“For how long?”

“Maybe a few days, or possibly back out on the train tomorrow. In fact, I might need to leave town in a hurry. If that happens, I'll do my best to get word to you.”

Liz's brows rose. “Sounds important.”

“It is, but I hope it's also coming to an end. I wish this business didn't involve people in town, but it does.”

“I've prayed for the Stuart family every day since you told us.”

“I appreciate that, Mom. They're going to need it.”

“And what about you? Beside the obvious needs of safety and wisdom, what should I be praying about for you?”

“Mostly that I don't lose my mind over a certain woman.”

“Callie.” His mother didn't even try to keep the satisfaction from her voice.

“Yes.”

“Have you two had trouble?”

“No, but it's just so hard to get time together, and sometimes I worry about her.”

“I think I can relate.”

“I don't know, Mom,” he sounded doubtful, knowing he could be honest. “You and Dad saw each other one day, talked nonstop for the next three months and then were married. Callie and I can't seem to get any time together for more than a few days, if that.”

The room was silent for a few minutes before Liz spoke quietly.

“You were little more than a baby when your father went to work at the cannery.”

“The cannery?”

“Yes, before he gained an interest in pharmaceuticals. Did we never tell you?”

McKay shook his head no.

“It was a night job,” Liz went on. “All night, every night, and I hated it. For the first six weeks all I did was sit up at night and worry. Would he be hurt? Would he do a poor job and be fired? On and on I went until I was nearly ill with exhaustion.

“If you hadn't been born, it wouldn't have been so bad, but I was up all night worrying about your father and then had to work all day in this house and take care of you. Things became unbearable. In the little time your father and I had with each other, I was short and angry with him. I would start an argument just as he was walking out the door and say horrible things to him. Because he was leaving, there was no time to resolve issues.”