Chapter 16 #2
“I remember now. You visited my tavern a year ago or more. Your nephew’s going to come home in a pine box tomorrow night if he falls for this bait.”
Phillip tried to interrupt, but Uncle and Littleman would have none of it.
“Smythe is bent. I know he is because he used to work for me. Thomas didn’t care for how he talked to me,” Littleman said. “Now he works for Bruner.”
“Figured as much,” Phillip said. “Have to go anyway.”
“If you’re dead set on going, Thomas here will be around.”
Thomas nodded. “Don’t care for those that hurt little girls. Got two nieces. Ain’t right.”
“Where we going?” Uncle Patrick asked.
Phillip stared at Patrick. He knew his uncle would follow him on his own if he didn’t tell him what was going on. “Shelly’s on Conway. That’s where they’re holding the Button girl.”
“Right into the lion’s den, then?” Thomas said and shrugged.
“I think the play is at Bruner’s hideout, where they’ll take the girl,” Littleman said.
“Maybe, but I don’t know where Bruner’s hidey-hole is,” Phillip said.
“I think we need a disturbance at Shelly’s. That’ll hurry them along to Bruner’s hideout with the girl.”
“What do you have in mind, Missus?” Thomas asked.
Littleman stared at Patrick. “I think you need to come with me to Shelly’s. You look enough like your nephew to confuse them. They’ll scatter like rats.”
“And what am I supposed to do?” Phillip asked.
“You and Thomas and anybody else you can round up should be at the dock two blocks from mine. There’s an abandoned warehouse, says Fancy Imports painted right on the building. That’s Bruner’s. No buildings nearby, so it’s hard to creep up to, but I think most of his lookouts will be at Shelly’s.”
“I guess this is out of my hands,” Phillip said, feeling the situation reeling out of his control.
“It is. You’ve got too much piss and vinegar in you. You’d have marched right up to Shelly’s and hollered that you were there to get the Button girl.”
Patrick chuckled, and Thomas huffed a laugh.
“Piss and vinegar, huh?”
“Lots of muscle and not enough in the brain box when you get yourself all worked up in your righteousness.”
Phillip laughed too. “Midnight?”
Littleman nodded and looked at Patrick. “I’ll pick you up half past eleven. Bring a gun if you know how to shoot it.”
Thomas climbed up with the driver and pulled away before either man could argue.
Phillip was up early the next morning to meet Willis Shoeman on his way home from work on the night shift. He told him the bit of the plan he had in his head, although it wasn’t much.
“Can you stay at my house until I get back or until Uncle Patrick gets back tonight, or even tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be there. Should I be expecting trouble?”
“Maybe,” Phillip said. “Maybe. Patrick’s new wife is a good shot and not afraid. She’ll be there with a young boy, Eliza, Jenny, and my sister.”
“Do whatever it is you have to do, and don’t worry about the homestead.”
“Thank you, Willis. I’ll be leaving before midnight.”
Phillip stopped at Station Five and asked the messenger boy to see if Hendricks had a minute to spare.
It wasn’t long before Hendricks was walking down the street and stopped at a bench in a small area of trees.
He lit a cigar while Phillip wedged himself between some hedges from the opposite direction directly behind the bench.
Phillip repeated what Smythe had said and what the loose plans were for rescuing the Button girl. “Tonight, Hendricks. I’ve got to get the girl out of there so I can get to Norris, who knows all.”
“I’ll be there. Fancy Imports, you say? I know where it is. I guess we can only hope this plan of Littleman’s works.”
The next stop Phillip made would likely not result in additional manpower.
He and Timothy had rescued Captain Reed and Lieutenant Randolph of the Pinkertons the previous winter from the hands of Irene Littleman and Thomas McDonald, but he would ask anyway as he was desperate for an army, ragtag though it may be, to face Bruner’s men.
“It’s good to see you recovered your health, Captain,” Phillip said after being admitted to the stately stone home he had visited once before.
Reed shook his hand. “It’s good to see you as well, Brown. How is Officer Sweitzinger?”
“Not well, and actually that’s what I’m here to talk to you about.”
Reed invited him to sit and poured him a measure of whiskey. “Why do I think I’m not going to like whatever it is you have to say?”
“I’m certain you won’t like it, sir. There’s not a doubt in my mind,” Phillip replied and told the retired Pinkerton officer all that had happened.
“The girl is thirteen?” Reed asked.
Phillip nodded. “Her older sister has been murdered, but at least the youngest one is free.”
“Tonight, you say?”
“Yes, sir. At the building on the dock. There’s a dilapidated barn across the way from Fancy Imports. I’ll be there.”
“I don’t know about Randolph. He’s still a Pinkerton, and they frown on any ‘side job.’ But I’ll talk to him. He’s not going to like working with Littleman and her henchmen any more than me, though. It’s likely he’ll refuse.”
“Understood.”
“Whether I see you or not, best of luck. Try and stay alive.”
“That’s my intent, sir.”
Phillip rode Daisy to Wolfe Street and found Virginia’s carriage there. Turnbull was checking one of the wheels. He straightened when he saw Phillip.
“Your uncle told me what you’re up to tonight. I’ll get the coach from Mr. Wiest and bring Crimlock along. You’ll need one that will take more than two horses, and it would be best if it wasn’t an open front like Miss Wiest’s.”
“You’ve just recovered from the injuries you got at Uncle’s house. No need to hurt yourself again.”
“You worry about yourself and that little girl. Crimlock and I will be around to get you out of there in a hurry if necessary. How’s Daisy?”
“He’s already proven himself,” Phillip said. “I don’t want to see you hurt, and Virginia would be horrified if anything happened to you.”
Turnbull turned back to the carriage. “Tonight, then.”
Phillip opened the door and found Virginia, Sarah, and Miss Hughes in the parlor. Sarah was sniffling, and Virginia had an arm around her. Sarah jumped up when he entered.
“What is going on tonight, Phillip? Uncle Patrick just said that Miriam and the boy are staying here tonight. What’s going on?”
“The less you know, the better, but we’re going to try and get the Button girl, Nora, away from a brothel. Willis will be here overnight.”
“I want Timothy out of jail more than just about anyone other than his mother. But I don’t want to sacrifice you or Uncle to do it.”
“There’s no other way, Sarah. I’ve got to get to Norris, and the only way I can do that is to take away his leverage. We’re going to get the girl, then I’m going to get Norris and drag him off somewhere until he tells all. I can’t let Sweitzinger down. He’d never let me down.”
“Just be careful. Please.” She wiped the tears from her face and walked to the door. “I’ll get us more tea.”
Colleen followed, and Virginia stood. She walked to Phillip and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Phillip. Please come back to me.”
She followed the other women out of the parlor, leaving Phillip alone, without words to describe his joy or the danger he was facing.