The Klondike Mysteries 4-Book Bundle. Vicki Delany

given me permission to accompany him to Grand Forks.”

      “And you believed him?” I shouted at Sterling. Fortunately, the patrons downstairs had resumed their normal pitch of conversation, or they would have heard me.

      “Show my mother the letter, Constable,” Angus said.

      “Let’s just say that Angus can be most convincing, Mrs. MacGillivray. I’m truly sorry we caused you such distress. I take full responsibility. I have to get back to the Fort. I’ve been ordered to give the Inspector a report once Angus has been safely returned to you. I’m sorry.”

      He turned and walked out the door.

      “Don’t you move a muscle,” I ordered my son. “Constable. A moment, please.” I walked down the hall and stood in front of Sterling. There was only one small window at the end of the corridor, and the single lamp at the top of the stairs flickered, almost out of fuel. “I have no doubt my son tricked you into taking him on this expedition. He can be quite charming when he chooses to be. I can guess the contents of this letter, even if you don’t want to show it to me. If you need any help with your superiors, please let me know.”

      “That’s kind of you, Mrs. MacGillivray. I won’t pretend that I’m not worried about what the Inspector has to say. You have some powerful friends.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      He held up one massive paw. “Don’t apologize. If it were someone dear to me who’d gone missing, I’d have called on the devil himself to intervene. You did the right thing. You have a good boy there, don’t be too hard on him. He was a help, and good company on the trail. I’d better be going.”

      “Perhaps you could join us for dinner tonight,” I blurted out, without thinking. “With Angus and me, I mean. At our boarding house. I’d like to hear of your adventures.”

      He looked at me, his brown eyes unreadable. “If you’re not in jail or something,” I stammered. The corners of his mouth lifted once again. “I’d like that, Mrs. MacGillivray.”

      “Nine o’clock?”

      “Nine o’clock. If I’m…indisposed, I’ll send a message.”

      The stairs clattered beneath his boots. I stood still for a moment, just thinking. I could follow Sterling’s progress across the room and out into the street as the drinkers’ conversation fell silent in his wake.

      I walked back to my office. “So,” I said to my ashen-faced son, “tell me about this letter.”

      Chapter Thirty-Seven

      I sent Angus home with his pockets full of money. I told him to give the money to Mrs. Mann and tell her we were having company for dinner and to do the best she could.

      After that, he was to go to Mr. Mann’s store down by the waterfront and work for the rest of the afternoon. Provided he was still wanted.

      Make no mistake, I was absolutely furious. He’d forged my signature, lied to an officer of the law, failed to show up at his place of employment, disappeared for five days and worried his mother half to death, not to mention a good portion of the citizenry.

      But he had come back. Safe and sound.

      When I ventured downstairs, some of the men watched me, but most of the excitement had passed with the departure of Sterling, and shortly after, Angus, both of them still in one piece.

      “Everything all right, Fee?” Ray asked.

      “I hope so.” I walked around the back of the bar, and Ray bent forward so that I could whisper into his ear. Only he, and Her Majesty, glowering disapprovingly at us from her portrait, could hear. “It would appear that Angus strung Sterling quite a line, and Inspector Starnes is furious about it all. What a mess.”

      “Speaking of the police.” Ray pointed his chin towards the door.

      I turned to see Inspector McKnight enter the saloon. The customers gave him a wide berth. “Evening, Mrs. MacGillivray. Do you have a minute, Walker?”

      “No. Ye might not have noticed, but we’re busy at the moment.”

      “I think you’ll be interested in what I have to say. In private.” The Inspector looked at the group of drinkers lingering nearby, unashamedly hanging on his every word.

      Barney belched in his face. Grumbling, Ray led the way to Helen’s kitchen, and I followed, as did a pack of miners. I shut the door firmly in their dirty, bearded faces.

      There was scarcely enough space in the room for three people to stand, and only one chair. McKnight seated himself. As I hadn’t been invited to follow them, I could scarcely complain about this shocking breach of manners.

      “I thought you’d want to know that Sterling located your friend, Mr. Johnny Stewart.”

      “I figured that was why he went to the Creeks.”

      “Mr. Stewart confirms your alibi.” “

      Could of told you that,” Ray said. But some of the tension he’d been carrying all week slipped from his shoulders and he almost, but not quite, cracked a smile.

      “That’s wonderful,” I said. “It’s kind of you to take the time to come here and inform us in person, Inspector.”

      He made no effort to stand but twisted his hands in his lap and coughed. “Well, uh, Mrs. MacGillivray, there is one small thing you could do for me.”

      Ray and I exchanged knowing glances. So that was the way it was to be played, was it?

      “I’d be pleased to offer you the hospitality of our house, Inspector,” I said, the words choking in my throat. Bribery of the local constabulary might be common business practice for bars and gambling houses in every other corner of the world. But not in Dawson. For the first time, I was about to bribe an officer of the law. Perhaps we’d find out that Stewart hadn’t given Ray an alibi after all.

      McKnight flushed. “You misunderstand me, Mrs. MacGillivray. I was sort of hoping that once all this is settled, you might introduce me to Miss Ellie.” The words out, he leapt to his feet. “Nothing improper, you understand. She’s so admired that it’s quite difficult, impossible really, to get a moment to speak to her. Privately. And I would like to.” He studied the wall behind my head. “Speak with her, I mean. For just a moment. Nothing improper, of course. But if you think it improper…I’d best be leaving.” He bolted for the door.

      I smiled and touched his sleeve. “It would be my pleasure, Inspector. Why don’t you come by this evening, say around quarter to eight? I’ll be happy to introduce you. Ellie doesn’t go on stage until well after eight, perhaps you could escort her to the bar and enjoy a drink or two. My treat, of course.”

      “Mrs. MacGillivray! That would be perilously close to a bribe.” He looked at me through his thick eyeglasses. “A brief introduction to the lady is all I ask. I’ll see you this evening.”

      The door stuck momentarily on badly-installed hinges. McKnight wrestled it open and ran, his ears scarlet.

      I laughed, after ensuring that the Inspector had been swallowed up by the noisy crowd.

      “You shouldn’t o’ promised to introduce them,” Ray said. “It’s not right.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. The fellow wants to meet the object of his affections for a minute or two in a packed bar.” I walked out, still chuckling.

      Chapter Thirty-Eight

      By seven o’clock, I was regretting my impulsive invitation to Constable Sterling to join us for dinner. I was exhausted. All week, I’d been living on worry—no sleep, and even less food than I’d consumed over the winter—and now that Angus was safely home, I wanted only to collapse like a rag doll.

      McKnight arrived, thoroughly scrubbed, hair greased and combed