Page 9 of Equalizer
“Let’s walk around and see if we can spot recently disturbed graves,” Owen said. “There should at least be records to indicate when new bodies are interred. If it’s not in the records—it’s unofficial and probably a robbery.”
Another carriage pulled in behind them. Calvin and Owen exchanged a glance. Up front, Winston shifted so that one hand was on the gun beneath his cloak.
Owen nodded and opened his door as Calvin did the same. Four cops spilled out of the other carriage.
“How can we help you, officers?” Owen came around to stand beside Calvin. Winston slid to one side, no doubt to have a better shot if it came to violence.
“Heard you were causing trouble at Dunning. You’re still on their property. You aren’t welcome. Leave,” the man in front, a burly bloke with a boxer’s handlebar mustache ordered.
“We wanted to pay our respects to the departed,” Calvin said. “The cemetery is open to the public for that purpose.”
“Troublemaker reporters excluded,” the man said, and the other three officers moved to flank him.
“How about government agents?” Owen’s voice grew frosty. “Because we’re Secret Service.”
“Bullshit,” the tall man spat.
“We’ve got badges—and a direct telegraph connection to the Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.” Owen’s calm seemed to fluster the man as Owen slowly reached into his vest pocket and brandished his badge.
“One telegram and this area will be swarming with agents who will turn over every stone to figure out what you’re hiding. Probably haul your chief back to Washington to interrogate him.I’m sure he’ll be very happy with you when he gets back,” Owen said.
“They know we came to Dunning today,” Calvin added. “If we don’t check in on time, they’ll come looking.”
That part was fiction, but Owen would have bet money Mustache Cop didn’t have a clue. It also was designed to make him think twice if he thought the easy answer was just shooting them and burying them on site.
“We want to drive through the cemetery and see the grounds,” Owen said. “Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. You and your boys can wait right there and watch us. Or…we send that telegram, and the next thing you know, there’ll be government agents crawling all over the hospital and the grounds, asking awkward questions. Your choice.”
Mustache Cop looked like he had an ulcer. “Fine. We’ll watch you—and then you leave and never come back.”
“Pleasure talking with you,” Owen said. He and Calvin made sure they didn’t turn their backs as they got into the carriage, and Winston’s stance suggested he had his gun trained on the cops the whole time beneath his cloak.
“What do you make of that?” Calvin asked as they drove farther into the cemetery, following the circular road that took them around the perimeter.
“I figure the coroner raised an alarm, and someone higher up panicked,” Owen answered. They could see the cops standing beside their carriage, not moving out of position.
“Think they were going to jump us?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised if that was their plan. I didn’t want to mention the Secret Service just yet, but I figured it beat being shot and buried in an unmarked grave,” Owen said.
Calvin shuddered, and Owen placed his hand on his arm to steady him. “I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Owen assured him.
“I knew folks back in Boston who had no family to claim their bodies and ended up in the Potter’s field. At the worst of times, I thought I might too,” Calvin admitted.
“Those days are over.” Owen leaned toward him to meet his eyes, emphasizing his point. “That’s not something you need to worry about. Our work is dangerous, but we have friends and the family we’ve made of them. You’re not alone, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you from ever being alone again.”
They finished their circuit of the cemetery and drove past the cops, who glowered as they passed but did not try to interfere.
When they returned to the stable, Calvin and Owen climbed down from the carriage.
“I’ll return the horses and the rig,” Winston told them. “And I’ll check on our horses while I’m there. It’s a short walk back to the train from here. I’ll meet you there.”
They traveled with three riding horses, which were stabled while they were stationary for any length of time. Owen knew that Winston ensured the horses had better accommodations than most human travelers and appreciated his care.
Owen kept a sharp eye out, but it didn’t look like the Dunning administration had sent any additional cops after them. Then again, he didn’t know how the police would have known where to look since he and Calvin hadn’t provided their names, let alone the location of their train car.
The train station was just around the corner, quiet this time of day. Owen startled when the ghost he had asked to keep an eye on the car popped up in front of him, and Owen put a hand out to stop Calvin.
“What?”
