Page 24 of Caught in Time
It was a crazy war, and it became more confusing to her every day. Discouraged, she wondered if she would get the opportunity to see the outside world again. She had read that leniency was shown toward female operatives, but she also knew that spying was a capital offense. She had no guarantee that they wouldn’t hang her in the courtyard or, at the very least, make her spend the rest of the war in this filthy, miserable jail. Even though that was less than four months away, she knew that a prisoner could easily starve during that time because of the meager rations they were given.Is this to be my fate as well?
Detective Bridgeman was determined to find something to charge her with that could be proved in court. From what she could surmise during her interrogation, too many female spies had already eluded him.
And she was his mark.
Charlotte wished shewasa spy, just to prove she could do it.
Why hadn’t Spencer come to see her? That thought sent a disappointing emotion through her. She swallowed hard and pressed her fingers to her temples. She was certain that damned Bridgeman was behind it, another way to torture her. But he wouldn’t win,he wouldn’t!
Increasingly, Charlotte couldn’t differentiate between the two worlds. Alone, confined, at times she forgot she was back in 1864. At night she dreamed about a world filled with cellphones, SUVs and jets, fast food, and the internet.
Then, she’d wake up, and those memories of 2024 faded when she smelled the soot from the wood-burning stove and found bits of straw in her hair from the mattress. She’d jump up, lunging forward, hampered by the strange clothing she wore, stumbling over to the window to peer out at the city waking up. There, she’d listen to the sounds of the street. Horses clip clopping, wagon wheels turning, and soldiers marching. So familiar to her now, it was frightening.
She thought of that afternoon spent making love with Spencer in the meadow every hour she was awake and dreamed about it when she slept. She would never forget how Spencer made love to her, sending her up to the highest part of heaven where she felt light and airy, then into a deep valley of pleasure where she felt warm and secure. A thrill ride, wave after wave of excitement shooting through her, and then the most peaceful feeling she had ever known. Teardrops gathered in her eyes, blurring her vision. The memory of that afternoon remained fresh in her heart.
Chapter Seven
“No one can see theprisoner.No one.”
“But I’m her fiancé,” Spencer protested, his gut clenching every time he thought about how he wished they were already married. The detective didn’t respond. Instead, he sat across from Spencer, looking smug.
Finally, he said, “That means nothing in the eyes of the law, Major.”
“Perhaps, but you can’t stop me from consulting with my lawyer to organize her defense. “I ultimately intend to gain her release.”
“What defense,” Bridgeman said, persisting in his claim that Charlotte was guilty. “As I have already informed you, Mrs. Eleanor Sherman observed Miss Liddell exiting her husband’s office the night of the Christmas Ball.”
“Impossible! That is not evidence, it is merely hearsay. Detective, as you are aware. Miss Liddell was with me the entire evening. She never left my sight during the time you mention in your report.”
Spencer wouldn’t give the smug detective the satisfaction of arguing with him.
For five weeks he’d made his case, but he was getting nowhere. He was crazy with worry, knowing how female prisoners were abused by the guards or starved from lack of proper nourishment.
“At least let me see her,” Spencer implored.
“It’s against regulations,” Bridgeman replied.
