Blessed are the Merciful (10 page)

“I have no doubt you’ll do fine, Adam. At my age I’m glad I don’t have to start from scratch. The partnership sounds great to me. But you’re just the one to build your business from the ground up.”

“Dr. Welles, how about your wife? Is she as excited about moving to Grand Island as you are?”

“Well, she wasn’t too excited about it at first. But when she saw how much it meant to me, she said she would gladly move out there.”

“I’m sure that means a lot to you.”

“I’ll say.” Welles paused. “And how about Philipa? Is she happy about your plans?”

“Well, sir, I … ah … haven’t talked to her about it yet.”

“Isn’t the wedding set for October?”

“Yes, sir. The latter part of October, but I know it’s not very far away. The reason I haven’t talked to her about it yet is because living out West will be vastly different from living here in Philadelphia. It will be quite a change. I … I just haven’t found a way to bring it up to her.”

“Well, Adam, you need to do that soon. But from what I could see last night, that girl adores you. If a woman loves her man, she’ll go along with his big dream.”

Adam grinned. “That’s what I think, sir.”

Welles snapped his fingers. “I just thought of something.”

“What’s that, sir?”

“Before I tell you, have you got some growing town in mind?”

“I’ve done a little reading, but I haven’t set my mind on any particular location yet. I figured that once I told Philipa about it, I’d get down to business about just exactly where to go. What were you going to tell me?”

“It just came to me. When my friend in Grand Island wrote about coming out there, he mentioned that North Platte, Nebraska, is in dire need of a law firm. The people there have to go all the way to Grand Island for legal help. You ought to seriously consider North Platte.”

“I will, sir. Thank you for telling me about it.”

“Let me write down the name of the law firm in Grand Island. I want you to write and let me know wherever you end up. Will you do that?”

“I sure will, sir. And if it’s North Platte, maybe we can see each other once in a while.”

The next day, after getting some help at the county courthouse, Adam wrote to Ben Colter, sheriff of Lincoln County, Nebraska, for information about North Platte.

S
ETH
C
OLEABAN ENTERED POLICE HEADQUARTERS
and headed for Chief Bennett’s office with an envelope in his hand. Two officers were coming down the hall toward him.

“How was your day, Seth?” one of them asked.

“One of the quiet kind. Nice to have a quiet one now and then.”

“For sure,” the other officer said. “Everything back to normal for you?”

“Not quite,” Seth said as they passed in the hall.

“Little more time yet?”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

Seth drew up to the chief’s door and knocked, and he heard a muffled command to enter. Seth opened the door and paused, setting his gaze on the man behind the desk. “Would you have time to see me, sir?”

“Sure,” said Bennett, laying down a paper in his hand. “Come in and sit down, Seth.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. “What can I do for you?”

“I hate to say this, Chief, but … I’m still having a problem with the treatment I’m getting from some of the men on the force.”

“I take it it hasn’t improved?”

“Oh, two or three of the men have quit giving me dirty looks and will at least speak to me. But other than that it’s gotten worse. It’s not much better with the people out there on the streets, either. Sir, I really think I need to move somewhere else to go on with my career as a law officer.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Seth. I still think that in time this attitude will disappear.”

“Sir, I’ll be honest with you. I’m just not willing to give it any more time. I don’t mean to contradict you, but the way I see it, the problem is only going to get worse. These people have their minds made up that I murdered Lawrence Sheldon, and nothing is going to change that. I’ve got to get out of Philadelphia.”

“I know you don’t have family to be concerned about, but you do have friends here. Would it be that easy just to pack up and leave? Besides, where would you go?”

Seth laid the envelope on the desk.

“What’s this?” Bennett asked.

“It’s a letter from the U.S. marshal’s office in Washington. I wrote and asked for an application form. I’m going to apply to become a deputy United States marshal. They sent me an encouraging reply and the application form. They’ve also enclosed papers for you to fill out. I have to have your recommendation in order to proceed with the application.”

Bennett took the papers out of the envelope, gave them a quick once-over, and said, “I hate the idea of losing you, Seth, but I assure you, you’ll get the highest recommendation from me. But won’t you reconsider staying?”

“I really need to get away from here, Chief. There’s more to it than you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I was about to ask the young lady I’ve been courting for some time to marry me. But—” Seth swallowed hard. “But when I went to jail she turned against me and wouldn’t believe me when I told her I was innocent. Nothing changed when I was acquitted. She still thinks I murdered Lawrence.”

“I’m sorry about this. You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”

Seth nodded.

“Well, it seems to me that if she loved you like you thought she did, she’d believe you.”

“Yes, sir. I … I just need to get away from here, sir.”

Bennett sighed. “I understand. Like I said, I hate to lose you, but I’ll fill out this report and send it to the U.S. marshal’s office right away.” As he spoke, he handed the envelope and its other contents back to Seth.

Seth rose from his chair and reached across the desk to shake Bennett’s hand. “Thank you for understanding, sir. You’ve been very good to me.”

Bennett gripped his hand firmly. “I’ll miss you, Officer Coleman.”

“I’ll miss you too, sir. And please know that until I leave, I’ll strive to be the best officer you have on the force.”

“I have no doubt of that.”

Seth stepped out of the chief’s office and headed for the front door. Hank Moldow and Keith Dailey were just coming on duty, and when they drew abreast of him, they stopped.

“Well, whattya know, Keith?” Moldow said. “Here’s Lawrence Sheldon’s old pal. I wonder if he misses him like we do.”

“I doubt it,” Dailey said.

“I don’t have time for this,” Seth said. “Kindly get out of my way.”

Moldow sneered. “He wants us to be kindly toward him. You know … like he was toward Lawrence.”

“I said I don’t have time for this.” Seth started to move past them.

Dailey started to say something but stopped when four officers came through the front door. When they were out of earshot, he said, “So you don’t have time for this, eh? Lawrence’s time on earth was cut short, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was,” Seth replied, “but not by me.”

Moldow smiled. “Marvelous what a sharp lawyer can do with a jury, isn’t it?”

“Get out of my way.”

“Why don’t you make me?” Moldow said.

Seth’s right fist connected solidly with Moldow’s jaw. Moldow was down on his back in a split second, dazed and wondering what had happened.

Seth ducked Dailey’s fist and smashed a wicked uppercut to Dailey’s jaw. The blow lifted the man off his feet, and he joined his friend on the floor.

“What’s going on here?” came a familiar voice from behind.

Moldow rubbed his jaw and said, “Chief, I don’t know what got into Coleman. We were talking to him all friendly like, and he up and punches both of us, taking us by surprise.”

“That’s right, Chief,” said Dailey, rising unsteadily to his feet.

Bennett’s face flushed and his eyes narrowed. “Both of you are liars! I’ve been watching this scene from my office door since it started. I heard every word. And I saw exactly what happened. Moldow, Dailey, I want your badges and your guns right now. You two are on suspension until you face the internal affairs committee for what you did to Officer Coleman!”

Dailey rubbed his jaw. “But, sir, we—”

“You heard me! I want those guns and those badges this instant! You’re on suspension!”

“Chief Bennett, sir,” Seth said, “may I … may I ask you not to do this? I’m willing to forget it if you will.”

“Officer Coleman, I appreciate your attitude, but the conduct I just witnessed is inexcusable, and it’s not going to be tolerated in this department. These two men must be disciplined.”

As the officers handed Bennett their guns and badges, he turned to Seth and said, “I understand even better now why you made the decision that brought you to my office today.”

The next day, dark clouds were hovering over Philadelphia. The air was hot and muggy, and though the wind was picking up, it did little to cool the air.

Adam Burke left the courthouse after a long, tedious day in
court. When he reached the stable, he glanced up at the heavy clouds and took the time to put the top up on the buggy. He drove through the streets of the city and felt closed in by the tall buildings on every side. For the last few days, Adam had rushed home in eager anticipation of the letter he was expecting from Sheriff Ben Colter. If the letter held what he thought it would, he would soon be free from the confines of Philadelphia.

Adam arrived at his apartment and hurried to his mailbox. He sifted through the envelopes until his eyes fell on one from North Platte, Nebraska. He rushed inside the apartment and set his briefcase on the table, dropping his other mail beside it.

Adam noticed in the upper left-hand corner that it was from William C. Dauntt, chairman of North Platte’s town council. He tore open the envelope and took out the letter.

Dauntt explained that Sheriff Ben Colter had passed Adam’s letter on to him. He told Adam that the town had no lawyer at all. The people of North Platte were traveling to Grand Island to get legal advice or help, a distance of a hundred and twenty miles. Dauntt encouraged Adam to come and establish his law firm as soon as possible, assuring him that he would have plenty of clients in a hurry.

Adam let out his pent-up breath and shook the letter excitedly. “Yes! Yes! This is what I’ve been waiting for and dreaming about!”

Adam read the letter again, then carefully placed it back in the envelope and went to the washroom. He had a dinner date with Philipa tonight. He would tell her of his dream during dinner.

It was pouring down rain as Adam pulled the buggy up in front of the Conrad mansion. He opened his umbrella and bounded up the front steps. The wind was whipping the rain about as he lifted the door knocker and let it fall.

Delmar opened the door. “Good evening, Mr. Burke. Please come in out of the weather.” Adam stepped inside, and Delmar took the umbrella. “I’ll keep this here for you, sir.” He placed it in a cane
and umbrella holder and headed down the hall. “Follow me, sir. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are in the library. Miss Philipa hasn’t come down yet.”

Philip and Millicent Conrad greeted Adam warmly. Philip smiled as he said, “We heard about your masterful handling of the Gregory Stedman case, Adam. You are to be congratulated once again.”

“Yes,” said Millicent. “We’re very proud of you.”

“Thank you.” Adam said.

“So, Adam,” Philip said, “has George Benson offered a partnership to you?”

“No, sir.” Adam’s eyes darted to the library door, hoping to see Philipa coming through it. He thought he heard the rustle of her skirt.

“Well, he’d better hurry or I’m going to make my future son-in-law an offer he can’t refuse.”

Suddenly Philipa swished through the door. “Daddy, dear, why don’t you just go ahead and make Adam the offer? I say let’s keep it in the family. It would be wonderful to have my husband a partner with my daddy! George Benson’s loss would certainly be your gain.”

“You know why I haven’t made the offer yet, sweetie. Your old father still has ethics about him.”

Philipa kissed Adam’s cheek. “Hello, darling.” She turned to her father and said, “How much longer will your ethics make you wait before you offer Adam a partnership?”

“Well, I figure to give it another month. If George hasn’t made Adam an offer by then, I’ll meet with him and tell him I’m about to make a partnership offer to my future son-in-law, and give him a chance to respond. If he doesn’t, Adam will be offered a very lucrative partnership in the Conrad firm.”

Philipa sighed. “Well, I hope Mr. Benson won’t make the offer. I understand about your professional ethics, Daddy, and I appreciate that you’re a man of principle, but it sure would make me happy if my husband was my father’s partner.”

“I’d love to see that too,” Millicent said.

“Me too,” Philip said. “But I have to shave this face every morning and look myself in the eye. Understand?”

Mother and daughter glanced at each other and smiled.

Adam seated Philipa at their table in the restaurant, then moved to the opposite side and sat down. After the waiter took their order, they talked about the day’s events until the food came. Adam’s stomach was so jittery he could hardly eat. By the time dessert came, he was almost nauseated. When the meal was finally over and they ordered fresh cups of coffee, Adam said, “Sweetheart, I … ah … I—”