Truth Be Told (26 page)

O
wen Merrick turned to smile at Amelia as she stepped up on the boardwalk. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Miss Wagner? Have you decided you're ready to sell the
Gazette
?”

“You might as well stop asking that question. I'm here on a totally different matter. I don't want to waste your time, so I'll come straight to the point.” She lifted her chin, wishing she could steady the racing beat of her heart. “My father suspected your company was involved in more than just land speculation. As you well know, he voiced his concerns in his articles, but he refused to put any specific accusations into print until he could present all the facts to his readers. Unfortunately, his investigation was cut short when he died.”

Merrick nodded but otherwise didn't respond.

“You managed to cover your tracks quite well for a time,” she went on. “But unsavory schemes can't be hidden forever. The truth will always come out in the end. And it has come out now.”

She studied him closely, praying her impulsive idea would play out the way she hoped. If she could shock Merrick into
spilling more information, he might just give her the key she sought.

He folded his arms, and one corner of his lips curled upward. “May I remind you of what I told you earlier? It isn't wise to go digging into other people's lives when you have unsavory secrets of your own.”

“You mean that so-called partnership between my father and Millie Brown?” She had the satisfaction of seeing his body tense. “That ploy won't work anymore. I happen to know that document was forged. There never was any partnership, Mr. Merrick. It was just an unscrupulous way of trying to ensure my silence.”

Anger flashed in Merrick's eyes, but he kept his tone smooth as velvet. “I have no idea what you're—”

“I don't know how you managed to slip that paper into my father's files . . . unless you sent one of your minions in there to do it for you when Homer and I were out of the building. But the fact that Millie Brown knew exactly where it was located should have alerted me right from the start. That woman never spent time in my father's office. Somebody would have seen her there, and the whole story would have come out long before now.”

Merrick's glance darted back and forth at the people walking nearby. “I'd rather not discuss this out in public. Why don't we step back into the alley, where we can talk more privately.”

Amelia followed him, moving only a few steps past the corner of the building, where their conversation would be screened from prying eyes. Continuing from where she left off, she said, “But sending people to do your dirty work isn't anything new for you, is it? Like those thugs you sent to wreck the
Gazette
. Was that supposed to make me want to give up and quit? If
that was your intention, let me inform you that going to such lengths to intimidate me had quite the opposite effect. I'm more determined than ever to see this through.”

To her surprise, Merrick seemed genuinely startled by her claim. He stared openmouthed and blinked a few times before recovering his poise. Then a smile creased his face, and he turned to move toward a door at the back of the building. “I had nothing to do with that incident,” he said over his shoulder. “If you want to find the person responsible, I suggest you look closer to home.”

It was Amelia's turn to blink. “What are you talking about?”

“Your stepfather. Before he left town, he told me he had something planned that was sure to convince you to give up that newspaper and go back to Denver.” A smirk twisted Merrick's lips. “For all his boasting, he obviously doesn't know you as well as he thinks he does.”

The statement hit Amelia like a blow. Merrick's words carried the conviction of truth. And the cowardice involved in that sneaky act was just the kind of thing she would expect of Thaddeus Grayson. But that didn't put Merrick in the clear, not by a long shot.

When he put his hand upon the doorknob as if getting ready to go inside, she hurried to close the gap between them. “My stepfather wasn't in town when you first warned me about the dangers of digging up information, back when you were laying the groundwork for springing your big news about that supposed agreement. He couldn't have been involved, so that places the scheme to make me question my father's character right at your doorstep.”

Merrick's jaw clenched, but his voice was calm when he
spoke. “Miss Wagner, you're deluding yourself. I'm just a businessman, trying to promote opportunities for my investors and serve the people of this community . . . not unlike your father. What could possibly give you the idea that I'm responsible for a document you claim is a forgery?”

It was time to lay down her trump card. Unable to keep a note of triumph from her voice, she leaned forward and enunciated clearly: “Because I am aware you have additional forged documents in your company files, showing transactions that never took place.”

A slight tightening of the skin around his eyes convinced her she was on the right track, and she pressed on. “Do you happen to know where Gabe Rogers and Josiah Smith are now? If you'll recall, you once reminded me that a good journalist wants to know more than one side to a story. I'd like to hear what they have to say about the property you supposedly bought from them.”

Merrick's face went ashen. He clamped his lips together, and the doorknob turned under his hand.

Before he could disappear, Amelia stepped up close and pointed her finger straight at him. “Just be aware, this is not over. I'm not going to stop until—”

“Just a moment.” Merrick held up his hand and let out a long sigh. “You leave me no choice. If you'll step in here for a moment, I have some documents you need to see.” He opened the door and ushered her inside.

Thrilled by the thought she had just beaten the man at his own game, Amelia stepped into a narrow passageway. Merrick joined her and indicated a door to the right. “My office is through there.”

He led the way, and Amelia followed, hope bubbling up inside her. Had she broken the arrogant man down so easily? Merrick pushed the door open, and Amelia took in a large, well-appointed office. She stepped toward the desk and fumbled in her reticule for her pencil and notebook.

“Just a moment.” Merrick opened a door on the opposite side of the room and called, “Eddie, could you come in here a moment?”

He stepped back to allow a tall, wiry man with sandy hair to enter the room. “A situation has come up, and I need your help.”

The newcomer eyed Amelia with a look of appreciation. “Where did you come from? I didn't see you walk through the office.”

“I met Miss Wagner outside and brought her in through the back door.” Merrick took up a stance in front of the desk and turned to Amelia with an air of renewed confidence. “Miss Wagner, let me introduce Eddie Franklin, my most trusted employee. In addition to land purchases, Eddie takes care of some of the more . . . delicate issues that arise in our business dealings.”

Franklin hooked his thumbs in his waistband and nodded. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He ran his eyes up and down her figure with a look that reminded her of Thaddeus Grayson, and she shivered.

Keeping her eye on Franklin, she spoke to Merrick. “What's all this about? I thought you had some papers to show me.”

Merrick smiled. “Since you seem to be so interested in the way we conduct business here, I thought you might like to meet the man who finalized our arrangements on those land purchases. Unfortunately, you won't be able to contact Josiah
Smith or Gabe Rogers in person. I'm afraid they have departed this mortal coil.”

The breath
whoosh
ed out of Amelia's lungs. “They're dead? Both of them?”

A silence settled over the room, and she darted a glance back and forth between the two men. Of all the shady dealings she thought Merrick might be involved in, murder had never entered her mind . . . until now.

She had to get away from these men. Thank heaven the back door was only a few steps away. She edged toward it, focusing on Owen Merrick. “You killed them?”

Merrick smiled. “I'm afraid I can't take credit for that.” He nodded toward his taller companion. “Eddie is a man of many talents.”

Amelia swung her head around in time to see Eddie Franklin grin as if accepting a compliment. “But why?”

Merrick shrugged. “They wouldn't agree to sell, and we needed those properties. We have plans in motion, Miss Wagner—bigger plans than you could imagine—and those two were in our way.” His eyes grew cold. “Just like you are.”

A roaring sound filled Amelia's ears. Whirling around, she bolted for the door. With the speed of a striking snake, Eddie Franklin blocked her way and reached out to cover her mouth with his right hand while his left arm wrapped around her waist, pinning her arms to her side.

Amelia struggled against his confining grip, but it was like being held in an iron vise. She tried to scream but could only force a muffled gurgle from her throat.

Still holding her tight, her captor turned to face his employer. “What now, boss?”

Amelia kicked backward as hard as she could. She had the satisfaction of feeling her heels connect with his shins, but it didn't seem to affect him any more than if she had been a struggling kitten.

“We can't let her go now. She knows too much. But we can't take her back outside, not in broad daylight, in full view of everyone on the street.” Merrick tilted his head to one side. “Do you think we can find a place for our guest in the storeroom?”

Franklin let out a curse as Amelia ground her heel into his instep. “As long as we make sure no one hears her.”

“I'm certain we can take care of that.” Merrick's manner became brisk as he approached them and pulled a large handkerchief from his pocket. Stretching the fabric from corner to corner, he held it at the ready. The instant Franklin slipped his hand from Amelia's mouth, Merrick rammed the improvised gag between her lips and pulled it taut while he tied the ends behind her head.

He checked to make sure it wouldn't loosen and nodded as if satisfied. “Bring her back here.”

The tight fabric bit into the corners of Amelia's lips, and the sharp tang of bay rum cologne filled her mouth. Tears sprang to her eyes, and her breath came in quick gasps as an overwhelming fear enveloped her.

Eddie Franklin held her upper arms in a cruel grip while they followed Merrick through the open door and back along the passageway to a small storage space at the other end.

Merrick stood before a set of shelves, unrolling a coil of heavy twine. He measured out a length and sliced it off with his pocketknife, then held it out to Franklin. “Would you do the honors?”

Sliding his grip down her arms, Franklin yanked Amelia's hands behind her back and wrapped the twine around her wrists several times before knotting it tight.

Freed of his constricting arms around her body, Amelia managed to jerk away. Pivoting quickly, she aimed a forward kick straight at his knee.

Franklin evaded the move with a quick sidestep and swung his arm in a backhanded arc that struck her squarely on the side of the head. She staggered backward and crashed against the opposite wall.

Franklin stepped forward with his mouth set in a hard line and spun her around again. “I'll need another piece for her feet.”

A soft whimper gurgled from Amelia's throat as he shoved her down to the floor. While Franklin bound her ankles fast, she cast a pleading look up at Owen Merrick. She had considered him capable of all sorts of skullduggery and fraud, but she never suspected the depth of evil that lurked behind that self-satisfied demeanor.

Rather than softening, he seemed devilishly amused as he leaned against the shelves, watching Franklin work. “I once reminded Thaddeus that women are held in high regard out here in the West. I have always tried to abide by that, but as you can see, Eddie doesn't share my finer feelings.”

Franklin jerked the last knot tight, then stood, panting slightly. “What do we do next?”

“I haven't decided yet.” Merrick straightened and consulted his pocket watch. “I have a meeting with a client soon, but the rest of the afternoon is free. That should give me plenty of time to consider our options.”

Eddie Franklin dusted his hands. “There's that old mineshaft up near the reservoir. The ore played out in that vein long ago, so there's no reason for anyone to poke around in there.”

Owen Merrick pursed his lips as if pondering nothing more serious than what he would like for dinner. “That might work. As I recall, it's quite a drop to the bottom of that tunnel. We own the property, so it won't raise any questions if we close that mine permanently.” He nodded and smiled at his companion. “Good thinking, Eddie. That should work out fine.”

Franklin stepped over Amelia as though she were nothing more than a pile of rags and walked out of the room. Merrick paused at the door and looked down at her. “Thanks to your meddling, it looks like we have a full afternoon ahead of us.”

She scraped her cheek against the wall, trying to force the gag from her mouth. There had to be some vestige of decency left in the man. If only she could reason with him!

“None of that, now.” Reaching down, Merrick gripped the rope around her ankles and dragged her away from the wall. “And if you have any notion about making a racket to summon help, put that out of your mind right now. If I hear any noise coming from this room, I'll have Eddie make sure it's the last sound you ever make.”

With that, he closed the door, leaving her in darkness.