Free Kathleen Y'Barbo by Millie's Treasure Page A

were about to open the door and then aim.”
    His best friend knew him well. And yet the fact Lucas had got the jump on him irked Kyle.
    “Happy New Year, my friend,” Lucas said.
    “I return the sentiment.”
    A thought occurred. Though his friend sat there, it had not been Lucas’s voice he heard. “How did you change the sound of your voice?”
    Lucas retrieved what appeared to be a brass tube with a cap at one end and handed it to Kyle. Upon closer inspection, he noted a small speaking tube with some sort of reed inside.
    “All right.” He returned the device to the former Pinkerton agent and then sprawled on the chair across from him. “Show me how it works.”
    After an impressive demonstration, Lucas set it aside. “Like it?”
    Kyle grinned. “Much better than the last harebrained idea you showed me. I cannot imagine there is need for an automated postage machine. Who is in that much hurry, Lucas? Honestly, if a man cannot be bothered to stop and put a stamp on a letter, then he is just lazy.”
    “Hey, now,” Lucas protested with a laugh. “We agreed to disagree on that one. You will thank me when the patent is approved.” He paused. “Any news on the big case that brought you to Memphis?”
    Kyle shrugged. “I personally think it is a ridiculous waste of time to go hunting after lost treasure. The war ended twenty years ago. Anything claimed to be hidden has either been quietly found or never existed in the first place.”
    “And yet someone cared enough to hire the Pinks to settle the question for certain. Any idea who that might be?”
    Kyle thought carefully before he spoke. “Henry says the assignment goes all the way to the top.”
    “President Cleveland?” Lucas made a face. “You’re joking. Why? He has been voted out and will vacate the White House in a couple of months.”
    “On the fourth of March, which happens to be the same day my assignment ends.”
    Lucas let the silence lengthen. “So,” he finally said, “have you asked?”
    “Asked if I am working for the president? Of course. The boss says he cannot confirm, but he does not deny it either. Apparently Will Pinkerton himself agreed to take on the case.”
    His friend let out a low whistle. “It must be a big deal to someone then.”
    “Agreed. And as to Cleveland being a one-term president, he’s claiming he’ll be back in four years.”
    Lucas chuckled. “Don’t they all? But, seriously, what purpose would it serve a president to have Pinkertons out hunting for missing Confederate gold?”
    “Henry’s guess is the president believes the gold belonged to the Treasury. What better way to leave than by being the man who deposited rebel gold in federal coffers?”
    “I suppose so, but why Memphis?”
    “I got a tip that some of the gold passed through a bank here in town under the guise of a woman whose name did not end up appearing in any of their records.”
    “Not that someone trying to hide gold would use a real name.”
    “I thought of that. And I have another lead that will eventually take me home to check out the main branch of the Bank of Louisiana.” He paused as he allowed his interest in the topic to shift. “What are you doing here?”
    “I got your message,” Lucas said as he shifted positions. “And as I was heading back to Natchez, I thought I would bring the flying device back with me unless you have further use for it.”
    “Actually, I would prefer to give it another test run before I depart.”
    He had not planned on another test run. He hadn’t even given it a thought. However, if he could find the society scientist, then maybe another flight was not such a bad idea.
    “All right.” Lucas grinned. “I bring greetings from New Orleans. Cousin Winthrop was married this afternoon.”
    “Is that so?” Kyle thought of Flora’s cousin and the woman to whom he had been engaged. “I’m guessing that might have been a little uncomfortable for some of you, given that the bride’s father