Free A Charm of Powerful Trouble (A Harry Reese Mystery Book 4) by Robert Bruce Stewart

then they exchanged words. Unfriendly words.”
    “I’m beginning to realize I don’t know Emmie very well at all.”
    “Does anyone?”
    “I would have imagined you did.”
    “I would have imagined so, too.”
    We headed over to the depot and joined a small throng waiting for the train. I saw no sign of the Chinamen, but made sure we were the last to board. Just as it started moving, I saw them come out of some bushes at the far end of the train and climb aboard. When we’d sat down, I told Aunt Nell.
    “Oh, highbinders are tenacious, Harry.”
    “Are they?”
    “Yes. We’ll have to shake them in Albany somehow.”
    “It might be they aren’t following us, but are just trying to reach the same objective.”
    “To take their revenge on Lou Ling?”
    “Revenge for what exactly?”
    “Interfering with the tong’s tourist trade.”
    “I think they’d take that up with Jimmy Yuan.”
    “Or perhaps they’re after Emmie.”
    “Emmie? Why would a tong spend any time thinking about Emmie?”
    “The Oriental mind is very devious, Harry.”
    “Not unlike her own.”
    “Aren’t you at all concerned for her?”
    “Probably more than she is, but it doesn’t pay to worry too much about Emmie.”
    “You’ve really become blasé about the poor girl, Harry.”
    “Oh, I wouldn’t call it blasé.”
    “I would. You’re never the least bit jealous. And now she’s being held hostage on a canal boat, chased by ruthless highbinders, and you act as if she just stepped out for a walk in the park.”
    “Held hostage?”
    “Well, whenever the Bradys come across a white woman, she’s almost always being held hostage.”
    “I see. You don’t think you might be able to interest your cook in something a little nearer reality? Maybe Dickens would afford an easy transition.”
    “Don’t try to change the subject. We’re talking about your attitude toward Emmie.”
    “Well, I’ll make an effort to exhibit more concern.”
    “Genuine concern, Harry.”
    I told her I would, but judging from her expression I think she doubted my sincerity.
    We reached Albany a little after four and checked into the Ten Eyck Hotel. Then we set forth to find the entrance to the canal. Of course everyone knows the Erie Canal begins at the Hudson in Albany. But not many people know exactly where. Even in Albany.
    Eventually we located the entrance about a mile north of the city proper. There was a little point that projected into the river and we found our way to the tip. Here one could see both the river traffic and the approach to the canal.
    “We’ll need to come out even earlier tomorrow morning,” I said. “We should get back to the hotel for dinner.”
    We’d just been served when I noticed two men being seated nearby. One was the White Rat who’d advocated dispatching me back at Erbe’s casino. He was in his late forties, with dark hair and a lean physique. His face was an ordinary one, but he made lively use of his mouth and eyes. I described him to Aunt Nell, whose back was to them, and she suggested we listen in. Most of the conversation was spent griping about life on the road, cheating agents, lazy stagehands, and actresses who guarded their virtue too assiduously. But as dessert arrived, their talk turned to something more interesting.
    “I need you to take over my turn tomorrow night, Fred,” the rodent said.
    “What’s up?”
    “I know where the woman behind Ernie’s killing is. I’m going up there right after the matinee.”
    “Up where?”
    Just then a woman at the next table did a convincing imitation of a hyena and neither of us heard the reply. We sat through the rest of their meal, but they returned to more mundane subjects. Then they left the room.
    “Who could they mean but Emmie?” Aunt Nell asked. “She arranged the shooting.”
    Not wanting to exhibit any lack of proper concern, I conceded it was a possibility.

8
    By four-thirty the next morning, we’d made our way to the little peninsula