Free Ransom of Love by Al Lacy Page B

“Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “Are you here to see Finn?”
    “Yes. Edward brought me in here, saying he would go after his father.”
    “May I have one of the maids get you some tea?”
    “No, thank you, ma’am. I just need to see Finn for a few minutes and be on my way.”
    When footsteps came from the rear of the house, Martha glanced toward the hall. “This must be Finn and Edward now. You’re sure I can’t have some tea brought to you? I know it’s hot.”
    Mulvey managed a weak smile. “No. Really. Thank you.”
    Finn came through the door. Edward quickly disappeared as Finn said, “Let’s go to my den, Hugh. We can talk in private there.”
    Martha stepped aside, allowing the chief constable to move past her, and watched as the two men hurried down the hall.
    When they were seated in overstuffed chairs that faced each other, Finn said, “All right, Hugh. What’s got you looking so worried?”
    “Dan Johnson.”
    Finn’s features hardened. “What’s he done?”
    “Asked me to arrest you and send you to trial for murdering Nathaniel. He was going to go to Jake, too, but I told him I’d talk to Jake about it.”
    Finn laughed. “See there, Hugh? Didn’t I tell you somebody would try to make something of my drunken son shooting off his mouth?”
    “You sure did.”
    “Did Dan bring up that George was drinking when he filled everybody’s ears with it at the tavern?”
    “No. He didn’t say a thing about it until I asked him if George was drunk at the time.”
    “And what did he say then?”
    “He said word is that George had put down enough whiskey to at least make a man slur his words.”
    “Well, Mr. Dan Johnson will have to learn that George was so stinking drunk he hardly knew what he was saying. In fact, when word first came to us what was being said by men who heard him in the tavern, I told George that when anybody brought it up to him, to tell them he was so drunk he doesn’t even remember saying it.”
    “Hey, that’s quick thinking. That’ll make it look even more like there’s nothing to it.”
    “So what about Jake?”
    “I went to his office right after Dan left. Told him about Dan coming to me. Our good sheriff is still holding fast to what we both told you we’d do—take the position that since George was drunk, it wouldn’t offer substantial proof of your guilt.”
    “That’s good, Chief!”
    “Jake said to tell you he’d have come with me today, but he had some papers to serve for Judge Weatherby, and he had to do it immediately. Last thing he said was to tell you that as long as he wears the sheriff’s badge, Finn Colvin has nothing to worry about from the Charleston County sheriff’s office.”
    Finn chuckled. “Good for him,” he said as he left his chair and went to his desk. Taking out a key, he opened a drawer and picked up a thick envelope stuffed with currency.
    “So, what story are you telling about Nathaniel’s death?” Mulvey asked.
    “Well, Nathaniel had been having problems with stomach pain for quite some time. That day, my boys and I took him into the barn to examine him, and while we were in there, poor Nathaniel died in my arms.”
    Nodding, Mulvey said, “All right. Who knows what could have gone wrong inside him? Good enough.”
    Finn took a wad of currency out of the envelope and peeled off several bills. Handing them to Mulvey, he said, “Here’s a special bonus for you above your usual monthly amount.”
    The chief constable’s eyes widened. “Thanks, Finn.”
    Peeling off a like amount, Colvin handed the wad to Mulvey and said, “Give this to Jake for me, and tell him the same thing.”
    “Sure will. Jake will appreciate it as much as I do. We’re both glad to be of service to a generous man like you.”
    Finn laughed. “Well, being rich does have its advantages. I know you and Jake are being paid by a few other plantation owners. But since lawmen don’t make much pay, this ought to be helping both