In Plain Sight Read Online Free PDF Page B

last evening.”
    Charles looked at his old friend, concern on his face. “I am . . . not exactly worried, but I must admit that I am concerned. If anyone can shake Pearl out of it, Annie and Myra can. What really concerns me is that everything is in Pearl’s head. If anything were to happen to her, all her hard work would collapse, and I don’t even want to think about what would happen then. I told Myra to try to convince her to call Lizzie Fox. Pearl trusts Lizzie. There has to be a legend so that down the road, if the unthinkable happens, the railroad and the people are protected.
    “Pearl does not want to give that up. I get that, but right now, she is not thinking clearly. If we’re successful in this mission, then I think there is a very good possibility that Pearl will allow Lizzie to document everything. That’s just my opinion, Fergus.”
    Fergus rubbed at the stubble on his cheeks as he stared out at the approaching dawn. “I know that Annie is worried. She was mumbling something about first it was Nellie, and now it’s Pearl. You know Annie; when those bees in her bonnet start to swarm, you never can figure out what’s going to happen. If she gets ticked off enough, she might shoot her.”
    Charles laughed.
    “So, on that note, I will now take my leave. See you around ten. Don’t start without us.” Charles waved good-bye.
    Feeling a nudge to his leg he looked down to see Lady, who was inching him toward the door. Her pups were right behind her. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to go outside with the dogs, but he did it anyway. All he wanted to do was sleep. “Make it quick, okay?”
    The dogs were back inside within minutes, waiting for breakfast even if it was two hours early. Outside to pee meant you came in and got fed. The dogs sat on their haunches and waited expectantly as Charles sighed and did what he had to do. He then bolted up the back staircase and headed for the shower. Myra could clean up the bowls.
    Charles’s last conscious thought as his head hit the pillow was that perhaps this mission was not going to be the slam dunk he had originally thought it would be. When you take on a man like Lincoln Moss, all you could hope for was a lot of luck.
     
     
    The July sun was bright at ten o’clock in the morning as the gang arrived almost simultaneously. They greeted each other in the parking area, then moved on to the back door, which Myra was holding open. More conversation ensued about the rain’s finally being over, how everything looked so scrubbed and clean the way only Mother Nature could do it. The flowers looked perky, according to Yoko, and she bent down to snap off a bright yellow Gerbera daisy that she immediately stuck behind her ear. Harry grinned.
    “Coffee, anyone? We have a little time before we have to be downstairs. Just so you know, Charles and Fergus worked through the night, snatched a few hours of sleep, and are hard at it again.”
    Annie poured coffee as the gang milled around. “I don’t see Pearl,” Kathryn said. “Is she coming? Please, stop looking at me like that. I just said what had to be said yesterday instead of pussyfooting around. If you’re upset with me, I can leave right now.” She waited until everyone assured her that they agreed with her, at which point Lady barked, announcing Pearl’s arrival.
    By ten thirty, all the sisters and their counterparts were seated at the new table, which now accommodated all of them. Everyone appeared bright-eyed and expectant. Even Pearl looked refreshed, which was a relief to everyone in the room.
    Charles and Fergus, his new right hand, were on the dais. The large screen came to life as Lady Justice beamed down on the occupants. For some reason, the women always smiled when she took over the room. Kathryn always saluted her, a crisp, no-nonsense salute that would have been the envy of any military officer had one been there to see it.
    In front of each occupant was a bright blue folder. The rule