Lakefront and Mrs. Grey

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Nine

Boom Today

“Where are the other set of books Miss Thomas” Kathleen asked when Patty returned.

Patty smiled after glancing at the safe, and the untouched items within it. “You are honest. That I find important. Right side of the desk, bottom drawer. How did you know?”

“I knew, that’s all I will say. If it isn’t enough don’t hire me. I don’t keep double books. Its too damn easy to get confused and all that second set does is act as evidence against you. So if that is what you want, don’t hire me.” She pulled out a wrapped set of books, looking up at Patty.

“Go ahead and open it, I just wanted to see how honest each candidate was. You’re the first not to open that package or try to steal a few bucks from the safe. What is your opinion?”

“I’d call in the police. Turn this second set of books over to them. Write a complaint, have him arrested then hung. But that is myself. You?”

“Roasted over a slow coal fire” Patty admitted. “We need those records to see how bad we’re hurt. Mr. MacGregor takes cash now and then, but you’ll find a receipt for every withdrawal. How long to copy them, then turn the originals over to the Police.”

“A full day, day and a half at most. Should I start now? I need to make a phone call if I am. I’ve a brand new friend waiting to take me to dinner and I do not want to insult her.”

“No Kathleen. Tomorrow morning. Seven am. I’ll be here. Get it copied. As soon as your done I’ll call the police.”

“What about Mr. Beckman” Kathleen asked.

Patty grimaced in distaste. “I will have a talk with Joyce. She will keep him busy for an extra twenty.”

“I see. So am I to be...”

“No. You’re an employee. Probably a criminal but honestly I do not care. MacGregor’s has been my life for too long, almost since I arrived in America. I want to keep it in business as long as I can. Your honest to me and an honest employee is more important than one who will open her arms and legs for that fat old man. Besides, its his wife who is the real owner. When it comes down to it, she’s the one we have to please. Tomorrow morning. At seven or not at all.”

“I understand.” Setting the books down on her tiny desk Kathleen stood, offering her purse for Patty to inspect.

“No. I am going to trust you. I just hope I haven’t signed my own death warrant though. Kathleen. Truth be told there are things about you I like, and at least one that disturbs me. I can wait to deal with it all until after this ship is in clear water again. So ‘till the morning.”

A little later Kathleen stepped from her taxi, tossing a ten-spot to the driver then walking away to leave him a tip worth ten times the trip. She was in a hurry and he was the only taxi driver that would bring her this deep into China Town. Letting it be known she tipped large for dangerous trips would gain her a taxi faster, eventually. If she was alive in a month. Walking through Big China's main entry she soon found herself gently, yet efficiently guided towards the buildings rear. Within minutes of her arrival she again stood with Ai. "Package delivered?" Kath asked.

"Yes. Head stoker was told is from First Mate. For... Future services" Ai answered. "To be opened when ship has left port. We watch from another place. Please follow me." As Ai walked past Kathleen a scent of vanilla drifted from her. "Su Lin of course awaits. Bet you will not her. I win bet I think, then what you do?"

"A long walk home" Kathleen answered with a shrug, following the woman. "Unless I’m tah find myself in ah cage. How soon before the ship leaves?"

"Soon, maybe minutes. Maybe half hour. We have tea while wait. Come. We see." They arrived in a large corner lounge, one with a set of windows facing the harbor. Ai pointed towards a ship being pushed away from its dock. "That Autumn Breeze" she informed Kathleen. "All ships named Breeze. Now I win this bet."

Aboard Autumn Breeze a very little later a young man looked over to his father. "Okay Thomas" the Chief Engineer noted. "We're clear of tha harbor, go have yer fun. Jus keep it outta sight right?"

"Yes sir" the younger man responded with a large smile on his face. 'Twas nice of Mr. Andrews tah remember us. Should I bring yah ah bottle dah?"

"No son, someone has to be dead sober iffin tha Captin calls fer engines. Now off wid ye." He watched his son vanish. It wasn't often brass remembered those below. But Andrews? What was that boy up too? Certainly not a mutiny. Maybe another of those Canadian women he sometimes brought back. With a shrug Chief Engineer Karl Millhime returned to his duties.

Down in the boiler room almost the entire below decks crew had gathered about a large wooden box. Men grimy with oil, coal dust and other substances watched with anticipation as the Assistant Engineer picked up a heavy wooden crate and braced it against the hull. Then taking a wreaking bar he slipped it under a loose board. With a hammer he drove his bar between two boards, a creak of nails pulling free of their wooden beds filled a suddenly silent chamber. "Boys" the officer called, reaching under to lift the lid. "Tonight we enjoy tha best." He lifted the lid, as he did a wire was pulled up with it. Its insulated length slid through a coil of bare copper until more bare copper slid up. For an instant nothing happened, then wire touched wire with a fat spark. Two men had a brief view of what lay under the rising lid, one had just started to open his mouth when hell came to visit.

On the bridge there was a sudden shudder, quickly followed by a heavy booming noise. As the Captain turned to look aft a huge cloud of black smoke began billowing from the starboard side. Still Autumn Breeze plowed through the lakes waters at an ever increasing pace. Below decks hell reigned as a billowing cloud of blue-yellow flame filled every open space. Every crewman below decks was killed nearly instantly except the Chief Engineer, who lived just long enough to scream as the flame front rolled up from the deck below. At the point of detonation metal had warped, rivets had popped, welds had torn. A hull plate warped, forming a scoop that sucked cold lake water into the ships engine room at a massive rate. Water pressure further warped the plate, letting in more water.

Above decks the ships Captain had just reached the bank of calling tubes when the lakes icy waters struck his ships red hot boilers. Autumn Breeze was nearly torn in half by the following detonation. Within minutes nothing remained to show a ship had existed. Nothing except a rapidly expanding debris field and one completely untouched survivor, the Second Mate Mr. Andrews.

"How?" the Chinese woman asked.

Kathleen looked over to her host. "That, my dear is a trade secret. I'd no more ask how you train your merchandise than you should ask how I do things." She stepped away from the windows. "You owe me eight hundred dollars and, I believe a.... Companion."

Ai shook her head. "I do not know what I thought I know. You and I will have more business. What guarantee have I you won't do this to me?"

"None" Kathleen admitted. "Other than I do not take contract's on current... Customers. Or friends. A retainer will assure I do not cause harm to you or your business. Your woman is that retainer. She is worth what, twenty thousand?"

Ai laughed, "I have been offered thirty-five” she admitted. “I could take you" she continued. "But you are too honest. I think I lose more long time doing that, so we do business. Come. I make peace with dangerous Irishwoman."

In the harbor area, sitting at his over sized desk Martin Solaniro sat stunned. An icy sweat had already started rolling down his abundant body. An anonymous note still lay in front of him. "This is your only warning. Stop trying to bleed Chinatown dry or lose the rest your ships." It'd arrived only minutes before Autumn Breeze's sinking. Chinatown had spoken, and he certainly was going to listen.

Meanwhile aboard the White Cloud two detectives still stood in shock, mouths open catching the wind as dark oily smoke rose from where a ship had been but a moment before. “What tha hell happened” Jake Carter demanded.

“Could be anything” White Cloud’s Captain answered from beside him. “Looks though like sea water got to those boilers. He was running hot, you can see that from the smoke cloud still hanging behind. Boiler exploded, breached the hull, cold water rolled in to hit t’other over stressed boiler causing a flash steam explosion. No more ship. That’s what it looks like to me. Of course there will be a court inquiry. We should know the story. In a year or two.”

Meanwhile, having come to a business agreement with Ai, Kathleen returned to her rooms accompanied by one Su Lin. She was no longer under the assumption that the Chinese girl was a free and clear winning. Not that she had ever been so deluded. In truth she’d suspected that already. Su Lin was a marker, a spy and guarantee that Kathleen would never work against Ai. It complicated her life a little. But it was an acceptable complication. With Ai acting as interrupter she'd made her position clear. "I will pay you a certain stipend each week, you will be my private maid. Your skills will be made use of, all your skills. Cross me and you will join that ship." Now Kathleen looked at the woman who followed her like a trained puppy dog. 'Forger' she thought, 'That I think I will find very useful. Very well little Chinagirl. Let us find someone to start your language lessons.'