By Kirsten
Copyright 1999
Louise caught a glance of the five-story building and suddenly felt smaller in size than she over had before. "It's big," she noted, stating the obvious.
"Forty-seven offices," Joey added, pointing out the distinctions between the various windows that separated the floors. "We're all crammed in here tighter than a tick on a dog."
Lou found herself smiling at the analogy as they walked up the few stairs leading towards the main door.
"Would you sign in please, Mr. Nelson?" a young woman at the desk asked, extending a sheet to him.
Joseph obliged, "Don’t I always?" he retorted, apparently frustrating the woman as she snatched it back from him.
Escorting Louise down a long hallway, Joey pointed out a few of the various offices and what it was that their assigned jobs were. She listened intently, although not quite sure if she was following his technical terms as well as she ought.
When they reached the end of the walkway, Lou stopped and glared at the enormous machine before her. It had a compartment, very much like a wagon bed, and a cable suspended from the top which was now freely sprawled across the floor. "What is that?"
Leading her closer towards it, Joey touched the sanded edge of the metal beam and stared at it intently…as if he had done so quite frequently. "It's called an elevator. It lifts you all the way from down here, all the way to the top of the building with the light press of a button," Joey watched her analyze it carefully. "We're going to be one of the first offices in 1862 to proudly carry the honor of such an amenity; second to New York that is."
Not knowing what to say at the marvels of technology before her, she said nothing and he lead her to the staircase. A staircase that would soon be leading her into a new world of marvels, challenges, and fears into the vast realm of the unknown.
"Allan Pinkerton, meet Louise McCloud," Joseph dispensed with the other customary introductions and skipped to the importance at hand.
She sat down in one of the cushiest chairs in Allan's office and nervously smoothed her hands over her skirts. Joey extended a glass of water to her and leaned against the large wooden desk…a habit that often times annoyed his employer.
Leaning forward with his fingers clasped together, Allan Pinkerton looked like a man who had aged 10 times what he should have just by sitting behind that pile of papers. His well-rounded face did nothing to conceal his deep set eyes, pointed nose, and balding head. Lou thought very briefly that he looked like a character from one of the fairy tales that she had read to her younger brother and sister.
Various medals were carelessly tossed in the corner of his shelf; a shelf that desperately needed to be dusted, she noted. Lou couldn't help but wonder how one of the most sought-after (or so Joey had said) legal investigators could get to that position with an office constructed of such upheaval and filth.
"So, you're the lady that's been praised to the sky by various reports, huh?" he stated it rather coolly and Louise was not sure if she was supposed to respond, or leave the question in the air to answer itself.
Noting that he had her "pinned down" and tongue tied, he continued. "I won't go into words of appreciation or warnings about how dangerous this is going to be. Mr. Nelson has already briefed you," he glanced at Joey to confirm his premise, "and so you're here to get the facts, and nothing else. Your expenses will be covered, so do not concern yourself with that."
Allan leaned back in his chair and stared at her intently, "At the end of this assignment, assuming that you are still alive to tell about it, a compensation in the amount of one thousand union dollars in gold will be signed to you. After that point, you will have never had any associations with us, and your current identity will be returned to you. Any questions?"
Louise swallowed despite her dry mouth and willed some courage to enter her body. Her voice shook as she spoke, hoping that Joey had memorized what all Mr. Pinkerton had said too. Just in case she couldn't remember all of the details. "Uh, well, I. Yes, actually sir, I had a question about the gold."
"What, isn't it enough?" he snapped, having fully experienced his fair share of penny pinchers.
Growing defensive she sat upright in her chair and once again brushed her hands across her skirts. "No. I mean, yes, I mean. That's not what I meant. I just meant to say that if something happens to me, will I still get the money?"
Allan had to laugh and he leaned forward. "You mean you'd want one thousand in gold if you were not around to use it?"
Not able to take his selfish pig-headed attitude any longer, she rose to her feet. "Excuse me, but you're the one endangering me here with your little boy's club. The least that you can do is hear me out!"
Pinkerton smiled at her spunk. She would be perfect for this mission. Just what he needed and just what he wanted. "Then by all means, continue."
Feeling her cheeks flush in embarrassment and anger, she slowly sat back into her chair. "I just wanted to request that if something should happen to me, the gold be sent to my husband in Rock Creek."
Touched by the appeal, yet not allowing it to show on his face, Allan nodded. "I think that can be arranged."
"Thank you," she said, relieved that no matter what, Kid would see one of the infinite evidences of her love.
"Joseph will make all the arrangements, and in the meantime I would like you to go out and speak to Matilda. Get the information that she has for you and Mr. Nelson will meet you out in a few moments."
Louise reached for the door but abruptly stopped when she heard Pinkerton speak again. "And Mrs. McCloud," he waited until she had turned around to face him, "be careful. Come back to see that gold and give it to your husband yourself."
Not knowing how to respond to such a warm and sincere plead after his prior treatment, she walked out of the room to meet her new self.
Allan waited until he was sure she was out of ear shot before he wheeled around to lecture his employee. "Joseph, I've seen a lot of stupid things, but WHAT possessed you to bring HER! Didn't you check the file, didn't you see that she was married?" he spat.
Joseph threw up his hands, "Woah, wait a minute Al, you told ME to go get her. You think I wanted to drag her back from Rock Creek...her husband thinking that she was running away with me? Look, if this is what you're going to force blame on me for, you can take back every assignment you've ever given me, and I'll toss in my 'Pinkerton' title."
Sighing with frustration and understanding, Allan motioned for the door. "Just get out there, tell her what she needs to do. Equip her with all that she'll need, and get on your way. I don't have time to find a replacement. The letter to the President is going out tomorrow."
He made personal eye contact with Joey for the first time all day, and made his peace. "And see that nothing happens to her. I'm not going to be the one with her life on my conscience. I want to see that girl come back all in once piece."
Louise sat at an empty chair at Joey's desk. She cradled a file in her hands, upon which she was carefully studying. Her face remained unchanged as the depths of the mission made themselves evident.
Joseph sat down and waited for her to look up at him in shock. However, she did not, and instead she leaned forward meticulously reading every letter. He admired her attentive ability to take everything on the paper so seriously. Most women would have laughed nervously, tossed their arms up, and left the room.
"Do you have any questions?" he asked her as he began pulling out some small objects from his desk.
She read a moment longer and then handed the file back to him. "I think that it pretty much explains itself."
Lou leaned back and stared at him intently. "I am taking on the identity of the daughter of a Southern Senator, also president of the Women's Relief Society of Tennessee. I'm launching a fund raising campaign to be distributed towards the purchase of artificial limbs for disabled Confederate soldiers, and will be touring the East Coast to help plead my cause to the government. My main goal is to charm a specific Confederate officer, whose name will be given at a later date, with my passion for helping soldiers, and discover in the process if he is one of the spies or traitors."
Lou paused and couldn't help but feel proud of the amazement on Joey's face that she would pick up all the details so quickly, "My other identity, is a young woman by the name of Pauline Chushman. She's an actress from Boston, who gave up her career to use her talents in aiding the Union. She, or I, if you will, shall be playing the field with the Yankee troops, trying to discover who has been trading secrets to the South. I will be alternating between two these identities for the same purpose. My duties will or may include some or all of the following; allowing these men to take me to various social gatherings, calling on me at various times of the day, and, if necessary, allowing these men to fall in love with me."
She grinned sarcastically, "That is unless I've missed something?"
Clearing his throat, Joey could not hide his astonishment. "No, no. I think that covers it for now. All of your clothing will be provided once we arrive, as well as the actual mission details themselves. We'll leave this afternoon to meet up with our contact in Columbus, Ohio who will in turn tell us precisely where we need to be; why, when, how, and all of those other details."
Allan Pinkerton sat at his desk, quill pen in hand, carefully composing a letter of the utmost importance.
His Excellency A. Lincoln. Prest. Of the U.S.
When I saw you last I said that if the time should ever come that I could be of service to you I was ready. If that time has come I am on hand.
I have in my Force from sixteen to eighteen persons on whose Courage, Skill and Devotion to their country I can rely. If they with myself at the head can be of service in the way of obtaining information of the movements of traitors, or safely conveying your letters or dispatches, on that class of Secret Service which is the most dangerous, I am at your command.
In the present disturbed state of affairs I dare not trust this to the mail, so send by one of My Force who was with me at Baltimore. You may safely trust him with any Message for me - written or verbal. I fully guarantee his fidelity. He will act as you direct and return here with your answer.
Secrecy is the great lever I propose to operate with. Hence the necessity of this movement (if you contemplate it) being kept strictly private, and that should you desire another interview with the bearer that you should so arrange it as that he will be noticed.
The bearer will hand you a copy of a telegraph cipher which you may use if you desire to telegraph me.
Pinkerton re-read what he wrote and set the paper down and began to fold it. But then, as if reliving a dream, Louise's face appeared before him and she could see her stunning brown eyes staring him down; full of determination and loyalty to everything that she held dear.
Picking up his pen once again, he added a note at the end and signed his name for the final time.
My Force comprises both sexes - all of good character and well skilled in their business. All of which I assure you can trust with your life as I would with my own..
Satisfied with the final composition, he called Joseph Nelson into his office and handed the wax sealed note to him. Joey did not have to ask questions in regards to whom it was to be delivered to, he knew fully and without question.
Joseph found Lou and gently placed his arm around her shoulder to lead her towards the door. His left hand was clutching tightly to the letter as if his life depended on its existence. "Come on, Louise, we have a long journey ahead and important people to meet. A Pinkerton has never been late, and we don’t want to be the first."
"Oh I'm going to miss you so much," Stacy said, hugging her friend tightly. "Promise me that you'll be safe and that we will get together again when this all clears up. We can't go another two years."
Lou nodded and whisked her tears away with a faint smile. "I promise. And you stay safe in Denver."
Stacy chuckled, "You know it." Her face grew a little more solemn and Stacy wasn't quite sure how to bring the subject up without hurting Lou by the mere mention of names. So, she slowly and softly continued, "Louise, I know this is a terrible thing to ask, but I didn't want to just stop by without you knowing. I would like to go by and see Kid and Jimmy on my way. The stage passes through Rock Creek anyway. Do you mind?"
Lou took a deep, contemplative breath. She wondered if there were more motives to why Stacy wanted to go other than just a "social call." However, she was not about to question the desire. They were, after all, her friends as well. "No, I think that they would like that."
With a nod, and no other word on the subject, Stacy picked up her small bags. She knew that she had more of a reason for going, and that her reason smelled of trouble and quite possibly, deceit. "I suppose that I better be on my way then. A girl can't just keep important people waiting, you know. I just hope that this trip turns out better than my last one. They're aren't many smart people to be recruited these days," she laughed.
"Be careful, missy," Joey embraced his sister and she left the house with a wave and made her way towards the station.
Louise and Joseph left only a few short moments later, having not needed to pack more than a few things apiece. Lou made Joey promise that he would not drug her this time, and although she said that she had left him off the hook the first time, she would still eventually claim her revenge.
"You really think that it's going to be that much of adventure?" Louise asked as they were comfortably seated on their compartments, awaiting the locomotive to take off.
Suddenly, as in response, the train lurched forward and Lou was knocked back into her seat. She thought briefly that she would much prefer the comfort of a stagecoach to the rugged ride of a jostling bulk of metal on tracks pulled by the power of steam, logs, and fire.
Joseph pulled his hat over his eyes to shade the sun beaming in through the window. "Louise, anything with you is an adventure. And this time, I wouldn't expect any less."
On to Chapter Six
