An Agent for Audrey Read online

  He humphed a disapproving grunt. “You left a note on my desk, knowing that I had already left for a meeting with the mayor. I only discovered that note when I came in to supervise the interrogation of the suspected kidnappers.”

  Audrey poured a cup of tea and extended it toward him. “But I ensured that a note was personally delivered to Mr. Parker at his home.”

  Commissioner Ruffin accepted the cup and placed it back onto the table. “You sent a hooligan to deliver the note,” he said, his voice becoming agitated. “You went into a rough part of town, alone, climbed into an abandoned building…” he hesitated, before continuing, “you could have been killed, or abducted yourself, Audrey. What the blazes were you thinking?” He jumped up from his seat, the distress clearly outlined on his face.

  She sipped her tea briefly before placing her cup back onto its saucer. “I had everything under control.”

  A vein pulsated on his neck as he stared at her. Finally, it slowed as he took two deep breaths. When he was calmer, he asked, “Do you have any regard for your reputation or safety?”

  “It wasn’t about me,” Audrey stated firmly. “It was about Cecily. She needed to get home to her family.”

  “Then let the police handle it! Do you not grasp that it could have so easily gone the other way last night?” He jerked his hand toward his forehead. “You are a woman. An heiress, for heaven’s sake! People have been killed for a lot less.”

  “I understand that,” she replied, “which is why I took precautions. I paid a group of homeless people to allow us to blend in with them. We draped blankets over us, and I smeared manure on the blanket to repulse anyone who might take notice. One of the kidnappers even spoke to me but dismissed me as unimportant.”

  His jaw dropped open. “Can you repeat that?”

  “There is a huge homeless population near that abandoned building, and I anticipated that retrieving Cecily may go south, so I planned ahead. It was a simple…” Her voice trailed off when the commissioner turned around and clasped his hands behind his back.

  Commissioner Ruffin walked to the window and stared out for a long moment. Slowly, he turned around. “You never go into a risky, possibly volatile, situation without backup. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. Yet, you never listen,” he said, his voice rising. “This is a perfect example of why women would never make good police officers.”

  Audrey placed her cup and saucer on the table. “I disagree. If you allowed me to help on more cases…”

  “No! The Cincinnati Police Department will never have a female police officer,” he proclaimed, swiping a hand in front of him.

  Audrey rose. “Why not? I have more than proven myself.”

  Commissioner Ruffin frowned. “Perhaps I made a mistake allowing you to volunteer at the police station. After all, I have learned to expect the unexpected from you, but I never expected you to flaunt society’s rules in such a horrendous fashion.”

  Pressing her lips together, she reminded herself that she didn’t want to stop volunteering. She took a slow breath and put on her most reassuring tone. “No one saw me. No one knows what I did. As far as the police department is concerned, Mr. Parker saved her from that building.”

  “True,” Commissioner Ruffin nodded, “but I know what you did.”

  “Please don’t make me stop,” she murmured softly. “I enjoy working at the police department. It allows me to feel like I am making a difference.”

  The commissioner just stared at her, then slowly blinked before finally saying, “I have known you since you were a young girl, Audrey. You are wild, unpredictable, and refuse to follow even the simplest orders,” he paused before adding in a much gentler tone, “and yet, you are one of the smartest and most compassionate young women that I have had the pleasure to know.”

  Now, it was her turn to be stunned into silence. Commissioner Ruffin had never complimented her in all the years that she had known him. Before she could say anything, he pressed forward. “When you approached me about working at the police station, I had no idea how capable you would be at solving crimes. Not only can you pick out the minute details that the rest of us miss, but you somehow manage to look at the bigger picture.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a newspaper clipping. “You are twenty-three years old, and I had originally assumed that your interest in police work was a passing fancy.” He frowned. “I had hoped that a young man would have caught your eye, and you would have had a nursery full of children by now.”

  Audrey lowered herself down on her seat. “I am not happy being idle, and I refuse to be like my mother. There is more to life than just parties and wastefulness.”

  “Your father and I were good friends,” Commissioner Ruffin shared reflectively. “I promised your father that if anything ever happened to him, I would care for you as my own daughter.”

  “I know,” Audrey replied, “and I am grateful for your counsel and allowing me to work at the police department.”

  He looked down at the newspaper clipping, and she could see emotions race across his aged face. “The Cincinnati Police Department will never hire women, but there is another option for someone of your intellect.”

  “Which is?” she asked, curiously.

  He handed her the clipping. According to the advertisement, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was looking for new female agents in Denver. Her eyes widened with excitement.

  “Do you truly believe I could be a Lady Pinkerton?”

  “I wholeheartedly do,” Commissioner Ruffin admitted. “I have already sent a glowing recommendation to this Mr. Archie Gordon, but…” His voice trailed off as he sat next to her. “I know society life has no appeal to you, but being a Pinkerton agent is dangerous.”

  Audrey nodded her understanding. “I may have been born into this life, but it has never appealed to me. I want to learn new things, strive to become better, and have my own adventures.”

  He smiled at her. “I am hoping that becoming a Pinkerton agent will give you a new perspective.” He held up his hands. “After all, your life here is very grand, and you may start to miss the finer things.” He smirked. “Maybe you will come home and search for a husband?”

  Audrey pressed her lips together. “I have no desire to ever get married.”

  “None?”

  “Why would I?” she asked. “A husband would not solve anything. It would just create a new batch of problems.”

  The commissioner sighed and looked over her shoulder. “Why aren’t you like the other girls? Why don’t you wear fancy gowns and at least attempt to stay out of danger?”

  She smirked. “Where is the fun in that?”

  Commissioner Ruffin breathed an exasperated sigh. “Do not fool yourself into thinking I won’t track your career. If I discover that you are in even the slightest danger, I will come and bring you home.”

  Audrey grinned at him. “But didn’t you just say that being a Pinkerton agent would be dangerous?” She leaned over and embraced him, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “Thank you. After my parents died, I would have been lost if it wasn’t for you allowing me to volunteer at the police station.”

  He chuckled. “It was an odd place for you to grieve, but your efforts made a significant impact on our caseload.” He leaned back and frowned. “You should know that the mayor knows about your involvement in retrieving Cecily, but I swore him to secrecy.”

  “You told Mayor Sharp?”

  Commissioner Ruffin grinned. “Cecily did. She told him about how a beautiful woman saved her by wearing men’s clothing and smearing manure on herself.”

  Audrey’s small laugh held more than a little delight. “I see.”

  Offering her a sympathetic look, he said, “I wish I could have announced your participation at the press conference this morning, but that would have created a scandal for the police department, and for you, as well.”

  “I understand. I did
n’t do it for the recognition.”

  “You are a good person.” He looked down at the newspaper clipping in her hand, and Audrey swore she saw him blink back tears. “I’d better go before I change my mind and rip up that newspaper announcement.”

  “May I walk you out?” she asked.

  As they walked together, Commissioner Ruffin suddenly stopped and turned towards her. “I am proud of you, Audrey Hardwick,” he hesitated, his voice becoming shaky, “and your father would have been proud of you, too.”

  Overcome by his unusual display of emotions, Audrey tilted her head, gratefully acknowledging her dear family friend and mentor.

  After she saw Commissioner Ruffin out, she went back to the living room and sat down on the sofa. She read the newspaper announcement over and over until she had it memorized. If she wanted to apply in person, she was expected to show up at the Denver office in two weeks.

  Did she dare leave her townhouse in Cincinnati to travel to Denver with the hopes of becoming a Pinkerton agent? Glancing around the living room with its ornately painted ceilings, large paintings, and Chippendale furniture, she knew her answer. This was not the life that she wanted. She would become a Lady Pinkerton.

  Chapter 2

  Dressed in a suit, Warren Rockwell felt as though he was being led to his execution. Standing next to Miss Audrey Hardwick, he could hardly believe they were in the process of getting hitched. Sneaking a side-glance at his bride, he could see that she was as pleased as he was at their current predicament. The frown on her face and her rigid posture said it all.

  It hardly mattered that Audrey was a very attractive woman. She had an oval face, high cheekbones, narrow nose, and full lips. Her brown hair was piled high on her head, and a ridiculous green hat sat slightly askew, hanging over her forehead. Why would this woman wear a hat that provided no protection?

  In addition to the hat, his soon-to-be wife wore a dress that had a green, fitted bodice with a flare over her hips that highlighted her tiny waist, a lacy collar, and deep pleats in the back. It was clear that this woman would not be able to withstand the hardships of the Wild West.

  He stifled a groan. Audrey would just be another person he would have to protect when they went on their assignment. Most likely, she would just stay behind in their rented room and… To be honest, he didn’t rightly know what women did during the day besides cook and clean. Surely, Miss Audrey would be able to do that, he thought, as he glanced down at her gloved hands.

  Archie cleared his throat. “Warren,” he hesitated, glancing at Audrey, “do you?”

  “Do I what?”

  Archie gave him a disapproving head shake. “Do you take Miss Audrey Hardwick to be your wife?”

  “Yes,” he grunted forcefully.

  Audrey rolled her eyes.

  Frowning, Archie turned his gaze toward her, and his face softened. “And do you, Miss Audrey Hardwick, take Mr. Warren Rockwell to be your husband?”

  Audrey pressed her lips together as she glanced over at him. He could see indecision on her face. Another strike against her. Pinkerton agents were supposed to be solemn and were expected to hide their thoughts and feelings.

  Audrey turned to face him, tilting her head so she could look up at him. “If I agree to this sham of a wedding, this partnership, I want you to understand that once I seek an annulment, you will not be entitled to any percentage of my family’s company or my inheritance.”

  His brow lifted in disbelief. “Lady, I don’t want your money,” he drawled.

  “Do I have your word on that?” she pressed.

  He leaned closer to her and said his words very deliberately, “As far as I am concerned, we are not truly married. So, yes, you have my word.”

  The right side of her mouth quirked. “Good. I am glad that we have come to an agreement.” She faced Archie and stated, “Yes, I will marry Mr. Rockwell.”

  Archie gave them an approving nod before moving on to marry the next couple. After all the couples had said their vows, Archie said to the group, “You may now kiss your bride, or shake hands, or whatever it is that you decide to do.”

  Taking a step back, Audrey glared at him. “Don’t even think about it, Mr. Rockwell,” she declared haughtily.

  Warren gave Archie a heated glare before he turned to face his responsibility now. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mrs. Rockwell,” he responded, feeling the need to irk her even more. “I wouldn’t want to kiss you even if you were the last woman on earth.”

  “Do not call me that,” she retorted.

  He took a step closer to her. “It is now your legal name, so you’d best get used to it.” Extending his hand, he said, “We should at least shake on the marriage that we’ve just committed to.”

  Tentatively, she placed her hand in his. “The only reason I agreed to marry you is so I could be trained as a Pinkerton agent.”

  “And I agreed to train you, so you’d better understand that my word is law. Am I clear?”

  Audrey’s eyes narrowed, challenging him. “This is a partnership, not a dictatorship.”

  He scoffed. “Don’t fool yourself, sweetheart.” Realizing he was still holding her hand, he dropped it. “Either way, I am a seasoned agent, and you are an untrained, completely unprepared agent. Which means I will oversee the investigation, and you can watch and learn.”

  “Do not call me pet names,” she defended. “I am not a simpering woman that you can push around just because you are a man.”

  Archie’s assistant, Marianne, walked up with a file in her hand, extending it toward Warren. “Here is your case assignment. I noticed that you’d set it on the table before your vows.”

  “Where are we going?” Audrey asked.

  Without opening the file, he informed her, “We are going to a town called Hickory Creek in the Wyoming Territory.”

  She held out her hand. “May I see the file?”

  He shook his head. “As the lead agent, I will take care of everything,” he stated. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the trivial details.”

  “Why are you being so difficult?” she asked. “I just want to read up on our assignment.”

  “Me being difficult?” he huffed. “I believe the shoe is on the other foot.”

  “That doesn’t even make sense,” she declared, rolling her eyes.

  “Fine,” he said, opening the file. Audrey moved to stand next to him, and the delightful scent of vanilla reached his nose.

  “It says that we are assigned to round up a counterfeiting ring,” she read in a delighted voice.

  Warren slammed the file shut and placed it under his arm. “There is nothing exciting about going after counterfeiters,” he proclaimed, knowing that he was lying to himself. He had rounded up many counterfeiters in his days as a bounty hunter, but not as a Pinkerton agent.

  Audrey’s eyes glittered with excitement. “It is a good thing that I read up on counterfeiters and past Pinkerton cases.” Her hands grew animated. “Did you know that Mr. Pinkerton himself stumbled upon a camp of counterfeiters and alerted the authorities? That is how he started in law enforcement.”

  Furrowing his brow, Warren tried to make sense of what Audrey was babbling about. “Why were you reading about past Pinkerton cases?” To him, that seemed like a huge waste of time.

  “Research, of course.”

  Warren pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “This is going to be a long assignment,” he mumbled under his breath. How was he going to keep this woman safe? She looked as if she had just walked out of afternoon tea with the ladies.

  When he looked up, he realized that his new wife was gone… and so was the file.

  Audrey checked that her trunks were loaded, then stepped into the rented wagon and adjusted the skirt of the new traveling gown that Marianne had ordered for her. Taking her time, she opened the case file on her lap. She had grown tired of Mr. Rockwell’s condescending attitude and took the opportunity to swipe the file so she could have a moment alone to proce
ss the information.

  Her new husband’s angry voice originated from the Pinkerton house as he marched toward the wagon. “What do you think you are doing?” he shouted, his glare unrelenting.

  She smiled sweetly at him. “Nothing, dear husband. I was just anxious to catch our train so we could be off on our honeymoon.”

  Warren walked to her side of the wagon and placed his hands on the bench. “You do not do anything without asking permission. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Of course,” she said, earning an approving nod from Warren. “May I have permission to shoot you?”

  Warren gave her an exasperated look. “No.”

  “Pity.”

  His eyes narrowed. “My job is to train you to become an agent and teach you the skills you’ll need to stay alive.”

  “And I appreciate that,” she started, “but you are behaving like a condescending boor, and I don’t like it.”

  “You don’t have to like it, sweetheart, but you do have to live with it.”

  She slammed the file closed and placed it on the seat next to her. “If you call me a pet name again, I will pull out my gun and shoot you,” she warned.

  He gave her a cocky smile. “Really, death threats on our honeymoon?”

  Balling her fist in her lap, Audrey attempted to keep all expression off her face. For whatever reason, Mr. Warren Rockwell caused her blood to boil. She wanted to wipe that grin off his smug, annoyingly handsome visage. Discreetly, she eyed his wide, muscular shoulders which were highlighted by the cut of his suit, and his strong, square jaw. Why was she forced to partner with a man who was so handsome but who didn’t have the sense that God gave a billy goat?

  Mr. Rockwell was rude and condescending, but they were stuck with each other for the foreseeable future. As she took a slow breath, she unclenched her hands and decided to try again. “Clearly, we’ve started out on the wrong foot. Perhaps we should recognize our differences and press forward?”

  Not even bothering to respond, Mr. Rockwell walked around the wagon and climbed onto the bench, reaching for the reins. As the wagon rolled toward the train station, he said, “Lesson number one: Pinkerton agents are not friends; we are colleagues. Making friends in this business is a sure way to end up in a casket.”