An Agent for Zennia Read online

  Troubled at the memories, he abruptly stopped walking, and Zennia ran into him.

  “Why did you stop? Is something wrong?” She quizzed him with that funny look she had.

  Kyle laughed. “No. Nothing is wrong. Let’s go to the last car.” He pointed down the tracks and started walking, not waiting for her to answer.

  Once again, the silence behind him pulled him to a stop. Kyle looked back to see that she was still standing where he’d left her. With a shrug, he called to her and waved her to him.

  She shook her head and pointed to the train car next to her.

  Kyle shook his head. “Let’s get on down here.”

  “I want this one.” She smiled and stepped into the car and disappeared inside.

  Now what? Drag her back, or leave her and go on to the car he had pointed out? He muttered under his breath. She was becoming more and more like a little sister. Well, she wasn’t going to make him do as she pleased. He went on and boarded the train car he’d initially wanted to go on.

  Seated by the window, he wondered where she was and why she had to be so obstinate. Well, she could come and find him. He was not budging. He had a comfortable seat in a not very crowded car and was content to stay right where he was.

  Kyle leaned back and gazed out the window, but thought of Zennia cluttered his thinking. The woman could just go on her own if she wanted to. He didn’t need her. Not yet, anyway. Once they got to Chicago, he’d send Zennia into the college to sniff out what trouble Amanda may be in and see if she was still staying in the dorm.

  Then again, he really didn’t know what Amanda’s trouble was. Once before, Amanda had mentioned that she was afraid, but when he asked her about, she shook her head and said it was nothing.

  His thoughts of Amanda blurred with Kyle’s trouble with Zennia. If she didn’t want to do what he said, she could find another job, and he’d find another agent to take her place. Maybe Ulyssa. He’d worked with her some on a counterfeit ring while in Chicago. That had been about the same time he was with Amanda.

  The train chugged, lurched, and began its journey. Kyle relaxed or tried to. That his partner wasn’t with him was unnerving. Not that he cared about Zennia, but he was in charge of her. She should be here in front of him so he could ask about her.

  He really knew nothing about Zennia Fields. She looked younger than her twenty-two years. Perfect for the cover of his younger sister. They both had brown hair and blue eyes. She needed to get used to being called Zennia Logan and saying she was his brother.

  Soon the train was swaying over the tracks and eating up the miles. Kyle wanted to think about Amanda, but Zennia kept getting in the way. Where was she and what was she doing? He was just about to get up when the door opened, and she rushed in.

  Her face was flushed, her hair blown about making it messier than usual, and her eyes were bright and shining as if she’d solved a case on her own.

  With a grin, she sat down in front of him. “I got a good look at all the people on the train. I didn’t see any outlaws that I recognized.” She folded her hands in front of her as if waiting for further instructions.

  He nodded. “I suggest you settle back in the seat and rest. It’s a long ride to Chicago.”

  Frowning, Zennia pulled out a notebook and pencil from her pocket. “I thought we could work while we’re on the train. You could tell me about Amanda and what you might think is going on. The surroundings. Where we might look first. That kind of thing.”

  Her eagerness made him feel tired. “We have plenty of time for that. I’d like to get some shut-eye.”

  Not only did she not shut her eyes, she rolled them. “You’re acting like an old man. I know you’re supposed to be my older brother, but I didn’t think that meant elderly.”

  That woke him up. He was not old, and only a couple of years older than Zennia. “We have plenty of time.”

  Her lips went together, giving him a look of disapproval. “I would think you would want to find out what happened to her. Did you bring the telegram?”

  Kyle opened one eye a slit and glared at her best he could without opening the other eye. As to do so would be defeat. “Later. I didn’t sleep well. Nothing we can do on the train. Once we get to Chicago, we’ll be going full speed.”

  She tilted her head and frowned at him. “Oh, well, I hope you’ll let me know when we get to full speed, so I don’t get left behind.” Zennia turned away from him and looked out the window.

  Forcing his eyes to remain closed, Kyle wondered how he’d been so unlucky as to get Zennia as his partner. At least, Archie had not made them get married. Apparently, he’d talked enough about Amanda that the lead detective knew that wouldn’t be an option.

  Zennia remained quiet for about a minute. “Kyle, wake up.”

  “I wasn’t asleep.” He sat up, all idea of taking a rest gone. “What?”

  She put her pencil to her notebook. “What does Amanda look like? Do you have a picture?”

  With a sudden burst of reality, Kyle realized, no, he didn’t have a picture of her. He’d arranged for them to have one together, but she’d made excuses about her hair and dress. Of which, there had been nothing wrong with either. He’d chalked it up to a woman’s ways.

  He shook his head. “No. I don’t have a picture of her.”

  Zennia sighed. “That would have been helpful.” She stared at him.

  Kyle could see the wheels in Zennia’s mind turning.

  She huffed a little sigh. “Why don’t you have a picture of your fiancé? Most men would.”

  He had the money to pay for one. So, why didn’t he? Troubled that he had no reason, he remained quiet.

  After a few minutes, Zennia smiled. “All right, you describe her to me, and I’ll try and draw her. I’m rather good at it.”

  Seeing that he had no avenue of escape, he relented to her wishes. Besides, having a drawing of Amanda would be helpful when questioning others about her whereabouts. “All right. Are you ready?”

  Zennia nodded, her eagerness barely contained in her smile.

  “She’s taller than you and more, well, rounded.”

  Zennia stared at him with a lopsided look of disapproval. “I’m drawing her face.”

  “Oh. Well, Amanda’s face is long and oval. She has blond hair that she keeps up in a fashionable bun like most of the ladies in Chicago. Her eyes are brown, warm, and loving. Her lips are full and pink. Her cheekbones are high. Her skin is soft and flawless. And she wears this perfume that smells like heaven.”

  Muttering as she sketched, Zennia finally turned her work for him to see. “Does that look like her? Sorry I couldn’t get the heavenly smell to show.”

  Kyle was amazed at the likeness. It did look like her. Not perfect, but a keen resemblance. “That’s good, Zennia.” He was genuinely impressed.

  Beaming with pride, Zennia stared at the picture, and her smile wavered. “She is pretty.”

  Kyle nodded. “Beautiful. I was surprised she gave me the time of day.”

  Zennia stared at him. “You’re a handsome man, smart, and interesting. I can see why she would.”

  Suddenly, Kyle didn’t mind Zennia’s inexperience. She would be useful. Besides, the key was to find Amanda. She’d written in letters that she was afraid of someone. He thought maybe because of her wealthy father. He’d mentioned it to Amanda once, but she’d said no and assured him she would be fine. Now, it appears she wasn’t. He’d let her down. Kyle felt he should have been there to protect her.

  “Who would want to hurt her?” Zennia looked at him with bright, innocent eyes.

  Although the question was valid, it riled Kyle. He should have been ahead of the newcomer. Instead, he answered her truthfully. “I don’t know.”

  She frowned. “Enemies to the family? A jilted lover? Or a madman intent on doing her harm or worse?”

  Her questions hit him like worded bullets. Any of the options could apply. Kyle stared at her. She was pretty. Honest. And looking to him as if he
had the answers.

  Kyle turned to the window. “I don’t know. Any of those, I suppose.”

  “She didn’t mention that someone was following her?”

  He put a hand to his forehead. Was the woman a mind reader? “Not really, she’d written and said that she was afraid of someone, but that she thought she could handle it, and not to worry.”

  Kyle recalled a day some time ago when he and Amanda had gone out. They were walking along the pier when she suddenly stopped and pushed him down an alley. Breathless, she’d told him not to make a sound. He tried to get around her to see who she was afraid of, but she pushed him back and kissed him as someone walked by. The memory flooded back to him.

  The kiss had held nothing of a promise. More of a ruse to keep him from seeing the man who walked by. Amanda had shielded him from seeing the man.

  “How long ago was that?”

  Forgetting that Zennia was across from him, questioning him, Kyle turned to look at the girl. Then again, Zennia was no girl. She was a woman in her own right. And apparently smarter than he’d thought. Her questions were right on point. It took him a moment to remember what she’d asked. “Two months ago.”

  Zennia chewed on the end of her pencil and nodded. “When we get to Chicago, we should enquire about her family’s company. I can get into her college and look for her friends. Do you know anyone that she talked about or hung around with frequently?”

  The small headache that had begun in the back of his head had moved to his forehead just above his eyes. Would she interrogate him the entire way to Chicago? He thought back to his time with Amanda. There was one friend he remembered. What was her name? Julie, Julia, something like that. But Amanda never hung around with any friends.

  “I remember one girl she sat next to in one of her classes. A friend who sometimes ate lunch with us. I think her name was Julia.”

  “Maybe you can remember before we get to Chicago.” Zennia smiled sweetly. “You don’t need to worry. My father sent me to school so I can carry my own in a college environment. Do you think you could describe Julia enough for me to draw?”

  He shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay much attention to her.” The truth was the woman had been nothing but a distraction to him when he was with Amanda. “It’s possible when we get there Amanda will be fine and tell me it’s nothing.”

  “But you don’t believe that, do you?” Zennia sketched on her pad.

  “No. I think she’s in trouble and reached out to me. She trusts me.”

  “I can see why she would.” Zennia sighed. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I am sure I can sniff Amanda’s friends out. I’m good at that. Did I tell you I grew up with four brothers? I’m the youngest. My mother died when I was thirteen, so at the critical time of approaching womanhood, I was left in the care of my father and brothers.”

  She flipped a hand through her hair. “You can see that I really don’t know what to do with my hair. That is why. Pigtails and ponytails were all that my father knew to do.” She blushed. “I may have to go to a woman to fix my hair before I enter the college. I need to fit in with the wealthy.” Zennia grinned. “But don’t worry, I come from a very wealthy family.”

  Kyle sat up straight in his seat. Zennia was becoming more interesting by the mile. “I think you’ll do just fine. You impress me with your questions and intuitive style of deduction.”

  She smiled. “Thank you. I’ve read detective books. Those by Pinkertons, and some from England. Did you know they are studying bullets and the marks they make to prove what gun they were fired from? And my favorite new item is that everyone has unique fingerprints and leaves them on guns, glasses, and solid objects. I find it fascinating.”

  He’d heard of the studies but not really looked into them. Still, to prove that he was the experienced one, he nodded his head as if he knew all about it. Kyle looked at Zennia, but this time as if she were his equal. A detective. Then as he studied her, he began to see her as a woman. A pretty one at that.

  Chapter 3

  Zennia stared out the window and smiled as she saw the outline of Chicago come into view. She was more than ready to get off the train and jump into the case at hand. Kyle seemed a bit reluctant to share things about Amanda. Still, Zennia figured once they began the investigation, he’d be freer with the information.

  She swept her gaze over him and then back to the window. He was sleeping. She wondered if all agents made a point of sleeping on trains as much as he did. She couldn’t. Ever since Mr. Gordon had hired her as a Pinkerton agent, she’d been on the alert.

  Yes, she slept a little, but she had to admit it was strange to fall asleep on the train, knowing that a man was in the seat in front of her. Yet, she felt safe with Kyle. He was a gentleman as far as she could tell. He’d made no untoward comments or actions against her.

  She’d tried asking him questions about Amanda, but he didn’t act like he wanted to answer her. Perhaps he was feeling sad that something had happened to her. She was his fiancé, after all.

  Stealing a look at Kyle, she had to admit he was handsome. Zennia didn’t like the small feeling of jealousy that was rising up inside her. She needed to want to find Amanda and make sure she was safe as much as Kyle. He was nothing to her but her partner. Zennia needed to remind herself of that.

  Amanda was Kyle’s fiancé and in trouble. That was all she needed to remember. Zennia sighed and gazed out the window. If only. But then her life had been a series of if onlys. If only mother hadn’t died so suddenly, leaving her alone without telling her about womanly things. Father grieved by cutting himself off from his family. Her oldest brother, Dale, was already married and on his own.

  Rick and Jack were away at college in New York. And her youngest brother Steve was busy running the ranch. She had been left on her own. Not that she minded wholly, but there were times when she would have appreciated some fatherly advice.

  Then when she became old enough, she was sent to a girl’s school in Richmond. She’d excelled in her studies and failed in social manners. After skipping class because she wanted to see a lecture by a Pinkerton agent and a woman who had been a union spy in the civil war, the school had sent her home.

  Father was disgusted, but his form of punishment was to let her do what she wanted. Zennia knew he loved her, but he was in his own private prison of grief. Once he’d told her that she reminded him of Mother, and it hurt too much to be around her.

  So, Zennia was free. With all the money she could want, she answered to no one. Having a lead detective might prove to be a challenge as she wasn’t used to doing what anyone said. So far, Kyle hadn’t been very demanding.

  He stretched, glanced out the window, and then nodded at her. His blue-gray eyes gazed at her as if sorting her out with a mixture of readiness and wariness. He didn’t trust her. She could tell by the way he stared at her.

  Zennia wished she looked her age. Instead, she seemed almost schoolgirlish because of her carefree attitude and zest to get on with the case. She often forgot how she looked before running out of the house to do whatever she wanted. Her mother would have been disappointed.

  Shaking off her failures where her family was concerned, Zennia turned to the job at hand. “We’re almost at the depot.” She wanted to engage with Kyle. Let him know she was here as a Pinkerton agent and not a young woman. Or girl as he had called her at the depot. She might be playing the part of his kid sister, but she wasn’t a kid.

  He nodded. “Yes, we are. We don’t need to hurry off the train. We’ll wait until the others get off, and then we’ll exit.”

  “So, we can watch for those wanted dead or alive?”

  Kyle stared at her for a moment. “So, the conductor can get our bags off the car, and we don’t have to wait.”

  “Oh. What is the first thing we do? Check-in with the Pinkerton agency?”

  “The first thing we’ll do is get a hotel. Two rooms.” He looked at her pointedly as if to set things straight. “Then, we’ll visit the college.
”

  Zennia bit her lip but couldn’t keep her silence. “I think you should go to the college alone. If I’m to sign up for classes, I don’t think it would look good for others to see me with you.”

  He nodded. “Good point. You stay at the hotel, and I’ll check out Amanda’s room in the school. See if anyone has seen her.” He stopped talking abruptly. “Could be she’s not even missing. Could be this whole case is a mistake.”

  Zennia wondered if he expected to see Amanda at home, and the telegram was merely a ruse to get him back to Chicago. Zennia had wondered if Amanda really loved Kyle, she might be the type to act deviously to get her way. Then again, Zennia needed to keep her motives straight and squash her schoolgirl feelings about Kyle.

  After being quiet a few minutes, Zennia came up with a question. “Can you tell where the telegram came from? The address?”

  Kyle stared at her. She could tell the thought hadn’t occurred to him. He took it out of his pocket and nodded. “Yes, here it is. The telegram office at 2805 Second Street.”

  Zennia held up her notebook. “While you’re checking out the school, I can see about the telegraph office and show them my drawing. Perhaps someone might recall her sending the wire.”

  She could see Kyle didn’t want her to go by herself.

  He hemmed and hawed and finally blurted. “No. You wait for me. I have one woman who might be missing, and I don’t need you to disappear on me, too.”

  While she felt a twinge of warmth that someone cared about her, she also resented the idea that he would tell her to stay put until he could be with her. “I am not your kid sister. I am an agent—”

  “In training. You remember what Archie said. I’m to train you. That means you do as I say. And I say you stay in the hotel until I come back for you. If I can’t trust you, I’ll send you back on this train today.” His eyes were sharp while his voice and tone said he’d not be disobeyed.