An Agent for Serafina Page 2

  The driver touched the brim of his top hat and nodded. He snapped the reigns and the carriage lurched forward. Pikes Peak loomed in the west as they rode down the business district and through the architectural beauties built nearby. The governor’s mansion, Horace Tabor’s extravagant home, and other successful residential homes. They drove out to the larger mines and back around to the Chain Bridge Road that lead to the Pinkerton Mansion, which was a site to behold in itself.

  “This is my office. Would you like to go inside and meet Archie Gordon?”

  Her velvety violet eyes widened. “Yes. Will he see me, unannounced?”

  Agent Smith laughed. “Of course. You’re with me.”

  Her complexion paled. Todd touched her arm. “It’s alright. We are a lot less formal here in the west… in some way.”

  She nodded, but anxiety remained in her stiff movements. Then something transformed in her posture. She lifted her chin and a slight smile curled the corners of her perfect lips. Todd fought the urge to kiss those lips. He recognized what had happened. She had steeled herself to face an unknown. It made her even more beautiful in his eyes.

  Todd helped her from the carriage and addressed the driver. “Could you wait here, my good man? I don’t think we will be too long.”

  Todd tossed him an extra coin and touched her back to guide her down the narrow walkway to the huge veranda. A current of energy traversed his arm from where he had touched her and lit his chest on fire. He forced himself to breath normally, but he had no control over the stampede of his heart.

  Marianne Gordon opened the door before Todd could get to the doorknob. Pearl stood a few feet behind her. They both wore hats and gloves. Were they about to go to the market? “Oh, Agent Smith. Who have we here?”

  Todd smiled at Marianne and handed Pearl his hat. “This is Serafina de la Verde. She is a Secret Service Agent to the Mexican President.”

  “Oh, my. You mean this is S.R. de la Verde?” Marianne took Serafina’s hand with both of her own and shook it as if she had wanted to meet this woman all of her life. “My name is Marianne Gordon. I’m so pleased to meet you. And this is Pearl Preston.”

  “My pleasure.” Serafina replied with no accent at all. Her brows angled together as she glanced down at her hand being shaken vigorously.

  Todd smiled. Marianne fawned over few people. She was always polite, a keen hostess, accommodating, even, but this was a different reaction than Todd had ever seen in Marianne. She too must recognize how extraordinary Serafina was.

  “We were touring Denver City while our… uh, clients have a visit.”

  “Oh, yes.” Marianne let go of Serafina’s hand.

  Serafina casually rubbed her hand. Had Marianne hurt her?

  “Goodness, Marianne. You’d think she was Queen Victoria, herself.”

  Marianne’s cheeks filled with a splotchy red hue. “No, of course not.” She panted. “It’s just… to meet a counterpart to our Female Detective Bureau. I’m so happy to see we aren’t alone in our quest to defy convention. We ladies of the Pinkerton Agency have proven that we are certainly capable of accomplishing more than simply caring for a home and family.” She brushed back a wisp of red hair from her temple, regaining her calm composure. “Well. It’s very nice to meet you Miss—?”

  Serafina nodded. “Yes, I am not married. It’s Señorita de la Verde, or as you say here in America, Miss de la Verde.” She smiled that brilliant smile and Todd’s knees turned to pudding. “If we were to completely translate it, my name would be Serafina Green.”

  “Oh.” Marianne bobbed her head. “It’s still a lovely name.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So…” Todd eased Serafina further into the foyer. “Is Archie in his office?”

  “Yes.” Marianne glanced toward the small outer office. “He’s… in there. Rifling through a new case. It’s going to be a challenge.” She cupped her hand on the side of her mouth, as if to tell him a secret. “Suspected government officials are allegedly siphoning taxes from distilleries before the products are distributed. High ranking officials!” She raised her brows for emphasis and rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah?” Todd hesitated. “What’s so challenging about it?”

  Marianne tilted her head. “This official is with the Internal Revenue, and very familiar with nearly every Pinkerton agent. Archie and Allan are having a really hard time trying to figure out who” —Marianne jerked her gaze to Serafina— “could work the case.” She stepped sideways. “Excuse me a minute.” Marianne trotted to Archie’s door and tapped as she entered.

  Archie’s voice bellowed in response to her intrusion. Marianne yelled back but they quickly quieted down. Their voices could be heard but their words were not distinguishable. Todd turned to Pearl, who still waited to exit the mansion, her market basket hanging from her arm. They exchanged an uncomfortable grimace. What was Marianne up to?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Serafina fidgeted from one foot to the other. She was thrilled to meet the head of the Pinkerton Agency in Denver, Colorado, but felt so awkward having been left in the entryway with Agent Smith and the albina woman. How appropriate that her name was Pearl. Serafina smiled at her. The woman returned the gesture and swiveled her eyes to the front door. Was she as uncomfortable as Serafina?

  Serafina’s eyes lifted to Agent Todd Smith. She and the three Pinkerton agents had made sure her president arrived at the conference safely. They were moderately young and very ruggedly handsome men. The two wore wedding bands, but this one did not. He stood perhaps four inches taller than the other two and reminded her of Papa Peltier.

  Louisiana born and raised, Papa and Mama Peltier traveled with a wagon train of Christ Church missionaries to Mexico with funding from their mother church in Port Charles, Louisiana. Serafina vaguely remembered the nearly naked men on horses who swirled around the line of wagons before hers was overturned.

  “Fina! Hide!” Her momma yelled. So she did. Men and women of her wagon train screamed to one another, giving directions and telling each other how best to fight. Serafina’s heart pounded with terror. Rifles blasted. Choking gun powder filled the air. Arrows buzzed around her. Blood splattered like rain, but she kept down.

  She was only four and could curl up small enough to hide in a supplies box attached to the side of her family’s wagon. It wasn’t until Papa Peltier and other men right-sided the wagon, that she was found. Her parents were both dead. As were several other of the children’s parents. They clustered together, crying.

  Vernon and Rowena Peltier took the parentless children to their wagon. “It’s alright, c'est d'accord, esta bien.” Mama Peltier said in English and then French but she recently added the language of Mexico, where they were going to establish an orphanage. Something that had become very normal to Serafina. After all, her parents had started adding the language to their statements too. It was a gentle way to teach the children all three languages while they were young and easily taught.

  The Lake Charles Christ Church missionaries were not hindered by the evil that plagued the land known as Texas. Called by God to open an orphanage in Saltillo, Mexico, they were determined to continue on their mission despite the personal losses. It was declared that God was preparing them for what was to come. Wagons were tethered to other wagons of those who survived, and the trek continued.

  Serafina and the bereaved children were their first orphans.

  “Archie will see you now.” Marianne’s voice yanked Serafina out of her recall. Wasn’t it bad enough to be continuously woken by these memories? Why had Agent Smith’s physical appearance triggered them? She swallowed the daymare, settling it in the back of her mind.

  “Oh. Thank you.” Serafina turned awkwardly to Agent Smith. He gently placed his hand on the back of her waist and guided her to the door. A thrill shot through her midsection at his touch, even though tension thickened the room between him and Marianne.

  But Marianne just grinned. “Pearl and I’ll be back after we go to the
market.”

  “Yeah, run while you can.” Smith growled over his shoulder to the lovely redhead. Serafina was fascinated with Marianne and Pearl. Mexico had little diversity among the people but none were albina like Pearl or with such vibrant roja hair like Marianne. Colorado was indeed a colorful mélange of people.

  Serafina let Agent Smith guide her into Mr. Gordon’s office. Surprise stopped her short. This Archie Gordon, too, had red hair, like Marianne. Only his was a brighter color, almost orange, like a carrot. He stood with a heavy sigh and extended his hand to her. Dark circles under his eyes made him look exhausted. But his smile looked genuinely pleased to meet her. “Miss de la Verde, welcome to Colorado… and America. I understand you work for President de Tajada?”

  He had an accent to his English she had not heard before. She had to focus on his words to understand what he said. “Well, no. He’s my client. I work for La Mexicana Agente del Servicio Secreto.”

  “Aye… I see.” Archie Gordon glanced at Agent Smith. “Well, I may have a proposition for yew. Who should I contact at your, uh… agency to get permission to bring yew onto a case for us. Uh, that is, if yew are willing to work with us on this particular little problem.”

  She turned her head and glared at him out of the corner of her eye. “How do you know I am suited for this… particular little problem?”

  “Oh, let’s just say a birdie told me yew would be perfect.” He frowned as he folded down into his desk chair. The springs squeaked with his weight. “And that birdie has proven herself to be right ninety-eight percent of the time.” He sighed, then gestured to the guest chairs. “Have a seat, please.”

  “Well.” Serafina adjusted her bustle and sat toward the edge of the chair. “I don’t know that it would be appropriate for me to be interested in a case here in America. I have my responsibilities to el presidente. He and I… have established a trust.” She turned to meet Smith’s eyes and melted a little inside. “He knows I would give my life to keep him alive.”

  Archie leaned on his elbows and steepled his index fingers. “Of course. We have a longstanding relationship and reputation with our presidents as well. I completely understand. Our own female agent, Kate Warne, was very instrumental in keeping President Lincoln alive… until that fateful day at the theater— But he had refused our help— never mind, that’s in the past and this is about yew and our case.”

  He leaned back, considering Serafina. “How about I tell yew what our case is and why we feel yew can help. Then yew tell me if you’re interested. If yew are, I’ll wire your boss and see if he is willing to transfer yew for whatever duration it takes to solve this problem we may be having.”

  She thought about Gordon’s proposal. His harsh accent was fading in her mind as she quickly became accustomed to it. He was letting her decide if she wanted to participate. How different this American director was from her Mexicana gerente. “El presidente es mi prioridad,” She muttered to herself.

  “I’m sorry?” Archie peaked his brow.

  She jerked her head up to face him. “Oh. I said the president is my priority.”

  “Of course.” Archie leaned on his elbows again. “How about when I wire your people, I offer to put my best man in your place to escort President de Tajada home safely in exchange for your services on our… situation?”

  “This man you will replace me with…” Something in her gut fell like a bucket of water tied by a rotten rope. Was Gordon taking Agent Smith away from her to have him protect her president? Why did she care if Smith was no longer at her side? She didn’t know him. But these feelings— “you trust him with your life?”

  Archie grinned as he glanced at Agent Smith who stood at the side of her chair. “I trust all my agents with my life, even the women who work for me have proven themselves very resourceful.”

  “Um, w-would I be working with Agent Smith?” She considered what she had said. She wasn’t being clear. “I’d like to… work with Agent Smith.”

  Gordon shrugged, but he didn’t frown. Perhaps he was considering it. Serafina wrung her hands in her lap. She’d never made demands of an employer in her life. Would this prove to be a mistake?

  What Mr. Gordon offered was tempting. She had to be honest with herself. If it meant she could spend more time getting to know this Agent Todd Smith, it was a very tempting offer. But should she? If anything happened to el presidente, her government would never forgive her. It was her sworn duty to protect him at all costs.

  But if el Director Enrique Barrera, back home, agreed to it, then her duty was fulfilled and she’d be free to work this case. Could she hope Gordon would agree to assign Agent Smith to the problem solving? Her heart sped up. Could she be so selfish? What would Mama Peltier advise?

  Serafina didn’t even know what the case entailed. Perhaps she should find that out before she made any major decisions. She lifted her chin a notch. “Tell me about this ‘pequeño problema,’ ‘little problem’ you are facing.”

  Archie grinned as his eyes slid up to Agent Smith’s. His teeth peeking out of his graying red beard. “Alright! Now, everything I am about to tell you is confidential. As an agent of the Mexican Secret Service, you are held to that confidentiality. This informal briefing does not leave this room. Understood?” His glare bore into her soul.

  “I assure you, I understand.” She glared back at him, hoping she was not offending him by her boldness.

  “Good.” Gordon looked up at Smith. “Sit down man, this may take a bit of time.”

  

  Todd grinned. Serafina exhibited a gambit of amusing personality traits. He knew by the simple fact that her government trusted her explicitly to escort their president to Denver City that she was an outstanding and capable agent. He had seen her wield an unusual weapon and defend her charge against an assassination. She tossed that comb-knife like nothing he’d ever seen before. Not even Bronco Wauneka could toss a knife with a curve wide enough to round a corner and strike true to a target. She obviously had skills beyond hiding incognito.

  He perused her hair. Did she hide any other weapons in that beautiful black flowing silkiness? Several of the other women in the Denver Pinkertons had small Derringer guns and even knives tucked into inner pockets, and elsewhere that he shouldn’t allow his mind to consider. He’d heard amazing stories told once the partnered pairs returned to the headquarters mansion.

  Her light-purple dress, besides accentuating her amazing violet eyes, was snug against her body, but her bustle and skirts gave ample space to hide all sorts of things that could inflict bodily harm. Perhaps he should ask her to explain her defensive abilities—

  “Smith!” Gordon barked. Todd stiffened, yanking his gaze back to his boss.

  “Yes, Archie.” He crossed his leg over his knee casually, as if he had been mentally present the whole time. He even let his foot swing, just missing the bottom portion of Serafina’s skirts.

  Gordon glared at Todd before turning his emerald eyes back to Serafina. “Anyway, these whiskey distillers have someone informing them of when the ‘straight’ tax collectors are coming to call. They then pay their taxes by the barrel as they should do for a time. So far, no one has been able to witness the suspected government agents accepting roughly half the money that should be going to the coffers for taxes in exchange for ignoring a certain percentage of the distillate.” Gordon paused, like he typically did, to allow his information to settle in their minds.

  “We have our suspicions for who exactly is instigating the Whiskey Ring, as it has been dubbed. The majority of the activity is in St. Louis, Missouri and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But our problem is, nearly all of the Pinkerton operatives, here and in Chicago, are known by most every high official in government. That’s where you come in, Miss de la Verde.”

  Her eyes widened. “How do you mean?”

  Gordon smiled. “You are not known.”

  Todd cleared his throat. “I see where you are going with this. Because she’s already a trained agent, and she is
new to the American political front, she can infiltrate this Whiskey Ring and find out whose hands are dirty.”

  “Exactly.” Gordon pushed back from his desk.

  “But, what about me?” Smith tilted his head. Was Gordon thinking about including him in this case? He seldom sent a single agent and never a singular female agent. However, so far, all of the female agents in the Denver office were new recruits.

  Gordon hesitated. “Yew, Smith, are one of the few agents who have not worked closely with a governmental official. With her help, I really think this will work.” He turned to Serafina. “From what I hear, you disguised not only yourself but the President of Mexico so well that three of my best agents didn’t realize who had walked up to them until you let your identities be revealed. And you killed a man with a hair comb and a flick of the wrist. That technique has not been achieved by our own wild-man, Bronco Wauneka.”

  Gordon’s glare said so much more than his words. Shame for being outsmarted by this woman saturated Todd’s chest. “Yeah, you have a point.”

  Serafina pursed her ruby red lips. Was she squelching her own mirth?

  Todd lifted his eyes to Gordon. “Well, it all works out in our favor. When do we start?”

  “Not so fast.” Gordon held up his hand. “There’s the matter of IF Miss de la Verde accepts and IF her agency will allow her to work for us for a while. And there’s the other matter…”

  Todd swiveled to Serafina. “Oh. Yeah. That could be a problem.”

  “¿Que? What?” Serafina blurted.

  Gordon’s eyes shot to the door. Todd suppressed a chuckle. The man was wishing his wife were here to tell Serafina the biggest obstacle— marriage.

  “Look. We don’t even know if her agency will agree. Don’t you think we should find out before we share our stupid office rules for new female recruits?”

  Serafina cocked her head back on her shoulders. “What stupid office rules for new female recruits?” Her face paled at the possibilities.