Swindled!: The 1906 Journal of Fitz Morgan (18 page)

I couldn’t keep the “you’re crazy” tone out of my voice. “Are you telling me the Calamity Crew planned this earthquake?”

Killian choked back a little sob. Then he continued. “No, this earthquake wasn’t part of their plan. But the Crew would have
used the confusion that follows to switch the money.”

To keep his mind off the pain, I said, “And what about Nathan Howard? Was he a real Secret Service agent?”

At the mention of the name, Killian’s face darkened. “Sort of Howard and I both worked on this case all these years. We were
stationed together on the USS MAINE. But ‘agent’ was just his cover. Howard was actually part of the Calamity Crew.” He sighed
heavily. “Eight years ago, he smuggled explosives on board the MAINE. He was going to blow up Cuba’s national bank. In the
confusion, it would have been easy for the Crew to slip counterfeit money into use. Unfortunately for everyone, Agent

Howard did not know much about explosives. The MAINE exploded and sank.”

William Henry rubbed sweat from his eyes with the back of his sleeve. “Then why didn’t you arrest him sooner?”

“I couldn’t prove it until now,” my brother answered. “I had to catch him in the act.”

I thought of all the pain my family had gone through. “Killian, why didn’t you just tell Father and me that you were alive?”

“I wanted to, more than you can know. I’m sorry,” he said, and I saw tears in his eyes. “President Roosevelt himself instructed
me not to tell anyone that I was investigating the USS MAINE. Eight years. It’s a long time to be undercover, but these are
dangerous criminals. The sinking of the MAINE led to a war. The president urged me to see the mission through. Once this case
was solved, I was going to contact you and father. And that day came sooner than I planned, thanks to you–”

Killian winced as William Henry lifted a large piece of the roof off his leg. “So you were on the train this whole time.”
I needed to keep him distracted.

“You’re a good detective, Elizabeth, but I recognized you through your disguise the first night on the train,” my brother
said. “I was walking through the coach car to stash the ‘cat’ in a safe place–and spotted you.”

“That was your cat?” Judge asked between grunts as she attempted to heave the trunk to the side.

“Yes,” Killian answered. “I kept evidence that I didn’t want Agent Howard to find in that container. It makes a good hiding
place. After I saw you, Elizabeth, I knew I had to hide or you might blow my cover!”

The pieces started coming together. “So those were your fingerprints on the teacup?”

Killian nodded. “I was in the government Pullman while you were saving Agent Howard. I didn’t realize he was in danger. I
heard shouts coming from the platform. In my rush to help, I dropped the teacup. But by the time I ran outside, you’d already
rescued him. After you and the Pinkerton girl dragged him into the living area, I made my way quietly through the Pinkertons’
hallway. I’ve been hiding on the train ever since.”

So it was Killian who broke the threads, the alarm devices, in Judge’s hallway!

“Then you stayed in hiding except…” I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear it from him.

He finished my sentence. “Except when I delivered that note.” He must have seen something flash in my eyes. “I know the message
I left you about not getting involved must have terrified you, but that was the point. I wanted you to be too scared to keep
snooping. I wanted to keep you out of danger.”

We lifted another jagged bit of debris off his lower body, and my brother was nearly free. “But why did you put the note in
that journal entry?” I asked.

“I picked the lock to your compartment, Elizabeth, and planned to leave you the warning note. Then I remembered what a wonderful
detective you were. Another set of eyes–especially keen ones–could really help my case, I thought. So I read your journal.
I had just started reading the entry about the baggage car when

you stirred in your sleep. Thinking you were about to wake up, I slid the message into the journal and ran.”

Killian’s face broke into a grin. “So, I’m sorry I read your journal, but I’m also glad! What you wrote about the baggage
car made me think. I realized that’s where the fake money must be hidden. If I waited here in the baggage car long enough,
the Calamity Crew would show up to get the counterfeit cash. Then I could nab them. Thanks to that entry–thanks to you.” Killian
gave my shoulder a squeeze, “we cracked this case.”

His eyes locked with mine. “I wanted you to be safe and not get involved in this case. I didn’t think it was proper for a
girl. But you did, and I’m very grateful. You helped solve an eight-year-old mystery!”

My cheeks flushed from the praise. Judge smiled at my embarrassment. “Bully for you!”

“You deserve as much of the credit as I do,” I said to her.

“It’s true,” Killian said. “From what I saw in Elizabeth’s journal, you played a vital part in the case.”

Now it was Judge’s turn to blush.

One nagging question remained. “But why did you cut the telegraph line when I was trying to send out that message?”

“I didn’t! After I saw you jump off the train, I followed you to protect you. I didn’t cut the line. It must have snapped
on its own. After you fainted, I carried you back onto the train and left you in the Pinkerton Pullman.”

Finally, we freed my brother’s legs. He was in pain, but nothing was broken.

William Henry and I supported him on either side. We helped him climb down out of the baggage car and onto the platform. Killian
spoke briefly to agents. He instructed them to take Mr. Spike, Agent Howard, and the other captured members of the Calamity
Crew to a safe spot on the platform. When things calmed down, they would be hauled off to jail.

Above us, the sky was a frightening orange. San Francisco was on fire.

For a moment, William Henry, Judge, my brother, and I stood next to the train. Killian and I grinned at each other in the
middle of all the madness and chaos. I didn’t know what to say. My brother was alive! I couldn’t wait to telegraph Father!

Then William Henry urged us forward. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s see what we can do to help.”

The four of us walked back toward the passenger cars. Everyone’s hair and clothes were sweaty and smudged with dirt. People
were running about. Panic seemed to be growing around us.

About a hundred yards ahead, I could see Dr. Freud near the side of the tracks. Carrying his medical bag, he moved among groups
of passengers and train crew, checking on their condition.

Dr. Freud happened to look our way. Even from this distance, I could see the relief on his face when he spotted Judge. I waved
to him and mouthed the words, “We did it!” I don’t know if he understood exactly what I meant, but he smiled broadly and turned
back to the passengers.

“There’s Teddy!” Judge said, pointing to a spot near where Dr. Freud worked. My heart leapt when I saw my dear dog. A little
boy and an older woman were sitting with Teddy on the edge of the platform. The boy’s arms were wrapped around Teddy’s neck.

Teddy sat with the boy patiently, comforting him. Suddenly, my dog’s nose pointed up in the air. His big head swiveled and
he looked at me, his tail wagging furiously as he made a little hop.

Before he could come bounding toward me, I quickly made three flicks with my index finger and put my palm to my heart, telling
him in Teddyspeak, STAY and GOOD BOY.

It was best for him to stay out of danger and comfort the little boy. We would be reunited soon enough.

As the four of us walked, my brother took my hand. I held his with all my might. “Killian, do you know what it’s like to meet
someone that you know you will be friends with forever?”

Killian said he did. Judge put a hand on my shoulder, knowing I was talking about her.

I continued, “Well, imagine my surprise. I’ve met two people like that on board this train–even if one of them is full of
balloon juice.”

Despite the dim light, I saw William Henry blush and look away with a smile. His perfectly clean uniform was a thing of the
past. After our adventure in the baggage car, his hair and clothes were smudged with dirt and sweat. But he looked good, even
like that.