great Lance Kenner. His day was going just as he’d hoped.
“Samuel, is it true?”
Lakewood turned to look at Josiah Parrish. “Is what true?”
He knew what Parrish was referencing. He wanted to know if Faith Kenner was really part savage. Lakewood had paid a lot to have the matter investigated in detail and knew it was true, but he wasn’t sure he wanted Parrish to know that. At least not yet.
“The part about her being Indian. Faith Kenner has blue eyes and looks nothing like an Indian.”
“Did you hear Mr. Kenner admit to her being of Indian blood?”
“No. He never did.”
Samuel smiled. “I simply said that as a ruse. I figured it would give them pause to rethink their threat of a lawsuit. It would be easy enough to get someone to testify against her birth parents. Remember, she is adopted by the Kenners.”
Parrish nodded and then just as quickly shook his head. “You could ruin the girl’s life by claiming such a terrible thing.”
“That was the point of my threat, Josiah. It’ll save the college a considerable amount of time and money if they back away from suing us. If they insist on moving ahead, we can present the idea of Faith’s heritage. By the time it’s dealt with in court, she’ll be ruined. But somehow I don’t think it will come to that. Now, I presume you will keep all of this to yourself.”
“Of course.”
“Then good day.”
Lakewood was finished with his business at the college, but not with his dealings with Faith and her family. He ordered his driver to take him to Gerome Berkshire’s office and was glad to find him alone. Not a single one of his lackeys was anywhere in sight.
“Where are your rowdies?” Lakewood asked as he took the chair opposite Gerome’s desk.
“I’ve got them working on the various things you ordered me to do. Why?”
“I want to make certain we aren’t overheard.”
“No one else is here,” Gerome assured him.
“Good. I want you to kill Seth Carpenter.”
A smile came to Gerome’s lips. “I’d be happy to. Do you want him to go the same way Pritchard did?”
Lakewood shook his head. “No, I want him to suffer. I want you to beat him nearly to death and then stop. We’ll let him recover a bit—just enough to have hope of living—and then we’ll finish him.”
“Why such hatred toward Carpenter?”
“I hate them all. Every one of those Indian-lovers. Everyone who has interfered in our plans for an Indian-free Oregon.”
“Well, a whole lot more than just Carpenter have interfered in that.”
“Yes, but we’ll start with him and make him an example. Once we let it be known that such interference will not be tolerated, I’m sure our plans will be easily managed.”
“When do you want it done?”
Lakewood considered a moment. “When is his wife due to deliver?”
“April or May. I don’t exactly remember.”
Again, Lakewood mulled it over. “We don’t have to rush. Let’s set the attack closer to when the child is due. The complications it will create might lend themselves to our plans to kill him.” He smiled. “There’s nothing quite so cruel as giving a man false hope, eh?”
“And what of Mr. Smith?”
Lakewood frowned. “What of him? You know better than to think you can bring him up and be privy to his plans.”
“I don’t even know his real name,” Gerome said, shrugging. “How can my asking about his plans possibly cause you trouble?”
“You’re informing the government about our plans. At least the plans we want them to know about. You don’t need to know anything about Mr. Smith, lest you accidentally say something you shouldn’t.”
“Well, it’s not like I’ve never met him. He and I have talked many times,” Gerome boasted.
“Shut up.” Lakewood fixed him with a hard look. “As far as you are concerned, he doesn’t exist. If I thought for one minute you were sharing information about him with the army, I’d kill you myself.”
“I’d never do anything of the sort.” Gerome looked wounded. “I’ve been nothing but faithful, and yet you treat me like a traitor.”
Lakewood rolled his gaze heavenward. “Honestly, you are as difficult as one of my children. No one believes you to be a traitor.” If they did, he’d already be dead. “Now, I’ve given you your instructions, and I intend for you to carry them out.” Lakewood got to his feet. “Oh, and if the situation arises to put the fear of God into Faith Kenner, feel free to use your imagination and do that as well.”