His mind raced with excitement. He sensed a change but was not sure what it could be. The impression was not about Ayame, though he dreamed about her every night. This was different. It felt like he was about to hurl off a precipice into the unknown, altering his life forever. Albert stood on the porch to search the street. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he walked down the steps.

Wrapped in a heavy coat, gloves, and boots, he trudged down the sidewalk toward class. As Albert pushed headfirst into the cold wind, small flecks of snow swirled around him. He chose to walk, hoping to clear his head. This may not be such a good idea, though. Already his feet felt like blocks of ice.

Class over, he glumly stared out the window at the blowing snow. Only enough students for a quorum, I should have stayed home. To his amazement, his father’s carriage pulled up. Albert grabbed his coat, hat, and fumbled with his gloves as he ran for the door.

His yell was muffled by the falling snow, “Wait, Henry, don’t get down. I am coming to you.”

Henry refused to let him ride on the seat with him but instead demanded he sit inside the carriage.

They arrived at the Admiral’s front door. Albert quickly jumped out and skidded on the pavement. He caught himself at the last moment and stood carefully. Henry, seeing that he was alright, drove off to the covered stable.

Albert walked in and called out, “Father?”

“In here,” a subdued voice answered him.

He discovered his father sitting by the fireplace wrapped in blankets. Albert pulled a chair close to him and sat. “Are you alright?”

“They said, Jack is missing, may be dead.”

“Who are they?”

A man dressed in a naval uniform walked out from the room’s shadows. “Lieutenant Ames, at your service. I am with Naval Intelligence. Captain Jack Timmons is missing. He arrived in port yesterday, finished adding to the ship’s log, and then disappeared. There is no record of him leaving the ship. The night watch would have piped him off. The wind was strong, he could have slipped and fell overboard. We are not sure. With this storm, it is hard to search the water for him.”

Albert was aware of two things. First, his father’s stillness. He was taking the news, hard. Second, what the man said was a bunch of lies. Jack was the most sure-footed man he knew. In all their years, he never saw him trip, stumble, or fall. Even in heavy snow or ice, his brother steadily crunched his way along the walk.

He waited in silence, the man had more to say.

“President McKinley and Vice President Roosevelt both send their condolences. Captain Timmon’s disappearance is being investigated.”

So, I am being warned off. Albert peaked his fingers together and stared at their tips.

“Well, I need to leave. Here is a letter giving you official notification.” The officer turned and walked out.

Henry must have made it back in because he could hear them talking and then the front door slammed.

“Father, you realize those were all lies. I don’t know where Jack is, but he is not in the water. Henry, come in. We need your advice,” Albert called out.

“I heard what the man said and agree with you. There’s some skullduggery going on.”

“Is there a way that Brickly can search for answers?”

“Yes, I sent for him when the naval officer first arrived. Maybe make some tea first.” He glanced over at the Admiral.

“I’ll stay with father for a while.” He sat back and stared into the fire. His mind was busy, trying to work out different scenarios concerning Jack.

“You believe he lied?” his father asked.

“Yes. Henry and I will discover what we can about his disappearance. Being warned off by both the president and vice president alerts me that he must be involved with some secretive business.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A series of quick raps sounded on the front door. Henry went to open it, and without a word let someone enter. They both disappeared toward the kitchen. Moments later, Henry rolled in the tea trolley.

Hot tea and cakes settled his father down. After a few sips, and downing a cake, the Admiral started to get color back in his face. Albert sighed in relief.

Henry returned and glanced over at the Admiral. Satisfied at his employer’s improved countenance, he said, “Brickly arrived. I gave him orders to investigate what happened to Jack, but he wants to report about the other matter.” When finished, he rolled his eyes in the direction of the kitchen.

Albert found Brickly sitting at the table gulping down tea and stuffing cakes in his mouth. He waited until the man swallowed and finished his tea. “Henry said you had a report?”

“Yes. The whole situation is strange. The men, they are Pinkerton detectives. Someone hired them to follow you, for protection maybe.”

“They have been at this for almost two months, so something was planned that long ago, way before Jack returned to port.”

“That’s my understanding. More interesting though, they were pulled off the day his ship arrived.”

“I’m the designated target. Jack’s capture is to get my attention?”

“Be careful, we don’t know what they want from you.”

Albert grimly answered, “Probably my brain.”

Henry walked in pushing the trolley.

“Can you warn my father, in case I too disappear?”

“He will not be happy, but I will reassure him, you will be followed.”

“Brickly must be cautious. I don’t know how dangerous the situation is.”

“He will be. I am driving you home, now. Brickly will stay with the Admiral until I return. Don’t be nervous. His men are already guarding your house. One will enter with you. Knowing your gadgets, he probably is one of the more brave-hearted in the bunch.”

On the porch, Albert reached for the metal bird to open his door. When a shadow moved from the corner, he pulled the sword from his walking stick.

A man whispered, “Brickly sent me.”

Nodding in relief, he opened the door, and they slipped in together.

The man was covered from head to foot in gray fabric. Only his eyes were revealed. “Stay here, let me search first.” Occasional wood squeaks indicated his progress throughout the house.

Albert entered his study to start the fire and coffee pot. Still clutching his sword, he went to the kitchen and picked up the plate of sandwiches.

“Name’s Tate.”

The man appeared so suddenly; Albert jerked in surprise almost dropping the plate.

Tate grinned and took it from him.

They sat near the fire and, in comfortable silence, finished off the food.

“Interesting devices you have here. Though, for some reason, that mechanical butler bothers me.”

“Jarvis? He’s friendly but does have a few surprises built in him.”

“The house, also. I noticed tubes and wires going everywhere.”

“Not for a deterrent, they only give me a warning. Brickly suggested, my capture by unknown assailants is imminent. Don’t try to stop them but hide and follow. Find out where they take me. It is all tied together with my brother’s disappearance. A nefarious plot is in place. I think they either want me to fix something or design a machine. Captain Jack is the bait. Another thing, be aware the government is waiting for this to happen. Their spies are probably watching from a distance. Avoid them if possible. Lastly, do not touch any gadgets in the house. All the machines will turn themselves off eventually. Front door will close behind you.” Albert grinned at Tate’s amused expression.

“Creepy, your whole house gives me the shivers, and that is not from the cold outside. Believe me, I’m not turning knobs or flipping any switches.”

“There’s a bedroom at the back, you can rest there. One knob is alright to turn. It is a part of the light fixture. Twist that, and you can hide in a closet until I leave.”

“You’re expecting trouble tonight?”

“The weather is right for it. Plus, they watched the naval officer give Father and me the news.” I have a few things to do in the lab.” Albert sipped the last of his coffee and stood.

A small boiler clicked on as he entered, and heat flowed through the cold room. He went to his safe and picked up the smaller of the two stones with a handkerchief. One boot already carried his derringer, there was no need to check that. He slid the other boot off and twisted the heel to reveal an empty hole. Still wrapped in cloth, the rock was stuffed in. Putting the shoe back on, he looked around the room for ideas.

Whoever took him would probably remove his gadgets. There were a few things he did not want to lose. The belt buckle, so handy under Captain Napoleon’s captivity was a must. He pulled off his thin dress belt and slipped the larger one on. His watch, maybe they would let him keep. It took a series of clicks to expose a compass hidden inside. The ring, the one his father gave him for a birthday present. He slipped it on. The diamond on it was ostentatious but might come in handy. It could cut glass.

He left the lab and climbed the stairs. Feeling suddenly tired, Albert collapsed on the bed. He must have been asleep for a couple of hours when someone pounded on the front door.

Pulling on his boots, he ran down the stairs. At the door, he called through the tube speaker, “Who is it?”

“Security, we have news of your brother. He was found on the beach and transported to the hospital. He is calling for you.”

Albert threw on his heavy coat and opened the door. Not wanting to make it too easy, he asked, “Which hospital?”

Three men faced him with pistols drawn. “Get in the carriage.”

As he stepped forward, a fourth man moved behind him and stuck a rag over his face.

A sweet odor reminded him of hospitals and broken arms. He muttered, “Chloroform,” before passing out.