The snow had finally stopped and as Rush looked out the window he saw pockets of blue sky through the tattered remains of grey clouds. I don’t have much more time, Rush realized, once the snow melts, these strange men and women will leave this tavern never to return.
Rush had one last chance to uncover the killer of Cadaverous Grey.
“Thank you for indulging me one last time,” Rush turned away from the window and gestured to the dining table. Colonel Falconbridge sat at the head of the table, shooting suspicious glances at Jossie Eiger. Shen Smith held the Colonel’s sword on his lap, waiting for Mary McCarthy to provide the slightest provocation. Herr Alfonso leaned back in his chair, a look of smug indifference on his face.
“I know yesterday proved quite the ordeal for some of you,” Rush continued. “So once again I am grateful for your attention.”
The occupants of the table stared at Rush with mute hostility.
“All right,” Rush sighed. “Let’s be done with this bloody business then.”
“Colonel Falconbridge and Miss Eiger, I might as well start with both of you,” Rush walked around the table, hands behind his back as if he were back in Philadelphia lecturing novice medical students. “You both received a cryptic note telling you to meet at this inn or else your sordid secrets would be exposed. Now both of you suspected Mr. Grey as the author of this nefarious plot, however, during your interrogation Colonel, you stated that you saw Miss Eiger stuffing her former master’s body into a trunk. Miss Eiger, you were with Mr. Grey during the winter of ’77 at Valley Forge. A statement backed up by Mr. Smith. Obviously this would have given Miss Eiger knowledge of the Colonel’s plot to poison his fellow soldiers.”
“What is your point, Doctor?” Colonel Falconbridge muttered.
“Colonel, it’s obvious that you and Miss Eiger have been blackmailing one another.” Rush explained.
“Well who wouldn’t take advantage of our powerful new Congressman,” Jossie smiled at Dr. Rush. “A girl like me can use a man with such powerful connections.”
“Use me?” The Colonel scoffed. “I’m ruined now, Miss Eiger! Do you think Dr. Rush will keep silent about the fact that I’m a murderer?”
Jossie dismissed the Colonel with a flit of her pale hand. The Colonel stood in a huff and stormed out of the room. Jossie also stood, but before she left the table, Rush took her by the hand.
“It does seem you’ve put the Colonel in quite a state,” Rush said. “I’m sure that when the Colonel went into Mr. Grey’s room the night of the murder, it was to confirm that you were blackmailing him. That is why he attacked you that night. I do hope you will be careful.”
“Oh, I’ll be careful, Dr. Rush,” Jossie gave the Doctor a voluptuous smile as she exited the room, “I’m always careful.”
Rush turned to Mary McCarthy.
“I intend to bring the constable to this inn as soon as the roads clear,” Rush explained.
“Good then,” Mary snorted, “but tell that rascal, Mr. Smith, to surrender that sword and I can administer the constable’s justice to him in a more speedy fashion.”
“No, Mrs. McCarthy,” Rush walked over and put his hands on Smith’s shoulders “You misunderstand me. I intend to bring the constable here to arrest you on the charge of murdering your husband.”
“What?” Mary gasped. “Smith killed my Sean! He’s the murderer. You remember what I told ye, Grey said Smith did it.”
“Mrs. McCarthy,” Rush shook his head, “I’ve gotten used to sorting out truth from fiction. You claim that yesterday was the first day you met Cadaverous Grey. However, three other witnesses say that you knew the man and were seen with him during the hanging of Nathan Hale. So you see, your story does not add up.”
“You filthy rascal!” With a guttural cry, Mary McCarthy lunged for Dr. Rush. Rush raised his hand in panic, but in an instant, Mary fell to the ground, unconscious.
“Is she dead?” Rush cried.
“No, sir,” Shen explained. “Just knocked her on the head with the handle of the sword.”
“Mr. Smith,” Rush exhaled, “please drag Mrs. McCarthy out and bind her hands.”
“Yes sir,” Shen grabbed Mary by the arms and was about to drag her out, when Rush stopped him.
“Mr. Smith, Cadaverous Grey is now dead,” Rush explained, “You are a free man now. I won’t mention your name to the constable when he arrives. I suggest you sneak out the back and avoid this inn for the rest of your life.”
“Will do sir,” Smith smiled, “Thank you sir.”
Smith continued dragging Mary McCarthy’s unconscious body out the door. Herr Alfonso rose from the table, but Rush cut him off.
“I’m not finished with you yet, Herr Alfonso.” Dr. Rush said.
Herr Alfonso sat back in his seat, a wry grin on his face.
“So, Herr Doctor, you believe I am your killer?” Herr Alfonso questioned, “I told you that I have no motive for having done so. I am but a simple Hessian.”
“No, I don’t think Herr Alfonso Loden Eishlitz committed the murder,” Rush interjected, “But I know that is not who you are.”
“Who am I then?” Herr Alsonso questioned.
“It’s what Mr. Grey must have asked you the night of the murder, correct?” Rush asked. “I mean for you to have impersonated a Hessian for this long, to have been captured by Washington and sent to a war prison for eight years, that must have erased all memory of your actual existence. But as you said, our secret hearts have a way of burning through.”
“And what is my secret heart?” Herr Alfonso smirked.
“You’ve been showing it for all to see,” Rush explained. “Well, your first clue was the toast you gave in which you said, “I regret that I only have one life to give for my country.”
Rush sat across from Herr Alfonso now and stared the man in the eye.
“Mr. Grey should have known who you were then, but I suppose he didn’t.”
“No he did not,” Herr Alfonso sighed.
“I guess the rope you keep in your helmet, the one you tied around his neck that night didn’t remind him either?” Rush questioned.
“No.” Herr Alfonso answered.
“He’d become so weak of mind at his old age you had to literally spell it out for him,” Rush continued. “He’d double crossed so many during the war, how could he have remembered one isolated betrayal? So you had to write it out for him. Herr Alfonso Loden Eishlitz. H.A.L.E. identifying you as the brother of Nathan Hale, the same brother who swore revenge on Cadaverous Grey when he betrayed your brother to the British.”
“He didn’t know what he was doing!” Herr Alfonso rose to his feet. He tore off his red wig and waxed mustache. “Nathan was a schoolteacher and had no sense to be a spy. They shouldn’t have let him volunteer for the position, but he was so full of love for this country, he’d done just about anything to help General Washington. By the time news reached me of his capture, it was too late. I had already established my cover as Herr Alfonso and couldn’t do anything without killing myself. So I had to watch my little brother be executed by the British.”
“I am sorry,” Rush consoled.
“It didn’t take long to realize that Cadaverous Grey betrayed my brother,” Herr Alfonso continued, “after all he watched my little brother die, he and that awful Mary McCarthy, Jossie Eiger and Shen Smith.”
“So you admit to killing Cadaverous Grey?”
“Yes I killed him!” Herr Alfonso roared. “They should all die for what they did to Nathan. When my brother spoke his dying words, they laughed at him. LAUGHED AT HIM!”
The End