| Subject: The New World - Part #68 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 18:04:14 07/14/03 Mon
PART #68
Peter Dunkirk had watched Bow leave his office, and walk toward the sheriff’s office. He knew things were going to become a “sticky wicket” before long. It was time for him to leave. He had known this day would come; it had only been a matter of time.
Peter cleaned out the safe, and put money into a carpet bag. He calmly walked out of his office never planning to return. All important papers he had moved out the night before. Peter climbed into the carriage, clicked to the horses, and took off down the street out of town. With any luck he would be long gone before he was missed.
His association with Joshua had been exciting in more ways then one, but those days were over. Greed always had its’ price to pay. Joshua had promised him riches if he would help with the money and legalities of moving the stolen goods. Joshua had been right, Peter did become rich. Since he was the one who had been taking care of Joshua’s business, he had also managed to skim off much of the money from Joshua. He had known that Joshua had very little business savvy, and probably would never realize that Peter was stealing money from his accounts. He was right, Joshua never knew.
By the time Joshua realized he was getting low on money, Peter reminded him how much gambling he had been doing. Joshua had said, “Peter, I don’t lose that much when I play.” Peter had told him, “Joshua, you lose more then you think you do.” Somehow Joshua had bought his story. Peter had eventually drained all of Joshua’s accounts. It had worked out well for Peter that Joshua met his demise in Jennings. Of course Peter had helped that situation along too.
Joshua had stopped at Peter’s office to chat with him before leaving for Jennings. He had told him he was taking Catherine along with him, and fully intended to marry her before they returned. Peter had asked where he would be staying once he reached Jennings, and then told him he had heard of a high stakes game that was being played in a local saloon of the town. He knew Joshua could not resist a high stakes game. When he saw that Joshua’s interest was piqued, Peter called for one of his men, and told him to go to Jennings, and set up a game. He sent along enough money to pay the establishment for holding the game and arranging the pot. Then he agreed to pay his man a tidy sum for seeing to it Joshua never made it out of that place alive.
Since Joshua was known as a high stakes roller, and also known for cheating if he thought he could get by with it, the murder had been easy. Peter had told the man to make it look as if Joshua had cheated, and was deserving of death. Joshua had played right into his hands.
Of course Peter had fully planned on taking over the plantation following Joshua’s death. He had not counted on the situation with the Doucettes and Jean Pierre Boudreau. He was glad that Joshua always kept a tight lip when it came to various people who worked with him. The Doucettes and Jean Pierre Boudreau were not aware of his association with Joshua. They took care of stealing the goods, bringing it back to the storage building, and Joshua made the contacts to buyers who would purchase the stolen goods. Joshua left all the legalities to Peter, and he brought the money to Peter, who would see that it was channeled to the perspective people. Peter wrote all the checks for Joshua who did not want to be bothered with such things.
The arrangement had made Peter very wealthy. But his greed kept expanding, and he wanted it all. He had plans to move into the Le Bleu plantation, and take over as the new owner. He had drained all the accounts, and he was planning on getting the plantation through a default of taxes that Joshua had owed, and Peter had failed to pay.
When Bow and Catherine came to see him following the return of Catherine to Lake Charles, he was shocked when they had announced that Catherine had, indeed, married Joshua. That cost him the plantation; and he had dreamed of gaining possession of that plantation for a number of years.
On the day Bow and Catherine came to see him following the death of Joshua he knew he would have to move fast. He had promised those stolen goods to various customers. Then the Doucettes had to go and get greedy, and ended up getting caught. He had already contacted his men to go in and remove everything before there was trouble. He had enough men who were willing to look the other way, and all the goods had gotten to their perspective new owners. He thought his tracks were pretty well covered, but, if someone really got serious, they might be able to link everything together. He couldn’t take that risk. He had no desire to be sitting in a jail with the Doucettes.
Peter had enough money laid aside now to get by for many years. All that was needed was to get out of town fast enough and far enough; and he would be set for life. He was glad he had planned ahead, and was prepared to leave at the drop of a hat. That was his only hope of getting away. He slapped the reins on the backs of the horses to speed them up. There were many miles to cover before it got dark.
To be continued...
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