NPC: Carson Tyndall, Written by Flip

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The stage that would take him to Kalispell would not leave for two more days as it only made the trip once a week at present, with no thought of adding another trip any time soon, but that could always change with mining booms, not that one was expected in the Kalispell area. Other parts of the state were rich in minerals, but nothing so far in the remote town.

Carson Tyndall hated travel by stagecoach, and by horseback even more. He was a man of comfort, trains, that was the way to travel when absolutely necessary. A summons from Elias Steelgrave, unfortunately, was absolutely necessary and the stage was the only way to get there expeditiously. At least Kalispell had a very fine hotel , so his stay would be comfortable at least, as for the rest of the trip, that remained to be seen.

The amount of money that had disappeared was substantial. Upwards of fifty thousand dollars. But pinning the embezzlement on any one party was proving difficult. He had suspected Leah, but with her myriad of investments it was all but impossible to know where the money had come from.

Elinor, almost as difficult, but the dead investigator certainly cast a damning light in her direction, though it was clear she did have her own money, but hardly close to the amount that was missing, which left Zeke Steelgrave, yet, he was his fathers son, to be sure, yet there was always that chance that Zeke had been involved in skimming funds. All of it remained to be seen, and for Carson, Elinor and Zeke were the prime suspects.

NPC Characters: Carson Tyndall, Bradley Fairchild; Written by Flip

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It was late afternoon, near the closing hour when former Pinkerton Agent Bradley Fairchild arrived at the office of Carson Tyndall. He was a tall man, well dressed, brown hair and eyes, and a smug look about him. But for Carson Tyndall, Fairchild was well worth his fee.

"I have reviewed all of Ezekiel Steelgrave's finances, unfortunately, unless he's burning the money, he is not taking it. Though I have yet to see if somehow cash is being funneled either to mother or back to his father. It's all here in the report."

"And Elinor? Anything new on the estranged Missus Steelgrave?"

"Yes Mister Tyndall, these is a bit of new information." Fairchild began, "She has relocated from St. Louis to New Orleans. She has accommodations at a hotel named 'The Cajun Queen' on the Mississippi. Almost adjacent, I might add, to the River Princess steamboat, which is docked close by. And which is quite convenient for the lady in question. There are men, but none like the gentleman in St. Louis, someone that is constant, in fact I have lost track of him, Ellisworth I believe was his name.

"Mister Jared Ellisworth, he was present when Elinor arrived in St. Louis, but he was not bankrolling her, it was she that paid the bills. So he is well in the clear. But that he has since disappeared, that is of some concern. Now, Thacher Speckman, the agent killed by parties unknown, left no trail. I had hoped to uncover notes, or reports, anything, but his place was clean as a newborn. Obviously whoever killed him cleaned the room." At this juncture he paused.

"I do not pretend to be a financial expert Mister Tyndall, but in review of Miss Leah Steelgrave's financial transactions, there is nothing suspicious. She is one of the shrewdest of traders, sir. Her transactions are to date, above reproach. Profits are routinely reinvested and more profits earned. If there is an initial trail, it is long buried beneath transactions. She has outpaced her father several time over."

"And what now Bradley?" Tyndall asked.

"Keep at it, sir. For as long as you like. We might want to focus on Elinor, sir. She seems to most vulnerable if I can get closer to anything resembling financial records, not so much the current ones, but those from the time in St. Louis."

"Thank you, yes, please do keep on, we need to know where Mister Steelgrave's money went." Tyndall concluded.

"Very well, Mister Tyndall. I shall be in New Orleans at the Orleans House." And with that Bradley Fairchild left the office, as Carson Tyndall sat back reflection on the mess he had to present to his client.

NPC: Carson Tyndall; Written by Flip

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Tyndall had his secretary take a message to telegraph to Elias Steelgrave, it would read:

"Elias, Have news and will be leaving tomorrow for Kalispell, expect several days before I arrive.

Carson"

No sense sending personal news via the open wire where any key jockey could intercept the message. Now that not have been what they were called, but it was what Tyndall called them as he had no respect for them, though they were in good company, Carson Tyndall felt everyone was beneath him.

All of the necessary files that would show the work done by him and by Fairchild, and provide the necessary proof of any and all accusations presented, or proof of any innocence discovered. That would be a brief case full of papers. A lot for Elias to digest, but seemingly clearing his son Zeke, and with some reservation, his daughter Leah.

Having a second thought, to bolster the findings he sent for Fairchild before he could leave for New Orleans, and in the vicinity of Elinor Steelgrave, that could be done at another time after this meeting with Elias himself.

It was like hedging his bet on the situation. He wanted Elias to meet the man who could explain what was in the file in detail, much better than he himself. might be able to. Nothing like being prepared. Elias could be unpredictable when upset, if a man like Fairchild explaining what he had found could manage to keep Steelgrave manage-ably clam then the expense was worth it to all concerned.

He had to congratulate himself on the idea. It just might work!

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Character: Carson Tyndall (NPC)

Written by Flip

NPC Characters: Carson Tyndall, Bradley Fairchild

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The stage left on time, one of the only comforts concerning this trip north. He hated this ride, but then he hated coach rides over trails instead of cobble stones or other smoother surfaces without the jarring, jolting, jerky ride inside a stagecoach.

Neither he or Fairchild wore their finer things, but instead dressed as comfortably as possible for the long journey ahead. That meant cotton duck trousers, tucked inside their boots. Chambray shirts with a vest and the obligatory silk neckerchief for protection against the dust that would infiltrate the coach and an older hat that could withstand the treatment the ride would give it.

All of their normally worn clothing was packed away along with any valuables they did not care to lose to road agents, should they be attacked, which was always a possibility on the trails in any direction. Road agents and Indians, as they had yet to be subdued. Why anyone would live so far out was beyond Tyndall, and probably Fairchild as well, but then in is line of work he assumed many disguises in many different manners of dress. He would perhaps be more accustomed to dressing down that was Tyndall.

In Helena, yes, the streets were still dirt, rutted and uneven, but it was not hundreds of miles distance to anywhere he might need to go by buggy, God forbid he would have to ride a horse! He would not be that far west if the Steelgrave's were not such valuable clients. No he would much rather be in the east, where the cities had paved streets and refinements. But for now, that was not to be.

The stagecoach lumbered into the evening ever closer to Kalispell and the Evergreen Ranch.

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Written by Flip

NPC: Carson Tyndall

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But they would stay in town, no matter when the coach arrived. He knew that Elias would offer to have them stay at the ranch, but Tyndall would remind Elias that there was no telegraph on the property, and if something needed to be sent, and something always did, it worked to Tyndall's advantage to be in town, not just to send it, or them, but for any replies that might come in, on any nuber of cases he was working on. Besides, he was paid for everything that he did for Elias, or any other client for that matter.

The morning found them on the last leg, not that they had slept all the well in the jostling coach, but they could count on a pleasant room, or rooms once they reached Kalispell and the Belle-St. Regis Hotel. A truly fine hotel, even if it was nestled almost on the frontier of the Montana Territory. Custer had met his doom not all that far from there, but obviously far enough.

The worst part for Carson Tyndall, the trip back to Helena, well, after dealing with Elias. he had reports that Elias had quite drinking, which had been music to his ears, he hated dealing with the rantings of a drunken fool, and Elias sober was anything but. That remained to be seen, and it would come soon enough. Then there was Cole Latham to put up with, an incompetent buffoon of an attorney stuck in Kalispell, doing the bidding of Elias with no apparent future anywhere else.

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Written by Flip