He nodded grimly. “We know there was no sign of digitalis in his system. Of course, embalming has taken its toll. But Kat and Dr. Wong agree that the death is suspicious. Maddie Hubbard found him with his pills strewn around. He probably went for his digitalis. But what he took was probably some kind of placebo. His death wasn’t a guaranteed result, but for a man in his condition, switching out his pills created a good likelihood that he’d die.”
“So, sometime during the day of his death, someone switched his pills,” Meg said thoughtfully. “He was at a picnic after a busy day with other congressmen, aides, et cetera. And the pills are all gone, since Maddie was so diligent about that. But there’s nothing we can prove—and we don’t know who might’ve done it.”
“It lends credence to the possibility that somebody made Lara disappear. She probably suspected the truth. And she probably has a good idea of who’s guilty. But Angela will call with more information soon. The Walker party isn’t due until tonight and it’s still early, so let’s do what we can do. Are you okay with going to the park?”
Matt was at the wheel but they were parked in front of their bed-and-breakfast as he waited for her opinion.
“We used to go everywhere around here,” she said, stroking Killer, who lay quietly on her lap. “Lara loved the Jennie Wade House. Remember poor Jennie? She was the only civilian killed in the battle. She was baking bread for Union troops when shots came through the windows. She supposedly haunts the area, but... I’ve never seen her. And Lara loved the train station where Lincoln arrived. Also the Lincoln museum... Lee’s headquarters and the park itself,” Meg said. “So, yes, I guess going around the park is a good plan.”
They drove for a while, starting at the visitor center, following their private trail, hers and Lara’s, stopping at monuments. Each place they went, Meg tried to feel something. But all she felt was that she was spinning her wheels. If Lara was in hiding, the first place she would’ve gone was to Peter’s. He would’ve kept her secret. But she sensed that he hadn’t even known about her disappearance...
“Think you can find your Private Murphy again?” Matt asked.
“I’m told we only see the ‘residual’ hauntings of the men marching to or from battle when the sun has fallen, when mist lies over the land,” she murmured.
Lara had seen those men when she and Meg had gone to the battlefield together. Lara claimed she only saw them because Meg had described them so well, but Meg knew better. Lara, too, could see the dead. And she had the ability to enter Meg’s mind.
Matt’s phone rang. Angela. He put her on speakerphone.
“You do realize,” Angela said, “that when people refer to the Underground Railroad, they don’t always mean underground. Many people hid escaped slaves in their attics, smokehouses, barns and so on.”
“Yes, of course.” Meg wondered why Angela was pointing this out.
“But there were many places in the Gettysburg area that were part of the Underground Railroad. I’ve done a dozen computer searches with Will’s help, and I have a list of locations you can check out—and a few you’re not supposed to. I’m sending it to your phones in an email attachment. The problem you two have is that you’re government agents, and if you go where you’re not supposed to and someone wants you arrested—well, you’d better be damned good at pretending you were just tourists.”
Matt started to thank Angela but she interrupted him. “Oh, and I’ve cross-referenced what you asked, Matt,” she added. “So far, I haven’t found what you’re looking for, but then property is often purchased under corporate names, so I’m researching the corporations that recently purchased property in remote or heavily farmed areas in Adams County.”
When Angela rang off, Meg asked, “What exactly is she looking for?”
He smiled. “Anyone associated with Congressman Walker’s party who might own property in this area. Someplace that might sit over old foundations, or had tunnels for the Underground Railroad, or covered wells. That kind of thing.”
Her heartbeat quickened. “Someplace you might keep a prisoner?”
“Yes.”
“Or hide a body.”
“I don’t believe Lara’s dead. Private Murphy said he felt her presence. She knew about you, right? Your talent? Maybe she even shared it. She saw Private Murphy, too, right?”
Meg nodded.
“That’s my point. If she was dead, she would’ve reached you. She’s alive, and she managed to enter your mind or appear before you that one time—but it’s hard for her because she is alive. I really believe that.”
“Let’s head over to the Virginia Monument on Seminary Ridge,” Meg suggested. “It was one of Lara’s favorites.”
Matt drove to the monument and they stopped. Dogs weren’t allowed in the cemetery or the visitor center, but they could be taken onto the battlefield if they were leashed. Killer had hopped out every time they’d left the car—well behaved on his little leash. At the Virginia Monument, he barked and seemed anxious.
“Killer,” Meg said, “what is up with you?”
She scooped him into her arms. He was silent but still shaking. He licked her face.
“Ugh,” she muttered.
“Give him to me,” Matt said.