Eden's Sin Read Online Free

worried?
    “ Yes. Father wanted me to personally come help you.”
    “ Thank God.” Parsons reached for his cigar and a Lucifer stick.
    “ Sir?”
    “ Well, I'd much rather have someone who stands to lose as much as I. Your father is heavily invested. If the Katy fails, your family stands to lose its fortune.”
    A sick wave rolled through Sinclair. Father had never mentioned that kind of money.
    Parsons took a long draw from the cigar. “I can tell by your pallor you didn't know the extent of his investments.” A slight grin lifted the corner of his mouth. “More incentive for you to find out who is sabotaging my railroad.”
    Worry twisted in his gut. Christ, what had Father been thinking?
    Sinclair pulled a small leaflet of paper from his pocket. “I'll need details.”
    “ Come.” Parsons stood and strolled to a long oak table with maps spread across.  “Here is our problem. Or the main one. We have 70 miles to reach Indian Territory before Joy does. So far we've had payroll robberies, and several barrels of spikes came up missing. And accidents. Too many and too coincidental. At this rate, we will not win the race.” He slammed his palm against the map.
    “ So just what is it you want me to do?” Hell, Father had put him in a spot. If the Katy failed, Wilson Bradford would blame Sinclair for ruining the family.
    Just as he blamed him for Theodore's death.
    “First, put guards on the payroll box. At all times. Second, put guards on the supplies. Third, you must stop the Joy Line from stealing my workers.”
    “ Judge, I cannot order men to work for you if they choose to work elsewhere. We just fought a war to offer all men freedom.”
    Stevens gave a thin smile . “Well, Major, if we don't gain miles by the end of this week, perhaps your own men could pitch in to lay track.”
    Sinclair turned and narrowed his eyes. “Forgive me, Stevens, but the US Government has better things for soldiers to do than build your railroad. I will indeed place the guards you've asked for – I'll have my men ride out to meet the supply trains. And I will investigate the robberies. Does the payroll come same time each week?”
    “ At first it did. After the first couple of payroll thefts, we changed the delivery date to a rotating schedule.”
    “ Then Judge Parsons, you have a spy.” The fool should have already figured that out.
    “ A spy?” He stomped back to his desk. “The people who know the schedules are trustworthy.”
    “ Who would these people be?”
    “ Just Henry, Kate and myself.”
    “ Who’s Kate?”
    “ My daughter.”
    “ Do you trust her?”
    “ Now see here!” Stevens stiffened. “Kate is above suspicion.”
    Hmmm. Easy to see how Stevens intended to move up in business. He’d marry the heiress.
    Parsons smiled as if dealing with a simpleton. “Major, why would Kate jeopardize her future? The success of this railroad is all she has. She’s too homely to marry well and too stubborn to attract the right kind of man. And she is after all a mere woman, hardly smart enough to plan robberies. So you can remove any doubt you have about her.”
    Sinclair nodded. “Fine.” He'd do some checking on Miss Kate Parsons all the same. Of course Parsons wouldn’t implicate his own flesh and blood. Though a man would think the judge would defend her in a more respectful manner. He all but called her ugly and stupid. “Then who else has access to the office—who could overhear your information?”
    “ No one.” Parsons frowned.
    “ There’s Floyd.” Stevens looked up from his papers. “Though I doubt he’s smart enough to sell secrets. The man is a drunken half-wit. I don’t think he can even read.”
    “ Now, Henry,” Parsons scolded, “Floyd keeps the office meticulously clean, my shirt collars pressed stiff, and he pours a perfect brandy. Besides, it's the little people in this world who help lift men like us to power. Remember that.”
    The words could've come straight from Father's