Turner's Vision by Suzanne Ferrell Page A

one at a time. Claudia appeared decidedly belligerent. Henderson, as always, resembled the proper servant. Adam and Joey looked mutinous.
    “Do you know what almost happened tonight?” He looked at the group in a sweeping glance. No one answered. “Let me fill you in. While you and your young accomplice were inside the warehouse, Claudia, Gibson and another man entered the front of the building. If I hadn’t been there to see that you got out in one piece, I don’t think you would be sitting here safe and sound.”
    “I beg to differ with you, Mr. Turner.” Claudia’s hand swept the hair back from her face. Her cheeks were flushed red with anger. “We were in no danger of being found out. Furthermore, you did nothing to bring us out of the situation.”
    “That’s right.” Adam jumped up to defend her, both hands balled up in fists. “We was just leavin’ when they was comin’ in.”
    “Sit.” Micah kept his voice deadly calm.
    Adam remained standing, staring angrily at Micah. Finally, the boy decided to obey the one-word command.
    “Do you happen to know what kind of man Jonathan Gibson is?” Micah addressed Claudia. She set her lips and didn’t answer. “No? Allow me to fill you in. During the war he spent his time running supplies through the blockades. He also spent part of that time selling out soldiers on both sides just to make a profit. The man has no soul, and would just as soon slit your pretty little throat as look at you. Not to mention what he would do to a mere boy.”
    Micah paused to let his words sink in, then continued, “The other man is his brother, David Gibson. I’m not as familiar with the man, except to know he is using a woman and her family to further his own means. That makes him as evil as his brother in my book. Now, tell me what you were doing in the warehouse tonight.”
    “We’ve been watching that building for some time now,” Claudia finally said. “It was where I followed Gibson to, yesterday. We were in there last night too.”
    “When I was waiting here for you?”
    “Yes. There was a large shipment delivered there yesterday. The boxes are marked with Chinese symbols. Adam and I managed to get a sample of it.” Her gaze met his. “Do you know what it was?”
    “Opium.”
    Astonishment, followed quickly by suspicion crossed her features. “How did you know that?”
    “It would be a good guess on anyone’s part, madam, given Gibson’s penchant for dealing in illegal trade and the Chinese symbols on the crates.”
    “Oh.”
    “Go on.”
    Claudia’s eyes narrowed a moment before she continued. “We’ve also determined that the warehouse is where they are keeping all their records. So tonight Adam and I went through their files to see if we could find out who was making it easy for them to ship it in illegally. Are you aware that opium, while legal in this country, is shipped under the strongest codes and quotas this government has? Even though it is too lenient by far?”
    “Yes.”
    “Somehow, these people are bypassing the shipping codes and bringing in large quantities of the powder. We know Gibson is handling the distribution to the secret opium dens around town. We were hoping to find out where they were located. I do believe we found some clues tonight.” She took a breath, looking at her partners for approval before adding a last piece of information.
    “Micah, they aren’t just importing large quantities of opium.” Claudia looked him straight in the eyes, watching him closely. “Those women who have been disappearing around town, also have no family to hunt for them. It’s always a neighbor or employer who reports them missing. It is our belief that the Gibsons and their people are kidnapping them or killing them.”
    “I’ve suspected as much.” Micah let out long sigh. “I have a sister out there who needs my help. I can’t afford to let you cost Patrice her life, Claudia. I know this is asking a great deal of all of you, but I