Sunday came as though the event of Saturday had never happened. Jessop sat at the back of the church finding it hard to pay attention as his mind turned to Andrew at large. After the service he quickly left the building putting his hat on. When he saw Idris looking for him he made his way around the side of the church and nearly crashed into two people there. He frowned at the sight of the Selene's guilty face then looked at the man.

"Jethro!" he gasped. "When did you get back? I didn't see you inside."

"Well, Jessop I didn't see you inside either," Jethro said.

"I hate it when you do that, you know," Jessop said.

"We are a little early returning, yes," Jethro said. "I told my mother I was desperate to be working in the shoe store again."

Jessop raised one thick dark brow. "The shoe store, huh?" he said then looked at Selene who looked away. He reached his arm out and tried to put space between them but they held fast. When he looked at Jethro he realized he wasn't going to win.

"You know there is nothing wrong with it, Jessop," Jethro said.

Jessop was surprised his cousin had suddenly become such a...man. What had they done to him in the North? "But my mama didn't raise no fool, Jethro," he said.

"You're upset about something," Jethro said. "You always get condescending when you're upset." He looked to Selene who would have given him an answer if Jessop hadn't been right there.

Instead Selene looked past Jessop as her father approached. When Jessop saw the change that had come over her he looked over his shoulder at Mr. Fairchild coming with Ladybird and Taitiann. Selene looked at her father with worry as he stopped before them.

Mr. Fairchild looked at his daughter on the arm of this man. His heart pained him that he was causing her distress. Next he turned to Jethro. "Young Mr. St. Cloud," he said with a smile and extended his hand. "I'm glad to see your family back."

"Jethro please sir," Jethro said shaking his hand. "I'm sorry I spoke to your daughter without permission."

Mr. Fairchild looked at Selene who was smiling at him. "My daughter is a woman and she knows what is good. Better still she knows what makes her happy. I was misguided in judging you Jethro. I followed man rather than what is naturally ordained by God."

Jessop's frown increased and he suddenly needed to smoke. It was that easy? He tilted his had back and swore under his breath receiving a shocked glance from Taitiann. "I mean...blasted," he offered. He wished his problems could be solved that simply but he wouldn't rest until he caught Andrew Addams.

Mr. Fairchild gathered his family and left the churchyard with Jessop beside him. "I don't know how long you intend to stay," he said. "But we'd be happy to have you and your brother for supper sometime to thank you for your support. I'm not certain if Taitiann will return when you do."

Jessop finally got what the man was saying. "It isn't over," he said. "Andrew Addams and I once got along really well. After we had a falling out he has refused to let it go. He hates me and will forever and always. I'm afraid it is the same with your town now. He'll be back and someone will suffer his wraith." He looked over his shoulder at Mrs. Fairchild and the twelve grandsisters laughing at a story Heloise told. "You're a prime target."

Mr. Fairchild immediately became frustrated. "Well, what is there to be done?"

"I have to stop Andrew Addams and bring him to trial," Jessop said. "I won't be satisfied until I put him behind bars, and all men like him. It's what I do...it's my purpose."

Mrs. Fairchild heard all of this and if it was her son she would have told him to stop worrying about men so much and start worrying about women. He wasn't getting any younger. She felt an arm slip into hers and looked at Ladybird next to her.

"Perhaps we should send flowers to Mr. Woodrow," Ladybird said.

"That would be lovely," Wysteria said at Mrs. Fairchild's other side. "You know Aunt Grace; I believe each and every flower holds a bit of miracle in them. It's when they bloom that these healing miracles come out and touch the human soul. Mr. Woodrow needs flowers and I shall gather the very best from the garden."

/

On Monday Wysteria, Providence and Ladybird picked flowers for Sumner and after Wysteria arranged them into a neat bouquet they set out to deliver them to the Calicos' home where Sumner was still being kept. They met Jessop on the road who was a little surprised to see them out on their own and insisted on going with them the rest of the way.

"You must be happy to have your uncle back," Ladybird said as they walked. "It's always a pleasure when family can get together."

"I suppose," Jessop said as he walked his horse alongside them. "With Jethro home I'm forced to sleep on the sofa."

Ladybird laughed. "He is fond of Selene isn't he?"

"Last night he wouldn't shut up," Jessop said.

"Well it is sweet though. It's true love." Ladybird said

Jessop found himself thinking about his own engagement. "How do you know?"

Ladybird shook her head. "I wish I could tell you but I don't know," she said. "Maybe...maybe some people just aren't meant to have those types of pleasures."

"Maybe," Jessop said.

Ladybird smiled. "But you won't be one of those people, sir," she said. "That I can tell." She hurried and caught up to Providence and Wysteria as they went up to the Calicos' front door.

/

Sumner Woodrow couldn't recall very much of what had happened. The last thing he remembered was being in his house with his grandfather and Miriam and Taitiann coming to get him. Providence thought it was for the best that he didn't remember the awful event, but Sumner wanted to remember.

After his bandages were changed and the cheerful young ladies had gone another visitor walked through his door. "Mr. St. Cloud," he said with a cough. "Good morning or afternoon rather."

"Afternoon," Jessop said. He hated to burden the wounded man but he was desperate for information. He watched him take a drink of water then lie back on his pillow in exhaustion.

"How is Charles?"

"He's receiving treatment from the best doctors," Jessop said. "They've taken him into the city."

Sumner swallowed with difficulty then put a wrapped block of ice to his head. "Mr. Calico offered to do the same for me," he said. "I refused. Besides, no one would protect me in the city and my uncle would sooner see me dead than better."

Jessop wished he could tell Sumner not to say that but knew it wasn't so.

"I sure wish I could have some nuts right now."

"You'll be eating normal soon enough," Jessop said taking a seat by the bed. Looking at Sumner he had to agree that the newcomer doctor from the next county was doing a good job and much thanks had to go to Providence as well.

"My grandfather told me about Rothschild," Sumner said. "He also told me that Cleve drove himself insane Sunday night when he thought he saw my ghost." He tried to give a smile but failed.

Jessop shook his head. He thought Cleve deserved it. "Might I ask you for a favor?"

Sumner looked at him and Jessop could see the damage done to his face. His eye socket was collapsed and his jaw was terribly swollen. "Just don't ask me to get out of bed."

"It's about Andrew," Jessop said.

"Our mutual friend," Sumner slurred.

"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?" Jessop asked and watched Sumner turn to the opposite wall as he thought.

"He likes to hide at the old mill," he said. "Sometimes he'll go stay at a certain hotel in the city but I don't know the name of it. Rothschild was the one who kept him if you will."

"Do you know where it might be located?" Jessop asked and Sumner shook his head. "I'm just worried he'll come back."

Sumner nodded. "You think he'll finish me off?" he asked. 

Jessop was shocked that he hadn't thought of Sumner being a victim. His concern had been for Mr. Fairchild's daughters and nieces but Sumner was the obvious target. 

"I'm not afraid to die," Sumner said. "I don't know what age it is that a man decides he is satisfied but I am, and I'm in my thirties. I once thought I'd go restless to my grave but not anymore. When Miriam Fairchild forgave me...my eyes saw holy and with that in mind after what has happened I am no longer afraid of death and hell."

Jessop was a little surprised and wondered if he dare speak such words out loud where Death could hear. "If you die it won't be by the hands of Andrew Addams," he said.

"No?" Sumner asked. "How can you know?"

"Because I'm going to stop him!" Jessop said. "I should have done something back when he nearly got my cousin killed."

Sumner looked at him for a long time and Jessop thought he couldn't stand the sight of those gray eyes reading him like exposed pages. "He'll kill you. Don't do it for me."

"If I don't do it for you then I will do it for Miriam and her sisters," Jessop said as he stood. "I have to look out for them. Especially Miriam she has been through enough and I was once part of her suffering."

Sumner looked at him in surprise. "Then I should do something too."

"You're hardly capable of getting out of bed."

Sumner looked a little irritated but he closed his eyes and turned to his memories for help. There were good memoires like those of beautiful Harlequin and there were sad memories like those of his mother. There were moments laughter and pleasure and pain but he wasn't looking for any of these and he closed the doors that contained him. He was looking for a logical memory, one that would help the case of the vanishing sphinx. He opened his eyes and found Jessop where he had left him. "Uncle Solomon loves Andrew Addams."

The words were weak but they were all Jessop's brilliant mind needed. Andrew had vanished and old Solomon knew exactly where. "I'm afraid I must be going!" he said and turned to leave.

"Wait," Sumner called after him and when Jessop turned around he was extending his hand. "Godspeed, my friend; if I may call you friend."

Jessop shook his hand firmly. "The same to you," he said and hurried away. In his mind he collected pieces the way Wysteria had collected flowers. If he were Solomon Christenson where would he hide somebody? Had hiding been Andrew's idea and why were Unger Rothschild and Cleve Burnstead left out?