by Tony Verna

Created on: December 02, 2009

When we left our story,

...Having fled the fiery scene of her lover's latest act of revenge, Jancy now finds herself ready for the next chapter in her life

* * * *

Secret conspiracy, rabble to conspire.
The discovery in the device to move
Against the great one,
Then slaughtered and put without power.

- Nostradamus April 1564

With no further evidence forthcoming in the murder of either Major Raithburn or Sir Richard, the War Department conveniently attributed their deaths and the destruction of their property to a rash of disruptive efforts being committed by Confederate sympathizers.

With the war on, and with death being commonplace, the press was also disinclined to pursue the deaths of a little-known officer and a private citizen, knowing full well that newspaper readers were more interested in news from the battlefield than the home front.

With the death of his two former colleagues, Commodore Whitehead seemed to drift deeper into the shadows, leading surviving members of the original Seven to wonder who would be next to encounter the rage of the half-breed, but a strange set of circumstances would provide the answer.

It all began when Professor Jordan received a totally unexpected letter from Commodore Whitehead requesting his travel to Philadelphia where he would find a huge sea liner on the Delaware River readying for a round-trip voyage, sailing to London and returning through Havana to Philadelphia.

The Professor, however, was able to read between the lines, knowing that the Commodore was readying a getaway route for any Confederates who might need to escape, should they lose the war.

The delay in departure was to await approval from the British of the planned escape route and sanctuary. One thing the Professor could not explain was a reference to a 'Lady Green,' who had been asked to join them.

- - - - -

It was a bitter January day as the Professor hailed a horse cab and called out the address down by the river. With him, Jancy, Tonio, and Chester rattled their way eastward to the Delaware.

South Street was sided with cheap wooden houses with a communal fountain, which allowed drivers and horses to share a drink. Once they passed through the dark smoke rising from the cooking pots in the market spaces, they could see a new house rearing its potential elegance in what was planned to be the biggest mansion in South Philadelphia. Nothing else south of City Hall would have as many floors, drawing rooms or secret passages as would the intended new home

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