Blackjack

39

Valentine smiled and drank his whiskey. Virgil looked at him for a long moment, took a sip of whiskey, and set his glass on the bar in front of him.

“Said you’d just as soon be dead as to ever cross the Mississippi again,” Virgil said.

“I say that?”

Virgil stared at him for a long amount of time, then offered a sharp drop of his chin.

“Did.”

“I lied,” Valentine said.

“You did that, too,” Virgil said.

“Well, there you have it,” Valentine said. “Intentions sometimes just go awry.”

“Awry?” Virgil said. “More to the fact, truth was never something you was ever too concerned with.”

Valentine laughed.

“Well, now, hell, Virgil, truth is way over appreciated.”

Virgil shook his head a little.

“Over appreciated?” Virgil said.

Valentine laughed, then looked to me.

“Over appreciated. ’Sides, plans are like goddamn rail tracks, they just put you places and that is it, buy a ticket and you go there. I prefer the open road as opposed to being staked in the yard like a chicken-chasing dog.”

I was beginning to see some similarities between Virgil and Valentine. They were kind of like the opposite sides of a coin.

“I was in some trouble,” Valentine said. “Spent a little time in jail over here for it, nothing serious. Virgil never really...”

“Robbery,” Virgil said.

“He’s a stickler for details.”

“You shot a man in the process.”

“He pulled on me,” Valentine said.

Valentine smiled at me and continued. He was addressing me with his talk, but he was really talking to Virgil.

“Anyway,” he said. “This bone-dry country was bothering the hell out of me, so I made my way back to the more civilized world. According to Virgil, I verbalized I would not come back this way, that’s what Virgil is talking about. Isn’t that right, Virgil?”

Virgil didn’t answer him.

“So, hell, let’s see... I been back on this side for the last ten years,” he said.

“Heard rumblings of that,” Virgil said.

“Was hoping I’d find you someplace along the road, that I’d get to see you, Virgil, that you’d be doing okay.”

Valentine picked up the bottle and filled the glasses.

“And now, after all these years, here you are.”

“Yep,” Virgil said.

“My little brother,” he said.

Virgil calmly stared at his whiskey.

Valentine looked at Virgil and smiled a little, but Virgil did not look at him.

“Was east there for a spell, New York, Boston. Like the wine, and the food is a hell of a lot better, but I got tired of those goddamn Yankees. They are different. Was in Chicago, too. I like Chicago. Ever been to Chicago, Everett?”

“I have,” I said.

“It is a decent place,” Valentine said. “But way by God cold Chicago... Worked my way back, was in Abilene there for a bit, then Denver for a while, then eventually made my way down to Texas. Goddamn Texas.”

He smiled and nodded to me a little.

“I’ve been doing pretty well, Virgil,” he said. “Don’t have a special lady friend like you, but I get by...”

Virgil crossed his arms and leaned back, and Valentine leveled a look at him.

“Don’t worry, Virgil, I’m here on business,” he said. “Nothing for you to worry yourself about... but I won’t be gone until I get paid for my services rendered. Money well deserved, too, I have to say. I waited on him for days before I caught him.”

“Where?”

“Juárez,” he said. “That is where I reside these days. Well, across the river in godforsaken El Paso, Texas, but when duty calls, I go across the river and just wait, easy pickings really. So many on the run end up there in Juárez. That is why I moved down that way in the first place, to be close to a revenue source. Just have to sit back and let them come to you, kind of like waiting on a dove to come in on a sunflower patch at sunset. Pretty stupid on Boston Bill’s part, in particular.”

“Why’s that,” I said.

“Because the big sonofabitch stood out like a black leopard in a litter of kitties down there.”

“Any thought as to whether he did it?” I said.

Valentine looked to Virgil and then to me.

“He said he didn’t, but you know, they always say that,” he said. “But if I were a betting man, which I am, I would say no.”

“What makes you say that?” I said.

Valentine thought for a moment.

“Well,” he said. “Because he’s a... well, he just doesn’t have what it takes is about all I can say.”

“What makes you say that?” I said.

“Just a hunch,” Valentine said.

“Regardless, the judge will see to his future as he deems fit,” Virgil said.

Valentine nodded, looking at Virgil.

“Denver authorities are here, too, to pay you for your service,” Virgil said.

“Good,” Valentine said.

“They are right across the way and up the block here, Colcord Hotel.”

Valentine nodded.

“Good to know,” he said.

“Then you’ll be moving on,” Virgil said.

“Not sure, Virgil,” Valentine said with a smile. “Since the judge is here and the preliminary will be tomorrow, I thought I would at least stay around and see the outcome.”

“Then you’ll be moving on?” Virgil said.

“I’ll be gone soon enough, little brother,” he said with a smile. “Rest assured.”