Ironhorse

64

The governor was sure enough angry and certainly distraught. He was doing his best to remain composed, but he was not doing a very good job of it. He resumed pacing but avoided looking at Hobbs. He spoke to Virgil and me as he moved.

“Even with the Pinkertons on guard, I was not so stupid to carry that amount of money in my possession,” the governor said. “Or in the freight safe with guards. God knows how many payrolls have been absconded from train safes.”

Continuing shafts of sun slanted across the room as Half Moon Junction was waking up. Outside, a skinner hawed a team of mules as they rounded the corner of the hotel and drove north up the street. After a moment more of pacing, the governor stopped in front of the snarling bobcats and turned to face Virgil and me.

“So,” he said, “what now?”

Virgil looked at me.

“Lassiter showed his hand,” I said.

“He did,” Virgil said.

“Didn’t have to.”

“No,” Virgil said, “he didn’t.”

“Article just mentioned him,” I said, “didn’t convict him.”

“He convicted himself.”

We thought about that for a moment.

“Something spooked him,” Virgil said.

“That would be you, Marshal,” Hobbs said as he removed the handkerchief from his bleeding nose. “You scared the hell out of him when you were asking us all those questions.”

“He said that?” I asked.

“No,” Hobbs said, shaking his head, “not in words, anyway. He did say he thought the questions were unnecessary and insensitive, but in retrospect, I realize he was seriously disconcerted after your inquisition.”

“Disconcerted to the point he took my goddamn horse,” Berkeley said.

“Lassiter planned this with this thief Wellington,” the governor said. “The whole devious plot. Most likely intending on returning to the firm, keeping his profile.”

“Not now,” Virgil said.

“Nope,” I said. “Don’t think Texas will be part of his itinerary,” I said, “no time soon, anyway.”

“He’s got one of two options. He’ll get as far away as possible or he goes after Wellington, and the money he thinks Wellington has,” Virgil said.

“Wellington was vicious with his demands, and Lassiter was rattled, or he seemed rattled,” Hobbs said. “Do you think Wellington double-crossed him?”

“Lassiter thinks, or I would assume he thinks, Wellington has the money,” the governor said.

“That’s right,” Virgil said.

“And Wellington,” I said, “since he had your case, Governor, thought he was in possession of the money.”

Virgil pushed up on the brim of his hat a slight bit.

“There’s one thing for certain now, though,” Virgil said. “Now he knows he’s not in possession of it.”

“Might try and go after it,” I said.

“Might,” Virgil said.

The front door opened and a skinny young boy with coal dust on his hands and face and a head full of shaggy blond hair hurried in. He stopped by the black bears in the foyer and looked up at Virgil and me standing in the entrance to the main room of the hotel.

“Mr. Berkeley,” the boy said.

Berkeley got off the stool to have a look at the towheaded boy.

“What is it, Charlie?”

Charlie took a deep breath.

“Sam told me to fetch you right away!” Charlie said. “Said it was important! It’s got something to do with the governor’s daughters!”