Texas Bluff

CHAPTER 27

The back door to the office opened and both Luke Short and Butler entered the room.

“How did you know?” Bill Ward asked, still wiping his face.

“The word is all over Hell’s Half Acre that Cramer is dead,” Short said. “When I heard about it I knew Courtwright would be out to get me.”

“So what are you going to do now?” Ward asked. “Run for it?”

“Hell, no,” Short said. “I’ve got too much invested here to go on the run.”

“We’ll have to find out who did it,” Butler said.

“How are you going to do that?” Ward asked. “You’re not detectives.”

“I’ve worn a badge, you know, Bill,” Short said. “I think I can pretty much figure out what I have to do to find Cramer’s killer.”

“Then you better do it quick,” Ward said, “because he says he’s going to throw all of us in jail.”

“He’s got no reason to lock up you or Butler,” Short said. “He was just trying to scare you.”

“Well, he did a damned good job,” Ward said. “I’ve never been in jail.”

“You held up really well,” Short said. “Thank you.”

“Never mind thanking me,” Ward said. “Just go out there and find yourself a killer.”

“Bill, for a while I’m not going to tell you where I am so when you tell Courtwright, you’ll be tellin’ him the truth.”

“Fine,” Ward said. “It was all I could do not to tell him you were right out back.”

“Again,” Short said, “you did great.” He looked at Butler. “We better get out of here.”

As they headed for the door that led to the saloon Bill Ward said, “Luke?”

“Yeah, Bill?”

“You didn’t, uh, kill Cramer, did you?” Ward asked, stammering a bit.

Short turned to face his partner.

“No, Bill,” he said, “I did not kill Cramer.”

“Okay,” Ward said. “I’m, uh, real sorry I had to ask.”

“Yes, Bill,” Short said, “so am I.”

Short stopped when they stepped out into the saloon, as if he expected to find the sheriff there waiting for him.

“What is it?” Butler asked.

“Nothing.”

“What do we do first to find this killer, Luke?” Butler asked.

“We have to go downtown,” Short said, “to Hell’s Half Acre and start askin’ questions.”

“That’s going to raise a red flag,” Butler said. “Word will get around that we’re there.”

“I know.”

“So that’s what you want?” Butler said. “When the killer hears we’re looking for him he’ll come after us.”

“Me,” Short said, “he’ll come lookin’ for me.”

“What’re you—I’m not staying behind, Luke. You hired me to watch your back—”

“You’re fired.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Butler said. “I’ll follow you there, anyway.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“Why? You don’t owe me anything. And somebody’s already tried to kill you. The best thing for you to do is move on, Butler.”

“I can’t do that, Luke.”

“Why not?”

“How would I ever face Bat and Wyatt if I let you get killed?”

They planned to go downtown together, but not travel side by side.

“Just stay behind me, watch my back, and maybe that way we can get the drop on the killer.”

“Or whoever he sends against us.”

“Cramer didn’t treat women very well. No one really mattered to him. Maybe the killer is a woman.”

“That’s interesting,” Butler said. “Maybe his murder had nothing to do with you, or the White Elephant.”

“Well, that would be preferable,” Short said. “I’d like to keep Bill Ward out of it, if I can.”

They stepped out on the street cautiously, looking for gunmen or lawmen.

“Looks like the coast is clear,” Short said. “Let’s start now and take separate cabs. Once we’re down there you can follow on foot at a good distance.”

“What about when you go inside to ask questions?”

“You’ll have to watch from the window,” Short said, “or come in and have a drink.”

“Remember,” Butler said, “you told me to watch what I drank down there.”

“Yeah, well,” Short said, patting Butler on the arm, “I guess certain sacrifices will have to be made.”