Texas Bluff

CHAPTER 55

Butler kicked in the door and Short went in with his gun out.

“Not here,” he said.

“How can you tell?”

“It’s one damn room.”

Butler stuck his head in the door and saw for himself. He had his gun in hand, as he was covering from the back.

“Then where is he?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Short said, “but we’re going to find him.”

They looked at each other.

“Newman?” Butler asked.

“Newman,” Short said, with a nod.

They went back down the stairs and away from the docks, where they could find a cab.

Sutherland watched as Butler and Luke Short entered the Anchor, and a couple of dockworkers came running out, slammed the doors behind them, and locked them from the outside. Then he waited and when he heard the first shot knew that things had gone wrong.

Later, when he heard the second shot, he assumed the bartender had gone for the shotgun he kept beneath the bar. The bald, earring-wearing man had told Sutherland, “Worse comes to worse I’ll just use my greener shotgun on both of ’em.”

Yeah, right…

After the second shot he watched as Butler and Luke Short came out and went up the stairs to his room. Butler kicked in the door and Short went in while Butler kept watch outside.

While they were standing in his doorway talking, probably discussing their next move, Sutherland was pretty sure he knew what it would be. He left his hiding place and hurried away, determined to get there ahead of them.

This whole business was going to come to an end today, one way or another.