The Lawman

Chapter Thirty-one

The next morning Decker slept late, because he’d had a strenuous time at Crystal’s Palace the night before. Crystal had not been exaggerating her prowess in bed when she’d indicated that she was “the best.”

He could also afford the luxury of sleeping late because now that he had successfully tracked his prey and the man had no idea he was there, there was no need to rise early.

He had decided to give Moran until the end of the week—three days—to make his move. If nothing happened by then, he’d have to take the man by force and bring him back to the United States. From what he’d been able to gather, there wouldn’t be any great hue and cry once Moran was gone. The man had apparently worn out his welcome here—even with his pretty partner.

Crystal awoke to an empty bed. That hadn’t happened since she and Moran became partners, but she wasn’t sorry.

Moran had obviously not come home last night, but she found that she didn’t mind. The man she had taken up to her room with her had more than made up for Moran’s absence. In fact, he had made her realize that there was life after Moran.

She wondered how soon she’d be able to pay him back now that the business was going well. The original idea for the place was hers, and she really didn’t need Moran anymore. After all, her original plan had been to simply use his money to set the Palace up. It had been ridiculous to start thinking that he might be the man for her.

There were many men out there, and it would be silly to tie herself down to one.

She rose and decided to take a hot bath. She had not yet been able to provide a private bath for herself, so she had been using the one downstairs, which was also used by the rest of the girls. It was a small price to pay, and soon enough she would have her own.

On the way down she thought that maybe if she could find out what Moran had done—why he was hiding out here in Mexico—she could turn him in herself. If what he had done had netted him so much money, there was sure to be some kind of a reward.

Moran had slept at the sheriff’s office.

The argument the night before with Crystal had clinched it for him. All he had done was walk down the stairs, and because Gloria had been behind him Crystal had jumped to conclusions.

Well, Red Moran didn’t need that kind of grief from any woman, and he certainly didn’t need the shit this town was heaping on him.

When he’d gotten to his office last night, he’d found the mayor waiting for him.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Mayor?”

“Sheriff—uh, this is very difficult for me to say.”

“Well, just spit it out all at once, Mayor. That’s usually the best way.”

“The town council and I have, uh, reconsidered our position on your standing as sheriff.”

“Is that a fact?”

“Si, we think that it would be better for everyone—especially the town—if we held an open election. Of course, you would be free to run…”

“So you’d like me to give you back my badge?”

“Si, if you, uh…would.”

“Well, I won’t.”

“Señor, for the good of the town—”

“You and the council are upset about my extra business activities in town, Mayor. That is, you’re mad because you’re not getting as much of my money as you used to get. I was naive to think that you would have some other reason for welcoming me into your town, and for making me sheriff. Well, for better or for worse, I’m your sheriff.”

“Señor,” the mayor said, with more backbone than Moran would have given him credit for, “the town council can take your badge away from you.”

“I happen to know that you and the council are deadlocked on that question, Mayor—and I’m the tie-breaking vote. Guess which way I’d go.”

Moran sat behind his desk at that point, laced his fingers behind his head and said, “Come back and see me when you get one more vote.”

After that the mayor left, dragging his tail between his legs because his bluff had not worked…

Still, Moran decided, it was time to move on, and sometime in the next few days he’d make his move. First he had to decide just how much he wanted to leave Crystal. After all, the business had been started with his money.

And the other thing he had to do before he left was get that blonde, Gloria, into bed.

Gloria woke up and could still smell old Mr. Velasquez. She decided to go down and have a hot bath before sitting down to take stock and formulate her plans.

She had been in Mexico long enough.

Gilberto and Raquel gave their horses to one of the men and went into the cantina. It did not serve liquor that early, but they were more interested in food than liquor.

They had camped an hour outside of town last night because they wanted time to look the town over. To this end they had sent in one of their men—Juan—to look around. He had returned late with the news that the town had one sheriff, and apparently no deputies, and the sheriff was rarely seen on the street. At first light they had mounted up and ridden in, and now they’d have breakfast sitting at a real table rather than around a fire.

From where they had camped they had easily picked out the whorehouse. It was the building that was most lit, and had the most traffic in and out.

“I am surprised you were able to contain yourself last night,” Raquel said after they had ordered breakfast.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you would run right down to that whorehouse the first chance you saw.”

“My sister, I am not controlled by animal lust. Besides, tonight will be soon enough.”

“First we must find out if Decker has been here, or is still here—and if he is here we must not be seen.”

“He will recognize either of us, but perhaps not the others.”

“We will see, Gilberto.”

When Gloria reached the bathroom she found that Crystal was already there, sitting in one of the two tubs.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, starting to back out.

“There’s another tub, Gloria,” Crystal said. “You can come in and use it.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude—”

“It’s no intrusion, really.”

Gloria came in, wondering what Crystal had on her mind that she was being so accommodating.

Gloria heated her own water, filled the tub, and then took off her robe. She was aware of Crystal’s appraising look as she stepped into the tub.

“You have a lovely body you know,” Crystal said.

Uncomfortable with the compliment from another woman, Gloria simply said, “Thank you.”

“You’re not like most of the whores here, Gloria.”

“What do you mean?”

“Carmen, Rosa and the others, they’re all doing this because there’s nothing else they can do. You, on the other hand, are a lot smarter that they are.”

Gloria smiled thinly.

“That’s not really saying that much, Miss Crystal.”

Crystal threw her head back and laughed.

“Don’t I know it. You know, you and I are the only non-Mexicans here. Maybe we could become friends.”

Gloria doubted that, but said, “I think I would like that.”

“There’s something you should know about me and Red Moran, then.”

“I know he’s your man, and I wouldn’t—”

“That’s just it,” Crystal said. “He’s my partner, Gloria, but he’s not my man. If you want him, you’re welcome to him.”

Gloria frowned.

“You’re from Texas, aren’t you?” Crystal continued.

“Yes.”

“Did you ever hear of Moran there?”

So that’s what she was after. She was trying to find out Moran’s background.

“No,” Gloria lied, “I never heard of him until I reached here. Why?”

“Oh, no reason,” Crystal said, soaping herself, “no reason at all…”