The Silencers

XV

They pulled out a little after eleven. We could see them go from the window of a tourist court near the highway junction. Security or no security, nobody could have missed the caravan of government cars heading out across the valley.

"Well," I said, "I guess there's no doubt about who won the argument. Okay, let's get to work. I didn't want to risk bumping into any of Peyton's minions-no sense pushing our luck-but now they're gone, let's grab some lunch and take this town apart. We'll do it on foot this time, street by street. If you've got anything in the way of boots or overshoes, you'd better put them on. It's getting pretty damn slushy out there…"

It was a rough afternoon, and the snow didn't help a bit. When we weren't wading through the slush, it was being splashed on us by passing cars. At dinner time, the tally stood at no Wigwams, one Tepee, two telephone subscribers named Hogan-a hogan is a Navajo hut-and a small Eskimo igloo constructed by a bunch of Spanish-American kids with happy dark faces. They thought the snow was real great. It had closed the schools for the day.

We checked every name and every structure that could possibly be taken to represent an Indian dwelling of any kind, and finally, at dusk, we stumbled into the Cholla Bar and Grill defeated and so tired that we couldn't even talk until we'd polished off the first round of Martinis.

"I still think," Gail said, "that our best bet is The Teepee."

The Teepee was a tent-shaped drive-in we'd discovered on the edge of town that apparently served ice cream and kindred products in summer. "It's closed up tight," I said.

"Well, it's just the sort of mistake a… a dying person might make. Teepee-Wigwam. Wigwam-Teepee. Janie was trying to tell me, but she just got confused…"

I said, "Gail, the joint was boarded up. The folks who run the place are in El Paso for the winter. We checked; nobody's been around for months. It's no damn good." She didn't speak, and I said, "You're still quite sure your sister said Wigwam?"

"You keep asking me that. Of course I'm not absolutely sure. There was a lot of noise and… well she was dying. I've never seen a person die before. But I know what I think I heard. I can't help it if-"

"Okay," I said, cutting her off. "Suppose it is Wigwam, are you quite sure she said Carrizozo?"

She set her glass down so quickly that part of her drink slopped out. "Why don't you say what you really think?" she demanded with sudden violence. "Why don't you say that you still think I… I'm lying, leading you on a wild-goose chase for some… some sinister purpose…!" Her voice broke. "Oh, God, I wish I'd never come on this fantastic expedition! Just look at me! I haven't had my clothes off for two days, and I'm so t-tired and d-dirty I could cry! I wish I'd just told that nasty old b-boss of yours what he could do with his lousy blackmailing… Ouch!"

She leaned down and rubbed her shin where I had kicked her, glaring at me across the tabletop.

"Keep your voice down," I said. "Don't go hysterical on me, glamor girl. Finish your drink and read your menu."

She straightened up. "One of these days," she breathed, "one of these days somebody's going to take a baseball bat to you, and I hope I'm there to see it!"

"Sure," I said. "If you want to pull out, they run buses to El Paso. Either stop screaming at me and behave yourself, or beat it."

There was a little silence, then she pushed a wisp of hair back from her face and picked up her Martini glass. She spoke in a cool voice, devoid of anger or hysteria.

"I thought if I didn't cooperate I'd go to jail as a dangerous enemy agent."

I laughed. "We were bluffing, glamor girl. Haven't you caught on yet? For a poker-playing Texican ranch girl you bluff easier than any human being I ever met. I'd love to play you for money some time. Go ahead and go, wherever you want to. Nothing will happen, nobody will whisper a word against you."

She sipped her drink, studying me over the glass. "Well, I declare," she said slowly. It was the first time she'd really put out with the drawl. "I do declare, it don't seem possible that one man could be so aggravatin' all by himself."

"It's a knack," I said. "I've worked hard at developing it. I'm glad it's appreciated." I hoped she couldn't guess how close this was to the truth.

"I don't understand," she said, dropping the Texas act as suddenly as she'd picked it up. "I don't understand, why are you so anxious to get rid of me all of a sudden? Not that I mind, Heaven forbid, but I thought you had some idea you needed me. You certainly went to enough trouble to get me here."

I said, "That was when I thought you might lead me somewhere interesting and profitable. But we've spent a day on it, and nothing's come of it. I haven't any more time to waste." I grinned at her. "Or maybe I'm just turning you loose to see what you do when you think you're not being watched. Take your choice." I let my grin widen in what I hoped was an infuriating way. "Goodbye. It's been real nice, glamor girl. Parts it, anyway."

She got to her feet, set her glass down very gently, took her coat from a nearby hook and walked out without looking back. Now, I thought, if she had any resources we didn't know about, she'd have to trot them out quick before she lost touch with me altogether. I had another drink and wondered why I was suddenly kind of lonely. I should be satisfied with my own company, shouldn't I, a diabolically clever guy like me?"