“Where is his hangout?”
Vail removed his feet from his desk and leaned forward. “He seems to operate around Prescott. Isn’t that where you said your lady friend lived?”
“I said that my friend lived there.”
“Well, it’s perfect then! Just arrest Hank Bass, have the local marshal hold him in jail, and then go about your own business helping this old prospector and getting reacquainted with your lady friend—all on government time … and money!”
When Longarm still hesitated, Billy pleaded, “Custis, you’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose! This is a sweet damn deal I’m offering. One that, if anyone else knew that you were already going to Arizona, could cause me no small amount of grief with my superiors.”
“Tell me more about Hank Bass and then I’ll decide whether or not to accept your generous offer.”
“Not much to tell,” Billy said with a shrug. “He’s about your age, and, from what little we know, nothing much special. He’s robbed several trains and taken government mail, so that’s why we’re so interested in getting him apprehended.”
“Why can’t the local officials lock him up?”
Billy looked away for a moment. “Well,” he said, trying to look unconcerned, “I guess Hank Bass has quite a reputation as a gunman. He’s killed a number of marshals and even an Arizona Ranger. I hear that he’s kinda quick with a Colt.”
Longarm’s cheeks blew out and he came to his feet. “So there we have it,” he said. “You’re sending me after a gunslinger that has pretty well wiped out the opposition. He probably has a lot of friends who are also not being invited to the local church services because they are equally ‘quick’ with a Colt revolver. Am I getting the picture?”
“Yeah,” Billy said, shoulders slumping. “Maybe I had just better go and get the job done myself.”
Vail looked so serious that Longarm almost believed him. And while he knew that Billy was a lot tougher than he appeared, Longarm also realized that the man had been in an office for the last five years and had probably lost his fighting edge, if not his fighting spirit.
“Or,” Billy was saying, “I could send Slim Behan. He doesn’t seem to have much to do right now.”
“Slim wouldn’t stand a chance,” Longarm replied. “And he hates the desert. He’d get down there and maybe ask a few questions. Then he’d dive into a saloon and spend all his expense money and have to wire you for more. In the end, you’d have to recall Slim and send me after I return from vacation.”
“Yeah,” Billy agreed, “you’re probably right. So why don’t you accept my offer and save us all a lot of time, money, and grief? I know that you could use the travel and expense money.”
“Sure I could, but..
“I’ll wire the marshal in Prescott and give him-” Billy stopped in mid-sentence, causing Longarm to blink and say, “What?”
“Oh, I just forgot that the marshal in Prescott was one of the ones that Hank Bass gunned down.”
“Aw, shit,” Longarm growled. “What about Wickenburg?”
“I don’t know,” Billy said, looking doubtful. “It’s got such a raw reputation that I doubt they’ve got a lawman there anymore either.”
Longarm expelled a deep breath. “All right,” he said, pulling out his Ingersol pocket watch and consulting the time. “I’ve got a lot of packing and some details to follow up on this evening before I head out of town. How soon can you have the money?”
“Tomorrow afternoon?”
“Too late. You know as well as I do that the train leaves at noon.”
“Sorry,” Billy said, shrugging as if it made no difference. “I guess that leaves you only two choices. Wait for a couple of days until the next train leaves, or go on your own dime and allow me to wire your money to the bank at Prescott.”
Longarm didn’t like the choices. He much preferred to have government travel and expense money in hand, but he did not wish to wait a few more extra days. After a few moments of deliberation, he reluctantly nodded his agreement.
“But my expense money had better be waiting in Prescott or I’m not giving this Hank Bass a second thought,” he warned. “My priority is to find and help my old friend, Jimmy Cox.”
“And maybe gain his enduring gratitude and a part of his Spanish treasure?”
Longarm scowled. “That’s not the reason I’m skipping New Orleans and you know it.”
“Yeah, I do,” Billy said, looking contrite. “And I apologize for making the suggestion. It was unfair and I’m ashamed of myself.”
“You ought to be,” Longarm said, coming to his feet. “All right then, I’ll wire you back from Prescott when I’ve gotten the money and your man.”
“Be careful of Hank Bass and watch out for trouble.”
“I will,” Longarm promised.
Longarm shook Billy’s hand and headed for the door. Stopping, he turned to add, “Government expenses should include all rail and stage travel as well as the rental of a good horse for at least three weeks, plus food and lodging. Right?”
“Sure!”
“A hundred dollars will get me started,” Longarm decided. “So that’s what I’ll be expecting when I get to Prescott.”
“Consider it already in their bank,” Billy told him with a broad, genial smile. “And good luck! I can hardly wait to meet Hank Bass and see him stand before a judge and jury, then be sentenced to the gallows.”
“For government mail theft?”
“And for murder, rape, and who knows what else.”
“Okay,” Longarm said. “You know that I’ll try my best to bring him back alive. But I won’t pussyfoot around and I’ll kill him if he attempts to kill me first or escape.”
“He will,” Billy promised. “But, if you do that, at least hire a decent photographer to take a picture of his corpse. I’ll need one for my files and to satisfy my superiors.”
“Sure thing,” Longarm called, heading down the now empty federal building hallway.
Chapter 3
Longarm went back to his room and packed for his trip, then hurried over to see a voluptuous young woman by the name of Dolly St. Claire that he wanted to take to dinner and then to bed.
“You’re early!” Dolly cried, opening the door and throwing her arms around Longarm’s neck while still dressed in only her bra and underpants. “My gawd, you’re really early!”
Dolly was very strong and she could almost crack a man’s neck when she became too exuberant. Longarm had to pry her off and then he stepped back, saying, “I thought we might go somewhere special this evening.”
“Sure.” Dolly’s pretty blue eyes clouded and her full lips formed a childish pout. “On account of your goin on vacation and not wanting to take me along.”
“I’d like to take you,” Longarm said, not wanting to go over this same contentious ground. “But, as it turns out, I’m not going to New Orleans after all.”
“You’re not?!”
“No,” Longarm said, shutting and locking the door as his eyes dropped to Dolly’s wondrous and bullying breasts. “I’m not. Instead, I have to go to Prescott and then Wickenburg.”
“Never heard of them places.”
“They’re both in central Arizona.”
“Arizona!” Dolly made a face as if she’d bitten into a lemon. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“My vacation has been put on hold,” Longarm explained. “I’m going to Arizona to help a friend and to capture an outlaw named Hank Bass. I’m told that he’s a pretty bad character.”
“What about New Orleans?”
“It will have to wait.”
“I wouldn’t want to go to Arizona this time of year.” Dolly shook her head back and forth. “No sir! Why, it’d be hotter than hell already.”
“That’s right.” Longarm kissed her lips, then whispered, “Maybe I’ll take you to New Orleans next year.”
“You mean it?!”
“No promises, but I’ll give it a lot of thought. Have you ever been to the famous French Quarter?”