on the table. Now he pushed the newspaper across to Dolan.
“There should be enough in there to do the job.”
Dolan put his hand on the newspaper.
“Don’t look at it now.”
Dolan pulled his hand away.
“I’ll meet you all in front of the livery stable at the end of Carlyle Street at first light,” Cardwell said. “Be outfitted and ready for a one day ride.”
“We’ll be there,” Dolan said. “When do we find out what bank we’re hittin’?”
Cardwell sat back in his chair and said, “Just before we hit it.”
“Why is it such a secret?” one of the other men asked.
“That’s the way I do business,” Cardwell said. “If you don’t like it, you can bow out. I’m sure I can find somebody to take your share.”
“No, no,” Dolan said. “This sounds like a good deal. We don’t want to give up any shares.”
“Good,” Cardwell said. “Then you better get started collectin’ those other men.”
The four men pushed back their chairs and stood up.
“And make sure they can ride, and shoot.”
“Don’t worry,” Dolan said. “They’ll be as good as us.”
Cardwell had known Dolan and one of the other men—Sam Barkin—for a few years, and didn’t take that as such a great recommendation. However, he needed bodies and guns, and since he planned on double-crossing every last one of them, the rest didn’t really matter.
67
“I’ve got fifteen permanent members of the force,” Police Chief Aaron Stattler said. “I can probably hire about ten more for temporary duty.”
Thomas had talked and talked while the chief listened, and then was surprised when the man took everything he said at face value.
“You don’t want to telegraph Vengeance Creek to confirm my story?”
“What would your motive be to warn me of an impending bank robbery?” Stattler asked.
“Maybe we’re plannin’ to rob one of the other banks,” Cory offered.
“I consider myself a very good judge of character,” the sixtyish police chief said, “and I don’t think that’s the case. So, let’s decide how we’re going to proceed.”
“I guess we have to figure out which bank he’s gonna hit,” Cory said.
“Well,” Chief Stattler said, “Bank of Denver has three branches in the city.”
“Is one bigger than the others?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t know if any of them is physically larger than the others,” the chief said, “but I do think that one has the most money. It’s in the business district, so a lot of businesses have their payrolls there.”
“That’s the one he’d go for, then,” Thomas said, “don’t you think, Ralph?”
“Seems to me if he’s been workin’ his way up to this bank for his whole career, he’d go for the biggest payoff. My guess is he’s looking to retire.”
“How many men will he have with him?” Stattler asked.
“We’re not sure,” Thomas said. “He used seven or eight in Vengeance Creek.”
“My guess is he’d use about a dozen,” Cory said.
“That would make for a big split,” the chief commented.
“Actually,” Thomas said, “he didn’t split with anyone in his gang when he hit our bank. He left them all behind to die or get arrested while he took off with the money, and one other man. Who knows, he may have double- crossed him by now too.”
“Do we have any idea when to expect them?” Stattler asked.
“We were just hopin’ we’d get here before them,” Thomas said. “Ralph?”
“Probably within the next few days,” Cory guessed.
“Good,” Stattler said, “that gives us some time to get some men together and assigned.”
“Can’t you send some men over now?” Thomas asked.
“It’s not that easy, Deputy,” the chief said. “This is a police department, and there are some protocols that need to be followed. I should be able to have some men over there by tomorrow afternoon.”
“That may be too late,” Thomas said.
“Better to be safe than sorry,” the chief said. “I need to choose my men properly and get them into position.”
“I really think you should send some men now—”
“Deputy,” Stattler said, “I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, but you are very young and I believe I’m better equipped to handle this situation. Why don’t you and your friend enjoy what our city has to offer for a few days while I take care of business.”
Cory looked at Thomas, wondering how the deputy would handle being talked down to that way.
“You mean you don’t want our help?” Thomas asked.
“You’re in the big city now, Deputy,” Stattler said. “This is not the old West that you’re used to.”
“Chief, I don’t—”
“Okay, Chief,” Cory said, cutting Thomas off, “we’ll just be goin’, then.”
“Please don’t misunderstand me,” Stattler said, standing. “I appreciate the information, but these things are better handled by professionals.”
“What do you—”
“Let’s go, Thomas,” Cory said. “The chief obviously has some work to do.”
Thomas wanted to stay and argue, but Cory took him by the arm and led him to the door.
Once they were outside the building, Thomas said, “I don’t believe his attitude. We brought him this information. If he doesn’t act quickly—”
“Thomas,” Cory said, “this chief is obviously a by-the-book kind of fella. He’s gonna do things at his own pace.”
“And by that time Cardwell could hit the bank and be gone.”
“So what do you want to do?”
Thomas eyed a cafe across the street and said, “Let’s go over there and get somethin’ to eat. I’m starvin’.”
“So am I,” Cory said, and they crossed over.
Once there, they both sank wearily into chairs, gave their orders to the waiter, and didn’t speak again until the food was in front of them. With renewed vigor, they tore into their steaks.
“I don’t know what to do, Ralph,” Thomas said as he was chewing.
“Well,” Cory said, “one thing we can do is telegraph your pa and tell him where we are.”
“Good idea,” Thomas replied. “Maybe he’s even heard from James.”
“Whenever Cardwell arrives, James and Berto should be right behind him.”
“Unless they caught up to him,” Thomas said, “and took him.”
“I guess that’s possible.”
“You don’t think so?”
“Thomas, I’ve been studying some of the things Ben Cardwell has done,” Cory said. “I think we got to realize who we’re dealin’ with here.”
“What are you sayin’, Ralph?”
“I have an idea,” Cory said, “a hunch, really. Let me lay it out for you and see what you think, okay?”
“Can we keep eatin’ while you do it?”
“Definitely.”
“Okay, then,” Thomas said, “go ahead….”
Across the street the young officer who had shown Thomas and Cory into the chief’s office came into the
