One of the customers got up and walked over to Matt, carrying his beer with him. “Hello, Matt. It’s been a while.”
“Hello, Bart,” Matt replied.
“What are you doing in Fort Collins?”
“A man’s got to be somewhere. You still deputy-ing?”
“No, I’m working as a messenger for Wells Fargo now. It pays some better. Oh, by the way, I suppose you heard what happened in Livermore last week?”
“No, what?”
“Bart, there’s an open chair. You in or not?” someone called from one of the tables.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting to get into the card game.” Bart held up his beer. “It was good seeing you again.”
“What happened in Livermore?” Matt asked.
“Someone killed the bank president and his wife and daughter. There’s a paper down at the end of the bar. You can read all about it.”
Matt moved down to the end of the counter where newspapers were stacked. He put a nickel in the bowl and took one, then found an empty table where he sat down to read.
In what may be the most gruesome event in the history of Livermore, Jarvis Winslow and his wife and daughter were found murdered in their home.
Mr. Winslow was president of the bank and many will tell you there was no finer man for the job, as he always showed a willingness to work with people who needed loans.
Mrs. Winslow and her young daughter were discovered tied to a bed, their throats cut and their clothes removed, giving evidence of ravages being visited upon them. Mr. Winslow was on the floor with a knife wound in his back.
The murder seems to be connected to the bank robbery, for over twenty-three thousand dollars is missing. In what must be considered a clue, a paper was found in the bank bearing the names Red Plummer, Manny Sullivan and Paddy McCoy.
The funeral of the three slain was attended by nearly all residents of the city.
Jarvis Winslow, like Matt Jensen, had been an orphan in the Soda Creek Home for Wayward Boys and Girls. They were there at the same time, and a friendship had developed between them. Though they had not maintained steady contact, Matt considered Winslow a brother of sort, and he took it personally when Jarvis and his family were killed in such a way.
Matt was too late for the funeral, but he went out to the cemetery where he found three fresh mounds of dirt, side by side. There was only one tombstone set in the middle of the three graves.
JARVIS WINSLOW
His Wife JULIE
His Daughter CYNTHIA
Two years older than Matt, Jarvis had helped him adjust to life in an orphanage. Matt remembered a moment he had shared with Jarvis.
“
“Jarvis,” Matt said, speaking quietly over the three graves. “I don’t know if your spirit is still hanging around here or not. I reckon that’s a mystery we only find out after we’re dead. But in case your spirit is here, and you can hear me, I’m going to make you this promise. I intend to find the lowlife sons of bitches who did this to you and your wife and daughter, and I am going to send their sorry asses to hell.”
Matt left the cemetery, then rode across town to the sheriff’s office. When he went inside he saw Sheriff Garrison and two of his deputies looking at Wanted posters.
“Matt Jensen,” the sheriff said, smiling broadly as he walked around his desk with his hand extended. “What brings you to Livermore?”
“The murder of Jarvis Winslow.”
The smile left the sheriff’s face. “Yes. That was a terrible thing. The woman and the girl.” He shook his head. “I’ve been in the law business for a long time and I’ve seen some grizzly things, but I tell you the truth, Matt, that is about the worst I have ever seen. I don’t know what kind of animal could do such a thing. They had both been raped, Matt. Then their throats were cut and they bled to death. Not only that, we found ’em both naked. The sons of bitches didn’t even have the decency to cover ’em up.”
“Jarvis Winslow was a personal friend of mine,” Matt said.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the sheriff replied.
“Sheriff, I intend to hunt down the men who did this, if you don’t mind the help.”
