can pick up any evidence that Cox doubled back to Colorado.”
“Now you’re talking,” Longarm said. “And when you get to the federal building tomorrow, tell Billy Vail to wire up some expense money. Until then, I’ll need to borrow some cash.”
“How much?”
“Might take a couple of hundred.”
“Jaysus!” Blake exclaimed.
Longarm shrugged innocently. “Supervisor Blake, I have contacts here that I’ll need to pay for information.”
“Damn,” Blake muttered as he reached into his pocket for the cash.
“You going to give me the counterfeit money, or-“
“Don’t even ask,” Blake growled.
Longarm took the man’s money. “Cheer up,” he said. “I’ve been working in and through Cheyenne for years, and I know who to talk to and who to believe. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll be out on the streets, seeing if I can get some leads.”
“What about the woman?” Pollack asked, trying hard to sound matter-of-fact. “Does she need a ride back down to Denver with us in that fancy coach?”
“Don’t you wish she did,” Longarm said. “Sorry, but she’s staying with me. After all, she’s the one who can spot Cox, even in a crowd or when disguised. She’s my eyes and my ears. Where I go, she goes.”
“How nice for you,” Pollack said sarcastically. “Sounds like you just have the world by the balls with us paying your first-class freight.”
“Life never is fair,” Longarm deadpanned as he came to his feet.
“So, that’s it?” Blake asked, looking a little dazed with the way this meeting had gone.
“Yep,” Longarm said, yawning. “I’m dog tired. You know, I was supposed to be vacationing in Boston.”
“Boston ain’t shit,” Pollack snapped. “Bunch of people walking around like they got rods up their asses.”
Longarm was amused. “You’re a real funny guy, Pollack. Almost as entertaining as Jones.”
“Go to hell,” Pollack growled, picking up his drink and leaving.
“So when will you let us know what you learn from your informants?” Blake demanded. “I’ve got to answer to people back east.”
“Not for a while you don’t,” Longarm said, “at least not until the telegraph lines are up again. And, with any luck, by then we’ll have arrested Cox and this whole counterfeit thing will be history.”
“You know that isn’t going to happen,” Blake said. “Nathan Cox might be a hundred miles from Cheyenne. Maybe a thousand if he took the last train heading for Sacramento or St. Louis.”
“Or back to Denver and then on to Texas or New Mexico,” Longarm drawled. “But either way, we’ll find him.”
Blake shook his head and struggled to his feet. “Marshal Long, I’ve got a sick feeling that given the company you’re keeping, you aren’t even in any hurry to see this case solved.”
Longarm knew Supervisor Blake was referring to Diana, and he had to laugh outright.
“What’s so damned funny?” Blake snarled.
“Only that you’re about half right,” Longarm said as he headed up to his fancy hotel room and Diana in his soft, silky bed.
Chapter 5
“I’ll never understand how you got all those feds to leave us in peace and run down to Denver,” Diana said the next morning as they enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the hotel’s elegant dining room.
Longarm sipped his third cup of coffee. “It wasn’t hard. I just told them that as smart as Nathan Cox is, he might just have backtracked into Colorado.”
Diana thought about that a moment, and said, “Nathan really might have.”
“I know. And nothing would please me more than for Agent Blake and his cronies to capture our fugitive down south. Until then, however, I need to start digging for some information right here in Cheyenne.”
“Where do you start?”
“With the local marshal. He’s an old friend, and he’ll help if he can.”
“Then let’s go,” Diana said, coming to her feet.
“Whoa,” Longarm said. “Why don’t you just go UPstairs and enjoy that wonderful hotel suite that the government is providing? After I nose around
…”
“Oh, no,” she said, quite definite about her feelings. “I’ve got another seventy-five hundred dollars riding on this manhunt that I mean to collect. So, don’t try to get rid of me, because I’m jolly well coming with you, Marshal.”
Longarm really didn’t want her to come with him, but there seemed to be little choice. Besides that, Diana was smart enough to keep her mouth shut, and she might even pick up on some piece of information that he, not knowing Cox, would overlook.
“All right,” Longarm said. “Let’s go. First stop is the local constable’s office.”
