Longarm knew that the woman wanted him to say yes, but he wasn’t about to say too much and certainly not spell out the charges. “Well, ma’am, let’s just say that Nathan Cox might be spending time wearing stripes.”
Beverley clapped her hands together, obviously pleased. She was wearing a baggy housedress and Longarm could see that she was the kind that could fix herself up to look pretty nice if she cared to.
“So, Cox really did something important, huh?”
“Yep.”
“He worked for you guys at the mint. Right?”
“Correct.”
“What did he do, steal a wagonload of new cash?”
“I can’t say,” Longarm told her. “It’s all under investigation.”
“Well, good luck on finding him,” Beverley said. “He’s as slippery as an eel, and he could probably sweet-talk his way through the pearly gates into heaven. But he’s no damn good, and beneath all that sugary pap he’s got a vicious streak as big around as your leg. I’ve seen him when he gets mad and he can be dangerous.”
“When do you expect Miss Frank to return?”
“At any time, if she didn’t stop at Hannigan’s.”
“I think I’ll go there and then come back if she’s still missing.”
“Don’t let Diana get drunk and spend whatever money she managed to borrow. She’s in a bad frame of mind right now, thanks to lover-boy Cox. But she’ll survive and, if she finds that snake, he’ll be damn good and sorry he ever broke her heart and took all her savings.”
“Thanks for your help,” Longarm said, turning to leave.
“Are you married?” Beverley called.
“Uh … yes.”
“Too bad. You’re just the kind of man that could make Diana forget about Nathan.”
Longarm didn’t know what to say about that, so he just tipped his hat and hurried outside.
He found Diana Frank at the hotel saloon. She was seated at a back booth with two young men, and they were all laughing and having a little party. But when Longarm came to a halt beside their table, the two men glared up at him.
The bigger man growled, “This is a private party, mister. Butt out.”
“Miss Frank,” Longarm said, ignoring the remark, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m Deputy Marshal Custis Long and I need to talk with you privately.”
Diana was a tall, willowy beauty with lustrous brown hair and almond-shaped green eyes that absorbed Longarm like a bar rag. She smiled loosely and said in a slurred voice, “Draw up a chair and join us for a drink, Marshal. I like to be surrounded by handsome men.”
“I have to talk with you in private.”
The big man said,“Why don’t you come back some other time, Marshal. The lady has all the company she needs right now.”
“That’s right,” the other man, shorter but squat and powerful with a pitted face, said. “So why don’t you just look her up tomorrow.”
“I have to talk to her now,” Longarm said. “So both of you get out of here and leave us alone.”
“Now, wait just a damn minute!” the bigger man exploded, bouncing to his feet. “We’ve done nothing wrong and you can’t just march into this place and start ordering people around like you’re some kind of gawddamn king.”
Longarm tried to curb his anger. “Mister, I’m here on official business, and I’ve asked you in the nicest way I can to leave. I won’t ask you again.”
“Better leave, Joe,” Diana said, her loose smile fading. “You too, Tom.”
“I never did like lawmen,” Tom spat out. “Bunch of bossy bastards who-“
Longarm’s fist traveled a mere four inches before it stabbed into Tom’s gut. The short, stocky man’s eyes bugged and his lower jaw sagged as he gasped for air. The big man started to swing, but Longarm grabbed him by the shirtfront and slammed him up against the wall so hard, the saloon shook and the back-bar glasses rattled.
“Joe, don’t say a word. Just grab your little friend and get out of here before I lose my temper,” Longarm warned.
Joe was dazed, but he had enough sense to grab his friend and propelled him toward the saloon’s exit. Everyone in Hannigan’s stared, but Longarm ignored them as he slid into the booth beside Diana Frank.
“I’m sorry to have ruined your party,” he said.
Diana swept back a strand of her lovely hair and smiled. “It was going to be their party, not mine.”
“Do you really need traveling money that bad?”
“Yes,” she said, emptying her glass. “Buy me another?”
Longarm wanted the woman to be clear-headed, but he knew that he dared not decline her a drink. “Sure,” he said, signaling to the bartender.
“How did you know that I needed ‘traveling’ money?” she asked after the bartender brought them both
