He nodded toward Nate. “And whatever happens, happens. Got that?”
Farkus said, “Yes.”
“Good. Let’s start with the men from Michigan. We found three of them back on the trail. Who were they?”
“I told you. They were here to find the brothers and kill them.”
“Why?”
“They wouldn’t explain it all to me outright,” Farkus said. “Every time I asked what they were doing up here, they basically told me to shut up. But from what I could get from what they said to each other, it had to do with something that happened back in Michigan, where all of them were from. They were taking orders from this guy named McCue. He was at my elk camp with them, but he didn’t come along with us—”
“McCue?” Joe broke in. “Did I hear you right? Bobby McCue? Skinny guy? Older, kind of weary-looking?”
“That’s him,” Farkus said.
Joe took a deep breath.
Farkus continued, “The guys I was with knew the brothers, or knew enough about them, anyway. I got the feeling they might have clashed at one time or other.”
“It was personal, then?” Nate said.
“Not really. I think they knew of the brothers, like I said. But I’m sure it wasn’t personal. They were hired and outfitted by someone with plenty of money.”
“Did you hear any names besides McCue?”
“None that meant anything.”
“Try to remember,” Joe said, his head spinning.
Farkus scrunched up his eyes and mouth. He said, “McGinty. I think that was it. And Sugar.”
Joe felt a jolt. He said, “Senator McKinty and Brent Shober?”
“Could be right,” Farkus said.
Nate’s upper lip curled into a snarl.
Joe said to Nate: “What’s going on?”
Nate said, “It’s worse than we thought.”
Then Joe said to Farkus, “And all of you rode into a trap of some kind?”
“At the last cirque,” Farkus said, nodding. “We rode down the trail to the water and the lead guy, Parnell, rode through some rocks. He tripped a wire and a spike mounted on a green tree took him out.”
“We’re familiar with the trap,” Joe said. “Go on.”
“The brothers were on us like ugly on an ape,” Farkus said. “The horses blew up and started rearing and everybody got bucked off. The brothers finished off the wounded except for me.”
“Why’d they spare you?”
Farkus shook his head. “I don’t know, Joe. I just don’t know.”
“So they took you to their cabin. Or was it a cave?”
“It was a cabin.”
“Why did you say cave earlier?”
“You might have noticed there’s a big guy with a big gun right next to me. I was nervous and probably misspoke.”
“Ah,” Joe said, as if he was happy with the explanation. “And then the brothers just left?”
“Yes. They packed up and left me to die. They are completely out of this county by now. Maybe even out of the state.”
“Interesting you’re sticking with that,” Joe said. “So the rock that was rolled at us a while back was just a natural occurrence?”
“I don’t know anything about a rock,” Farkus said, his eyes blinking as if he he’d got dust blown into them. “All I know is there’s no point in you guys going after them anymore. They’re gone.”
“Were the brothers alone?”
“What do you mean?” When he asked, Farkus looked away and blinked his eyes.
“Was there a woman with them?” Joe asked softly.
“A woman?” Farkus said. “Up here?”
“Terri Wade or Diane Shober. I’m sure you’ve heard of at least one of them.”
Farkus shook his head.
Joe said to Nate, “We’re done here,” and stood up. “Should we dig a hole for the body, or let the wolves scatter his bones?”
Nate said, “I say we put his head on a pike. That kind of thing spooks Wendigos, I believe. Sends ’em running
