quitting.’
The sheriff shrugged.
‘Well, okay, I guess I can’t stop you.’ He waved to the badge and the gun. ‘They’re still yours. You can’t walk out of the force in five minutes. It’ll take a couple of weeks before you are officially free of us, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop you quitting tonight if it’s that urgent. All the same, hang on to the gun and your badge until your papers come through.’
‘I don’t want them,’ Travers said. ‘As far as I’m concerned, I’m officially off the force as from now.’
The sheriff got to his feet.
‘Sure you don’t want to tell me? You can trust me, Ken. I think you could do with some help.’
Travers smiled tightly. He held out his hand.
‘Thanks, Sheriff, but there’s nothing I want to say.’
The two men shook hands.
‘I guess this damn bank robber is going to get away with it,’ the sheriff said gloomily. ‘I was counting on you to get him. This job is way out of my class and out of Easton’s class too.’
‘If he’s to be caught, he’ll get caught,’ Travers said woodenly. ‘I’ll get in touch with you. So long for now and thanks for everything.’
He went out to the waiting car. Iris looked questioningly at him as he got in beside her.
‘That’s number one problem out of the way. He took it all right. Now we’ll go to your home for you to pack a bag. I’ll wait outside. If there’s trouble, you call and I’ll fix it.’
‘There won’t be any trouble,’ Iris said.
Ten minutes later, they pulled up outside the rooming-house.
‘Go ahead and pack what you want,’ Travers said. ‘We should be moving in about an hour. If you want me, I’m right here.’
As Iris entered the hall, she heard music from the TV filling the house. She went quickly up the stairs to her room. Shutting the door, she found a couple of suitcases and hastily began to pack them. This took a little time, but finally she finished. As she was trying to shut the lid of one of the cases, Calvin said, ‘Can I help?’
She spun around, her heart missing a beat. He was standing in the doorway, watching her, a fixed, ugly grin on his face.
She backed away as he moved into the room and shut the door.
‘Go away!’ she said, terrified. ‘Don’t come near me!’
‘What’s all the excitement about?’ he asked mildly. ‘What’s all the packing for? You’re not leaving, are you?’
‘I’m leaving with Ken tonight,’ Iris said, trying to steady her voice. ‘He’s outside… waiting for me. Now get out!’
‘You have a little job to do for your mother tomorrow. You can’t leave until then.’
‘I’m not doing it! Ken knows… get out!’
Calvin moved to the window and looked down at the waiting car in the drive. A hot, scalding rage ran through him.
‘What is he planning… to jail your mother?’ he asked, turning and staring at her.
‘He’s resigning from the police. We’re getting married. Please, go away!’
‘You mean he isn’t going to do anything about Kit nor me?’
‘That’s what I mean.’
Calvin thought for a long moment, then he switched on his charm.
‘Why, that’s wonderful. Maybe it’s better for you two to be out of the way.’ He crossed the room and shut the lid of the suitcase with a squeeze from his powerful fingers. ‘I’ll carry your bags down.’
Iris didn’t say anything. She watched him pick up the two bags and walk out of the room. For a moment she
