“Do you really think it was Sutherland?”
“The description matches perfectly,” Butler said. “And as Newman himself pointed out to me, he was a criminal lawyer.”
“You know,” Short said, “you and me, we don’t know much about Newman—but I know who does.”
They found Bill Ward in his office and hit him with what Butler had found out. Both Short and Butler expected the man to defend his friend, but instead he just sat there, not looking particularly surprised.
“Bill,” Short said, “talk to me.”
“What would you have me say?” Ward asked. “That the man was a criminal lawyer, but he didn’t associate with criminals? That’s ridiculous. Of course he did. What does that prove?”
“It proves he lied to Butler,” Short said. “Why would he do that?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Ward said. “I guess you’re just going to have to ask him.”
“Maybe we’ll do that,” Short said, “but Bill, we need you to keep quiet about this and let us handle it.”
“I’m only too happy to stay out of it,” Ward said. “This is between you and Newman.”
After they left the office Butler said, “Do you really think he’ll stay out of it?”
“Bill’s a man of his word,” Short said. “Yeah, I think he will.”
“So, do you want to confront Newman with this?” Butler asked.
“I wish I knew what his wife was going to do,” Short said. “I wish I knew if she was going to tell him about your conversation with her.”
“Well, I didn’t act like it was any real revelation,” Butler said. “We finished our tea and went our separate ways.”
“I really have to thank you, Butler,” Short said. “You put yourself on the line for me today.”
“Forget it. I—”
“You drank, tea,” Short said. “Did she make you lift your pinky up when you took a sip?”
Short laughed long and hard and Butler let him have his enjoyment. He didn’t think they’d have very much more to laugh about until they caught Sutherland.
They went to the bar, got a beer each, and continued to discuss the situation.
“Why do you think Sutherland would go to Newman in the first place?” Short asked.
“For help?” Butler suggested. “This is a man not used to doing his own thinking. Maybe he’s lost without Cramer. If he didn’t realize that would be the case when he killed Cramer, he realizes it now. So he goes to Newman to see if he can help him figure out what to do.”
“Why wouldn’t Newman turn him over to the law?” Short asked. “After all, this is a man who ran for district attorney. He knows the law.”
“Maybe he’s got the same opinion of Courtwright that you do.”
“Could be,” Short said. “So what’s he going to tell Sutherland to do?”
“I don’t know,” Butler said.
“And how do we find Sutherland?”
“By watching Newman,” Butler said. “He’s bound to go back to him.”
“Unless Newman’s wife tells him about you.”
Butler rubbed his jaw.
“This is delicate. If we go to Newman and confront him he may warn Sutherland, and we’ll never catch him. What if he decides to leave town?”
“Then I’m dead,” Short said. “I’m the one they’ll pin both killings on.”
“Let’s remember he took a shot at me,” Butler said. “That can only be because of the price I carry and I don’t think he’d want to give that up.”
“Probably not,” Short said. “Or maybe he was just trying to get you out of the way so he’d have a clear run at me.”
“Either way,” Butler said, “whether he wants the money or your rep, he’s not leaving town without it. Not when he’s gone this far.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Butler hoped so, too.
CHAPTER 45
Sutherland had to pick a new place to meet with the men he’d chosen. Normally, it would have been the Bloody Spur, but with both its owner and bartender having been killed, the place was now boarded up.
He chose a saloon called the Black Pearl, and had three men meet him there. He bought them all beers and they sat at a back table.
“What’s on your mind, Sutherland?” Lenny Randolph asked.
Randolph and Harry Spills were partners, did everything together. They were notoriously cheap, and had even been known to share the same whore. They were both in their mid-thirties.
The third man he’d chosen was Andy Dennis, a loner in his early thirties who was known to do anything for money—the right amount of money.
Sutherland didn’t know how much money he had to pass around. He had plans to break into the Bloody Spur, where he knew Ed Cramer kept cash in the office. He only hoped that Zeke hadn’t already found it.
Of course, he could share the bounty on Butler with his “friends.” There was plenty to go around, providing he gave them each just a taste.
He could string them along for the money for a while. But first he had to find out if they were willing to work with him—or for him.
“You don’t usually need help with your jobs,” Andy Dennis said. “What gives?”
“I’ve got two things going, so I may need help with one of them.”
“What’re these deals?” Randolph asked.
“Does this have anything to do with Ed Cramer, over at the Bloody Spur?” Spills asked.
Everyone went silent.
“What about Cramer?” Sutherland asked.
“Uh, well, you used to work for him, is all,” Spills said. “I was just wondering if this was a job for him that you’re finishin’ up?”
Sutherland sat quietly and stared at Spills.
“I didn’t mean nothin’ by it,” Spills finally said. “I was just askin’.”
“This has nothin’ to do with Cramer,” Sutherland said. “This is all me.”
“Okay,” Spills said.
“Let me explain…”
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Butler said.
“We have to confront Al Newman. If he’s an honest man, he’ll help us catch Sutherland.”
“And if he’s not?” Short asked.
“Then he’ll try and set us up for Sutherland.”
“And how will we know which way he’s going?” Short asked.
“We’ll have to use our instincts, Luke,” Butler said. “Our poker-playing instincts.”
“You think we can succeed if we apply those away from the table?”
“It’s already worked for me a couple of times,” Butler said, “maybe more. Anyway, I really don’t have the time or patience to wait, do you?”
“Hell, no,” Short said. “I want to get on with my life.”
“So do I,” Butler replied, “so let’s go and talk to him.”
