“This needs to be dealt with quickly. I don't want anything slowing this job up. Once the news spreads of a pure vein, claim jumpers will come and we will have our hands full fighting off the towns' people and the jumpers,” Harry says disgustedly.
“I agree. Not to mention he is a sick bastard. I can't leave not knowing where he is Harry.” Solomon explains. “I've sent Jefferson to the site with his crew to get started, and my crew is on the way as well. I want to get this job completed quickly.”
“Sounds reasonable to me. The nitroglycerin is being delivered tonight at ten. Can you supervise the drop?”
“Of course. I will arrange for pickup on Saturday morning. We can start transporting it to Wolfe Ranch. I am heading over to the police station now to check in. Maybe I will get lucky, and they will have the bastard in custody.”
“Keep me updated. I am leaving at noon for New Orleans. Solomon, if you have any problems contact me through the Western Union office there.”
“Safe journey, Harry,” Solomon tells him, shaking his friend's hand. As he leaves the hotel, he is met with a crush of people. The streets are busy, so he decides to walk the two blocks to the police headquarters. As he nears the station, he sees a police notice stapled to a pole.
It reads: Suspect wanted for questioning in the murder of hotel worker. It gives a description and offers a $100 reward for information which leads to the arrest.
“That should make things difficult for you.” Solomon murmurs. He crosses the street quickly and walks up to the two-story brick building. It stands connected to the courthouse. They share a central wall which makes things operate smoothly. The officers all wear identical double-breasted black jackets with bolero ties and shiny silver badges. To top of the uniform, they wear black hats and matching black mustaches.
Solomon enters and is greeted by the typical sights, sounds and smells of the police station. It is a simple station a few shiny desks and one office to the left. The Police Chief is inside smoking his pipe and arguing with a reporter, once again. Solomon waves at one of the officers and walks inside the office.
“Mr. Abbott, good to see you this morning.” He turns back with a serious look on his face and finishes his sentence. “Once again, Mr. Ackerman if I tell you anything else, it could jeopardize the case. I promise to give you the details once I have them. Now go out there and do what you reporters do, dig up something helpful.” He urges the man to the door and points to one of his officers, “Show Mr. Ackerman out.”
A slam of the door and he turns to greet him. “Now Solomon what can I do for you this morning?” The chief is around sixty with a graying beard and spectacles. He sits with a heavy sigh and waits for his friend to sit down.
“Chief, I have a job tonight at Wells bank. We have a shipment of nitroglycerin coming in. I will be shipping it out in the morning. Can you spare a few officers tonight, we will pay the usual? I hate to ask, but this stuff is dangerous.”
“Of course, I can have two officers meet you, what time?” They discuss the details before Solomon asks the question he really wants to know. “Any news on the murder?”
“None. This guy is slippery. The waitress at the hotel restaurant says a man matching the description you gave was in for dinner just before the girl’s body was found by her mother. He ate and paid with this.” The chief pulls out a wooden tray with a gold twenty dollar coin inside.
Solomon reaches into his pocket and pulls out a matching coin. “This was left on my bed last night.” He sits heavily and looks at the chief. “He's toying with us. I'm leaving in the morning if we're lucky he will follow me back to the dig and I will take care of him my way.”
“And if we aren't lucky and he stays here. What then?” the chief demands answers.
“He's after a woman for selling her ranch to the bank. He feels like she has betrayed him and I believe he will go after her once he realizes it's too late to stop her.” Solomon answers.
“In that case, we will concentrate on the stables. He will need a way to get out of town, either by train or horse. I already have a few officers at the train station, now I will paper the area around the stockyards and hope we catch a break.”
“Thank you, Chief. The drop is at ten tonight in front of Wells Bank.” Solomon shakes his hand and leaves.
Aiden strokes the naked body beneath him and smiles when the whore attempts to break free. “I like it rough, and I intend to get my money's worth today.” She is tied to the head and footboard, face up and gagged to keep her quiet.
Her brown eyes are filled with fear when he pulls the belt from his pants and reveals the underside of the leather is studded with small silver spikes. She starts to fight, “Too late for that, Vivienne. Your tight little French ass is mine, but don’t worry baby, I promise you will love it.”
The first crack of the belt punctures
