Роберт Паркер - Robert B. Parker’s Blackjack

I was beginning to see some similarities between Virgil and Valentine. They were kind of like the opposite sides of a coin.

“I was in some trouble,” Valentine said. “Spent a little time in jail over here for it, nothing serious. Virgil never really...”

“Robbery,” Virgil said.

“He’s a stickler for details.”

“You shot a man in the process.”

“He pulled on me,” Valentine said.

Valentine smiled at me and continued. He was addressing me with his talk, but he was really talking to Virgil.

“Anyway,” he said. “This bone-dry country was bothering the hell out of me, so I made my way back to the more civilized world. According to Virgil, I verbalized I would not come back this way, that’s what Virgil is talking about. Isn’t that right, Virgil?”

Virgil didn’t answer him.

“So, hell, let’s see... I been back on this side for the last ten years,” he said.

“Heard rumblings of that,” Virgil said.

“Was hoping I’d find you someplace along the road, that I’d get to see you, Virgil, that you’d be doing okay.”

Valentine picked up the bottle and filled the glasses.

“And now, after all these years, here you are.”

“Yep,” Virgil said.

“My little brother,” he said.

Virgil calmly stared at his whiskey.

Valentine looked at Virgil and smiled a little, but Virgil did not look at him.

“Was east there for a spell, New York, Boston. Like the wine, and the food is a hell of a lot better, but I got tired of those goddamn Yankees. They are different. Was in Chicago, too. I like Chicago. Ever been to Chicago, Everett?”

“I have,” I said.

“It is a decent place,” Valentine said. “But way by God cold Chicago... Worked my way back, was in Abilene there for a bit, then Denver for a while, then eventually made my way down to Texas. Goddamn Texas.”

He smiled and nodded to me a little.

“I’ve been doing pretty well, Virgil,” he said. “Don’t have a special lady friend like you, but I get by...”

Virgil crossed his arms and leaned back, and Valentine leveled a look at him.

“Don’t worry, Virgil, I’m here on business,” he said. “Nothing for you to worry yourself about... but I won’t be gone until I get paid for my services rendered. Money well deserved, too, I have to say. I waited on him for days before I caught him.”

“Where?”

“Juárez,” he said. “That is where I reside these days. Well, across the river in godforsaken El Paso, Texas, but when duty calls, I go across the river and just wait, easy pickings really. So many on the run end up there in Juárez. That is why I moved down that way in the first place, to be close to a revenue source. Just have to sit back and let them come to you, kind of like waiting on a dove to come in on a sunflower patch at sunset. Pretty stupid on Boston Bill’s part, in particular.”

“Why’s that,” I said.

“Because the big sonofabitch stood out like a black leopard in a litter of kitties down there.”

“Any thought as to whether he did it?” I said.

Valentine looked to Virgil and then to me.

“He said he didn’t, but you know, they always say that,” he said. “But if I were a betting man, which I am, I would say no.”

“What makes you say that?” I said.

Valentine thought for a moment.

“Well,” he said. “Because he’s a... well, he just doesn’t have what it takes is about all I can say.”

“What makes you say that?” I said.

“Just a hunch,” Valentine said.

“Regardless, the judge will see to his future as he deems fit,” Virgil said.

Valentine nodded, looking at Virgil.

“Denver authorities are here, too, to pay you for your service,” Virgil said.

“Good,” Valentine said.

“They are right across the way and up the block here, Colcord Hotel.”

Valentine nodded.

“Good to know,” he said.

“Then you’ll be moving on,” Virgil said.

“Not sure, Virgil,” Valentine said with a smile. “Since the judge is here and the preliminary will be tomorrow, I thought I would at least stay around and see the outcome.”

“Then you’ll be moving on?” Virgil said.

“I’ll be gone soon enough, little brother,” he said with a smile. “Rest assured.”

I ate dinner with Virgil and Allie that night, and it was not until we finished Allie’s scalded plum pudding that Virgil said anything to her about his long-lost brother. Virgil took his time and explained to her pretty much the same history he shared with me about Valentine Pell, but without the tidbits that describe the unfavorable character details.

“And he’s the bounty hunter that had captured Boston Bill Black,” she said. “And returned him here to Appaloosa?”

“Yep,” Virgil said. “’Fraid so.”

“Valentine Pell?” she said. “Well, isn’t that a pretty name? I can’t believe this. Your brother?”

“Half,” Virgil said. “Half-brother.”

“Half, yes,” she said. “Well, my lands.”

Virgil nodded and Allie looked at me and grinned.

“My God,” she said.

She shook her head in disbelief and looked to me as if I should say something.

“How about that?” I said.

“I had no idea,” she said.

She remained looking at me as if I needed to say something more.

“Tonight was the first time I ever heard of him, too, Allie,” I said.

“Goodness,” she said. “Well, I just can’t believe it.”

“Yep,” I said.

“You visited with him, Everett?” she said.

“I did, well, some, he did most of the talking... He likes to talk.”

“What did he talk about?”

“Oh,” I said, “this and that.”

“What’d you think about him?”

“Well, he’s, um... an interesting sort of fella.”

“He’ll be moving on soon,” Virgil said.

“Good Lord,” she said. “And what now? What will happen with Boston Bill Black?”

“He will be arraigned in front of Judge Callison,” Virgil said.

Allie’s eyes were wide. They had been wide, looking back and forth between Virgil and me, since Virgil first mentioned Valentine.

She put her napkin to her mouth with both hands and dabbed at any touches of pudding that may or may not have been on her lips as she stared at Virgil. She held the napkin there to her mouth for a moment, then, in a rather dramatic fashion, let her hands go limp and fall to each side of her plate, making the dishes rattle.

“I feel like I don’t even know you, Virgil,” she said.

“What?”

“I don’t.”

Virgil looked to me, then to Allie.

“What are you talking about, Allie?” he said.

“You have a brother?”

“That’s what I just said.”

“And I never knew.”

“We were never really that close, Allie.”

Allie started to frown, then abruptly turned sideways in her chair and stared at the floor.

“But I guess that stands to reason,” she said, shaking her head slightly, as if she were talking to the floor.

Virgil looked to me, then to Allie.

“What stands to reason?” he said.

“That I don’t feel like I know you,” she said. “Because you never feel it is necessary to share anything with me.”

“Not true, Allie,” he said.

“It is true, Virgil,” Allie said.

I thought about what Valentine had said earlier about truth being over appreciated.

“Not intentional,” Virgil said.

“Well, what is it, then, if it is not intentional?”

“Just not something I ever really felt like talking about.”

“Well, obviously,” she said.

“Hell, Allie, if it is any comfort to you, I was not sure Valentine was even still alive.”