Ed Gorman - Showdown

"They're not just confidence men any longer," Neville said. "They're murderers. They killed my sister."

"And so they did," Valdez said, once more affecting his pose of sorrow.

"They admitted it?" Prine said.

"Oh, yes. It took almost no persuasion at all and they admitted it. But they said it was an accident."

Prine said, "You don't cut somebody's throat by accident."

Valdez frowned. "Confidence men, murderers, and now bald-faced liars. They did not tell me that they'd cut her throat. I am most sorry, Señor Neville."

Neville said, "I want them turned over to us. Now. And no more bullshit."

Valdez looked hurt. He was a good actor. "Please, inasmuch as I represent the town of Picaro, please do not go around telling people that Marshal Valdez was anything less than cooperative. For that is all I care to be."

"You knew where those two were all along," Prine said. "If we hadn't found them ourselves, you wouldn't even have mentioned them."

Valdez took to clucking. "Now you accuse me, too? A fellow man of law and order?"

"We want them now," Prine said.

"And of course you shall have them."

"Now?" said Neville.

"Once you pay their bail."

"We don't have to bail them out," Prine said. "We're acting on behalf of Sheriff Daly."

"That is true, yes. But they must be bailed out first. That is how we do things here. Even lawman must put up the bail if they want the prisoners released to their custody."

Prine had the feeling that Valdez made this up as he went along.

Neville said, "Your blood money. Prine told me all about you and this so-called judge."

"He is a man of utmost honor and integrity, this honorable jurist. Say what you want about Marshal Valdez. But leave your gringo tongue off the judge."

Prine said, "How much is the bail?"

"Ten thousand dollars," Valdez said.

"A fucking shakedown," Neville said. He'd told Prine that he'd brought plenty of money along in case bribes were in order. But bribes this big he hadn't counted on.

"Such language is not tolerated within these walls. I myself attend mass every day. As does the entire Valdez family."

Prine said, "We don't have much choice."

"It's a shakedown," Neville said.

"That's true. But we're not going to get them otherwise."

"He can do this?"

"He can inside the town limits of Picaro."

"Isn't that always the way with partners?" Valdez said, his voice showing he was pleased now. He knew he was going to get his money. "One man is reasonable." He nodded to Prine. "And the other is always unreasonable." He nodded to Neville.

Prine said, "You're offering a twenty-five-thousand-dollar reward. This'll save you a lot of money. Plus which, we don't have a lot of choice in the matter."

"And we get them now?"

"Right now," Valdez said. "Five minutes at the most."

"You're as much of a crook as they are," Neville said.

"I just thank god you did not accuse me of being a murderer," Valdez said. "Now, if you will give me your bank draft, I will help you bring justice to these men."

"You're a thief," Neville said.

"This is simply the way we do business in Picaro. I do not make the laws here. I merely follow them. Now, why don't you take seats while I get the men for you?"

Chapter Sixteen

Greenbacks. Thousand-dollar denominations. A fat fistful. Greenbacks flicking one after the other as Neville counted them in the absence of the good Marshal Valdez.

"Shakedown," Neville said.

"What a shock. Valdez shaking people down."

"I thought crooked lawmen were pretty much out of the picture these days."

"I'd say Valdez here is an exception."

"Why the hell don't you do something?"

"Look, Neville. I know he's a pig and you know he's a pig. But the thing is to get the two men. We can worry about Valdez later."

Neville sighed. "I guess you're right. I'm doing this for Cassie."

Prine nodded. "That's the thing to remember."

Heavy footsteps in the hall outside Valdez's office made both Prine and Neville look up. And then they were there, preceding Valdez into the office.

Tolan and Rooney. You could see faint bruises on their faces from Valdez's interrogation. No look of remorse or fear in their eyes. Dirty, their clothes stained and soiled, their handcuffs heavy and cinched tight, they could have stood in for dozens and dozens of men Prine had arrested in his time.

"Gentlemen, I give you the men you have been searching for for such a long time," Valdez said grandly.

"About twenty-four hours, actually," Prine said.

"The men you intend to bring to justice," Valdez said. "The men who sinned so gravely against your sister, Mr. Neville."

"Does this asshole ever shut up?" Rooney said. Even in a suit that now resembled dirty rags, there was still the air of a sharper about him. The almost pretty face, the cunning eyes, the air of shabby sophistication."

Valdez slapped him hard across the mouth. Blood stained the end of Rooney's lips. "A man who goes to mass every day does not want to hear language like this. I have told you that many times, Mr. Rooney."

Valdez turned to Neville. "Here is my end of the bargain. I assume you have your ready for me."

Neville laid ten thousand dollars on the desk. Once this was done, and without warning, he walked over to Tolan and smashed him in the nose. Crack of blood; spray of blood. But he wasn't done. He struck Tolan so hard in the sternum that Tolan shot backward, tripping over a chair and falling in an ungainly pile on the floor.

"Hey, Mex," Rooney said to Valdez. "You can't let them do this to us."

But it was too late to stop Neville. He used the toe of his Texas boot on Rooney, and judging from the screams, he used it effectively. Rooney tried to clutch his crotch, but the handcuffs made it difficult. He went to the floor in three folds, the last one giving him the freedom to slam his forehead hard against the floor. He was out.

Neville was about to kick him in the head, but Prine yanked on his arm.

"You've had your fun for the day," Prine said. "They're under my jurisdiction now and we're taking them back in one piece."

Neville was not happy.

"She wasn't your sister, Prine."

Prine decided not to tell Neville what his sister really thought of him.

They rode till late in the afternoon, covering about half the trek back home. Valdez had horses saddled and ready for the prisoners.

Prine and Neville rode in the back. Tolan and Rooney said little. A few times they talked with each other. Prine told them to shut up.

Neville was sullen. He was now more like the man Prine had met at recital the other night. When he did speak, there was an impudence to his tone that Prine resented. Neville was apparently under the impression that Prine worked for him.

"I have to piss," Rooney said over his shoulder.

"We'll make camp pretty soon," Prine said.

"I can't hold it."

"Then wet yourself, you bastard," Neville said. His had flew to his gun, but Prine was ahead of him. His Colt was aimed directly at Neville.

"I thought we had an agreement, Neville."

"Not that I know of."

"Put that hand back on the saddle horn."

"I can't take being around these two. All I see is Cassie."

"Then maybe you should ride on ahead a ways so you don't have to see them."

Neville sulked, said nothing.

"You hear what I said, Neville?"

"I heard."

"Then do we have an agreement? We get these prisoners back to Sheriff Daly the same condition they're in now."

Neville wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a verbal agreement. He just nodded his head.

They rode on.

The last two hours of the day's ride went slowly. Prine was eager to be back in Claybank. The curiously silent prisoners were risky enough, even when they were handcuffed, but Neville was the most dangerous of all. His rage over the fate of his sister, however understandable, kept Prine tensed up.