Robert Randisi - Bullets & Lies

“Somebody could’ve come up with the same plan,” Dexter pointed out, “only they could’ve gone to Helena and started there.”

“That’s true,” Roper said. “I was expecting Sally to get here today as well. If he and Dave Hampstead do get here, it’ll be after dark.”

“Maybe they’ll camp not far from here and come in by mornin’,” Wilkins said.

“Could be. Lieutenant, sit by the fire and have some coffee. I think we have enough bacon and beans for everyone.”

Prince approached the fire, and the other men made room for him. Roper jerked his head at Dexter, and they walked a little ways off.

“I want you to ride down west of town and wait for Sally,” he said. “If he’s close enough to town, he’ll keep riding through the dark ’til he gets here.”

“That’s what I figured,” Dexter said. “Only why are we waitin’ up here and not in town?”

Roper explained the situation, and Dexter ended up laughing.

“You got run out of town?”

“I did. I don’t think it’s so funny.”

“Well, I do and so will Sally.”

“Never mind,” Roper said.

“How about if I go down to town and wait?” Dexter suggested. “Nobody there knows me.”

“So many strangers in town too close together will be suspicious,” Roper said. “If you ride in, then Sally and Hampstead ride in…no.” He shook his head. “I’ve probably already attracted too much attention as it is. Let’s do it my way.”

“Hey,” Dexter said, “you’re the boss.”

Dexter walked to his horse and mounted up as Roper walked to the fire.

“Where’s he goin’?” Wilkins asked.

“He’s going to wait for Bando and Hampstead outside of town,” Roper said. “I don’t want them riding in if they don’t have to.”

“Too much attention,” Prince said.

“That’s right.”

“You might already have that problem,” Prince said.

“What do you mean?”

“I stopped in a town earlier today, one that Dexter and Mr. Templeton bypassed.”

“And?”

“The word is out that you gunned down three men in the street in Gilette.”

“Already?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Damn it,” Roper said. “The killer is sure to hear that, or see it in a newspaper.”

“It’ll take him days to get here,” Prince said.

“Depending on where he is when he sees it,” Roper said. “We’re going to have to leave here tomorrow.”

“And go where?” Prince asked.

“Well,” Roper said, looking around the fire, “after Sally Bando gets here with Hampstead and we talk about it, I think I’d like us all to go to Hurricane, West Virginia.”

“And what’s there?” Zack Templeton asked.

“Hopefully,” Roper said, “answers.”

54

Roper split the watch with Prince. He left Wilkins and Templeton to sit off by themselves and discuss the situation.

“How much do you know?” he asked Prince. They were sitting at the fire before Prince turned in and Roper went on watch.

“About what?”

“About what’s going on,” Roper said. “About why I was sent out here. About whatever Victoria Westover and your boss are keeping from me.”

“Actually,” Prince said, “I don’t know anything. I was just told to find you and help you.”

“White told you this?”

Prince nodded. “He’s my boss.”

“Why did Donny think you’d be able to help me?” Roper asked.

“Donny?” Prince asked with a laugh.

“We go back a long way.”

“I’ve never heard anybody call him Donny.”

“Let’s get back to my question.”

“Yes, well, I’m quite a good shot, very good with my hands—”

“A good tracker?”

“Fair,” Prince said. “I have to admit that’s not my strong suit, but if it comes to a fight, I’ll be very helpful.”

“Oh, it’s going to come to a fight, all right,” Roper said. “Somebody wants those three men dead.”

“Who?”

“I’m not sure,” Roper said, “but it might even be my own client, who sent me out to find them. If that’s the case, I’m not going to be very happy. I don’t like being used as a bird dog—especially without me knowing it.”

“If someone wants them dead so bad,” Prince asked, “why aren’t they?”

“I don’t know,” Roper said. “I don’t understand why three different killers weren’t sent to kill each of them. Why was it done this way?”

“I can’t help you, sir,” Prince said.

“Well, somebody’s got the answers,” Roper said, “either in West Virginia or Washington.” He shook his head. “This will teach me not to be soft.”

“Soft?”

“A wounded war hero, an attractive wife, and I agree to go running around the country for weeks at a time. What was I thinking?”

At that moment they heard horses approaching, and then Dexter rode into camp, followed by Sally Bando and Dave Hampstead.

“Sally’s here!” Bando shouted, announcing himself.

He dropped off his horse and shook hands with Roper.

“Good to see you, Sally.”

“I got your man here, safe and sound.”

“Anybody follow you?” Roper asked.

“Not that we saw,” Bando said.

A man would have to be pretty damn good to follow Bando without him knowing it.

“Why? Somebody followed Dexter?”

“But I knew about it,” Dexter said quickly.

Hampstead was shaking hands with Wilkins and Templeton, then came over and asked, “Are you Roper?”

“I am,” Roper said.

“Do we get to find out what the hell’s going on now?” Hampstead said.

“You do,” Roper said. “Let’s have some coffee and I’ll explain.”

“Got any food?” Bando asked.

“I think we’ve got some beans left in the pot,” Prince said.

“Who’re you?” Bando asked.

“If everyone will gather around the fire,” Roper called, “I’ll make the last of the introductions and then explain.”

As he made his explanations, the lights in the town below winked out a few at a time. When he was finished, the town was dark.

“Westover, huh?” Hampstead asked.

“Yes,” Roper said.

“Well,” Templeton said, “I’m not signin’ nothin’. Not for Westover.”

“Zack!” Hampstead said.

Roper looked from Templeton to Hampstead to Wilkins and asked, “What did I miss?”

Nobody answered.

“Okay, look,” Roper said, “I’m tired of being in the dark. I want some answers.”

The three men stared at him.

55

“Are you sure this is the way to play it?” Edward Harwick asked.

“Look, Mr. Lawyer,” Kilkenny said. “You hired me to do this job, so you’re gonna have to relax and let me do it my way.”

“I can let you do it,” Harwick said, “but relaxing won’t be part of the deal.”

“This is a good steak,” Kilkenny said. “You got some fine restaurants in this town.”

They were sitting across from each other in a Hurricane, West Virginia, steak house. When Harwick got the message that Kilkenny was in town, he was surprised. He met the hired killer at his hotel, and Kilkenny explained himself in part. Now, over steaks, he made his position clear.

“Once I heard Roper was in Gilette, Wyoming, and I realized Gilette was between Helena and Pierre, I knew what he was doing.”

“What’s that?” Harwick asked.

“Gathering the rest of the men on the list,” Kilkenny responded.

“How do you know?”

“Because that’s what I’d do,” Kilkenny said. “Roper is supposed to be good.”

“But what makes you think he’ll bring them here?” Harwick asked.

“What else would he do with them?” Kilkenny asked. “Roper’s gonna want some answers, and he’s gonna want them from you, or from Mrs. Westover. For that he has to come here. And he’ll bring them with him to keep them safe. Only, me and my men will be waiting for them.”