Daniel glared at Manning. “Then how in blazes you figure on me identifying him?”
“He’s standing at the bar. Take a peek using your peripheral vision.”
Daniel sat, staring at him. “My what?”
“Look at him out of the corner of your eye.”
“Why didn’t you just say so?” Daniel shook his head. He sipped his beer and turned his head ever so slightly. He nearly choked on his drink. “It’s him all right. That fellow is Milton Brown.”
Manning leaned forward. “Wait until he takes a seat at a table. Then we’ll bide our time until he settles in and relaxes before we wander over and join him.”
“You decide on the timing, then let me know when to make a move.”
“Will do.” Sawyer smiled. “He sat down over by the piano with his back to us which is perfect. Let’s go.”
Daniel stood, his heart racing. He waited to follow Sawyer’s lead.
Like a jungle cat, Sawyer stealthily meandered through the tables scattered around the room. Daniel followed on his heels, holding his breath. Every nerve in his body stood alert; he hadn’t any idea what would happen when Brown spotted them. After the long day he’d had, he didn’t much relish the idea of a foot chase pursuing a fellow through the streets of Butte. But he’d do it if necessary.
Sawyer motioned for Daniel to approach the man from the opposite side as he moved to the man’s left. Daniel changed course and stepped up to Brown’s right.
“Good evening, Milton,” Sawyer greeted the man, settling onto the chair beside him. “We need to have a little chat.”
The blood drained from Milton’s face when he spotted the badge pinned to Sawyer’s vest.
“Hello, Milton. Long time no see,” Daniel added, thankful his deputy’s badge was in plain sight, pinned to his own vest.
Milton whipped around when he heard Daniel’s voice. His eyes widened when he spotted Daniel’s badge. The fellow’s head pivoted from one of them to the other. “What… what do you want… want with me?” he stammered.
Daniel seated himself on the chair to Milton’s right, hemming him in. Unless the man clambered over the table, he wouldn’t escape before they nabbed him, slapping on a pair of handcuffs for good measure.
“We’d like to ask you a few questions about the bank robbery in Milestone,” Sawyer stated the clarification for him. “After all, you were a witness to the entire thing.”
Milton nodded slowly. “It… it was a while ago. I… I’m not certain I remember much of what happened.”
The piano player began plunking out a loud rendition of a familiar favorite, drowning out Milton’s additional words.
“Let’s step outside where we can talk,” Sawyer suggested in a raised voice while he stood.
“Excellent idea.” Daniel rose and helped Milton out of his chair.
“I… I just bought this drink,” he argued.
Sawyer leaned closer. “And you’ll be back to finish your whiskey, Milton, if we like the answers to our questions.”
Milton looked from one lawman to the other. In a flash, his hand snagged the glass and he downed the drink in two gulps.
Daniel didn’t know if that meant Milton required the liquid fortification before the questioning or the fellow had weighed the economics of paying for a drink he might not be back to consume. Either way, an abandoned drink no longer remained an issue.
Sawyer and Daniel strode toward the local jailhouse a block away with the tall, gangly, slightly balding former bank clerk walking beside them. With his wire-rimmed spectacles sitting slightly askew on his hook nose, Milton gazed at his surroundings, his piercing black eyes as wary as a caged animal’s.
“Don’t even think about making a run for it,” Sawyer warned.
A dejected expression appeared on Milton’s face. “Where are you taking me?”
“To the jailhouse to ask a few questions.”
He heaved a sigh, relief apparent.
Sawyer cleared his throat. “Milton, we don’t intend to do you any harm. We’re interested in what happened during the robbery.”
Daniel noticed Sawyer hadn’t made mention of any suspicions that Milton might have been involved in the dirty deed. Wise to not play your hand too early. Listen to what the suspect had to say. Let the man hang himself with his own words without admitting to what you already know or suspect. Good strategy. He smiled; he’d been paying attention to Sawyer’s teachings.
Ten minutes later, the three of them were seated around a battered metal table in a meeting room, eyeing each other up. Whether consciously or not, Milton’s right foot bounced under the table, clearly an indication of his nervousness. But did agitation translate into guilt?
Sawyer leaned back in his chair. “So, Mr. Brown, what do you know about the Milestone First National Bank robbery?”
Chapter 9
Daniel sat waiting for Milton’s reply. Their suspect shifted in the chair, his gaze darting from one lawman to the other. “Scared the living daylights out of me. Never had a fellow pointing a gun at me like what happened to Sid.”
“Do you know who the men were that robbed the bank?” Daniel tapped the table with his fingers.
Milton swallowed visibly. “No. Why… why would I know who they were?”
“We know Sid talked to a couple of fellows outside the Copper Nugget the day before the robbery. You hear anything about that?” Sawyer’s right eyebrow rose.
“I don’t know anything about any meeting.” Milton didn’t look either of them in the eye.
Sawyer leaned forward. “I never indicated they were having a meeting. I said he talked to them,” he clarified, his voice cold and accusatory. “Could have been discussing the weather for all we know. Asking about the possibility of ranch work around Milestone. Why would you assume they were having a meeting?”
Daniel thanked the interrogation gods that he was on this side of the table. He wouldn’t want to be in Milton’s shoes about now. The tone to Sawyer’s voice even had him sweating a little. Could Daniel ever hope to master that voice? He hoped so, reckoning it would prove extremely effective.
“I… I figured you meant…” Milton shifted in his seat.
Sawyer leapt to his feet, placed his hands on the table, and leaned over Milton. Both Daniel and Milton startled. “I’ll ask you again. What do you know about the robbery?”
Milton gazed up and met the lawman’s eyes. “I…. I may have heard something…”
“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Sawyer tugged on his vest and took his seat again. He leaned back and crossed his arms. “It would be in your best interests to tell us everything you know.”
Milton glanced at Daniel.
“I’d start talking if I were you,” he suggested, pleased with the serious tone his voice projected. Especially considering Sawyer surprised the daylights out of him as well as Milton a moment ago when he suddenly leapt to his feet.
Milton closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at Sawyer. “Sid must have been planning it for some time. Then he schemed with two drifters at the Copper Nugget and convinced them to help him rob the bank. He wanted me involved in it also. I had no intention of taking a cent, but I pretended to go along with them. Frankly, I feared what Sid would do if I didn’t. The man possessed a very short fuse concerning his temper.”
Sawyer waved his hand. “So you’re claiming that Sid masterminded the entire plan?”
“I’m not claiming anything, I’m telling you... Sid planned it all. Then he arranged with the two drifters to rob the bank just before closing at the end of the day.”
“End of day? The bank was robbed a couple minutes before noon!” Daniel blurted.
“I know. They were supposed to rob the bank around four o’clock and then we’d meet up later to share the cash. They tricked Sid.” Milton removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “The customers had all left by ten minutes to twelve. Sid lumbered out to the front door to lock up and head home for the noon meal when the two
of them burst inside waving their guns at him.”
Sawyer looked skeptical. “At noon.”
“Yes. I nearly fainted when I spotted Sid held at gunpoint. So I slipped to the floor and hid under my desk.” Milton’s entire body visibly shook while he recalled the incident. “Whether the two of them saw me, I can’t be certain. Probably not, or they may have shot me also.”
“And Sid never mentioned you?”
“No. Sid displayed a bit of a temper. He clearly wasn’t pleased with them showing up early. Mostly, he argued with them, exchanging unpleasant accusations bordering on threats. Which may be the reason he was shot.”
“Who gave the robbers the money?” Daniel chimed in.
“Well, obviously, Sid did,” Milton replied indignantly and shook his head. “They ordered him to the teller cage and he opened the drawer and handed over all the money.”
“Then what happened.”
“There was a commotion outside on the street. I’m not certain what it was, but someone was shouting. Horses neighing. Maybe a mishap with a wagon. I don’t know.” Milton’s hand covered his mouth. “The older man panicked and pointed his gun at Sid. He accused him of something. My heart was beating so fast, I couldn’t hear exactly. I just hoped they would take the money and leave.”
“Then what happened?”
“Sid cussed them three ways from Sunday for robbing the bank at noon instead of following his instructions and doing it at closing time.” Milton replaced his glasses and met Sawyer’s eyes. “They got into a shouting match. The older robber told Sid he was closing now so what was the difference? Sid was madder than a hornet and called them idiots and a few other more colorful names. Whether the fellow intended to shoot Sid or not… I don’t know. I heard the gunshot and peeked out from behind my chair in time to watch Sid collapse onto the floor a few feet away. He was bleeding profusely from a chest wound. Lying so still. I heard the men walking through the bank and escaping out the back door.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I… I don’t recall what I did. If anything.” Milton glanced at Daniel. “I was so scared. Worried they’d remember there was supposed to be two of us. Worried they’d come back and shoot me.”
“Sounds like the robbers never realized you were even there,” Daniel speculated.
“Maybe not. I don’t know. I was just so frightened. I… I just stayed there. Hiding under the desk…”
“Until Sheriff Robertson arrived…” Sawyer left the comment hanging.
Milton nodded. “Yes. The sheriff charged in through the front door. Shouting something which I don’t recall. Perhaps he’d heard the gunshot and realized there’d been a robbery. But he was too late. They’d shot Sid and left with the money.”
“And then…”
“A few others had arrived and someone sent for Doc Bennett. Maybe they arrived first before the sheriff. I… I can’t recall. Deputy Snow tended to Sid in the meantime. He said something about pressure on the wound. Doc came finally, but Sid was dead.” Milton met Sawyer’s eyes. “There was no mention of any killing when Sid and I talked. If I’d known… If I’d even suspected for a minute…”
“Why did you disappear?”
“I remember Sid telling me where they were to meet up and split the money.” Milton straightened in the chair. “When the sheriff wasn’t looking, I slipped out of the bank and rode out to the point where we were to meet. I remained hidden, knowing I’d be a sitting duck if they weren’t inclined to share the spoils. Which I’m certain now they had no intention of ever doing. They never came.”
“Never even rode by?”
“No. They completely double-crossed Sid,” Milton whispered. “I wish now I’d spoken up. Told Sid I refused to be a part of it and he should back out, too.”
“Did you get a good look at the two men who robbed the bank?”
“Oh, yes. I saw them the moment they rushed into the bank. One older fellow, graying hair and probably in his fifties. The younger man… late twenties, maybe early thirties. Both were a bit shabby looking. Unshaven with stringy hair. Amateurs, I’d guess. Neither of them even bothered to wear a bandana to cover his face.” Milton shivered visibly. “Wouldn’t trust them for a moment. I hope I never see either of them again.”
“We’re leaving you here in a cell overnight.”
Milton’s face paled.
“Then we’re taking you with us back to Milestone tomorrow,” Sawyer continued. “We’ll have more questions for you. And we’d like Sheriff Robertson to speak with you also.”
Daniel watched Milton being taken back to a cell, and then he followed Sawyer outside. “Are we heading to the hotel?”
Sawyer nodded. “Might as well get a good night’s sleep and leave for Milestone at dawn.”
“I’ll walk with you and then return to the saloon for Honor and ride him over to a livery,” Daniel suggested.
“You looked done in the moment you entered the saloon. While you settled Brown into the meeting room, I arranged for one of the local lawmen to fetch your horse from the saloon. Hard to miss that handsome fellow of yours. Honor’s all settled in for the night at the livery a block from here.” Sawyer slapped Daniel on the back. “Had your saddlebag brought to the hotel and deposited in your room, too.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Daniel gaped, amazed at the other lawman’s thoughtfulness. Law enforcement folk looked out for each other. Someday he intended to return the favor.
They walked toward the Copper City Hotel in silence for a few minutes.
“You figure Brown’s telling the truth?” Daniel ventured, following at Manning’s side.
“Yep.”
“You reckon he was a part of it?”
“Yep.”
Daniel stopped in his tracks. “You do?”
“He knew about it. Never participated, but he’d learned that bank would be robbed.”
“And he never reported it to anyone. Never warned Sheriff Robertson,” Daniel summarized, hurrying to catch up.
“Could have prevented Sid’s killing, if the little mouse had been man enough to talk to one of the town’s lawmen.” Sawyer continued on toward the hotel.
“Milton’s not the bravest of men, but could he have foreseen what would happen?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“But he should have warned the sheriff, even if he wanted it to appear that he was going along with Sid and the others.”
“Exactly. He might as well have put that bullet in Sid himself.”
Daniel swallowed hard. The statement sounded a little harsh, but Sawyer was no doubt right. Milton had been apprised of the plan. He’d been the only one who could have avoided the killing had the law been warned and a trap been set to catch the robbers by surprise.
“Goodnight, Sawyer.” Daniel parted ways with his colleague outside his hotel room door.
“See you first thing in the morning.” Sawyer started down the hallway and then paused. “By the way, hear anything about those horse thieves?”
Daniel shook his head. “Talked to Adam before I left Milestone. Jim’s got nothing to report yet except he learned a couple of neighboring ranchers have horses missing also.”
“Dang it. Hope Jim gets a lead soon or those ranchers could have a lot of losses on their hands.” Sawyer headed down the hallway to his own room.
“Goodnight.” Daniel entered his room, undressed, and slipped into bed.
His thoughts continued to war in his mind. Milton claimed he feared punishment from his boss or possibly serious retaliation from the two robbers. Daniel doubted the little weasel had a single brave bone in his body.
What did surprise him was the fact Sid had been involved in the planning and the robbery clear up to his ears. But did Sid’s poor judgement constitute punishment by death? And he’d left his wife a widow and his daughter fatherless. Never turn your back on a man unless you trust him implicitly. How often had Daniel heard those words from his pa’s mouth? And considering his fath
er’s past, he would know. Too bad Sid hadn’t learned that lesson. Of course, living within the law would have helped also.
Daniel tossed and turned some more. Why would Sid risk a good job, the respect of the community, and his family and their wellbeing, for a possible big windfall by robbing his own bank? Wouldn’t he have figured the bank owners would suspect him? Especially if he disappeared afterward. Had he been in a financial bind? Daniel couldn’t imagine what might have caused Sid to resort to such drastic measures. His mind formulated more questions by the minute. So many questions. Milton had better provide some answers for them when they returned to Milestone.
Daniel lay on his back and stared into the darkness. Thoughts of Iris crossed his mind. What had she been doing in his absence? They hadn’t left on the best of terms after he’d learned about her childhood. He hadn’t expected to learn anything so troubling about her, but he didn’t blame her for a moment. What her father had done seemed beyond comprehension and completely unforgiveable.
With thoughts of Iris and what lay ahead for them in the future and the myriad amount of questions concerning the robbery taking turns ricocheting around his mind, no doubt the night would prove long and mostly sleepless.
Tomorrow he hoped he would find resolution for both issues.
Chapter 10
Back in Milestone late Thursday afternoon, Daniel observed Sheriff Robertson who sat in his wheeled leather chair, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at the former bank clerk who occupied the seat across the desk from him.
Daniel and Sawyer stood beside the woodstove, sipping the horrible concoction the sheriff considered coffee, while Milton related almost verbatim the story he’d told them in Butte. Tale complete, Milton pushed his glasses up on his nose and stared at the ceiling. Daniel awaited the sheriff’s response.
“You expect me to believe that bunch of poppycock you just spouted?” the sheriff demanded.
Daniel almost choked on his coffee.
Milton gaped, his face paling. “It’s… it’s the… the truth,” he spluttered.
The sheriff shook his head. “Convenient truth, I’d wager.”
A Reinvented Lady (Sons Of A Gun Book 2) Page 6
