They rode directly to the sheriff’s office, dismounted and went inside. To their relief, Dan Shaye was seated at his desk.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to come back,” Shaye said, smiling at his two boys. “Where’d you go, all the way to Mexico?”
“Well,” James said, “yeah.”
“We had to, Pa,” Thomas said. “That’s where the Flemings were, and we couldn’t let them get away.”
“So you got ’em?” Shaye asked. “They’re outside?”
“Not exactly,” James said.
“Then what, exactly?”
“Red’s dead,” James said. “Thomas had to kill him in a fair fight.”
“And?”
“Harry’s in a Mexican prison, by now,” Thomas said. “With the rest of the Fleming gang.”
“How did that work out?”
Thomas and James sat and told the story, taking turns with aspects of it.
“So Candy’s dead, Red’s dead, Harry’s locked away, and so are those other men who didn’t have anythin’ to do with what happened here.”
“Right,” James said.
“But they were tryin’ to kill us.”
“But Capitan Salazar stopped them.”
“Pretty much,” James said.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Thomas said. “How’d you know about Capitan Salazar?”
Shaye grinned. “He sent me a telegram askin’ if my two sons were dumb enough to ride into Mexico with no authority. I told him they sure were, and that I’d consider it a personal favor if he’d escort you boys to the border safely.”
“So that’s why we’re not also in a Mexican prison,” James said.
“Yep,” Shaye said, “that’s why.”
“Well . . . thanks, Pa,” Thomas said.
“You’re welcome, boys, and welcome home.”
“So what’s been goin’ on since we left?” Thomas asked. “Did Cole Doucette ever show up.”
“Oh yeah,” Shaye said, “he’s in a cell, been there for the better part of a week.”
“What?” Thomas said. He and James got up and took a look into the cell block. They saw a single man in a cell, who looked somewhat the worse for wear.
“What happened to him?” James asked
“He had a disagreement with some of his men he was sharing a cell with.”
“A disagreement?”
“They beat his ass!” Shaye said.
He explained how he’d come to have most of Doucette’s men in jail, and how Doucette had made no attempt to get them out. He told them about Doucette’s secret weapon, Vin Packer.
“So where are the other men?” Thomas asked.
“Well, they didn’t really do anythin’,” Shaye said, “so I fined them and sent them on their way. They were all so mad at Doucette, they just rode out of town.”
“But why is he still here?” Thomas asked. “Didn’t you take him before Judge Fairly?”
“I was going to,” Shaye said, “until the judge turned up dead.”
“What?” James asked.
“Somebody shot him on the street one night.”
“Doucette’s men?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t think so,” Shaye said. “Doucette claims he still has an ace up his sleeve, but I ain’t seen it.”
“So now you’re waitin’ for another judge?” James asked.
“Exactly.”
“And how did Doucette react to that?”
“He’s still a little sore,” Shaye said, “but he’s also too damn cocky for my taste. I’m sure he had the judge killed, and the mayor may be next.”
“Or you,” James said.
“Or me,” Shaye agreed. “He may figure if he has all three of us taken care of, he’ll go scot free.”
“Well,” Thomas said, “he’d have to take care of us, too.”
“I’ll make sure he knows that,” Shaye said. “Meanwhile, why don’t you boys go on home, get cleaned up and then come back, and I’ll buy you the biggest damn steaks you ever saw.”
“That sounds good to me,” James said. “I’ve had enough beans and enchiladas to last me a lifetime.”
Both boys stood up, left the office and headed back home to the house they shared with their father.
The three Shayes were in the Rawhide Steak House. Thomas and James enjoyed the steaks their father had promised them. They each told him a little more about what had happened, both before they’d met up and after.
“You got shot?” Shaye asked Thomas. “Why didn’t you start off with that? You seen a doctor?”
“Yes,” Thomas said. “I’m stitched up good and proper.”
“Well, maybe you should see Doc Stone anyway.”
“Tomorrow,” Thomas said.
“So people are stayin’ off the street since the judge got killed?” James asked.
“That’s right,” Shaye said. “Nobody wants to get shot.”
“And what’s this ace Doucette keeps talkin’ about?” James asked.
“I think if we find the ace, we find the killer,” Shaye said.
At that moment the door to the restaurant opened and a well-dressed man stepped in.
“Speakin’ of killers . . .” Shaye said.
“Who’s that, Pa?” James asked.
“That’s Tate Kingdom.”
“Kingdom?” Thomas asked. “When did he get to town?”
“He’s been here a while. Actually backed a play or two of mine. I thought he’d leave town after I locked up Doucette, but he hasn’t. He spends his days playing low-stakes poker in the Renegade.”
“You mean he ain’t killed anybody?” James asked.
Before Shaye could answer, Kingdom walked over to their table.
“These must be your sons,” he said.
“That’s right, Kingdom. They got back a little while ago.”
“That’s good,” Kingdom said. “You got your deputies back. You won’t be needing me anymore.”
“No, he won’t,” James said.
“But we appreciate the help you gave him while we were gone,” Thomas added.
“You boys mind if I join you?” Kingdom asked, then sat before anyone answered.
“What’s on your mind, Kingdom?” Shaye asked. “Why are you still in town?”
“Well, to tell you the truth, Sheriff,” Kingdom said, “I’ve still got a little job to do.”
“A job?”
“That’s right.”
“I thought you were just passin’ through?”
“Well, that was a little lie.”
“Really?” Shaye asked. “Anythin’ else you might have lied about?”
Kingdom reached into his pocket and tossed something into the center of the table. The Shayes saw that it was an Ace of Spades.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” James asked.
“It’s the ace, James,” Thomas said.
“Huh?”
“So you’re Doucette’s ace,” Shaye said.
“That’s right.”
“Been workin’ for him the whole time?”
“The whole time.”
“And Vin Packer wasn’t his surprise.”
“That boy?” Kingdom said. “I knew you’d kill him, Dan.”
“So why did you wait so long to come forward?”
“Actually,” Kingdom said, “I’m moving up my timetable because your boys got back.”
“You killed the judge,” Shaye said, “then you were gonna kill the mayor, and then me.”
“Well,” Kingdom said, “I’m not going to admit to killing the judge. That’d be stupid. You’d arrest me.”
“What makes you think I won’t arrest you, anyway?”
“I haven’t done anything—anything you can prove, that is. And you don’t have your judge to back any trumped-up charges.”
“So what’s next?” Shaye asked.
“You and me, Dan,” Kingdom said, “out on the street.”
“You know,” Shaye said, “I could a
rrest you right here and now.”
Kingdom shook his head. “That’d get messy. Too many people in here, even though it’s not fully supper time. Out on the street it’ll just be you and me.”
“You’ll kill me easy,” Shaye said.
“Probably.”
“It’d be stupid of me to agree.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Kingdom said.
“Yes,” Thomas said, “he does.”
Kingdom looked at Thomas. “You?”
“Me.”
“Stand up for your father, huh?”
“My father, the badge, the town . . . take your pick.”
“You know that after I kill you, I’d kill him, anyway.”
“And you’d have to kill me,” James said.
Kingdom looked at James. “That would make me sad.”
“But first,” Shaye said, “you have to get past Thomas.”
“So you’d have your son fight your battle for you?”
“You know,” Shaye said, “a man just told me recently that you’ve got to know your limitations.”
“I guess he was right,” Kingdom said. He looked at Thomas. “Let’s walk out together, son. I don’t want to step outside and then have the three of you come out after me.”
“Suits me,” Thomas said. He looked at his father. “Order me dessert. Apple pie.”
Shaye nodded, watched Kingdom and Thomas walk out the door together. The people at the other tables quickly got up and ran to the windows.
“Pa—”
“Stay where you are, James.”
“But Pa—”
“We’ve got to order Thomas his pie. You want any?”
“Pa, what if he don’t—”
“I’m havin’ peach.”
He waved a waiter over. The man reluctantly detached himself from a window.
“Two pieces of apple pie, and one peach.”
“Uh, yessir. Right away.”
As the waiter walked back to the kitchen there were two shots from outside. He hunched his shoulders and kept going.
“Pa—” James said.
He was interrupted when the door opened and Thomas walked in.
“Pa,” James said, “I’d rather have rhubarb.”
“You and your mother,” Shaye said, shaking his head, “never understood how you could eat that.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The first 3 Sons of Daniel Shaye books—Leaving Epitaph, Vengeance Creek and Pearl River Junction—were published by Harper Collins in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Robert J. Randisi is the creator and author of the long running Gunsmith Western series as “J.R. Roberts,” as well as the upcoming series, Lady Gunsmith.
He is the author of the “Miles Jacoby,” “Nick Delvecchio,” “Gil & Claire Hunt,” “Dennis McQueen,” “Joe Keough,” and “The Rat Pack” mystery series. The Honky Tonk Big Hoss Boogie (Perfect Crime Books), the first book in the Auggie Velez Nashville P.I. series, appeared in 2013. The second book, The Last Sweet Song Of Hammer Dylan, will appear during 2017.
His recent novel, Mckenna’s House (Crossroad Press), has been called his best book yet by several reviewers. His “House-sitting Detective” series appeared from Dagger Books in 2015, with the first book, Dry Stone Walls.
The 10th book in his Rat Pack series, When Somebody Kills You, was published in Sept. 2015 by Severn House. The 11th book, I Only Have Lies For You, will appear in 2017.
He is the editor of over 30 anthologies. All told he has had more than 650 books published.
He is the founder of the Private Eye Writers of America, and the creator of the Shamus Award. He is also the co-founder of Mystery Scene Magazine and the American Crime Writers League with Ed Gorman, and one of the founders of Western Fictioneers and the Peacemaker Award. In addition, he was the editor of PWA’s How To Write A P.I. Novel for Writer’s Digest.
The employees of Five Star Publishing hope you have enjoyed this book.
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