by Joe Corso
“And did you find anything out about him, Jason?”
“No. I was stopped every step of the way. No one would tell me where they took him. I did hear that they moved him to a few different prisons before he completely disappeared. I’m a good investigator, Mr. Christo, but this was the first time I couldn’t get one bit of information from anyone, on someone I’m investigating.”
John turned to Lee. “Why don’t you tell Jason how you met John W. Hardin?”
“Well, you see, at the time I was an Arizona State prison guard so I guess the right place to start is when I was told I was being transferred to the Gila Bend Prison that the state was reopening. I never heard of a prison in the Gila Desert, and neither did any of the guys going out there with me. I thought they were kidding me when they told me about it but they weren’t; they were dead serious. There were eight of us assigned to that prison, and we were to work until twelve noon. We weren’t worried about anyone escaping because there was no place to escape to. There were the prison’s bars, and the walls, and then there was the desert. No man could have walked out of that prison because if they tried, they’d be dead men. It was the same with Yuma when they first opened it. You want to escape. Be my guest, go. The desert is waiting for you, with miles of nothing in front of you but sand.
“Anyway, we traveled deep into the desert, and I didn’t believe it at first, but finally there was the prison staring back at me - and believe me it was a really ugly-looking place. Most of it was buried under the sand to keep it cool. There were two floors above ground. The first level under ground held regular prisoners, but the next level was for the incorrigible prisoners, the troublemakers. Shortly after we got there, we were told to get a cell ready for a new prisoner. I found out that we already had one prisoner and he’d been there for quite a while. We were the relief team. The others couldn’t wait to get away from that place. Anyway, when the new prisoner arrived, I took him down to the second level. The boy looked scared. I put myself in his place, and I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. I wondered what this poor kid did to get himself put into this god-awful place. My Captain told me when I arrived there, not to become involved with the prisoners because they would just use you. Here was this kid asking me to find out about his mother. Now I ask you, how can that be using me, and it didn’t seem to me like he was taking advantage of me. He was worried about his mother, was all. I remember telling him that I wouldn’t put myself in a position where I could be fired over something he wanted me to do. But I told him if I had the chance, I would find out about his mother for him, but only if I could, mind you. That morning, I asked the Captain about the boy’s mother, and before the words left my lips, he fired me. I wanted to help that boy and I was fired for asking about her. Well, that’s my story. That’s how I met John W. Hardin. It’s too bad he was killed. I would have like to have met him under better circumstances.”
Jason chimed in. “That goes double for me. The way Mr. Hayes spoke of him, he must have been quite a guy.”
Lee looked at John. “How about you, Mr. Christo? Did you ever meet him?”
“Yes. Perhaps when I know you gentlemen better, I’ll tell you my history with John W. Hardin, kin to the famous shootist, John Wesley Hardin. Until then, I have to remain silent when it comes to that young man.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“What do you think of Jason, Lee?”
“He’s a damned good detective. He taught me a few things I never knew, but you have to understand that I wasn’t in the investigative end of security. I learned a few things from Sweeney, which will come in handy while working for you.”
“That’s good to hear,” John said. “Now have you discovered anything useful?”
“Well, we found out that Tom Jenkins is working with Rutgar Kleinst as his assistant and it’s no secret that Kleinst reports to McCormack. We discovered that everyone but the governor works out of that location. Now that we know that, what do you suggest for our next move?”
John smiled a mirthless smile and said, “Did you ever hunt turkey, Lee?”
Lee shook his head and said, “No, I never have.”
John smiled and said, “Well, when you hunt turkey and you come across a group of turkeys, they walk in a line. So, if you take your bead on the last one and pick him off, the first ones in front of him won’t know it. Then you pick off the last one in the line. When only the lead bird remains, you take him down because he has no idea the ones behind him are down. I suggest we go on a turkey hunt. The last turkey in the line is Tom Jenkins so we’ll take him first. Did you discover his weaknesses like I asked you to?
“Jenkins and Kleinst are small fry. I can destroy them quickly and be done with it. But I feel like the big tomcat that sees two mice, and he’s has to decide which one he’s going to play with before he eats him. No! We’ll play with Jenkins for a little while and then we’ll destroy him. Tell me about him, Lee.”
Flowers turned a page on his pad. “Here we are. He’s a nice-looking guy and he fancies himself as a ladies man. In fact, he’s known as ‘Fancy Tom Jenkins.’ He’s certain no woman can resist him. That’s why he had it so bad for Hayes’s daughter. She saw past his bullshit and she pegged him for what he was, a goddamned con man. Fancy Tom couldn’t believe that a woman could resist his charms and refuse him when he asked her out on a harmless date. This guy thinks he’s a modern day Casanova. His other glaring weakness is his love for the con.
“He loves putting together small scams, like fleecing a newly wedded couple or some old folks by taking their life savings from them. In his mind, he’s not destroying someone’s future or security. He sees it as another clever con he successfully pulled off. Usually he picks a city like Miami where there are a lot of rich widows and he’ll stay there until he completes a con. Then he’ll leave that state and go to a city in another state, like Phoenix, where there are a lot of retirees. He’ll set up another scam, and once he’s fleeced his mark, he’ll get out of Dodge to repeat the scam in city after city. After a year or two, he’ll return to a state he’s been to in the past where the heat’s simmered down. Then he’ll start all over again. He’s been a doctor, a lawyer, real estate agent, a priest, and he’s even been a rabbi a few times. He’ll be anybody and do anything to pull off a successful con.”
John W motioned with his hand for Lee to stop. He wanted to ask a question. “Is this guy Jenkins good at the con?”
“Good? I’ll tell you how good he is. He’s so good, he can con a mark into believing that the winter air in the tires need to be changed to summer air or they’ll fall off. Then he’ll convince the guy to pay him to change the air and after . . . thank him for the great job he’s done - that’s how good he is.”
John laughed and slapped his desk. “That good, eh.”
“Yep, he’s that good. He was making dough and doing all right, until he got a call out of the blue from his friend Rutgar, who he hadn’t seen or heard from in years. Rutgar asked him what he was doing and after listening to him talk for a while, he asked Jenkins if he’d like to change careers. He had a well-paying job with no risk and lots of reward for him if he was interested. Well, at the time, things were heating for Fancy Tom and he jumped at the offer to work for Kleinst. McCormack hired him on Kleinst’s recommendation. He’s been working for them ever since. McCormack likes the guy and he feels comfortable with him. They’re like two peas in a pod, except that one’s a bigger con man than the other. McCormack was the one paying Jenkins when he ruined Hayes’s real estate business. He was even subsidizing the other sales people in Hayes’s office to make sure they didn’t quit before Hayes’s business was destroyed and he was deep in debt. Jenkins was supposed to take over Hayes’s business; that was the deal McCormack made with him. Jack didn’t care about the real estate business but once he realized that every once in a while a valuable property turned up, like the Hardin mine, where he could make a bushel full of money, that’s when he decided it might pay to keep that business open.”<
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John W digested what Lee just told him. “Hmm this is interesting. I think the best approach is to put out some bait and let Jenkins find it. We’ll make the bait juicy enough so that he’ll have to bring it to Kleinst. There’s a chain of command and he wouldn’t bypass Kleinst and go directly to McCormack. No, he’ll bring the bait to Kleinst and Kleinst will take it to McCormack. I would prefer going to a turkey shoot with Jenkins as my first kill, but if we get one of the other guys first, I’ll take it.”
“I still like the turkey shoot idea,” Lee said.
John W continued brainstorming. “But what if we combined the two ideas. We can set the bait and have Jenkins find it. Once he takes it to Kleinst, then we can take him down because he’ll be of no further use to us. Then we can go after McCormack, who won’t have the men he trusts around to protect him.”
“What do you think, Lee?”
“I agree. It’s simpler and once Jenkins does his job, then we’ll take care of him and that will be one less man to worry about.”
“Okay, that’s what we’ll do then. Now we have to figure a way to set the bait for Jenkins to take.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Persistent. It’s John. How are you?”
“Doing great, young fella. The question is, how are you doing? The last time we were together, you said you had some unfinished business to take care of. Did you get to finish it?”
“No. That’s why I’m calling. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Son, I have all the time in the world. I can’t wait for you to finish your business, so you can come out here for a proper visit. Then we can relax, have a few drinks, smoke a cigar or two, and enjoy the desert air. How’s that sound?”
John laughed. “I’d like that, but first I have the little matter of that unfinished business to attend to. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I need you to do something very important for me, and I can’t trust anyone else but you to do it.”
Persistent’s face lit up like a street lamp. “You know I’d do anything for you, son. Just ask, and consider it done.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Tarnation’s, son. What gave you the idea I’d say anything different? Now tell me what you want me to do, because the suspense is driving me mad.”
“I need you to make another trip into the desert. Are you up for that?”
Persistent smiled like he was the Joker in a Batman movie. He clapped his hands and he shuffled his feet. He put the phone back to his ear, still grinning, and said, “It’s like you read my mind, son, ‘cause I was just lookin’ for a reason to go back into the desert again. I been itching to do it, but now that we struck it rich I had no reason to.”
“I need you to go back to the Four Peaks Gold Mine again, Persistent. Do you think you could find it without me?” John said it jokingly, though Persistent thought he was serious.
“Sure. How could I forget after all the trips I made there taking gold out of those mountains? But why do you want me to go back? We’ve left nothing but rock there.”
“I need you to salt the Four Peaks Mine. It’s got to look real or my plan won’t work. There can’t be a hint of a lie when I bring a certain party there to see the mine. He has to believe there’s plenty of gold in that mine. If you can do it, then let me know how much gold dust or nuggets you need and I’ll see that you get it. If you say you can’t do it, then I’ll scrap the plan and find another way of getting those rats. But you’re the expert, you have to tell me If you can or can’t do it, because I don’t have a clue how to salt a mine. So the big question is - can you do it? Can you make that mine look as if it still has plenty of gold in it?”
Persistent chuckled. “Heh - heh. Son, I haven’t spent the last forty years of my life digging for gold without learning a few tricks. ‘Cause when I’m done with that mine, you’ll think you were in King Solomon’s mine, that’s how rich it’ll look. I’ll get Daisy Mae out of her stable and get Conchita, my new burro, and I’ll put them to work.”
“Persistent, don’t spend your money on the gold, I’ll finance this little adventure of ours, and maybe I’ll send one of my men out to help you.”
“What, you’re thinkin’ of sending me a tenderfoot? Why, hell, he’d only slow me down. No, I’ll handle this on my own. Just Conchita, Daisy Mae, and me. As for you financing me, why, tarnation, son, I have so much money now, I don’t know how I’m ever going to spend it all. And believe me, I’m trying real hard to do just that.” Then, as if he were imparting a great secret, Persistent said in a low voice, “You know, John. I think I liked it better when I was broke. All this money takes away a man’s initiative, gives him no incentive to work.”
John hadn’t expected that and he burst out laughing. “That’s why I love you, Persistent. You’re not at all predictable. In fact, I should call you ‘Predictable’ instead of ‘Persistent.’ I have to get off the phone now. Call me when you’ve completed the job. Take care of yourself, Persistent, and thanks.” He hung up the phone, shaking his head and laughing. “Takin’ away a man’s initiative.” He laughed again, but this time harder. He laughed until his sides hurt, but it felt so good.
One month later, Persistent called him. “It’s all done, John, and I have to tell ya, it was enjoyable being out alone in the desert again. As for the mine, I did such a mighty good job of salting it, even you would think there was gold in that mine. Tell whoever it is that you want to impress to bring along some high priced assayers, and a few mining engineers, cause they’re gonna think they hit the mother lode.”
“Good work, Persistent. I’ll get to work on my end now. I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Good. Now don’t be a stranger. You hear?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t. Take care, Persistent, I’ll talk to you soon, because I’m going to need you again.” John hung up the phone and said to Lee. “Now you’re gonna do your part.”
“What do you have in mind, Mr. Christo?” John reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took out the map, which was on a small piece of bleached animal skin and handed it to Lee. “Lee, since you have the file on Fancy Tom Jenkins, you must know where his favorite watering hole is.”
“Yeah, I do. It’s a small bar in Phoenix called ‘The Dew Drop Inn.’ What do you want me to do?”
“Fly out to Phoenix and make The Dew Drop Inn your home. Stay there until you make friends with Fancy Tom and somehow get him to trust you. When the two of you are having drinks and telling each other sad stories, mention to him that you have a problem, and that you don’t know how to handle it. He may not fall for the bait at first, but if you act sincere, he’ll go for it. Especially if you mention this problem could make you rich. Don’t you worry. He’s a con man and when you mention the word ‘rich,’ he’ll bite. There’s no one easier to con, than a con man.”
“When do you want me to leave?”
John handed Lee an envelope with his flight information. “You’re leaving tomorrow morning on a Delta flight to Phoenix, so wear regular clothing, You know, dungarees, a western shirt, a cowboy hat, and some cowboy boots. Tell him the truth. You were a guard in the old Gila Bend prison and you were fired because you asked about a prisoner’s mother. That should get Jenkins’s attention, ‘cause he’ll know it’s true. After he’s hooked, tell him there was second prisoner with a failing heart and before he died, he gave you an envelope to give to his nephew. That happened shortly before you were fired. When you gave his nephew the envelope, he asked you if you knew your way around the desert and you told him you did. Then tell Jenkins how he opened the envelope and took out a map and handed it to you to look at. Then to impress him, show him your Rolex, and say that the old man’s nephew gave it to you just for bringing him the envelope. Now you’re in a position where you can have the treasure, but you have no idea how to get the gold out of the mountains. You could even mention that the guy told you the map was supposed to be the location of the lost Fou
r Peaks Gold Mine. If that doesn’t get their attention, then nothing will. My guess is Jenkins will check out your story. When he finds out you really were a guard at the prison, and were fired for the reason you told him, he’ll take you to see Kleinst. Kleinst will ask you some questions and when he’s satisfied your story is true, he’ll take you to McCormack and that son of a bitch will sweet talk you, and try to seduce you, by promising that with him involved, you’ll make a ton of money, which of course you’d never see. When they’re completely hooked, give them my telephone number. Tell them you have a prospector who knows the desert and these mountains like the palm of his hand. And, Lee, that would be no lie. The man does know the desert and the mountains like no one you’ll ever know. Tell McCormack that I grubstaked Dutch Henry, and became concerned when I hadn’t heard from him. Remember, you don’t know anything about mining and you have to find a company to help you take the gold out of the mine. Mention that your prospector knows the desert and he can lead you to the gold. Now all you need is the right mining company.”
Lee flew to Phoenix and made the Dew Drop Inn his home. He spotted Fancy Tom saunter into the bar a number of times, but the timing wasn’t right to approach him. This time, Fancy Tom took a seat at the end of the bar, and Lee knew this was his opportunity so he took advantage of it. He walked to the bar and seated himself beside Jenkins. He started a conversation with the barmaid, a lovely young lady with a beautiful smile who was not yet jaded by years of listening to bullshit artists, and scammers. As she walked away to get his drink, Lee casually leaned his head in Jenkins’s direction as men sometimes do, while he watched her shapely derrière sway like a pendulum.
Lee said to Jenkins without looking at him, “She’s some looker ain’t she?”
Tom, who always admired a good looking woman, agreed, “She sure is, partner.” The two men talked for a while until the waitress came with Lee’s drink.
