The Heart of Mary: A Thorn Novel

by Brandy Golden

  "I've been thinking about that," drawled Thorn slowly. "You remember how Nelson said the ruby was cursed? And that it left a trail of bodies everywhere, including his father?"

  "Yeah, so?"

  "I'm thinking maybe someone is close enough to the Diocese to know what's going on with the investigation, and that's why they are a step ahead all the time. They already know where things are headed."

  "Like how?" Boxcar looked puzzled. "Give me an example."

  "Take Nelson, for instance. I was suspicious of him at first, still am a little bit. And what if all his protests about investigating the ruby are hogwash? What if he really wants the ruby but doesn't want anyone to know he wants it? And when he finds out a new clue has arisen, he takes the information and kills the source."

  "Or he watches the investigator and takes any clues he finds and then kills him to keep it from getting back to the Diocese."

  Thorn nodded. "Yeah—something like that. I'm sure in the killer's mind, there is a reason for every kill or not to kill. Just like he didn't kill Fife today. He didn't deem her enough of a threat and so he took a calculated risk and left her alive, instead of tying up a loose end."

  "Or because he isn't finished with her yet and didn't figure you would find out his association with her," pointed out Boxcar.

  Thorn lit up a cigarette and took a long drag, thinking out loud. "Well, we know Nelson can't be in two places at once, so either it isn't him, or it's someone working for him."

  Boxcar snorted. "There is a fallacy in your Nelson theory. He would have had to kill his own father. Besides, Abednego vouches for him."

  Thorns ear perked up. "Abednego?"

  "Yeah, didn't you know Holden's first name is Abednego?" Boxcar grinned broadly.

  "A name like Boxcar and you make fun of Abednego?" He shook his head, a derisive smile playing on his lips.

  "You're the one who stuck me with that name," protested Boxcar. "All because my coat sleeve got hooked by a railroad boxcar when we were playing hobo."

  Thorn chuckled. "Yeah—it was good, wasn't it?"

  Boxcar snorted, but his eyes were twinkling. "At least, the ladies like it. You did me a favor there."

  Thorn shifted his weight on the bed, making himself more comfortable. "So let's get back to this psychopath."

  "What makes you think he's a psychopath?"

  "A trail of bodies is a good clue."

  Boxcar sat near the door where he could hear the slightest sound of anyone approaching. "I'll do the questioning."

  "Why you? I usually do the questioning," replied Thorn.

  "Because your mind is more like a psychopath's than mine, therefore you have a better chance of coming up with a better theory than mine," drawled Boxcar.

  Thorn glared at him. "Fine, you set it up then."

  Boxcar steepled his fingers together. "Let's start with what we know. For some unknown reason, the Diocese has opened the investigation into the missing ruby, once again. You want the ruby, and you know something has happened to initiate the Diocese to send a man to El Paso. We're going to say you don't know what the clue is that he is following so you go to the investigator in the hotel, steal all his information and then leave him for dead."

  Thorn grimaced and nodded his head. "Go on."

  "So you see something in the papers that lead you to believe that Maria Vargis and maybe even her daughter, Mary, are the clue. And it's enough of a clue to include a reason to break into Doc's office and mess it up, looking for something that we don't know if you even found. You also infiltrate The Tarnished Rose. A girl like Fife is an easy target. Not too bright, but beautiful and you pay her to start spying for you. Who knows what promises you make at this point, but she starts spying on Maria and Frank for you. Maybe you even talk to Frank a few times and ask a few questions, pretend to like him, whatever it might be.

  But then, suddenly, Frank messes up your plans by beating Maria unconscious and Mary runs. So you and a couple of your boys, the two dead men in Potluck, take off after her, figuring with Maria dead or near dead, you don't want to lose track of the girl because she is now your only clue."

  "What makes you think I go with my boys?" asked Thorn, listening intently.

  Boxcar leaned forward, his eyes cunning and sly. "Because, even after your two henchmen are dead, Clary's place is broken into. So either there is another person in Potluck spying and watching for Mary to appear, or you are there yourself until you figure out we took Mary and left. Then you high tail it back here."

  "Okay, go on," drawled Thorn beginning to enjoy himself as he put himself in the role of psychopathic killer. He even felt an inkling of hope that Clary might not be in danger any longer.

  "You're very sure of yourself; you clean up any clues left behind and tie up loose ends as you go. Only a man personally involved in the action could be so precise and complete. And chances are, you barely get into El Paso behind us. You probably ride all night, once you realize that the girl isn't at Clary's and you've been duped."

  "And how do I figure this out?"

  "Because you are watching. You see the fool you hired to go after Clary get shot, and you think that's one less loose end to tie up. However, Clary goes to Tilly's, and there is no girl to go with her. The apartment is already broken into, so you do a quick run through while Clary is being escorted to Tilly's, and then you head, hell bent for leather, to El Paso."

  Thorn nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, it could have happened like that."

  "Once you get here, you wait until Frank is arrested and everyone leaves The Tarnished Rose and you take your opportunity to visit with Fife once again. She tells you that Maria told you and Mary something right before she died. You give Fife her payoff and you make your way over to the jail and finish Frank off because he saw your two henchmen and, with a little prodding, he might even remember you. And knowing your boots are a very descriptive piece of clothing to be remembered, by either Fife or the boy, you put them on Frank and take his plain black boots. Now, the question is…what is your next move? Why are you seen leaving town? Are you really leaving town or is that just a ruse to get us to let our guard down so you can take a chance at grabbing Mary?"

  "It sounds like you've got it all down pat, why don't you just finish it?" Thorn prodded.

  "Because you're the psychopath so you have to think like him," said Boxcar with a grin.

  The look Boxcar often said was his thinking look came over Thorn's face as the cigarette smoke spiraled above his head. He took a deep drag and tried to put himself in the position of the man who wanted that ruby and who would easily kill anyone who stood in his way.

  "Mary is too well guarded right now," he began slowly. "Not only that, but if I knew enough to know where the ruby is, I wouldn't need Mary at all. What the investigator had wasn't enough. It simply pointed me in Maria and Mary's direction, but nothing concrete to go on. I know that Maria has a daughter and have come to the conclusion, from facts I already know, that Mary must be Father Benedict's child. That damned Ventermin killed Maria and, now, I'm forced to rely on Mary, who may or may not know anything about it."

  "What about Frank?" interjected Boxcar. "Would he know anything?"

  "No, he's too greedy. If he knew anything, he would have already taken the ruby from Maria and sold it. No, Frank is the stupid bastard who killed my first real lead, he deserved to die for that." Thorn put the cigarette out and stared at the ceiling. "But what if Mary doesn't know where the ruby is, either?" He went on speaking as if he were the killer. "That Thorn and Boxcar are investigators, and they're smart."

  "Why, thank you, old buddy, that's the nicest thing you've said to me today," said Boxcar with a joking grin.

  "Shut up, I'm thinking."

  "Sorry, keep thinking.'"

  "So these government fellas are paid to investigate stuff. How about I just let them investigate and save me the trouble? I'll just let them lead me to the ruby, and I won't have to mess with the brat. Chances are they are going to have to go
to Tucson to speak with the Diocese and get more background information. Telegrams are not secure enough for that kind of information, too many nosy people. No, they'll go there in person. So I'll just head that way and get there ahead of them. No loose ends left here."

  Boxcar's forehead burrowed. "So you're saying he probably did leave town and isn't going to try to get Mary?"

  Thorn got up off the bed. "I'm just saying if I was him, that's what I would do. But then again, I'm not him. So the only way to know if I'm right is to test that theory. But first, we have some telegrams to send off, and then we need to talk to the others and set the plan in motion. Come on."

  A couple of hours later, and Mary was storming out the front door of the Cactus Rose hotel with Doc Martin right after her.

  "Mary, stop," snapped Doc, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. "You can't go out on the streets alone! Wait for some of the others to get back and then we'll escort you to The Tarnished Rose!"

  Mary tore her arm out of Doc's grasp."I'm sick of hiding in this place, I want to go home," she yelled, her face almost as red as her hair. "If you won't take me, I'll just walk by myself." She turned and strode off, tears running down her face.

  "At least, let me take you on my horse," pleaded Doc, grabbing his mount's reins and swinging up. He trotted after her, keeping pace with her as she hurried along.

  The Tarnished Rose was a half mile away but Mary reached it in record time, making her way to the alleyway entrance to go into the kitchen. She slammed the door open and ran inside, Doc right behind her.

  "Hold it right there, young lady," insisted Doc as he ran through the door as well, not locking it behind him. He followed her through the kitchen and into the main living room of her and her mother's quarters. She made it into her bedroom and locked him out just as he got there.

  Doc rattled the doorknob in frustration. "Mary! Mary, open this door!"

  "I'm not coming out," snarled Mary. "I'm tired of being treated like a baby. Just leave me alone!"

  Fife came in to see what the fuss was all about. "What in heaven's name is going on?" she asked with a frown. The same old feather boa was around her neck. "What's wrong with Mary?"

  Doc turned to Fife with a sigh. "I'm afraid Mary has been under a lot of stress today. She has lost her mother and her father both."

  "Yeah, I know," replied Fife, not looking very sympathetic. "I heard Frank was killed. Wonder if he left a will?" Her eyes took on a greedy look.

  "Actually, he did," replied Doc, frowning at her. "He wrote a letter stating all of his belongings and such were to go to Maria and Mary. Since Maria is gone, everything belongs to Mary, whether she wants it or not. We found it earlier today before he was even killed."

  "What? But she's just a kid; she can't even own property until she's twenty-one!"

  Doc nodded. "Yes, someone will have to be appointed as her guardian until she's old enough to decide."

  Her eyes slid towards Mary's door. "So, is she going to stay here tonight? Or at the Cactus Rose?"

  Doc sighed and dropped onto the settee. "I guess she's staying here, which means I'll stay here, too. Someone has to look out for her, the others are busy."

  Fife shrugged and turned away. "Fine, but I'm not changing the sheets on the bed. You can do that yourself if you want to use it." She flounced off.

  "Fife! Don't forget to lock the kitchen door, please!" he yelled after her. She didn't go to the kitchen door, he watched. That meant she might be leaving it open for her friend. But he did lock the door from the brothel into the kitchen. Time to hide and wait.

  Chapter Twelve

  It was 8:00 PM in the evening, when Melton received two telegrams from Thorn. It was too late for Billy to be around to take it to the sheriff so he locked up and headed to the sheriff's office as fast as his arthritic hip would allow. Lucky for him, it wasn't too far. He burst into the office. "Telegram, Sheriff." He handed them to him and slumped in the chair by the door to rest his back. "The one's for Nelson, and the other's for you."

  "Thanks, Melton," grunted the sheriff. He looked at the first telegram, addressed to Nelson.

  Investigator Harrison dead...stop...about 4 days...stop...need to tell the Diocese...all paperwork and files missing...Thorn

  "Damn," Holden swore softly. He looked at the other one addressed to him.

  Big man in all black...stop...headed your way 3 hour ago…stop…taller than me...stop...all black horse...stop...mustache and 2 pearl handled pistols...stop...red church crest on shirt...stop...arrest and hold for murder of Ventermin and Harrison... protect Clary...stop...tell me tomorrow...Thorn

  "Get Nelson," Holden barked, slamming the telegrams on the desk.

  Melton stood up painfully. "Now, look here, Sheriff, I managed to get those to you, but I'm not a messenger boy!"

  The sheriff sighed. You're right, Melton. Grab the first person you see when you go out the door then and tell them to get him. This is important."

  "And if I don't see anyone?"

  "Then take your gun out and fire a couple of shots into the hitching post. They'll bring 'em runnin'," he retorted.

  Melton hobbled out the door and then Holden heard two shots. He chuckled when Nelson burst through the door, a minute later, with Charlie right behind him.

  "What's wrong?" asked Nelson tersely, his gun still drawn. "Melton destroyed the damned hitching post to get us here."

  "You can put those away, both of you," Holden said, waving towards their guns. He handed him the telegrams. "You got work to do tonight." His eyes gleamed as he watched Nelson. Whether his nephew wanted to be involved with the ruby or not, he was. He also knew the death of yet another investigator wouldn't make him very happy. Even still, he was surprised when Nelson suddenly went pale and slid slowly into the chair in front of his desk, his fingers white where he gripped the telegrams.

  "It can't be," Nelson croaked. "It surely can't be."

  "What is it, sir?" asked Charlie, alarmed at the reaction of his new friend.

  Nelson handed the telegrams to Charlie, who had been brought up to speed already. "I know this man—or someone just like him." His mind was reeling at the implications.

  "Well, who is he?" asked Holden impatiently.

  "His name is Joseph Morgan," Nelson said slowly. "He works for Father Vincent at the mission. I don't know what's fact and what's not, but they say he was there as an altar boy when the mission burned and that he went nuts for a while. The nuns raised him, and he finally came out of his traumatized state, or whatever they called it. He stayed there after he grew up and managed the stables for Father Vincent. He became very proficient with a rifle and other weapons and was often called upon to assist the investigators of the ruby, as a bodyguard. I knew him fairly well because he assisted my father on a lot of his research trips to locate the ruby. I can't believe this killer would be Joseph," he croaked. "There must be some mistake."

  "When's the last time you saw him, son?" Holden's eyes were full of sympathy as he stared at him.

  "It's been years now," replied Nelson slowly. "You know I moved into Tucson, and I have an office there but I'm not there much. I haven't been to the mission in years, either. Father Vincent stops by every once in a while to visit, but most of my church assignments come out of Santa Fe. He stopped by last week to give me those fliers because the investigation into the ruby has been reopened. He didn't give me any details as to why, and I didn't ask." He stood up and took the telegrams from Charlie. "I'm going to check around town and see if anyone remembers seeing a man like this around here lately."

  "Just remember, son, a lot of men wear all black."

  Nelson stopped, his hand on the door. "Yeah, but not a lot of men wear the shield of the Mission San Xavier Del Arc. He took it off Father Tobias, and no one ever had the heart to take it away from him. For some reason, it was really important to him."

  Nelson went straight to the telegraph office to have Melton send a message to Father Vincent, inquiring of the whereabouts of Jos
eph Morgan. If they were going to prove Joseph had anything to do with the recent murders, they would at least have to place him within opportunity range. And they needed to get some men deputized. If Joseph came to town, and if he didn't want to be held for questioning, it was going to be a very dangerous situation to try to arrest him. For now, Clary was safe, her door repaired. He would make sure she stayed that way.

  It was close to midnight, and Nelson and Charlie were just stepping out of the sheriff's office. "Now what?" asked Charlie eagerly. "We got men watching on both ends of town, a man in the bar and one at the stables."

  Nelson looked somber. He had given the men instructions not to stop Joseph if they should see him but to come to him first. He didn't want anyone being killed. "Now, we wait. It's going to be a long night, Charlie, so why don't you get some sleep? If Joseph is coming this way from El Paso, I reckon it will be early morning when he gets here, depending on how steady he rides. He's smart and careful, though, and he won't want to waste time if he thinks Thorn and Boxcar might be on his trail."

  "I'll make the rounds with you and then sleep on the cot in one of the cells," replied Charlie. "No patrolling alone, remember?"

  Nelson nodded, clapping Charlie on the shoulder. "Right, no patrolling alone. But you had better be ready for Uncle Abe's snores, because you know he's going to have the other cell. No way is he budging from that office, with all this happening."

  "What about you?"

  "Fanny's giving me a room that faces the street," Nelson replied. "And one of the girls will wake me at 4:00 AM. I'll meet you back here at 4:30 AM, just before sunrise."

  Nelson sat in the upstairs window of the Silver Slipper, Fanny's boarding house, and surveyed the empty street. Moonlight flooded the area, and the streetlamps sent some light into the shadows between the buildings. It was a good night for surveillance. He tried to doze off now and then, but he was very uneasy. He didn't have all the facts, but what he did know of some of the killings surrounding the ruby, Joseph would have had opportunity. But what in the hell was his motive?