Wyoming Shootout (Gun For Wells Fargo Book 2)
Page 23
“I think there is a bald eagle circling up there somewhere in the night sky. He just has not decided to give me a message yet. And I’m getting pretty damn tired of waiting for it.”
“We waited a long time for the wire about our future and it came,” she reminded him.
“Umm,” he said without conviction.
The next morning after coffee and pastries, they took a clothing inventory and decided with a little brushing and hanging by the open window, they would be ready.
At eleven-thirty, Pope hailed a hansom cab and they headed towards Union Square and the Bohemian Club. Sarah was in a maroon silk dress which showed her shiny black locks to good advantage. Pope wore his original Wells Fargo uniform of black suit and vest, white shirt and derby hat. He wore a single shoulder holster.
Pope bade the driver stop a block over from the club. It was part of his tradecraft.
They walked and took up a position behind a tree, out of sight from the street.
Within a few minutes, another cab rolled up and stopped near the rear door.
James Hume stepped out and also took a watchful position.
Pope looked at his beautiful partner. She winked and they circled and walked up to the rear of the club and quietly nodded at their boss.
Hume broke into a large smile and appeared generally glad to see them.
“Good! You both look wonderful. I will be proud to introduce you to the man with whom we are having lunch. More about him once we get inside.”
He led them into the back of the building and they climbed one set of steps and went down a hall to a private dining room. It was opulent, though hardly more than the Cheyenne Club where they lunched with the judge, sheriff and Akin at the beginning of their stay in Wyoming.
They were seated and Hume began speaking once the door was closed.
“This is a totally secret meeting. You will be offered an assignment with stipulations. You may turn it down. Either way, it will be the toughest, most dangerous undercover case you have ever had, or likely ever will. It will also be the most important one.
It will possibly be lengthy. You will have to relocate back East for the duration. You will be on loan to the United States government and not reporting to Wells Fargo. I promise you will both be paid handsomely, though I don’t know what the amount will be. Nor does the man who will be joining us shortly.
It was he who was approached for lending our two best detectives for a special investigation. And he wanted to be the one to ask you himself. I know you have questions. I can only address what I have said so far.”
“Stipulations, boss?” Sarah asked.
“The first one is big. We are a moral company and the man coming shortly is among the most moral. Since you will be undercover in society as husband and wife, marrying is a stipulation. Whether you divorce after is up to you,” Hume said.
“If we accept and see this through, will being married harm our careers as detectives?” Pope asked.
“No, it will not. We will make whatever accommodations are required.”
“Mr. Hume,” Sarah asked, “I kind of expected Mr. Pridham to offer me the manager position at Cheyenne. It looks like it’s off the table now.”
“Sarah, if you and John pull this off, I daresay you can choose whatever available positions you want at Wells Fargo.”
The door opened and a kindly looking man walked in. He exuded he confidence of power but appeared too grandfatherly to abuse it. He was bald, portly and his hair and goatee were white. He did not wear a mustache.
Hume stood and Sarah and Pope followed suit.
“Detectives Sarah Watson and John Pope allow me to introduce Mr. Leon Tevis. Mr. Tevis is the president of Wells Fargo and virtually all of our associated companies.”
They shook and Tevis motioned for everyone to sit.
“Perhaps we should order. As I am sure, James has told you the matter I wish to discuss is highly confidential. We do not want to be chatting about it when waiters or others are about.”
“Miss or rather Detective Watson, will you lead us off?” Tevis asked.
She and Pope ordered conservatively, though there were no prices on the menu.
Hume and Tevis were less conservative and both ordered filet mignons.
No alcohol was offered during the meal, which did not bother either guest at all.
After the table was cleared, Tevis spoke.
“What I am going to tell you is the most secret thing any of us at the table have ever heard. I will offer you a case. It will have stipulations. If they are too severe for you, you can turn it down without career prejudice. I am aware you recovered young Mattie Lane, solved the port office explosion, and apprehended this man recently who murdered our manager in Wyoming and others. Your invaluable service is what brought you to mind when this matter arose.
Before I begin, has James explained the marital stipulation to you?”
“He has Mr. Tevis. The marital part is not a problem for us at all,” Sarah said. He looked at Pope, who nodded in support.
“The genesis of this case arose last week when I was at an industrialists meeting at the White House. I was called aside and asked for some help,” Tevis said.
“Your country needs you most urgently, detectives. Let me tell you why, and how you can serve her.”
If You Like This, You May Enjoy: Arizona Gunmen
By G. Wayne Tilman
A WESTERN STORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL, LAW OVER CRIMINALITY.
County Sheriff James Duncan is fast and honorable. An Arizona lawman who rides rough country, often going up against dangerous men and gangs alone. Dealing with bank robbers, kidnappers and rustlers with his fast gun. Much of his tracking ability comes from his Scottish father, who served as an Indian scout. Valuable experience as a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt, then as an Arizona Ranger.
Outlaws and corrupt government tend to stand in Duncan’s way, but he manages to overcome all obstacles with integrity and really fast guns.
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G. Wayne Tilman
About the Author
G. Wayne Tilman is a full-time author. He retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation several years ago. Prior to the FBI, he was a Marine, bank security director, deputy sheriff, investigator, and security contractor.
He holds baccalaureate and master’s degrees from the University of Richmond and has been an adjunct faculty member there, as well as the University of Phoenix, St. Petersburg College and Florida Metropolitan University.
Some of his law enforcement subject matter expertise includes threat assessment, continuity of operations, security and executive protection, counter intelligence, international terrorism, and small arms. He has been an instructor in those subjects in a number of training academies, conferences and seminars. Mr. Tilman holds the internationally-recognized Certified Protection Professional board certification, generally accepted as the highest in the security profession. He also earned a US Coast Guard 50 Ton Inspected Vessel Master Captain’s license.
Tilman’s primary interests are family and writing. His avocations are bushcraft (survival/primitive camping), hiking, boating, kayaking, shooting sports, and travel.
He wrote his first novel over thirty years ago and has now written thirteen novels. Genres include espionage thrillers, mysteries, and Westerns.
Tilman’s impetus to write in those genres comes from both personal experience and heritage.
A direct ancestor was a sheriff in Virginia Colony in 1680. Another ancestor was the lawman who brought in outlaw Bill Dool
in singlehandedly and helped to decimate the infamous Doolin-Dalton outlaw gang, sometimes known as the Oklahombres. Bill Doolin was the Desperado of song fame. Closer to home, his mother was a counterintelligence agent for what is now the Defense Intelligence Agency or DIA.