Chapter 2
By the time Adam returned with the doctor, Joe was having severe stomach cramps. He'd drawn his knees up to his chest and was writhing on the bed. Adam gave the soiled glass to the doctor. He smelled it, then frowned. He began rooting through his bag. Adam stared at Joe for a moment, then turned to the living room. He went straight to the table and picked up Joe's saddlebags. Opening them, he discovered the envelope was missing. Hoss left the bedroom at the doctor's request and joined Adam.
Adam let the saddlebags drop back to the table. "Well, the money's gone."
"Most of the money from his wallet was gone, too." Hoss held up the hairpin. "I found this on the nightstand."
Adam took the hairpin and examined it closely. He frowned. "Hoss, will you go get the Sheriff? I'll stay with Joe."
Hoss put on his gunbelt. He picked up his hat.
"And see what you can find out about who Joe was with last night." Adam slapped Hoss' arm. "But don't make any moves without me."
"Sure, Brother," Hoss said as he jammed his hat on and walked out the door.
Hoss sat in the corner of the bar room, sipping his beer. Before long, a woman in a plain yellow dress walked up to his table. "You Cartwright?"
Hoss looked up at her, and noticed the puffy eyes, and lack of make-up. It was probably the crack of dawn for her, after all. "Yes, ma'am, that's me." He stood and held a chair out for her. "Won't you sit down, Miss, uh-"
"Oh, honey, just call me Lorena, that's what they all do." She flopped into the chair and Hoss returned to his seat. "Now what can I do for you, Mr. Cartwright?"
Hoss nodded his head towards the bar. "Bartender told me you're the one to ask about what happens around here in the evenin's."
The girl chuckled. "That's right. I may not be much during the day, but I'm queen around here at night!"
Hoss sipped his beer. "Ma'am, my brother came into town yesterday, and I'm sure he was here last night. Skinny fella, with a green jacket? He don't look nothin' like me."
Lorena sat back and thought. "Green jacket..." She perked up. "White hat, ivory butt on his gun, shoots left-handed." Hoss nodded. "I remember him. Cute." She slouched back in the chair. "What about him?"
"Who was he keepin' company with last night?"
A waiter appeared and put a plate of food in front of her. She stared at Hoss, as if to insist he pay for her meal. He did. She laid a napkin in her lap and began to eat. "He was with a girl I didn't recognize. Redhead. I told her she needed to move on, that I was in charge around here, but he defended her. Acted like she was a 'nice' girl. I saw them head up to his room about midnight."
"Did you see her any after that, or hear her name or anything?"
"I only saw her with your brother. I think he called her Janice."
"Well, thanks a lot, Miss Lorena." Hoss put some money down on the table. "Lunch is on me, too." Hoss tipped his hat to her and walked upstairs.
Hoss walked through the living room and leaned in the doorway to the bedroom, where Adam sat, talking quietly to Joe. Joe looked a little gray. He also looked exhausted. Adam noticed Hoss in the doorway. He patted Joe on the arm and walked over to Hoss.
"How's he doin'?" Hoss whispered.
Adam led Hoss into the living room and closed the door most of the way. "He's conscious now, but he's not with us, yet. Just now, he thought I was Pa." Adam poured himself a glass of water from a pitcher near the door. "The doctor said he'd come back later and check on him." Adam took a drink of water. "What'd you find out?"
Hoss threw his gunbelt on the table and sat down heavily in a chair. "He checked in at about 7 last night. He came up here, took a bath, and then ate dinner across the street at Fermosi's. While he was there, he met a redheaded girl named Janice, who he brought back to the bar here. At about midnight, they came up to the room." Hoss rested his right foot on his left knee. "What'd the Sheriff say?"
Adam chewed on a fingernail. "Just that he's heard of this kind of thievery in other towns. This is the first time it's happened in Carson City."
A scream and a crash from the bedroom startled them both. They rushed in and found Joe on the floor, wrestling with his pillow.
"Get it off me! Get it off me!" Joe screamed.
Hoss tore the pillow out of his hands. Joe cowered on the floor in the fetal position. "It's okay, Joe, it's gone. You're okay, you're okay." Joe threw himself into Hoss' arms. Hoss held him, quieting him. Then Hoss and Adam helped Joe back into bed. The two men soothed him until he fell asleep.
Adam stood. "I'm going to look for," he scowled as he said her name, "Janice."
Hoss nodded and Adam stomped out, stopping only to grab his hat and gunbelt.