Chapter 3

Dr. Merar let Jarrod into the room where Phil Archer was resting. Archer was lying back against a couple pillows, wide awake but doing nothing other than staring at the ceiling. His gaze shifted when he heard the door open, and he stared at Jarrod with no change of expression at all.

"Phil," Jarrod said as he came closer. "How are you feeling?"

"Just wonderful," Archer said. "I thought you were in San Francisco."

"Got back the other day," Jarrod said. "I heard about your problem last night. You have no idea who did it, huh?"

"I never saw him," Archer said. "I'm surprised he didn't finish me off, but he just ran when somebody heard the shot and started yelling."

"I'm awfully sorry you're laid up, but I'm glad you survived the attack."

"Thanks," Archer said.

Jarrod sat down in a nearby chair. "I'd like to try to help find out who did this to you. Have you tried any defendants lately who were particularly troublesome?"

"No more than usual, and nobody I put in prison got out recently, either," Archer said.

"You think it might not be work related?"

"I don't know. If somebody's holding a personal grudge, I don't know who it is or why. I've been over all this with the sheriff and with Davison, Jarrod. The best we can come up with is it's somebody who doesn't like lawyers in general."

"Well, that's half the county, isn't it?" Jarrod said. "They don't see us unless there's trouble."

"Look, Jarrod, I know you want to help, but I'm tired and sore and I've gone over all this with the sheriff."

Jarrod got the message and got up. "I understand, Phil. You just get well."

"Look, if they ask you to take over my cases, it's all right with me," Archer said. "I don't know when I'll be getting back to work."

"Do you have your private cases covered?"

"I don't have any at the moment."

Jarrod nodded and said, "Take it easy, Phil. I'll talk to Davison and see what he wants to do."

Jarrod left then, closing the door behind him. He found Dr. Merar in his office, behind his desk. The doctor looked up when he heard Jarrod come in. "Mr. Archer doesn't have much to say, does he?"

"He doesn't even when he's feeling well," Jarrod said. "How's he doing, anyway? Is he gonna be all right?"

"I think so but it'll be a while before I can send him home. He's on his own out there. The wound is painful but it's all muscle damage. He got lucky."

"Have you got any idea who might have done this to him?"

"I wish I did. I've heard the sheriff is beginning to think it's someone with a grudge against lawyers in general. You'd better keep your own eyes open."

"I always do, Doc. You take care of yourself, too. If we're about to have a run of attacks on lawyers, we're gonna need your services."

"Not a happy thought, Jarrod, but I'll be ready."

Jarrod said good-bye and headed out. It being Saturday, the District Attorney would not be in his office. Jarrod headed for the sheriff's office, but didn't find him in. After that, he decided to go to Harry's saloon for a cup of coffee.

Harry had just opened up and was finishing getting the bar ready for the day when Jarrod came in. "Back again already?" Harry said.

"I went to see Phil Archer," Jarrod said. "Got any coffee ready?"

Harry poured him a cup and set it on the bar in front of him. "How's he doing?"

"Not bad, all things considered," Jarrod said. Then he looked quizzical. "Harry, have you caught anybody saying anything about lawyers in general lately?"

"Lawyers aren't a big topic of conversation around here," Harry said. "Why? Is that what they're thinking? Somebody doesn't like lawyers enough to start shooting them?"

"It's one of the things to think about." Jarrod sipped his coffee. "If lawyers start dropping, I guess we'll have to take the idea seriously."

"You better start taking it seriously now," Harry said. "You are a pretty prominent lawyer, after all."

"I'll keep my eyes open and my head down," Jarrod said.

When he finished his coffee and left the saloon, Jarrod spotted Sheriff Madden coming toward him down the street. The sheriff didn't look happy. "You all right, Jarrod?" the sheriff asked.

"Me? I'm fine, why?" Jarrod asked.

"I was just down by the waterfront, behind that place that used to be Barbary Red's," Sheriff Madden said. "One of the girls there found Tom Kemper in the back alley – shot dead."

Jarrod nearly reeled. Tom Kemper was a fairly new attorney in town, a young man just starting on his own practice. Jarrod didn't know what to say. What came tumbling out was, "Who? Were there any witnesses?"

"No. It's the same as Archer, only this time we have a body."

Jarrod frowned and shook his head slowly. "Do you know if Archer and Kemper had any case in common, maybe Kemper defended somebody Archer prosecuted?"

"I was gonna head over to Sam Davison's house to talk to him."

"Let him know I'll take Archer's cases if he wants me to. I'll go back and talk to Phil, see if he can tell me anything."

"Did you see him earlier? Did he have anything to say?"

"Nothing helpful. Kemper doesn't have any family around. They're all back in Pennsylvania, as I recall."

"I'm gonna search his place, too, see if I can find where they are, maybe find something about why he was killed, I don't know. Jarrod – "

Jarrod looked at him.

"You watch out for yourself," Sheriff Madden said. "I don't want to find you in some alley around here."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Jarrod said. "I'll go talk to Phil and meet you back at your office later."

"All right."

They parted company then, and Jarrod hustled back over to the doctor's office. Dr. Merar was coming out as Jarrod was going in. "Jarrod, I have to go, we have another shooting," Dr. Merar said.

"I know, Fred told me," Jarrod said. "Tom Kemper, but Fred said he's dead."

"I'll need to see him anyway."

"I need to see Archer again," Jarrod said.

"Iva's around. Just have her lock up after you leave."

Dr. Merar hurried down the street as Jarrod went into his office. He went straight to Archer's room, knocked softly, and then let himself in.

Archer looked up at him. "What do you want?"

Jarrod came closer to Archer's bed. "They just found Tom Kemper shot dead near the waterfront. Phil, did you have any case at all with him recently? Criminal or civil?"

Archer tried to think. "No, nothing."

"Can you think of any connection Kemper had with you?" Jarrod asked.

Archer shook his head, beginning to look frightened now. "Nothing, not a thing."

Jarrod said, "Dr. Merar's gone down to the waterfront. I'll let Mrs. Merar know what's going on. You don't move a muscle from here until the sheriff tells you it's all right, got it?"

Archer didn't like being bossed by Jarrod Barkley, but he was scared enough that he just nodded.

Jarrod left, found Mrs. Merar and told her what was happening. She locked the office up tight after Jarrod went out, but just to be sure, she parked herself in the waiting area with a rifle and planned to stay there until her husband came back.