Chapter 8

Nick drew the short straw and ended up riding with Jarrod into town, and as luck would have it, Jarrod's case did not plead out. Nick had to stay sitting in the courtroom, the only spectator in a very dull trial. It was all Nick could do to stay awake. His head kept dropping forward, but luckily that always made him wake up. At one point he thought he saw the judge giving him a dirty look.

It was not a jury trial, so there was no need to drag things out longer with jury instructions and waiting for a verdict. The judge, in fact, didn't even leave the bench to think things over after the evidence was all delivered and Jarrod and the defense attorney – an older man Nick did not even know – had finished their arguments. The judge just gave a few reasons he was finding the defendant guilty and sentenced him to six months in the county jail. The whole thing was over by one in the afternoon.

Jarrod packed up his things and walked back to where Nick was standing up. "Did you have a nice nap?" Jarrod asked.

"I didn't snore, did I?" Nick asked, embarrassed.

"More like snorted once or twice, waking yourself up," Jarrod said. "Let me run my briefcase by the office and I'll let you buy me lunch."

"I didn't bring any money," Nick said.

"Then we'll go to Harry's and you can put it on your tab," Jarrod said and led the way out.

When they got to Harry's, they found the place only sparsely inhabited – Harry, one saloon girl, and four customers eating and drinking. Harry already had sandwiches sitting out on the bar. Nick ordered a beer and Jarrod a cup of coffee. Then they took their sandwiches and drinks to a table in the back.

"You can head on home if you want," Jarrod said.

Nick said, "Naw, I'd be right back in a couple hours. I can put in some orders at the mercantile, drop in on Sally Ann for a while, come back to the office for you about four. Does that sound all right?"

"Yeah, fine," Jarrod said.

"You gonna be out and about anywhere?"

"Depends on what I find when I start working on tomorrow's file, but don't worry. I'll stay out of dark livery stables."

"Don't get too cocky. That's what got you into trouble yesterday."

"I'll be careful, Nick."

They had finished and were on their way out the door when they ran into Sheriff Madden on the street. He looked like he had been rushing around. Jarrod spotted one of the deputies in a hurry, going toward the other end of town. Nick was about to head for the mercantile, but Jarrod took hold of his arm and held him there.

"Fred, what's going on?" Jarrod asked.

Sheriff Madden sighed. "Another shooting. Len Main. He was alone in his office, secretary had gone out to lunch. Somebody heard a shot and sent for me. I found him at his desk about fifteen minutes ago."

Jarrod closed his eyes. Nick asked, "Who's Len Main?"

Jarrod said, "The lawyer you saw with me in court this morning. Is he alive?"

The sheriff shook his head.

"Did anybody see anybody this time?"

The sheriff shook his head again. "Whoever did it was in and out like a ghost. Just blended right in with the people on the street."

Jarrod swore under his breath. "Len was a widower, lived alone but he lived several miles out of town."

"I'm trying to find out who was in the vicinity at the time – questioning everybody I can get my hands on. Where were you two?"

"Harry's, eating lunch," Jarrod said.

The sheriff said, "Jarrod, you can afford to have somebody with you at all times. I suggest you do it."

Sheriff Madden moved on then, chasing down people. It was going to be a tough task, finding everyone who might have been around Main's office when the shot went off. Jarrod watched him go, and Nick watched Jarrod. He could see wheels turning behind his brother's deep blue eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Nick asked.

"Finding this s.o.b. before he gets to anybody else," Jarrod said. "I need to get back to my office and review tomorrow's case. You go on to the mercantile and Sally Ann's and then come to my office in the courthouse."

Jarrod went on back to the courthouse before Nick could say anything, but Nick watched him go and kept watching until he saw Jarrod go in. But was the courthouse even safe anymore? This whole thing was out of hand. Jarrod was worried about it. Sheriff Madden was worried about it. Nick was worried about it. Four men shot, three dead. This had to stop.

XXXXXXX

Nick came to Jarrod's office in the courthouse at about four, but Jarrod wasn't there. At first, he was alarmed, but the secretary said the sheriff had come by and Jarrod left with him, so Nick calmed down and headed for the sheriff's office. When he got there, he found Jarrod and the sheriff huddled over the sheriff's desk, going over a list of names. They looked up at Nick, and Jarrod leaned back in his chair.

"It looks like I'm gonna have to quit, Fred," Jarrod said and stood up.

"Let me have one more minute," the sheriff said. "This last name – Turner Powers."

"Turner?" Jarrod said. "Yeah, we know him. He's a friend of Heath's. He works out at the Peters ranch."

"I don't know him at all," Sheriff Madden said. "What do you know about him?"

Jarrod shrugged and looked at Nick, who also shrugged. "He's never been in trouble here," Nick said. "That's why you don't know him. Happy guy, harmless."

"Was he on the street today?" Jarrod asked.

The sheriff nodded. "Several people gave me his name. I'll need to go talk to him."

"Fred, Turner wouldn't hurt a fly," Nick said.

"I didn't say he did, but maybe he saw something, so I gotta talk to him."

"You've got a lot of people to talk to," Jarrod said.

"I'd ask you to help, but I don't want you talking to somebody who might kill you," the sheriff said. "And you've still got Archer's cases to handle."

"I can help," Nick said. "I can get Heath to go with me. We'll be all right. We can start tomorrow with Turner Powers."

Sheriff Madden sighed and rubbed his forehead with one hand. "All right. Come here first thing tomorrow and I'll deputize you."

Nick and Jarrod headed for the door, Nick saying, "We'll ride in and ride home with you, Jarrod."

"See you tomorrow, Fred," Jarrod said. "You're a witness in that case I've got on trial."

"Get a plea, Jarrod," Sheriff Madden said. "I really don't have time to go to court."

"I'll do my best," Jarrod said.

Once they were outside, Jarrod headed the wrong way. "The horses are at the livery," Nick said. "Where you going?"

"The undertaker's," Jarrod said. That was all he needed to say.

Nick went along with him.