9
"People know me as Sebastian Sneed," said the skinny man as he lit another cigarette at the edge of its long pearly-white holder, "the right-hand man to…"
James West cut him short, "The Dutchman."
"Why yes," he answered as a small billow of smoke was caught by the breeze and dispersed through the carriage.
The Dutchman was the head of organized crime within the Barbary Coast; his web stretched from gambling and extortion, to kidnapping and murder, trickling into all the various schemes and vices along the coast and into the southwest.
The look of feinted surprise on the man's face prompted Jim to expound, "We like to keep our files updated, especially the ones that concern the Barbary Coast Underground."
"I am impressed, Mr. West," he shifted in his seat then returned his attention to his guest seated across from him, "Sad to say we are not 'that' well organized, but we do know quite a bit about you."
"Do tell," West said cocking his head, inviting the annoying man to continue.
"I suppose you would be pleased to hear that we knew very little about you until," Sneed paused for effect, "…you killed the original Dutchman in a duel to the death, a mere eighteen months ago …' 'How did it feel when you murdered your good friend, Mr. West?" Sneed mockingly returned the head-tilt.
West calmly eased into his seat and coolly answered, "I don't look back for the ants I step on, Mr. Sneed," West then changed the subject, "What's with the nice carriage ride, I know it's not for this trip down memory lane…"
Sneed himself, eased back and with a drag from his cigarette began, "The current Dutchman has a standing order that you should be killed on sight…"
"And?"
"…and, he is willing to resend it in exchange for a favor that can actually benefit you both."
"Somebody stepping on the Dutchman's toes," West asked with a contemptuous grin.
"A matter-of-fact there is a new-comer to the game that has needled his way into a corner of our operation…"
"…And the Dutchman wants him eliminated," Jim came to the point.
Sneed interjected, "If only life would be that simple, Mr. West.' 'Unfortunately we know only about some of his operatives and bits and pieces of various plans…"
"I don't have time for this, stop the carriage," West instructed.
"One of his operatives was that lovely young lady strangled in her apartment.' 'The 'new-comer' is using his position to plan assassinations from coast to coast…"
Jim stopped short and listened.
"…someone inside the United States Secret Service."
**********
West was cautious and examined every aspect of Sneed's story. He searched for inconsistencies in the story, the tone of his voice, and Sneed's body language. Jim, for the most part, believed him. West absorbed the bitter pill as Sneed went over that the assassination of the Emir was only to frame West, to have him and the Service distracted from the actual targets ahead. He mentioned that Anastasia was the chink in West's armor and that she was killed because she could lead him to the 'new-comer'.
"What about this assassin," West inquired?
"He is from South America, ruthless, deems himself as 'The Worlds Most Dangerous Man, from what four of our operatives experienced tonight he might just be," he brought out another cigarette and tapped it on the edge of the case and continued, "Calls himself the Tarantula."
"And the targets?"
Sneed fitted the cigarette to the end of the holder as he carried on, "We wasn't sure until we discovered that the Tarantula is on his way to Denver…"
Jim completed the thought, "Quinton Vale, wealthy cattle-baron, immersed in a long and deadly range-war that he has been steadily winning…"
"An account that was actually stolen from the Dutchman," Sneed completed his estimation and lit his cigarette.
As West took it all in Sneed produced an envelope and expounded, "Inside is a train ticket for Denver and a hotel key," West took it and glanced in, "the Dutchman thinks that in stopping the Tarantula you will discover his opposition and be duty-bound to eliminate the competition."
West placed the envelope in his breast pocket as the carriage came to a stop at the train station, he caught Sneed's attention as he was exiting, "After I 'eliminate the competition'…" he left his question open for an answer and began to gather one of the cigars from his vest.
Sneed calmly eased into his seat, as West had done earlier, and coolly answered, "The 'standing order' will be put back in place."
West struck a match with his thumbnail and proceeded to take a drag of his cigar, adding to his farewell, "I wouldn't have it any other way." And with that West made his way to the shadows to wait for his train to come in.