Guns and Switches.
Alexandra is determined to get rid of Frank Garner- Hallett.
Chapter 19: It's Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings.
Alex was quick to get her self-organised, for school and the picnic breakfast her father had planned. Well padded she didn't hesitate to slide down the banister and jump off at the bottom into the big room.
Adam had to smile to himself and shake his head; the child had only just been over his knee and was given two stripes from a switch for touching a gun. While sliding the stairs was no criminal offence, it had always been prohibited in the Cartwright house. However, Adam was still emotionally exhausted from the morning's events and had the afternoon to get through, which included the meeting with Hiram and Frank Garner- Hallett.
Usually a slide down the banister would have been reprimanded by the person viewing the act. Such a responsible adult would simply crook their finger and call the miscreant over, then without a word; said child, resigned to their fate would turn and offer their naughty backside for a well-placed swat. Joe had been the last of the Cartwrights to learn that; Hoss being the first when he at the age of ten he broke the banister. It was now, some thirteen years later, Alexandra Cartwright's turn. Adam thought he should at least verbally remind her, but he didn't have to.
Ben cleared his throat when his granddaughter happily skipped to the table. He sensed his son wanted to correct his daughter for sliding down the banister, but Adam had just spent the last fifteen minutes relaying the mornings events to him and asking his father if perhaps, he had been too hard on Alex. Adam also spoke of his sadness and about always feeling like the bad guy as far as Alexandra was concerned.
Ben had reassured his oldest that all parents felt like the bad guy. He reminded Adam that if most parents set the ground rules early enough there was plenty of time and opportunity to be the good guy... Busy parents often talked about what little quality time they had with their kids. Ben argued being with your kids whether it was washing the dishes, mucking out the stables, reading a book, kissing away their fears or providing a well-placed swat, it was all quality time; all part of parenting; all skin to skin and told their child that they were not only loved but cared about. He also re iterated that it often took a village to raise a child, just like Yuma and the Paiutes believed.
With that in mind before Adam could call Alexandra over for the conventional response to a sliding banister infringement, grandpa Ben stepped in. "Ah hum", he coughed and crooked his finger back and forth calling Alex to his side.
Alexandra looked up in confusion for a second, then immediately recognised her grandfathers silent beckoning, and realised her mistake. She slumped, and walked towards her grandfather at the head of the table. Once there, she turned sideways and bent over, offering her backside for the swat she knew was coming.
Alexandra couldn't see her grandfather or father smile or the stifle of a chuckle when, after Ben applied a mild swat to her backside, they realised she was heavily padded and well protected. Ben sent her on her way back to her father who was finishing up his second cup of coffee for the morning. The child must have on ten petticoats, thought Ben… Girls… he shook his head, so different to boys.
"Dad can I have my birthday money that Molly and the others sent me?"
"I thought we agreed to bank that?" recalled Adam, "Why do you need it?"
"For a surprise dad, besides with all my allowance going to the fine, I'm never going to have any money for a long time."
"What surprise?" Adam asked calmly.
"I can't tell you dad; it's a surprise! If I told you my plans and especially told in front of company…" said Alexandra clicking her head towards her grandfather, "it would not be a surprise; itta be a con... Con -piracy or something. Miss Jones reckons that when a whole heap of folks meet together and try ta do somethink sneaky' even iffin it's for a good cause; like when it was Miss Jones's birthday, her friends had a surprise party for her... She said they tricked her inta believing that there was this pirate ship in the harbour, and while she went ta see it, her momma and friends got everybody ta hide in her house and then she come home they all yelled out 'arrggg me hearties'-Surprise!' Course it was afore she came to Virginia City; we ain't got no harbour; she would have thought something was kinda fishy iffin it was. Her friends knowed her favourite book was Captain Blood which was all about Pirates and ..."
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, listening to Alex ramble while Joe, beside him, giggled in his ear. "Okay here's the deal," intervened Adam, "You can have a quarter of your birthday money, and the rest can go into your bank account. I'll fill out the deposit slip and you can have Marty take you to the bank to deposit after you finish at Hop Ling's."
"Gosh, dad thanks."
"Okay, you'll find your birthday letter with your money in my top dresser drawer. Go upstairs and get it and then we better get going, as it is you're going to miss the sheriff this morning."
Alexandra smiled.
"Oh no, little girl; you're are going to have to face Roy with what you did; It's just going to have to be done later."
Alex grimaced but nodded her head, then brightened as she headed up the stairs to her father's bedroom to get her birthday money.
"Hurry up, Alexandra," yelled Adam, as she headed into her father's room and saw his tall boy. She opened the left hand top draw where she quickly found the envelope on top of a brown journal.
She looked at the journal, turning it over in her hands; it was thick and written in beautiful old fashioned script was her mother's name. Alexandra ran her fingers across the embossed lettering then tried to open it up, but it had a lock on it that required a little key, "Hmmm, just like a witches spell book," mumbled the imaginative Alexandra. She turned it over hoping that perhaps the clasp was broken; the book looked old and relatively worn. But, no such luck the lock to the book was secure. To make matters worse or very clear depending on whose perspective, was a message written on paper and glued to the back cover. Alexandra Willameena Cartwright, put this book back. I will give it to you when you are older; by decree Adam Stoddard Cartwright; your father.
"Figures!" thought Alex, out loud, "Mamma's probably got some good stories in here, maybe some of Ivan's magic tricks, like the one where yer can double the money". Perhaps, if she took it to school Josh would help her to open it up and after all it was her momma's and meant for her when she was older. "Well hec, that was near two years ago now and I'm eleven." She grabbed it along with the envelope of money and ran back to her room. She added the diary to her book stack and tethered the leather straps.
Alexandra then took off at gallop, happily thinking, "At least I'm five dollars and twenty five cents better off than I was yesterday; only ninety four or so dollars to go."Alexandra had decided to try and pay Frank Garner- Hallett off herself. A hundred dollars sounded reasonable. It was a real lot of money as far as an eleven year old was concerned. Once she had the amount Alexandra figured she would have it delivered to the villain at his hotel room at the Bucket of Blood, with a note, explaining that he'd got what he came for and to GO AWAY!
Alexandra had a couple of notions of how to increase her stake, but it would take days, and Alexandra wasn't sure if she had that much time."Dad is meeting with Garner- Hallett this afternoon, while I'm supposed ta be at school and after at Lop Sings…Oops," she laughed to herself, "I mean Hop Ling's."
"Hmmmm, Lop SINGS…" Alexandra had an idea!
~oOo~
Adam and Alexandra were having a nice little chat as they rode to school, eating the flap jacks and jam that Hop sing had packed them. They had run out of time to actually stop, and set up a breakfast picnic, but Adam promised they would actually do that one morning.
"Perhaps Marty might like to join us as well," suggested Adam.
"I like that idea, dad. You know, dad, I'm real sorry about the gun an all, but I'd do anything ta keep you safe. I also wants you to be real happy, and I'm real glad Miss Marty makes you happy. I reckon I'm kinda lucky; it's like I got all these momma's and Pappas's, in a way, but well…"
"Well what?... you can tell me; I'm not going to be angry about how you honestly feel, Alexandra, just as long as you don't sass, disrespect me or the other grownups that you know you can trust."
Alexandra picked at the flap jack on her hand and leant back against her father's back as Sport lopped along at a leisurely pace. "It's just that you're the most important one; the important papa, and well… momma is too, even iffin she is far away. I guess too; it's because she sick an all, so I figure I got ta do something ta look after her. I really miss her and I never want ta forget about her."
Adam kissed the blonde curls that bounced at against his chest as Alexandra talked. "You know, all those feelings are very understandable. And, just to put your mind at ease, I don't think you will ever forget her, exactly. You have so many great stories about the time you had with your momma, Molly and the others. And besides, you are supposed to like me the best." he laughed as he tickled her.
"I didn't say anything about like, dad," joshed Alexandra, poking her dad in the ribs.
~oOo~
Adam dropped Alexandra off at school and then strolled towards Roy's office, carrying a small flour sack. He took off his hat and slapped it against his thigh, before knocking on the door and entering. Roy was standing at the pot belly stove pouring himself and another man some hot coffee.
"Roy," called Adam as he entered twirling his black stepson in his hands.
"Adam come in, wanna cup a coffee? It's a fresh brew, nice and hot."
"Yeah, thanks Roy."
Roy poured Adam a large cup, then himself one before walking back to his desk. "Glad you've dropped by Adam, this here is the deputy sheriff of Elk, Clem … Clem Foster. He has some mighty interesting information about Katherine's case and Darcy's murder."
Adam put his hat back on his head, moved the flour sack to his left hand, and used his right to shake the young deputy's hand. "Nice to meet you, Clem," said Adam, "Thanks for coming all this way. I must admit I hadn't really expected this level of interest; just a telegram."
"Not a problem, Mr Cartwright."
"Please call me, Adam."
"Sure, thank you. Well first off, Adam, your telegrams and Sheriff Coffee's here, has caused a bit of interest in Elk. I wasn't around two years ago when this happened, but, Douglas … Sherriff Drummond was and …"
"He was Sherriff ten years ago too, when I shot Frank Hallett at the Star and Garter," added Adam.
"Yep that's right. Interesting history that place is getting. The folks at the theater have been naggin' Douglas ta do something about Katharine's case. But as far as he was concerned, she got a fair trial, based on the evidence and witnesses. You coming down and proposin' she wasn't mentally stable to take responsibility for the kids murder, was taken under consideration. Your argument was a good one; that the poor woman was unstable and re-living a trauma she had ten years ago. But, Darcy's father; 'The General' owns a lot of the mines, and he wasn't about ta let her off scot free; it's not like it was a clear cut case of self defence."
"I know all this, Clem," repeated Adam, "And the General came around in the end, as best he could. His boy was a complete innocent in the whole affair. His friends had goaded him into approaching Katherine."
"Yeah well the poor kid; drunken kid I might add, was really in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was his birthday and his buddies just kept buyin' the kid beers; dared him to go and get a birthday kiss off Katherine. Innocent game, but the kid wasn't aware of the incident ten years ago, he couldn't have known that her mind was re-living that attack."
"Again Clem, we all understood that. The General understood that and in the end supported her lawyer's plea and the reduced sentence."
"Yes, but the crux of the matter, Mr Cartwright was that Darcy didn't have a gun. A gun was found at the scene. Katherine couldn't explain how it got there or whose it was."
"She wasn't capable, Clem."
"I know, I know, that's what the performers from the Star and Garter kept telling me. She was found sobbing and screaming over the dead boy's body. There was a gun lying on the floor; her gun and it had been recently fired."
"Again I know all that, but why didn't you keep that gun; surely it was evidence."
"We did, sir. Here it is…" Clem Foster handed Adam a rather large, brown handled colt 44.
Adam looked surprised and then for a moment relieved. "This isn't Katherine's gun; she would have had a hard time holding this up; it's got to weigh about 5 lbs'. Her gun was a smaller 32."
"Hmm, yep, maybe. Problem is we don't have that gun. And the gunsmith in Elk remembers Katherine buying the old colt 44 the day before, Darcy was killed."
Adam slumped and said, "Garner-Hallett must have taken her gun when he threatened her. Alexandra said that was a couple days or a week before Darcy was killed. Katherine obviously felt very vulnerable without one."
"True, her Lawyer also said she came and made arrangements about her will and of the guardianship of Alexandra, as well the beneficiaries of her assets such as the Star and Garter. However, Mr Cartwright it don't change the fact that the woman was sacred out of her mind and fired that weapon. However, what does change the fact is that, since we got your wires, we had the doc go over his files. We have the bullet he pulled out of Darcy. And it isn't a 44."
Adam's eyes lit up. "It's a thirty 32… Katherine's small pearl handled gun," he surmised.
"Yep and iffin we can match the bullet then your Mr Garner- Hallett has a lot of explaining to do about why he has a gun that killed Darcy Plummer; that's why I'm here."
"Ahh…Now about that…" shuffled Roy, "We got ourselves a bit of a problem, I…"
"No Roy we haven't," announced Adam. "You didn't lose the gun, Alexandra stole it." Adam laid the flower sack on the table and pulled the gun and bullets out.
"What in tarnation, I thought I had gone mad. I thought those two boys in there may have got their hands on it. I asked that little gal iffin she'd seen me put it back in safe and she told me I had. Why that little … "
"Yes, well Roy; you asked Alexandra if she saw it in the safe; she did see it just before she took it."
Roy face reddened and he shook his finger at Adam. "That don't mean she didn't lie ta me, you should…"
Adam held up his hands. "I know Roy, I'm just explaining how she thinks; you're right and if it's any consolation she is at school right now not sitting too comfortably. Sorry Roy, she's got it in her head that Garner- Hallett is going to shoot me with it. She's eleven and lets her imagination take off, you know that."
"I should have figured out she might do something like that, she was awful stirred up about the whole thing."
"Well, it some ways it was a good thing," said Clem. "We can examine it." Clem grabbed the small bullet from his evidence sack and laid it next to the ones Adam had put on the desk. "Look the bullets are a perfect match. This gun killed Darcy Plummer."
"Exceptin', it's not in the hands of the culprit who probably fired it. Garner-Hallett finds out about this, he's gonna claim this ain't his," figured Roy pointing to the gun now in Clem's hand.
"But you can return his stolen property, Roy. That's what you told him you'd do when you found it," proposed Adam.
"That's right!" exclaimed Roy, "I'll take this back to him. We keep this to ourselves for the time being until after your meeting with him this afternoon. I've got to meet the afternoon stage. The Hunter brothers lawyers comin' in on it and he wants us all in the judge's chambers at five o'clock. But, Clem here can mosey on over to Hiram's office while you got Garner - Hallett there and start to ask some questions."
"So that's how you had the gun in the first place, Garner - Hallett lost it?" asked Clem Foster.
"No well, it's a long story," said Roy. "We got some very imaginative youngsters here."
"Besides your daughter," said Clem pointing to Adam.
"Yep, there's more, a couple of harmless pranks were played and well the gun ended up in the Sherriff's hand," blushed Adam.
"Okay, now that's a story I'd like to hear. So you couldn't return it to this Garner -Hallett?"
"Nope, not yet, but now we can," smiled Roy.
"You didn't happen to get a stolen property report from him did you, Sherriff? I know they're not regulation right now, but well they should be…"
"As a matter of fact I did. You're a clever lad. If he denies he owns the gun, I can just read his description of his lost property; it's a very distinctive weapon with the silver inlay an all."
"Good Job, Sheriff, smart thinking yourself," heralded Clem.
"Why I thank you and I really appreciate you coming here to tell us all this and with the evidence too. You did real good. You ever think of leaving Elk, consider yerself welcome here. I could do with a bright young feller like you as deputy. Could end up being Sherriff one day when I retire."
"Thanks, I might just take you up on that, Sherriff Coffee."
"I appreciate your manners, lad, but you can call me Roy."
~oOo~
Alexandra's day had started out pretty rotten, but, she had to admit it to herself it was all really a result of her own doing.
Alexandra had arrived just in time for school and had to sit most of the morning with her tail still stinging on the hard wooded benches of the classroom. At the announcement of morning recess, her and Josh were the first to scuttle outside. She had been passing notes to Josh all morning asking him to meet at the big tree to discuss their plans, which had also included getting him to try and open the journal.
Josh had tried to open the journal, but insisted that he would damage the lock if he pried at it too hard. Alexandra wasn't willing to take that chance. She was a little disappointed; curious about what was in it, including, she hoped, some of Ivan's magic tricks, that would help her build up the purse she needed to pay Frank off. However with no new magic tricks, now at her disposal, she set about planning the afternoon with what she did know; Some singing and dancing combined with a few magic tricks. Time was going to be the biggest problem, as she only had about half an hour between her chores at Hop Ling's and meeting up with Marty, where she would be taken to the bank to deposit her birthday money. Until she deposited it, however, she would use her birthday money of twenty dollars as a stake.
By lunchtime, Alexandra couldn't believe her luck had changed. Miss Jones had announced before the lunch bell that she needed to attend a town council meeting and that Mrs Potter-Smythe would be taking the afternoon classes. So skipping school for the afternoon had just been made easier. Alexandra and Josh could go straight to the Virginia Stage depot and perform their routine there for an hour or two, while visitors either arrived on the afternoon stage and entertain and attract those waiting to take the late afternoon stage. They would have at least three hours before Alex had to meet Marty back at Hop Lings and deposit her birthday money at the Bank.
Alexandra and Josh quickly made their way to the stage depot. It was a street back from C street, next to the Silver Dollar. Her father and Uncles frequented the International House and the Bucket Of Blood, so Alexandra was confident she wouldn't run into any of them. Just the same, her and Joshed weaved their way through the back streets and alley ways of Virginia City.
Once there, they entered the waiting rooms, but found it empty. "Dang it, we've missed the stage," scowled Alexandra.
Unfazed Josh went up to the ticket box. "Afternoon, Mr Finn is there another stage comin' this afternoon?" he asked politely.
"Why Josh you thinking of takin' off somewhere or holding it up?" chuckled Charlie Finn.
"No sir," smiled Josh. "Alex and me have been practicin' for the school summer concert, and well we was hopin ta try out our routine on a real audience."
"Yeah, we kinda figured, Mr Finn that yer customers might like a bit of entertainment while they wait."
"Hmm, you ain't gonna a be doing any of the street buskin' are ya? I read about it. All sorts of singing and dancin' going on in the streets of New York. Don't reckon people will appreciate that here," said Charlie rubbing his chin. "Why we had a Eye-Talian man and his son in here once playing his guitar… they…"
"Well sir, yer never know." interrupted Alexandra. Mr Finn was known ta get side tracked with one of his stories. Alexandra found it a tad annoying. "People here appreciate singing and dancing and magic tricks. Josh here was gonna pass round his hat. Don't matter iffin we don't get anything, but iffin we do, we gonna donate it to a real special cause."
"Okay, well then might be jist what my grumpy customers need," relented Charlie. "The afternoon stage from Sacramento is late, and the one going onto Dakota's just about ready. Gotta a few folks a waitin' at the Silver Dollar; had ta give out a free lunch and sarsaparillas' to the folks."
The children smiled and nodded, then took off next door to the Silver Dollar Saloon, which was more like a waiting lounge with the amount of families in there, and where the local drinkers were now on their best behaviour. Alexandra and Josh couldn't believe the luck, not only was it highly unlikely that anyone she knew would be in the Silver Dollar, but there were going to be more people; more people meant a bigger audience and a variety of folks that would sure to appreciate her skills.
Alexandra pushed Josh forward; "Go on Josh do like we rehearsed."
Josh, pulled at his collar, before coughing to gain everybody's attention. "Howdy folks," called Josh and he took a step on the small rostrum at the back of the Saloon. "Mr Finn next door has sent me ta tell yer the stage should be here shortly, and while yer wait, he's givin' me the go ahead ta provide some entertainment fer y'all. So without further adoo's, I'd like ta introduce yer to the daughter of the legendary Merlin himself and now our own little darling of Nevada; Mah Lady Star." Josh opened his arms wide, introducing Alexandra.
There were a couple of giggles in the crowd, but most smiled and was glad of the reprieve to their boredom. Alexandra thanked the audience and then prepared to sing. She stood poised for a second; hands clasped in front of her then gave Josh the cue. He pulled out his harmonica and started playing.
A soon as the first three bars were played Alexandra started, with vigour and a few very animated movements to engage the audience...
"It oft was told me by my Dad, When I was young and but a Lad; How many wondrous things he saw, Done by our Old Tom Cat. Meough, meough, meough, " sang Alexandra exaggerating her movements and playing cat to the children in the audience. "When he march'd out of the Ash Hole, He march'd out, meough, meough," shouted Alexandra to a little boy sitting on his mother's lap. The child's eyes lit up when she pulled a stuffed toy mouse seemingly by magic from the boys ear. She continued on the repeat chorus again, finishing up with another magic trick. Tinker; the lovable and harmless town drunk was the lucky recipient of a quarter. One Alexandra found in his ragged coat pocket. "Meough, meough, meough," she sang again, " Meough, make mine milk," she said and threw the barman the coin. "Meough, meough , found some luck that day; Our Old Tom Cat meough'd. When he march'd out of the Ash Hole..."
Alexandra laughed with her audience and gave a bow, while Josh handed around his hat, collecting pennies and quarters for their hard work.
By the time Alexandra had completed a third song, they had quite a purse, and with only having to trade off three quarters and a couple of small props, which included a lovely lace handkerchief.
Josh passed around the hat while Alexandra sang. After two more songs, the duo rested to count their purse. "Okay we done pretty good," declared Josh, "I count twenty two dollars and twenty five cents. Didn't help you given those quarters away while ya was singing."
"Ahh, ya know there's method in my madness. People like getting something. You engage the audience and you get happy people willing ta throw in a quarter. For the two quarters I give away, we got near forty back; that's called investment."
"Oh yeah! Don't reckon we can draw any more investments from this crowd, though."
"Yeah I'm all sung out anyways," groused Alexandra.
Suddenly Charlie Finn came into through the swinging doors, "Hey there folks the stage from Sacramento's just pulling in. Ten minutes to departure to the Dakota Territory," he announced.
"Great a refreshed audience," cheered Alexandra.
"Thought you was all sung out," said Josh.
"I am, but I still have a couple of magic tricks up my sleeve." Alexandra moved over to an empty table and set up a cloth, three shells, and her grandfathers top hat, albeit a little dusty and still ripped, but an effective looking prop just the same. She then tied on a bright purple cape with a large wide collar spotted with gold stars.
Folks started packing up while others arrived at the Saloon, so Alexandra waited until the noise died down and most of the folks had their complimentary sarsaparilla in their hands, before she started.
"Okay now folks this is called the shell trick. I'll need a member from the audience ta assist me."
A little boy jumped up, raising his hand excitedly..." Me! Me!" he cried.
"Okay then. Now you got a penny?" she asked.
The little boy looked disappointed, and shook his head.
Suddenly one of the passengers standing up at the bar, interrupted. "Here use one of mine," he offered.
Alexandra looked up and smiled at a smartly dressed young man. "Thank you sir, now, iffin here this young fella looses ya penny yer ain't gonna beholding him for it, are ya?"
"No, not at all; perform you trick little lady," smirked the gentleman.
"Okay Kid," said Alexandra." Now watch this penny real close like. I'm gonna put it under this here shell."
"It ain't a shell it's a cup," corrected the little boy.
"Okay it's a cup, but we magicians call it a shell. Now watch carefully. You gotta guess which shell it's under after I done mixed them up and all around," instructed Alex. "Okay, now watch the yellow cup right, it's got yer penny."
"You sure; they's all yellow," observed the child.
Alexandra huffed and the interruption. "That they are, okay, here's your penny; see?" She held up the cup so the child could see the kindly donated penny. "Watch carefully," she said as she put the cup down hiding the penny from view. Alex shuffled the cups around, in out and out rambling as she did. "You know these here shells are magic; they can make the penny disappear completely, but iffin you're a lucky 'Son O'gun' it can multiply yer investment, so watch real close like and lets jist see how lucky yer are."
The little boy smiled and looked up at Alexandra in expectation." I said don't yer take yer eyes offa the cup," she chastised. The little boy quickly returned his intent glare. "Okay now; which cup is ya penny under?" she asked.
The little boy pointed to the middle cup and Alexandra lifted it up. There was a loud groan from the audience when the contents of the cup was empty. Alex looked at the little boys tear filled eyes, then at the scowl on the man's face that had donated the penny. "Told yer ya had ta keep a watch. But, don't go frettin' none; you look like a real lucky fella. Tell you what you can have one more pick. Okay?"
The little boy nodded, and pointed to the cup on the left. Alexandra lifted it and to everyone's surprise there instead of a penny was a quarter. "Well lookey here; told yer you was lucky. Your investment done growed."
The crowd cheered the lad's good fortune and Josh looked at her confused. Alex just shrugged, "Okay then who else wants ta have a go," she asked. Several people put their hands up hoping to quadruple their investments. However, as the magic game progressed, most weren't not as lucky as the little boy; forfeiting their quarters and pennies along the way.
The young traveller from the stage laughed along with the audience, then ordered another refreshment. He continued to observe the proceedings wondering when the crowd were going to cotton onto Alexandra's scheme. He thought he may have to stop it soon, least they skin the child alive.
~oOo~
Meanwhile across town in the law offices on C Street, Adam, Clem and Hiram were having quiet, but intense discussion with one very nervous Frank Garner-Hallett.
"I tell you I know nothing of the gun," insisted Frank Garner-Hallett.
"But, it is your gun Mr Garner - Hallett. The description you gave the sheriff leaves no doubt. And the sheriff returned it to you just this morning," countered Clem Foster.
"True, yes, but I know nothing of it being used in a murder in Elk. I won the gun in a poker game at a gambling establishment."
"Where?"
"Mississippi; on a Riverboat."
"Who from, perhaps he is the murderer?" asked Hiram Knoble.
"Yes, he could be... he looked kind of shiftless," stammered Garner - Hallett.
"Funny Mr Garner - Hallett, because I sort of feel that you are a little shiftless yourself. We have witnesses to say you were seen in Elk the week of the murder and a witness that puts you at the Star and Garter days before Darcy Plummer's murder. And now we find that you possess the very murder weapon," insisted Clem.
"What witness... that li... I mean my late father's lawyer. Yes I was in Elk sometime three years ago..."
"Try two, Mr Garner-Hallett," interrupted Adam.
"Two, three, I couldn't tell you exactly when. I went to inquire about the events that lead to my father's death and the theft of his estate, sir, nothing more," snarled Garner - Hallett.
"Theft?" growled Adam.
"Yes theft, Mr Cartwright, perhaps not from you. I can see the purchase of my father's shares was above board, however Willameena De Foe acquisition of my father's shares are dubious. The fact that you Mr Cartwright had an affair with her daughter at the time..."
Adam growled at the man again. With his brows pointed and his jaw ridged, he seethed, "Careful Mr. Garner-Hallett."
"Look, I'm here, trying to sort out my rightful inheritance. I know nothing of this murder. If I did, why would I take the murder weapon with me? Surely any clever criminal would have left the evidence behind, especially if the gun didn't belong to him in the first place."
"How do you know the gun didn't belong to the murderer?"
"Well, I.. I don't, I'm jist guessing; your accusing me aren't you?"
Clem continued trying to catch the man out, "It could have belonged to the victim. You could have wrestled it off him, the gun goes off..."
"If that was the case Sheriff Foster, wouldn't I have best stayed? It would be a clear case of self defence, would it not?"
"No, sir it may not! Katherine De foe was..."
"I tell you I won the gun," repeated a more nervous Garner - Hallett.
"Fine. Well if you could just give us a description of the man, or the name of the riverboat we can perhaps attempt to get some evidence that supports your story," said Clem, unrelenting in his persistence.
"Well, yes. I can I suppose... It will take some thinking, though. It was a long time ago... Now what was the name of the River boat..."
Adam felt frustrated with this whole interrogation. The man was not going to admit to anything. He was fabricating his alibi, and Adam was pretty sure he was there at the time of the murder. Alexandra had witnessed his threat to Katherine days before and now after speaking to the man, Adam's gut told him, that he was in some way responsible for Darcy's murder. Adam wanted to just lay into the man; get him to own up. However, Adam calmed himself and spoke clearly to the man sitting and sweating in the chair in front of him.
"While the sheriff here is checking out your story, maybe we could come to an agreement then. You know Katherine De Foe is in an institute for the criminally insane based on the conviction that she was responsible for Darcy Plummer's death. Your testimony as to how you acquired the gun and the gun itself is new evidence and could very well help with an appeal. Miss De Foe is unable to recall the events of that night, but it seems she may not have been the one to pull that trigger, or did so in self defence. If you would come to San Francisco with me and my Lawyer, make this statement to the appeal board and submit the real murder weapon, I will re-compensate you the price of your father's shares of the Star and Garter."
"With Interest, Mr Cartwright; after all I have lost a great deal of revenue over the last ten years."
"Yes, Hiram and your lawyer can work that out. But if you give your statement about the gun and your visit to Katherine..." continued Adam, hoping to catch the man out.
"I didn't say I visited Katherine. I may have visited the Star and Garter... Yes, now that I think of it, I'm sure I dined out or went for a drink there. After all, it did belong to my father, but I did not meet with Katherine. I don't know who said I did, but it is just not true. Perhaps she saw me there. Perhaps that was enough to worry her," explained Garner - Hallett.
"How did you know she was worried, Hallett," pointedly asked Adam.
"It's Garner- Hallett. I knew she was worried because my Lawyer told me so when he approached her about my claim, Mr Cartwright."
The man had an answer for everything, mused Adam. "Fine... Fine. But, I would suggest Katherine's knowledge of you there may have added to her distress and her mistaking Darcy for some kind of attacker. I will ask you again, will you make a statement regarding that visit and your procuring of the gun to the appeals board? If you do I will hand over the cost of the shares with interest," offered Adam.
Garner - Hallett chewed on his bottom lip. He really just wanted to get the hell out of here, but he knew that may look suspicious. Perhaps if he seemed keen to help, the heat would be off him and he would get a nice tidy sum of money without any more legal costs. "Yes, yes I will, but what if the appeal is not successful?"
"It should be. Her defence was grounded on the assumption that Katherine was frightened and that she shot Darcy presuming he was going to attack her; that she was reliving the attack your father made on her some years ago. If indeed she did see you, even for a moment in the lounge of the theatre she could have easily imagined such a threat. Her mental state was not stable."
"Very well, Mr Cartwright, I will make the statement, and the trip to San Francisco if need be."
"It will be more convincing if you make the statement in person," added Clem Foster.
"I'll see what I can arrange."
"Good!" said, Clem, "Hiram you draw up the necessary papers. Mr Garner- Hallett, if you would come back to the jail house we can type up the details of your statement, plus get out some wires and see if we can find your gambler. I will also be chasing up the witness statements from Elk;your lawyer and any of the staff from the Star and Garter. Should take no longer than about three days to get an answer. That suit you, Adam?"
"Hiram, do you think you can sort out the contracts? asked Adam.
"Yes," said Hiram.
"Good three days, then. Oh, but one more thing, Garner- Hallett; once you have been compensated for your shares in the Star and Garter you will never go to Elk again. You will also never contact me or my family again unless it has something to do with Katherine's appeal. And you will, Mr Garner - Hallett, never return to Virginia City... Never." demanded Adam.
Garner - Hallett swallowed hard, but nodded and then quickly left the building. He needed a drink to calm his nerves. He was sure he was going to put his foot in it sooner or later, especially with that smart deputy sheriff from Elk goading him. He was positive there were no witnesses to his unorthodox meeting with Katherine, well except the kid, but who would believe a kid. Besides, if the little girl had said something, or the woman, the sheriff would have hauled him off to jail. He remembered the child vividly; spunky little thing with blonde hair, though sacred out of her wits.
Garner- Hallett was also sure no one ever saw him enter Katherine's dressing room the night that drunk kid suddenly turned up. He'd used the back stage vomitories. No one saw him enter, not even Katherine until it was too late. The little girl might be a problem, maybe she'd been hiding there that night, but they obviously hadn't got the story from her yet. He was thankful she was away at some school, that way he might just be able to pull this off. Three days was all he needed. Three days and Adam Cartwright would hand over a wad of money and he would gladly leave Virginia City and never come back. He also had no intentions of going to San Francisco. Katherine De Foe could rot in an insane asylum for all he cared.
Still he needed a drink, somewhere where nobody knew him. He headed in the opposite direction to the Bucket Of Blood, deciding one of the many other saloons in Virginia City was a better choice. With that in mind Frank Garner - Hallett headed for the Silver Dollar Saloon, just before three pm that afternoon.
TBC
Chapter 20: It Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings Pt2
A.N. Sorry, I've split this up but it was getting too long. Good news is you get the next instalment soon, because I have written it already. Lajoci is probably betaing as we speak. I also introduced another Bonanza favourite; Clem Foster, though I've just changed his origin story a little for my purposes. The young traveller's identity will also be a nice surprise for some, when revealed in the next chapter. I've done a little cross over with another 1960's western, but played around with the time lines, not that they were plausible anyway. A clue? His identity, well; It's an ode to one of Tauna Petit-Strawn favourite T.V. western characters. A shout out to Jan Guest also, thanks for the compliments, and I'm writing as fast as I can...LOL. I wanted this out Asap, so there could easily be mistakes Lajoci and I missed, so forgive and enjoy.
Song Ref: "Our Old Tom Cat; or, The Cat's March Out of the Ash Hole" (1836) comic Song. Written by William Clifton. [Source: 049/062 Levy]