Chapter 17 – Hell Arrives

"You don't look surprised."

Ginny had just told Red Mitchell that the girl who'd worked for him for almost six weeks wasn't Sammi Jo Withers. She'd expected a bigger reaction than she got.

"I figured you weren't just a saloon girl a while back. Federal Marshal?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Pinkerton. Ginny Malone. Sorry I didn't tell you the truth, Red, but I couldn't afford to take any chances. Now I need your help."

"The disappearing girls?"

"Yep. They've been sent to San Francisco to be . . . whores."

"Without their consent, I assume?" This time Ginny nodded. "Who's involved?"

"Frank . . . and Beatrice."

"Damn." Red sat very still for more than two minutes before speaking again. His voice was angry . . . and hurt at the same time. "Frank. I trusted him completely. And Bea. How could Bea do that to other women?"

Ginny's tone was quiet and calm; she tried to give Red any comfort that she could. "They had everybody fooled for a long time. You can't blame yourself, Red. You had no way of knowing."

He shifted in his chair before looking back up at her. "What do you need me to do?"

"Put the key to Mae's room on the ring with the other keys, and make sure the liquor storage room key is on there, too. Give Frank the keys when he asks for them; after we leave I'll circle around back and meet Tom Springer. When Frank and Charlie bring Mae outside we'll swoop in and get 'em. Then we can come inside for Beatrice. Sorry, Red, but you're gonna need some new employees."

Red laughed grimly. "It'll be a pleasure to replace those two. You, not so much."

Malone couldn't help but chuckle. "I should be easy to replace."

"The saloon girl, probably. The friend, no."

"You've got a good set-up here, Red, and you treat your people fair. Once this kidnapping ring is broken up you shouldn't have any trouble gettin' quality folks to work for you."

"I hope Mae wants to stay here."

"I think she will. I gotta go talk to her; I'll be back down before ten. Just hang in there, it'll all be over soon."

Ginny left Red's office and headed upstairs, then down the hall to Mae's room. She knocked and then unlocked the door. Mae was standing at the window, staring outside wistfully.

"Another day, just like yesterday."

"Not exactly, Mae. Sit down, I've got a lot to tell you."

A few minutes later Mae was shaking her head. "Frank and Bea. I never would have believed it. Frank was so good to me after I was shot. And he's gonna try to send me where?"

"San Francisco. Don't give 'em any trouble today. Don't fight, or argue, or try to get away. As far as you know, they're just gonna break you outta here. I don't want you gettin' hurt. And neither does Red."

"Does Red know about Frank and Bea?"

"He does. And he's gonna need somebody to help him get over his broken heart." Ginny stood up and headed for the door. "I gotta go. Sit tight and act surprised, and remember, do whatever they want you to do."

"Yes, ma'am. When this is all over, will you tell me who you really are?"

"I promise to do that."

Ginny headed back down the hall. It was almost time for the beginning of the end.

XXXXXXXX

"We'll be in Kansas City sometime tonight." That was the first thing either of the Mavericks had said since late morning.

"Mmm-hmm."

"You okay with that?" Bart asked his brother.

"Mmm-hmm."

"You in there somewhere?"

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Bret had been quiet and withdrawn ever since Bart attempted to make him see the benefits of loving and being loved by a certain Pinkerton agent. What there was to mull over was beyond Bart Maverick's comprehension; he had a woman of his own, Doralice Donovan, waiting for him back in Texas. He'd conveniently forgotten that he fought the feelings of love for her to begin with, just like Bret had. Bart had finally come to accept both his love for her and hers for him, and he couldn't imagine being without it. Surely his brother could learn to do the same.

"Kansas City. We're almost there."

"Oh, yeah. Sleepin' in a bed will be a good thing."

"What about you and Ginny?"

"What about us?"

"You feelin' any better about seein' her?"

Bret sighed. "I guess. Some. Still don't know what I'm gonna say to her."

"How about 'I was a horses' ass'?"

"I'm sure she'd agree with me."

"Well, that's a start, at least."

Bret chuckled. "You do have a way with words, Brother Bart."

"I don't think you hafta worry about what to say to her, Bret. Matter of fact, I don't think there'll be much talkin' involved."

"You're probably right. Say, I wanna know somethin'." Bart glanced at his brother; Bret's expression was serious. "When did you get to be so smart?"

The younger brother laughed before he answered. "When you weren't lookin'."

XXXXXXXX

Red and Ginny headed out the door a few minutes after ten and Frank watched them go. He couldn't believe how much his life had changed in the past six weeks; ever since Sammi Jo came to Lil's. He was almost lost in his revelations when he realized what time it was and hurried to open the back door for the liquor delivery – and other things.

He and Charlie unloaded the supplies in just a few minutes. With Alfie still serving breakfast in the dining room, Frank quickly ran upstairs to unlock Mae's door. "Mae, girl, we're gettin' you outta here. C'mon with me, now."

"But Frank, I . . . "

"C'mon, you don't wanna hang for somethin' you didn't do, right? I can get you outta Kansas City and give Springer time to find the real killer. At least you'll be safe – and alive."

Mae nodded. "You have a point. I'm ready."

They crept back down the staircase and into the storage room; Charlie put a hat on Mae's head, wrapped her in a blanket, and started out the back door of the saloon with her. And that's when all hell broke loose.