Chapter Seventy-Seven
"We have searched both rooms. Very few clues if any at all. There were several alcohol bottles beneath the floorboard, letters from home, some opened and others not—-. Their friends don't have any ideas. Just the boys have been sneaking out and heading into the city." the head of the School Board told the Barkleys.
"James David had this unfinished sketch of a mountain ram. With Sonora written on it and a map of Mexico. But I assume if they ran away, they would have taken the large amount of cash in the room and clothes. Nothing seems to be missing." The new Headmaster added.
Jarrod did an intake of air and Nick frowned.
"David offered to take them hunting, one day. Surely not in winter and such in the middle of the night." Jarrod spoke up.
"Surely not, it's a long way to Sonora and not a direct train. Over eleven hundred miles without a clear route. Them boys would be outta their minds to take off in the middle of the night. We raised them with better sense than that."
"Plus David and Ximena have gone to Monterey for the month. Taken little Jimmy for a holiday and we set them up with Ruthie. Timothy and his family went too. I will telegram them today if the boys don't show up."
The headmaster also remarked, "All three boys had money in their room. Wouldn't think they would take off that far without money."
"They all have good heads on their shoulders. Right?" Nick mumbled.
Jarrod just shook his head.
—&—-
The new Headmaster assured the men he would send word quickly of any news and hopefully, they would show up, "Hungover with a kitchen and garbage discipline detail and CURFEW checks to begin."
"Me too," Jarrod sighed.
"Do whatever you need to, sir. I haven't done a very good job on my part."
Jarrod placed his arm on his brother's shoulder, "We both have some crow to eat."
"Thank you again, sir. We will head to the cafe on Sixth Street. The boys frequent there. Might get lucky. And meet our friend, Mr. Nate Springer."
"Cafe on Sixth Street? Will have to try it one day myself, new and all to down."
"Best pie in town," Nick let out a gruff mumble.
—-&—-
Nate met them at the cafe. The ladies and busboy hadn't seen the boys in a couple of days. Nick tipped each one extra for the information and ordered them coffee.
The three of them sipped on their coffee and ordered sandwiches.
"Any ideas?"
"School was a dead end. Checked with the bank and neither of them withdrew cash." Jarrod spoke up.
"Well, I have to be at the courthouse for Lila Autonberry's case. I am hoping to file a continuance if it doesn't go well—- so I can find some documentation or testimony or something."
"You think it will help?"
"Clearing her name would help her son find his place in the world. David wants to bury all his Father's sins. Now Branch? That's another story. He's rotting in the grave but I may on a couple more heapings of coal."
"Timothy and David agreed that any implication or incrimination of Peterson would bode poorly for Maris and Nick. Jarrod, you got the Headmaster sacked but his death isn't on you. Once I get Lila declared not culpable in the crime, we can bury this thing forever."
"Will you fill Phil in? We may need his help if they don't show up soon."
"Will do. I will stop by on the way to the courthouse. Let me take those two traveling bags too. Will send them to the house."
"Thank you, Nate."
"And Jarrod and Nick, go find our boys."
"Yep, that is the first priority."
—-&—-
"Mr Barkley?"
"Yes, son." As they waited outside the cafe for a hack.
"I may know where they went. Just don't know if they are still there."
Nick fished out some coins for the young man.
"There's a bar that will serve anyone, called Barbarys. On Twenty-first Street. Dancing girls and others—-" he whispered.
Nick blanched at the saloon's name; he handed him more and grabbed Jarrod. Jarrod was sending a message to Phil Davis for help and where they were headed.
"Hell, I never even thought of this."
Jarrod turned his head in confusion.
Nick jumped on the hack, "A saloon on Twenty-first Street, Barbary's"
He added the address to the messenger with an extra coin, "Hurry."
Jarrod looked as if he was stricken with chest pain but he quickly got into the hack.
"Hurry!"
—&—
JT was still unconscious from the beating he took; Chip had a deep knife wound on his upper arm and James David was smarting from the knot on the head.
The previous night was a blur to them.
"The ladies say we can go upstairs if we pool our money. Not full service whatever that means but —-"
The scantily clad ladies plied them with drinks and took their money easily.
James David shook his head at the words he heard from the stairs as the boys walked up to the second floor. He was feeling the effects of all the beers he had consumed.
"Kids' names are Barkley and Autonberry. According to the girl—-Got one's school papers. Boys, we are sitting on a gold mine. Looks like they are who they say they are—-"
The two bouncers looked around. No one seemed to notice the three lanky boys going upstairs. It was a slow night so business was mainly the regular drunks at the bar or men with their own secrets to keep.
The boys entered the room to a mock striptease and they gawked as they sat on the bed with velour covers and pillows. They did not notice an ounce of their surroundings. A mirror on the ceiling caught their red-faced looks.
"Hey Chip, look at the feathers on the hook. Good memories huh?"
"You better believe it."
The boys whooped as the young whore tossed her wares toward them suggestively. They were entranced by the well-endowed girl so close to their age. JT stared into her eyes for a moment; the dancer's eyes seemed void of emotion and dull in sparkle. It seemed so desperate and out of place for someone her age He turned and looked around the room. He saw white powder amongst the half-filled liquor bottles.
"Hey guys, we need to get out of here."
"Just another minute or two, she's getting to the real stuff, " James David said inebriated.
JT motioned Chip to the bureau contents.
He frowned, "Yeah, come on James David."
"Where are you boys going?" the girl seductively asked as she rapped on the door.
Chip answered with false bravado passing the lady at the door. He pushed past her but was shoved back by the two men in the corridor. Chip took a knife to the arm in the scuffle. It bled profusely and James David was hit by a billy club. JT fought back with everything he had but was rendered unconscious quickly at the brutish men.
The ladies held the door open as they dragged the boys back inside.
One of the bouncers yelled downstairs, "Get the boss. Nothing to see up here men. Just some boys not wanting to pay up–roughing up the ladies."
The youngest whore wrapped his arm in a dirty linen towel from the washstand.
"Just give them your money and you will end up safe. On a boat somewhere. But alive." she whispered to Chip.
The men at the bar and tables turned back around to their drinks and cards.
"Hope they remember this lesson." and the men laughed rudely.