Chapter

12 Hours Prior

"Morning Clem." Adam greeted morosely with a tip of the hat as he entered the jailhouse. "Any word on my brother?"

"What do you mean?" His question stumped the concerned brother.

"He's been missing. Haven't you heard?" As if wondering why the law wouldn't be on top of this.

"Oh that." The lawman smiled nervously. "Ain't you heard? He's been found." Adam let out a heavy breath as the weight had been lifted.

"No. I haven't heard. I've been away." He expound. "Sacramento. I just got in."

"Oh." Clem smirked half-heartedly.

"How's he doing? Is he alright?"

"I think he's doing alright. Ain't heard nothing otherwise." He answered, scratching his head. There was something in the way he said it that struck Adam as odd. Clem was grimacing. He seemed to have a nervous way about him, as if he was holding onto something. "Your brother Hoss there picked him up and took him home."

"Picked him up from where?" The elder brother pried. "Where'd they find him?"

"Out at Hallow's Point."

"Oh." Why did he get the feeling that he was pulling the answers from him? He glanced around the room not entirely confident that Clem wasn't in some sort of trouble himself. As if he was being held under some unseen gun, trying to get Adam to leave his side but the room appeared empty and non life threatening.

The lawman shuffled around some papers on his desk. Putting an odd amount of effort into appearing casual.

"You alright?"

"Yeah." Clem answered with a nod without looking up. The normally friendly lawman was definitely shutting him out. There was no doubt about that. For reasons unknown. If he was going to get anything substantial it wasn't going to be from him.

"Is Roy in?" Clem sucked in a deep breath trying to find the words.

"No Adam. He's out."

"Is he going to be back soon?"

"No, I reckon not."

"When do you expect him?"

"Not sure Adam. Perhaps not until days end."

"Where is he?"

"He's out Adam."

"Yeah you said that."

"I'm sorry. I can't say much more than that." He said setting down the papers and looking up. After meeting his tired and concerned eyes the lawman softened with understanding "Why don't you head home Adam? Be with your brother."

Biting his cheek to keep from saying more. "Yeah, I think I'll do that." He agreed with a tip of his hat. "Thanks Clem."

He walked out, taking in a deep breath of that cool air. It was a warm day but there was a slight breeze that brought in a welcoming brisk.

He smirked as he thought of his little brother safe at home. Adam didn't know whether to be angry or relieved at the news. Did he rush back for nothing? He supposed he'd determine that when he met up with his baby brother. Clem sure was acting strange. He was right though, Adam considered. He better head home to see how that little rapscallion is doing.

As he took a few steps to the edge of the porch, a horse drawn buggy coming from down the street stopped right in front of the jailhouse, in front of Adam, blocking his path. The worst stench came from this thing which offended Adams nostrils. The passenger jumped down paying no mind to the stranger on the porch and went inside.

The wagon was an open one, the load within was covered in dirty bed linen. If Adam wasn't mistaking it appeared as if blood droplets had seeped through in some places. It was so light it might have been rust or clay. The more he saw, the more the shapes underneath appeared to resemble bodies. The passenger and Clem were talking. Adam could pick up the gist of the conversation.

"Bodies back from Hallow's Point. Need to know where to take 'em?"

The driver was just getting down and going around to tend to the load. The driver was a bit on the shorter side, he appeared to be Caucasian with a dark reddish tan as if he's spent a great deal of time under the sun. He was caked in dirt and his clothes hung off him disheveled. He was in dire need of a bath and a shave. The horses Adam could see, upon second glance, were stage line horses. The buggy though had no markings suggesting it belonged to the line. Who knows, it might have been rented. Hard to say. The whole situation seemed off.

"These the bodies you pick up from Hallow's Point?" He asked as if he had already been privy to the details. The bedraggled man looked Adam up and down.

"It was apparent Adam wore no star, but he stood upright, confident and professional, as if he belonged to this station. He lowered his hat a bit to shade his eyes but maintained an authoritative stance.

"Yup. These are them."

"From the stage that took a dive?"

"Yup."

"Intriguing how you brought the bodies back instead of burying them where they were."

"Wasn't no call of mine, but s'pose that's what happens when you find out their cause o' deaths weren't nothing natural." Adam subdued his horror for the sake of more intel.

"Right." He sauntered over casually. "So, how did they die?"

"We guessing two were shot and one was stabbed but we need the doc to determine whether that be true or not."

"Three of them?"

"Four." The driver corrected. "The other poor bastard didn't have no marks that we could tell, but he been gone for a bit longer than the other three. We ain't really be sure what we're looking at."

"So uh, Roy?" Adam took the leap. "He's still out there at Hallow's Point then?"

"The Sheriff?"

"Hm." He nodded in confirmation.

"Last I left, he went out to the sights dem killin's was dun."

The passenger came back out and hopped back into his seat. "Let's go." He ordered the driver who tipped his hat at Adam, getting back into his seat and carrying on.

"They went up the street and turned the corner. Adam mounted his horse and followed at a distance. They stopped in front of the offices of Dr. Kleitser. He watched them as they called on the doc and methodically drug each body inside.

Adam was at an impasse. Head home or find out everything I can. He turned Sport and kicked him into gear.

~.~

"Afternoon. How can I help you?" The old man asked before recognizing the face before him. "Oh Adam. How've you been?" He went into a smile.

"Harley." Adam's smile was less than enthusiastic.

"How's your brother?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't been home."

"You haven't been home?"

"No."

"What you doing out here? Ain't you heard your brothers been found?"

"Yeah, I heard. I also heard a bit more to the story."

"Oh, that."

"Yeah that."

"Yeah, this whole thing's a messy business." He turned from the young man busying himself with straightening the breakfast table.

"What happened out here?"

"Well, Adam. I ain't rightly sure. I told the sheriff everything I know."

"What did you tell him?"

"I'm not sure I'm supposed to say?"

"Did Roy tell you not to?" He stopped cleaning as he recalled.

"No. I suppose he didn't. I don't know much anyhow." He went back to cleaning. "Let's see. I told him that your brother came in, eve fore last, with those two others."

"What two?"

"The two from the stage. That Ms. Hayden and Mr. Henshaw feller."

"Go on."

"They were in bad shape."

"How so?"

"They looked like they done walked all the way from Benton Falls. They barely made it through the front door fore they collapsed. That Ms. Hayden fell right there in the doorway. You see, I'd done gone out to water the horses. They be neighing and hawing. A little early for their feeding time, but I wasn't doing no-thing else, sometimes they can get a bit cranky you see. Doth my eyes deceive me? The figures way up yonder come stumbling through the heat. They were a sight. I gone out to meet them, Help carry in the woman. She made it to just within the door before she fell. The other two found chairs. I got them all water. Lady first, she seemed to be in the worst shape. They just drank and drank like they was rehydrating a block o' salt. No water was enough water with these three. They near made themselves sick with all that water they was puttin' down. All the while they was trying to tell me something. The lady kept trying to lift her hand to point but could barely neither do that. It took a bit a work to get them cooled off and cleaned up."

"What'd they tell you about the murders?"

"Nothin' at all. I didn't know there was murders till these fellers came back with the bodies."

"So, what did they tell you?"

"You know funny thing was, they did more speaking when they had no energy to. Course I couldn't understand a word of it. Seems the more they got back their energy the less they said. The only thing I really got out of them was that there'd been an accident and that there were four dead bodies out there. I assumed naturally that they all died from the accident but I got the inclination that that wasn't the way it was after I asked them to tell me where it was. They showed me on a map it was out near Drummond Rock. That's what I shown these fellers here. But then they'd shown me Buckskin Cavern. Said there were two bodies out there. Just when I thought that was the end of it, they start spewing on about this old line-shack out at Jute Corner. Said someone was out there too. I didn't know what to think. Got all these dead bodies strewn about the desert. I just relayed what they tol' me. Course by the time the posse done and got here, no one was in any condition to do any real talkin. It wasn't until they came back with the bodies last night that I knew there was anything weird about them at all. They asked me to send off a couple graphs to the Virginia City Sheriff and to the line, telling them we got us some murders. Roy got in here this morning. Came in with some investigator. A special agent type for the stage line."

"Where are they now?"

"They went back out to them sights. See if they could find themselves any evidence."

"How did the three of them look to you?"

"Well Adam, I just told you that."

"No, that's not what I mean. Think back, did any of them have any injuries on them, defensive or otherwise?" He considered a moment, then looked up at Adam through his brows.

"Yeah Adam. Your brother."

"Joe?"

"That's right." He was afraid to ask.

"What kind of injuries did he have?"

"Well, his hand seemed to be busted up. It was all blue and swollen. Also, his forehead looked like it'd been bleeding. Dried by the time he got to me but you could see it had a pretty good trail. Seeped a little as I was cleaning it."

"What about the other two?"

"No sir. None as far as I could tell."

"What happened to the other two? Where'd they go?"

"Your brother took Little Joe home. One of them posse boys took the other two on into Virginia City."

"You wouldn't happen to know where their ticket purchase was for?"

"As a matter a fact." He nodded." "San Francisco. The both of them."

"Thanks Harley."

"Now Adam, you wouldn't be thinking about doing anything silly, would ya?"

"You know me."

"Yeah Adam."

"Do me a favor. Don't tell the sheriff or anybody else that I was here." He patted his arm and walked out.

"Now wait a minute, Adam." He chased after but Adam was too quick for his old bones. "Was I not supposed to tell you any of that?" Adam mounted his horse. "Adam!" He called out, but Adam was already riding away, headed back to Virginia City. "Dab Nabbit!"

~.~

The ride back to town was just over two hours. It gave him a lot of time to think. He still wasn't sure whether he should go straight home and ask Joe what happened. Get his answers straight from him. The one thing that kept him from doing that was he knew right now that posse was out gathering evidence to build up a case. Possibly against his baby brother. If he was going to be able to defend him, he would have to gather everything he could, while he could. There'd be plenty of time to talk to his brother once he gather's everything he needs. If all goes well, they won't be looking to Joe at all. The evidence will point to one of these other two, but just in case, he wanted to be ready.

His first stop after he'd gotten back in was the International House Hotel. "Afternoon Tom."

"Hey, Adam. Is it noon already?"

"Just after."

He took out his pocket watch and took a gander. "I guess you're right." He responded before placing it back in his breast pocket. "How's Little Joe fairing?"

"Good, I think. You have a couple of guests here from that stage that rolled over?"

"Yeah, tragic event. Tragic."

"Yeah." He responded abruptly. "They're staying here though?"

"Yup they're upstairs now."

"How long are they planning on staying for?"

"Thursday. We've managed to get them on a stage then. That was the nearest opening we had. We could have gotten them on earlier if they chose to go at separate times, but they insisted they wanted to ride together."

"Are they sharing the same room?"

"No. They got two separate ones."

"They pay upfront?"

"They don't have no money on them right now. Room and board are all compliments of the stage line until they can get their belongings back to them and get their finances all straightened out and back in order."

"Right."

"Have they gone anywhere other than this hotel?"

"No. Nowhere. They've stayed in their room ever since they got back. Haven't gone nowhere even to eat. They even get their meals delivered to them."

"You mind if I get their room numbers?"

"Now Adam, I can't give you that."

"That's a shame. I was hoping to offer them my sympathies. You said it yourself they haven't been out of that room."

"I'll tell you what, if you'd like to get a message to them, that I can do."

"No Tom. I suppose it can wait."

"I'm heading across the street but I'll be back in a few. If they try to leave this hotel for any reason, I want to know about it."

"You want me to keep an eye on them?"

"Yes."

"That's awfully funny." Adam failed to see the humor. "They already have eyes on them." Tom nodded to the barroom. The driver who brought back the bodies that Adam had talked to this morning was in there with his eye to the staircase, casually sipping on clear liquid from a shot glass. "Clem sent him over here this morning. He's been here all day." He'd been cleaned up from the last time he saw him as if he'd entertained a fresh bath.

"Do me a favor. Don't let him know I was asking about them."

"I'm not going to get into trouble, am I?"

"That's what we're trying to avoid."

~.~

Dr. Kleitser was fairly new in town. Came in about six weeks back. Called in to work on another case. Decided he liked the feel of the town and would stick around for a while. Work was not in wanting here. He stepped into the front office. A heavy odor of alcohol and formaldehyde, covered a smell that was even worse and drifting from the backroom where the doctor worked.

"Afternoon." He called out to get his attention. The doctor who was leaning over his patient looked out.

"How can I help you sir?" He set down his tools and came out to meet him.

"I'm inquiring about the bodies brought back from Hallows Point?" The doctor looked towards the backroom where Adam could see the swollen and discolored legs of what used to be a young woman. How's the progress going with your examination?" The Doctor looked Adam up and down.

"I've finished my preliminary report. It's going to take me some more time to complete my full-length examination."

"What have you learned so far?" He dipped back to just within the door and pulled out a folder.

"This is my report here." He said, handing it to Adam. "Like I said, it's just preliminary." Adam took the folder and skimmed over the pages.

"Two appeared to have died from a gunshot, one had been stabbed." The doc capitulated as Adam read.

"How about the last?"

"The last one was in the worst shape in regards to decomposition. Couldn't find much in the way of torn flesh. I had to dig a bit deeper than that. What I did find was more internal injuries. His shoulder for example had been shattered. Three ribs were broken and he took blunt force trauma to his head."

"So, he was beaten to death?"

"It's hard to say whether one or all of these injuries are actually what had killed him. Like I said, this is all very preliminary."

"How long will it be before the official report comes out?"

"I should have the answers you seek by tomorrow morning."

"Thanks doc."

~.~

He didn't go in the front doorway. This time he went in through the saloon. "Two." He signaled to the bartender. The bartender poured two small glasses of clear liquid and set them before Adam, to which Adam nodded and took them straight over to the watchman and sat with him. "They got you watching them?"

"That's right." Adam slid one of the glasses over. The watchman went only as far as to smell it before looking back at Adam wearily.

"I don't drink when I'm working." Adam furrowed and glanced at the shot glass on the table. "Water." He explained. "The bartender is keeping it filled for me." Adam sat back and dipped back the glass he intended for the man. He had this one pegged all wrong. Can't exploit the missteps of the un-inebriated, question his diligence; or can he?

"So, I take it they haven't been out of their rooms?"

"Nope. Been tucked up real snug like all day."

"You've been up to see them?"

"No."

"How can you be certain they're up there?"

"Ain't no but two ways down. This stairwell and the other. I got eyes on them both."

"But have you seen them?"

"I done said I ain't."

"How do you know they're even up there?"

"The desk clerk told me so."

"Desk clerks get distracted. People start coming in and out. They're not watching the stairwell."

"I've been here for six hours. You're telling me they ain't been up there for six hours?"

"Wouldn't you feel silly if they weren't?"

"You tell me, if they weren't up there, then where would they be in all this time?"

"Oh, I don't know, halfway to San Francisco by now." Adam responded lifting the second glass and sipping it in a sly smile.

"You obviously ain't seen those two yesterday. If you had, you'd know neither one would be in any condition to ride."

"Well, maybe I should go up and check myself. You know, just to be sure. I'd sure hate for you to come off looking foolish."

"Suit yourself, but I don't think it'll be me coming off looking foolish." Adam threw back the rest of the second glass."

"What'd you say their room numbers were?"

"He's in 103. She's 104."

"Thanks." He patted the table and went off up the stairs.

~.~

He knocked on the gentleman's room first. When no one came to answer Adam began to entertain his own wild theory. The joke would be on the both of them if they really weren't in here. After no response to the second knock, he went to the lady's room. Adam was caught off guard when an older gentleman answered the door."

"Mr. Henshaw?"

"Yes. That's me." Perhaps the watchman got his rooms wrong.

"Ms. Hayden?"

"She's sleeping." Or worse. Adam peered in. For all he knew, Ms. Hayden was lying in there dead. This man might have just killed her, or was about to. Adam casually reached down to his firearm. This had not escaped Henshaw's eye. He stepped back involuntary. He was not armed and felt every bit of the threat.

"Who is it?" A groggy voice came from inside.

"There's a gentleman out here asking for you." Adam lowered his defenses. She seemed drowsy and lethargic when she came up behind the older gentleman. Her hair was tangled and matted. It really did appear as if she'd been sleeping, more than that as if she was under the influence of a depressant. So why then was Mr. Henshaw here, watching over her as she slept? The whole thing seemed odd. She cared little for her appearance to this new stranger.

"How can I help you?"

"Actually, I'm here to talk with you both." They glanced at each other then stepped aside to let Adam step through. "As it happens, the bodies out there in the desert didn't die naturally. I was hoping you'd be able to shed some light on the matter."

"You were supposed to be out there retrieving our things. Did you come back with any of that?"

"Ms. Hayden, this is a serious matter."

"You're darn right it is! The stage was supposed to offer us some assurance of protection."

"Tell me what happened. Reparations will be paid."

"I don't know what happened. It all turned to chaos."

"Are you telling me, you don't know how those people died?" She was appearing very agitated now. She and Mr. Henshaw kept exchanging eye contact.

"Surely one of you has to know something. Four people are dead and you don't know anything."

"Oh, you can't put that fourth one on us." Bingo.

"How about the other three?"

"You were supposed to be getting our stuff so we could be on our way. We shouldn't even be here."

"You know something. Tell me."

"We don't know nothing." They looked at each other again.

Adam thought now that it might have been a mistake to interview them both together. Perhaps she was afraid to speak around the older gentleman. There was a reason why the man was in here. He had his own room, but he was here watching over the girl. Making sure she didn't speak? Perhaps he was the killer. Of course the alternative could be true. It could really be she that was the murderer and the man was protecting her. Out of force or fear? It was difficult to know. All he could hope for was that somehow he didn't screw up the investigation by speaking to them first.

"Did you ask Joe? Did you talk to him?"

"Laurie." Henshaw scolded but she continued.

"Joe?"

"Yes Joe." She insisted.

"Are you saying Joe killed those people?"

"Talk to Joe." Adam dipped his hat and left. Perhaps it was time to talk to Joe.

~.~

Adam took the hotel steps back down two at a time. He nearly ran straight into Roy who was coming in from the bar.

"Sheriff." The designated watchman was cleaning up his table.

"Adam. You're back in town." The young man lowered his head when he realized how curious he might have come across, checking out the watchman. Roy also picked up on how confused Tom, the desk clerk was, that Adam was up there.

"Just got back."

"This morning from what I hear."

"That's right."

"Been up to see your brother?"

"Not yet."

"Curious how you wouldn't go see him right when you got back."

"Word is, he's fine. Besides, I had some business to tend to before I went home."

"Business of course." Roy flashes a glance to the upper floor. Adam seeing this, dips his hat and moves past. He couldn't get out of there quickly enough.

"Oh hey Adam." The sheriff stops him. "You know the most curious thing, there's a man going around town pretending to be a lawman. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that?"

"No Roy. Haven't seen a thing." A tall man in a black miller style bowler hat and charcoal grey suit and vest, skipped steps up the porch looking down at a letter in his hand. As he came through the hotel's front entrance, he folded it and placed it in his breast pocket.

"You ready?" He asked Roy as he removed his hat to tuck under his arm. He had a rim of black hair surrounding a round dome. Apart from his balding head he appeared to be in his late 30's or early 40's. He wore a western style tie atop a white threaded shirt.

"This is Brent Simmons. Special Agent for the Union Stage Line." Brent looked at Adam wondering why he would be introduced to this man.

"This is Adam Cartwright." What significance was that to him? "Joe Cartwright's elder brother." Immediately his face changed. He softened his stance, but remained professional.

"Nice to meet you." He held out a hand. "Unfortunate we meet under these circumstances." Adam noticed one more thing about him. Though Caucasian he appeared to have a deep set dark tan to him, not burnt but dark, as if a majority of his time is spent outdoors.

"Indeed." The way he said that was curious to Brent. The young man said that as if he knew more than he should. It was funny how he was even here. He dismissed the oddity.

"Shall we Sheriff?" The lawmen went up and Adam went out. If Hayden and Henshaw were to tell them the same thing they told him, then it wouldn't be too much longer, before they'd be coming for his little brother. He just had to get to him first.