"Now as you can see Mr Vanderbilt, Mr Garland and I have done well out of this scheme of the good doctor's."

Heyes could see Vanderbilt's eyes light up at the thought of how much he could make out of the idea. Soapy's manner was both reassuring and kind, exuding reliable honesty. He was dressed in an understated but obviously expensive style. This paired with Guffy's flashy enthusiasm had easily reeled him in. Soapy gave the man another smile as he said happily.. " Before I invested a month's pay in this scheme, I was only a low grade employee in a mining operation, earning not much more than a pittance, and now, well now, my life is far more interesting, due to a much improved bank balance."

Heyes knew even before Vanderbilt spoke, that he was totally hooked, and hid a grin as the man said. "I'll invest twenty thousand dollars."

Soapy stood back as if in shock, and said firmly. "Oh no, no, Mr Vanderbilt, that is far more than we would ask for."

"Well, you know what they say, fortune favours the bold!"

Heyes looked down as his grin broadened, as he thought. "Gotcha."

Soapy gave a sigh, conveying what appeared to be a very real reluctance , as Guffy added. "Read through the documents again, just so we all know that you're definitely understanding what you're agreeing to."

Guffy winked over at Heyes, this was hie cue! He cleared his throat stretched, looking bored and fidgety. Though he was in fact enthralled by what he was seeing. Guffy looked over at him as if irritated, an said. "Very well Joseph, you go get some air, while the adults finish up here."

Heyes hesitated for a moment, then said as if worried. "You won't tell my Uncle I got bored will you?"

Guffy shook his head. "Not this time boy..."

Heyes threw them a quick grin of thanks and headed as if towards the door. But once out of sight he took a slight diversion and went up the back stairs of the Vanderbilt house to the office Kid had described.

He got a bit lost, before he remembered Kid had said to turn left not right. Glad there was no one to see him all turned round, once he went in the right direction, he found it easily enough. He smiled when he saw the safe, just where his cousin had described. It was of course the same type that he had been obsessively practising on, a Chubb 1865. Heyes strode towards it with a whispered. "Well, hello there beautiful! I am looking forward to getting close to you..."

He gently caressed the door, before closing his eyes with a contented smile and starting to manipulate the combination lock, listening carefully to the clicks. Something like exhilaration swept through him, when in hardly any time at all, he coaxed the brightly painted door to open. His eyes widened at the money and glittering jewels nestling alongside sheafs of paper, neatly bound with expensive ribbon. He knew the documents must be important, as he recognised the way they were tied, from their time working with the lawyer in Kansas City. Careful not to let himself be distracted by the shiny, he carefully unrolled one of the bound rolls and started to read.

Philadelphia National Bank

Statement of Assets.

His eyes widened at the size of the neatly recorded amounts of cash in the plus column of what was obviously a record of a bank account. Already a little surprised at the fact the money was deposited out in Philadelphia, as Vanderbilt had said last night, that he'd never been further East than the Dakotas, Heyes' puzzlement only grew at the name on the account. "Maximilian Van Der Walt." If this wasn't a document relating to Vanderbilt's finances, Heyes could see no real reason why it'd be in his safe. Then something Kid had said on their arrival back at Soapy's about the conversation he'd overheard came to mind

A very quick look on the desk turned up a document with Vanderbilt's signature on, and Heyes' suspicion that one of the names was an alias, was quickly confirmed, as the signature on the document on the desk and the one on the letter underneath the banking details were an almost exact match.

With a small smile, Heyes carefully removed the two documents, replacing them with the sheets of paper that he'd brought with them, which were full of random numbers and letters, so anyone casually looking would think nothing amiss. He then retied the bundle, and shut the safe door quietly, chuckling softly, they had their leverage.

ASJ

Soapy smiled when Heyes handed him the papers a couple of hours later, once they were safely ensconced in his parlour. "I remember this scandal, about six years ago there was a bank employee sentenced to five years for embezzlement. The authorities only found a fraction of the money, and the man who was sent to prison, William Small, to get a reduced sentence, named Max Van Der Walt, as his partner, who got clean away with the rest of the fortune they stole. No one knew where'd he disappeared to, until now."

Kid listening behind them, asked quietly. "Think his wife is involved and knows who her husband really is?"

Heyes shot him a knowing look, and shook his head, but Soapy smiled at him gently and walked over to him, resting his hand on his shoulder as he said."No, with things like this, the less people who know the truth, the easier it is for the person to stay hidden, so she's probably an innocent victim in all this."

The Kid sighed, feeling more uncomfortable, rather than less with the news. He hated to think what the woman would feel, if she ever discovered the truth about the man she'd married in good faith.

San Francisco Chronicle

May 12 1868

Charles Vanderbilt, a man well respected, and with significant business interests in the city, was found by his pregnant wife on Saturday, dead, still holding the gun with which he had chosen to end his life. By his left hand, there was a note, in which he confessed that he was really Max Van de Walt. The infamous criminal who six years ago, successfully absconded with a fortune from the First National Bank of New York, where he had been employed. The money has yet to be tracked down, though authorities are hopeful of success in tracing it. It is unknown why he chose now to confess his criminality, but perhaps with the imminent birth of his child, his conscience got the better of him. His 'wife', who appears to be another innocent victim of this awful man, is resting under the care of their doctor and loyal housekeeper. She is at present unavailable for comment, but it is hoped that in due course, she will be fit to give her side of the story. The bank from which the money was stolen is offering a significant reward for any information regarding its whereabouts. Please apply to this paper for information.

The Kid reading over Heyes' shoulder shook his head. "It weren't a suicide, Heyes, I'm sure him losing all that money in the con, and not being able to get it back, made him try cheat his partner, who killed him."

Heyes nodded in agreement. Soapy had said as much to him, when he'd brought the paper in to him, while the Kid was out practising, his face worried. He was obviously very aware that the public nature of the death, would bring with it, unwanted scrutiny.

Just before hurrying back out the door, he'd turned to Heyes and said. "Jim, Silky and I, are getting out of town for a few days, until the heat settles some. You and the Kid are welcome to join us of course."

Heyes was intending to suggest they do just that to his cousin, but before he could say anything else, the Kid sat down heavily at the dining room table, rubbing his stomach as his face twisted in some discomfort. He put his chin in his hands, and sat in silence for a moment, before turning to Heyes, his face drawn. "Vanderbilt was an ass, but he didn't deserve to die, and his poor wife...that baby of theirs..." He trailed off, swallowed hard, then added quietly. "I can't do this no more, Heyes."

Heyes felt his stomach churn at the words. Not liking the unhappiness or determination he could hear bubbling under them, he came up behind his cousin and asked softly, worry colouring his own tone, fearing his answer, but knowing he needed to hear it. "Whatcha saying Kid?"

The Kid turned to look at him, his expression miserable."I want out, Heyes..." The Kid knew that he'd gone as far as he could in this line of work, there was just too much emotional fall out. And now he was worried about the ruin that the man's wife would be facing, along with the unborn baby.

Heyes squeezed his shoulders gently and said in a musing tone. "You know Kid, I figure some anonymous Good Samaritan will make sure the details of the account where the money is hid, ends up with Mrs Vanderbilt, so she can claim that reward they're offering, and with the money found, I'm figuring the law will stop digging."

The Kid smiled up at his friend, grateful, and nodded, but he was still done. " That's a real good idea, works for all of us... "but it don't change anything Heyes, I gotta leave, I ain't cut out for this kinda work..."

"Then I'll come with ya, Kid." It was an easy thing to decide, because though conning people didn't bother him as much as it did his friend, it did leave him feeling uncomfortable enough that he knew it wasn't something he could do forever. So with Kid leaving, it seemed that now was as good a opportunity as any, to call time on it.

The Kid however shook his head, because he'd walked back to Soapy's house after his shooting practice, a thought had come to him. And that thought had only grown into a decision. It was one that surprised him, and he knew Heyes would hate, but he was certain it was the right one for them both. Heyes looked at him in some confusion, so he spoke quickly, ignoring the heavy lump settling in his stomach "No, Heyes, we bin together for so long, I ain't sure who I am without you, and I gotta know... I need to learn to be myself."

Heyes paled at his words and snapped. "What happened to where I go, you go, Jed?"

"Oh, C'mon Heyes, I was just a boy, when I said that, and things ain't the same no more!" The Kid swallowed hard, hoping his friend wasn't going to make this even more difficult then it already was, and met his gaze firmly.

Heyes returned his look fiercely, and said. "Well, Kid, if that's the way you want it, then who am I to argue? It'll be good not to have to worry 'bout having to dig ya ass out of trouble..."

While the Kid understood the hurt the words had sprung from, they still stung, and he glared, before slamming out of the room, deciding that he needed to go shoot something again, before this escalated into a full blown shouting match.

ASJ

He had just set up his fourth set of targets, when he heard footsteps behind him. He swirled round, unsurprised to see Heyes behind him. "Kid, I don't want us to part on bad terms. I promised our folks we'd stick together, there's got to be a way we can make this work."

The Kid sighed heavily and walked over to join his cousin. "I think we gotta go it alone, just to see that we can, and even if you just said it 'cos you were mad, you probably will get in less trouble without me, as I can't often back down from an idiot..."

Heyes snorted softly, then nodded, staring at him intently for a moment, and let out a loud breath, as he obviously realised that there was no way he was going to change his mind and said. "Eighteen months, Kid, we meet back here in eighteen months...then we can decide where to go next all right?"

The Kid wasn't sure, and to give himself time, he turned back to his targets, hitting each of them dead centre, despite the speed of his shots, then twirled the gun back into his holster. Only then did he turn back to an impatient looking Heyes and nod his agreement. "Eighteen months then Heyes."

Heyes gave him a dimpled smile. "And you better be on time, or I'll just have to drag your ass back here."

The Kid managed a grin, despite his mixed emotions. "Like to see ya try, Heyes."

"Oh believe me, Kid, there won't be no try in it. Don't need no fast draw, to whup my kid cousin's ass I can tell ya."

The Kid snorted in derision, though he suspected as sneaky as Heyes was, he was right. Of course there'd be no need, as he had every intention of meeting his cousin as planned. Because he'd never broken his word to him yet, and didn't ever intend to, so said meaning it. "I ain't sure about that, Heyes, but won't need to anyways, I'll be here."

There was a slightly awkward pause, then Heyes said. "There's a stage to Cheyenne at the end of the week, Figure you can wait till then?"

At the almost plea in both Heyes' manner and tone, the Kid, though having intended to leave sooner, found himself nodding his agreement. "I'll tell Soapy this evening..."

ASJ

Heyes stirred at a noise, and opened his eyes, spying the Kid trying to sneak out, his things packed, and a letter in his hand. "Now Jed, were you thinking of leaving without saying goodbye? That ain't real polite ya know."

Kid sighed, and slumped down on the chair by the door, looking guilty. "I figured it'd just be easier this way..."

"Well you figured wrong...that's why I do most of the thinkin' between us, Kid."

The Kid frowned, then shrugged, and replied with a surprising lack of heat to his tone. "I dunno about that, Heyes...but while I'm thinkin' about it, you can buy me breakfast."

Heyes was a little surprised at the Kid's easy surrender, but just happy that he wasn't facing an argument, that he didn't feel up to making, he quickly agreed, though couldn't resist adding as they walked out. "Yeah, you'd better save your money, as I wont be around to pay ya bail money, when you end up in jail, for trying to steal some lawman's pretty daughter."

The Kid snorted as he replied. "You just can't help yerself can you. Heyes?"

ASJ

A couple of hours later, feeling a little lost, Heyes watched as Kid's stage departed, not moving until it had vanished from sight. Then he sighed, and shrugged, to try ease the sense of losing something important. In a mostly successful attempt to distract himself, he quickly filled his head with own plans for the immediate future. His view that a more honest way of stealing would suit him better, hadn't altered with the Kid's leaving, so he had decided to move onto pastures new: Find a gang that would see his skills as being useful enough to take him on. He figured it wouldn't be difficult, and he was looking forward to the different challenge being an outlaw would bring with it.