Blood Riders Read Online Free PDF

what, sir?” Hollister asked.
    “Get out of here. Permanently, I might add.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yes. But I need to hear from you what happened.”
    Hollister smiled. Then laughed. He wasn’t sure why he was laughing—and he saw Whitman’s face redden, which only made him laugh more. His nerves were jangled, and he felt as though he might burst if he didn’t laugh. It was the only thing he could think to do. In Leavenworth, dark humor was one of the few things that could keep you alive, and for Hollister it was all he had right now.
    “Is something funny, Captain?” Pinkerton asked.
    Hollister calmed himself. “Yes, sir. I’d say it borders right on hilarious. You know what happened in Wyoming. You’ve read my testimony and my regimental commander’s report on the incident. Out of nowhere, the most famous detective in America shows up at Fort Leavenworth Military Prison and asks me what happened on that ridge three years, ten months, and eleven days ago, which, I might add, I never dreamed would happen. So I’m thinking there’s only two things that could have happened. One, you’ve suddenly decided I wasn’t lying, which I doubt, since no one else has ever believed me. Or two, it’s happened again.”
    Pinkerton’s eyes narrowed and he studied Hollister. Something washed over his face. It was only a flicker, but Jonas saw it, clear as day. Pinkerton had arrived at a decision. Jonas didn’t know what it might be, but he clearly had reached some determination of vital importance. Hope stirred in his chest.
    “Colonel, I’d like to talk to the captain alone, please,” Pinkerton said.
    “I’m afraid that’s not allowed. It’s against regulations for any prisoner to be—”
    “Colonel, when I first arrived, you promised me full cooperation, did you not?” Pinkerton asked. “Here’s hoping I won’t have to send a cable to General Sherman requesting . . .”
    Without another word, Whitman threw up his arms and stomped out of his office, slamming the door.
    “Pompous jackass,” Pinkerton muttered. He strolled casually around the desk to Whitman’s chair and sat down. “Please, Captain, sit. Let’s talk.”
    “All the same, I’d prefer to stand, sir,” Jonas said. He felt completely in the dark. He had no control over whatever was happening, and so he was determined to hold on to those things he could control. He wasn’t going to let this strange man gain any advantage if he could avoid it. At least not until he knew what was going on.
    Pinkerton shrugged and turned to another page in the ledger. “Very well. You’re correct in your assumption, Captain.” He said, looking up at Jonas.
    “Which assumption would that be?” Jonas asked.
    Pinkerton let out a big sigh. “Captain, I can assure you, I am here as your advocate. However, if you can’t at least listen to what I have to say with an open mind, we’re not going to get very far.”
    Jonas said nothing for a moment. “Pinkerton.” He paused, thinking. “Weren’t you in charge of President Lincoln’s security?”
    “I was,” Pinkerton replied.
    “That sure worked out well,” he said.
    Pinkerton’s eyes clouded and Jonas watched as the man’s mouth straightened into a thin line. His color changed from pale to bright red and Jonas set his feet, half expecting the detective to launch himself over the desk and pummel him into the floor. Yet the fury subsided as quickly as it had risen, and Pinkerton composed himself, settling in the chair again.
    “As I said, Captain, you are correct. We’ve had another incident, similar in details to what happened to your command in Wyoming. In this case it was a mining camp in Colorado. One man escaped and reported an assault on the camp by what he called ‘flesh eaters.’ When the creatures attacked, the man jumped across the stream where the sluice box was set up. For some reason they didn’t pursue him there. They didn’t want to or for some reason weren’t able to cross the