Dead Man's Hand (Caden Chronicles, The) Read Online Free PDF

lined the baseboards. A floor vent exhaled warm air. He pulled open the top drawer of a filing cabinet, removed a folder, and began scribbling something on a sheet of paper.
    “I expected the marshal’s office would have jail cells,” I said, tipping the chair onto its rear legs. “And a hat rack covered with ten-gallon hats.”
    “
That
office is on the other end of Main Street.” He pushed the sheet of paper inside a manila envelope and sealed the flap. “This is my real office.” Opening another folder, he scribbledmore notes, causing the gold tassel of a green lamp atop the filing cabinet to jiggle. Slamming the file cabinet shut, he dropped into a worn leather chair and spun to face me from across the desk.
    “We have a problem, you and me.”
    I stared at him, unsure of what he meant.
    “See, if someone goes around saying they’ve witnessed a murder, even a kid with an overactive imagination, it could be bad for business. Normally I wouldn’t mind the publicity. Even bad press is better than none. But I don’t want the guests to get so worked up about some make-believe murder they don’t have a good time. Understand what I’m saying?”
    “Well … sure. I don’t want to spread rumors that aren’t true, either. But there
is
a killer. Or was.”
    “See? That’s exactly the sort of talk I’m worried about.” Linking his hands behind his head he leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been thinking how we might help each other.”
    I studied his face, wondering where he was going with this.
    “I got a bumbling deputy who might have botched an investigation. Don’t think he did, ‘cause like I said, I have no reason to think there’s been a crime committed. But from the looks of things, you seem determined to keep meddling.”
    He paused, allowing his words to sink in.
    “I spoke with your parents back there in the saloon about that television detective thing you told me about. Your dad claims you’re pretty good. I have to tell you, most of what you said back there made no sense to me. Database algorithms and parsing case files. Stuff is way over my head. But your parents made it clear that they want you to have a good time whileyou’re in Deadwood, so I’ve been thinking how you and me can come to an agreement.”
    “What sort of agreement?”
    “What if I was to deputize you? In a temporary capacity?”
    I searched those pale gray wolf eyes, waiting for the punch line that didn’t come.
    “Why would you do that?” I asked. “You don’t even believe me.”
    “Like I said, my deputy might have missed something. The truth is, neither of us has much experience with this sort of thing. I spent a few years on the force but never investigated a murder. And the only law enforcement experience Gabrovski ever got involved standing guard while police investigated a home invasion.”
    “Gabrovski?”
    “Deputy Pat Garrett. That’s his stage name. His real name is Patrick Gabrovski. Ran a small home-security firm before I hired him on. Lucky I did too. Had just about lost all his clients.”
    “So you want me to do your detective work for you?”
    “Like I said before, I don’t think there’s a crime to investigate. But if someone was killed and you’re as good as your mom and dad think you are, maybe you’ll find something we missed.”
    Deputy marshal in an Old West ghost town. Didn’t see that coming
. I said, “What’s the catch?”
    “You stop telling everyone there’s a killer running loose until you can prove otherwise.”
    “I’ll need to get on the Internet. Something faster than that dial-up.”
    He held up a blue ethernet cable. “I was just messing with you. Don’t want folks traipsing in here all day asking to check their email. You can use my computer. Of course, I’ll need to be with you when you do. So do we have a deal?”
    “Well sure, I guess.” I didn’t know if I should stand and shake his hand, so instead I said, “You had something you wanted to show