Longarm #399 : Longarm and the Grand Canyon Murders (9781101554401) Read Online Free PDF Page A

stiffly.
    “That and much more,” Heidi told him, a coolness in her voice. “I’m thinking about offering Custis a partnership.”
    “In what?” Longarm asked, as surprised as Billy.
    “I haven’t decided yet,” she told them both. “And part of this journey we are about to undertake will tell me a good deal about Custis…his strengths…and weaknesses.”
    “I don’t have any weaknesses,” Longarm said.
    “Oh, darling, we all have a few.”
    Billy had heard enough. “I can see that the news I’ve just delivered has had little or no influence on your decision to go as a pair. It’s insane, of course, but as you said, Miss Zalstra, America is still a free country and so I can’t stop you from going to Lees Ferry.”
    “Then don’t waste your time in trying,” she said sweetly.
    Just then the locomotive blasted its shrill whistle. “The train is about to leave,” Longarm said. “We’d better get to that special suite you reserved for us.”
    Billy shook his head. “A special suite? My gawd, Custis, you haven’t even left Denver yet and I think that woman has already turned you to ruin.”
    “No, she hasn’t,” Longarm assured the small man. “Just have some faith in us, Billy. I’ll get to the bottom of those murders and disappearances.”
    “Just make sure you and Miss Zalstra don’t get to the bottom of the Colorado River,” Billy warned as he bowed to Heidi and shook Longarm’s hand.
    “I’ll see you in about three weeks…give or take one,” Longarm told the man as he helped Heidi up onto the train’s steps and then boarded as the car began to move.
    Billy Vail stood at the depot until the train was just aspeck on the horizon. He was very worried and upset about the three corpses whose throats had been slashed and then dumped into the muddy river. He was even more worried about his best and favorite deputy, Custis Long.
    “Sir?”
    He turned to see a porter standing behind him. “Is there something wrong?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    The porter was a kid, really. Not more than twenty years old, with a cowlick and buckteeth. But he had a nice face and an honest and earnest appearance about him, and he was big, maybe six-foot-three and strong-looking.
    “You ever think of becoming a lawman?” Billy asked, surprising even himself by the question.
    “No.”
    “Well,” Billy said, reaching into his pocket and giving the kid his business card. “If you ever do, why don’t you get in contact with me at the federal building? I couldn’t promise you a job, but I could make some inquiries in your behalf.”
    “Now, why in the world would you want to do that? You don’t even know me, Marshal.”
    “I’m a good judge of people,” Billy said, wishing he had never brought the subject up. “And you look to be someone who not only is concerned about others, but who takes a little initiative if something seems amiss.”
    “Well thank you! My name is Herman Pawalski and I do like people. But to tell you the truth, I also like staying alive.”
    Billy blinked.
    “And I have talked to that big deputy marshal several times when he’s comin’ or goin’ to some hellhole that you’ve sent him to. And I’ve seen him return to Denver shot up, cut up, and beat up.”
    Billy started to protest. “Now wait a darned minute, Herman!”
    “No, sir,” the kid said, “you wait a minute. I ain’t ever goin’ to be famous or rich…but I intend to live a full life and end up in one piece when I resign myself to a rocking chair on some porch with some old lady by my side. Railroad has promised that I’m going to be a conductor someday if I keep my nose clean…but I’d rather be the engineer that runs the show.”
    “That’s fine,” Billy snapped. “I’m sorry I even mentioned a career as a law officer.”
    “Aw, you was just trying to be friendly and…if I hadn’t seen your big deputy marshal so shot up, cut up, and beat up so often…well, I might have taken your bait.”
    “Give