It was almost eleven o’clock when a dark figure crept up the steps to Milburn Wheeler’s office. Glancing around, he put the key in the lock. He slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
With the full moon, he didn’t need any more light. Being as quiet as he could, he went into the sick room.
With a grin into the night, he walked up to the bed. “This is going to be one easy killing,” he muttered as he jerked the pillow from under the man’s head and proceeded to place it over the man’s face.
He froze when the sound of a hammer clicked and the feel of a barrel pressed in the center of his back.
“I think you should drop that gun, and the pillow,” Beck’s deep voice said.
The man on the bed sat up and swung his legs to the side. “Thanks, brother.”
“You’re not Truman,” the man snapped.
“Nope, I’m Cal Montgomery and you’re under arrest.”
* * * *
Loud pounding sounded on Lola’s back door and she reached for Temp’s hand. “Who’s that?”
Temp hurried to the door. “I hope it’s Slim and Haze telling us the deed’s done and we have nothing to worry about.”
Haze pushed his way in. “They got Slim, Boss,” he said in an excited voice. “I watched them cart him off to jail.”
“How the hell…” Temp turned toward Lola. “I thought you said nobody knew we were going after Truman.”
“They couldn’t know.” She looked frightened. “I told you the doctor had to go see some farmer. He’s the only one who knew I had a key.”
“Well, honey, somebody found out.”
“There weren’t no struggle with Slim. They had him between them leadin’ him like a puppy. I’m sure they took him without a fight.” Haze’s gaze darted toward Lola. “Your girlfriend there’s awfully close to the sheriff. Maybe she tipped him off.”
“I didn’t tip anybody off.”
“Are you sure, Lola? Sometimes you get over-zealous and talk too much.”
She glared at Templeton. “I do not.”
Temp shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. What’s done can’t be undone.”
“Well, I for one ain’t waitin’ around. The sheriff could be riding in here any minute to arrest us all.” Haze started for the door.
“Wait,” Temp barked. He turned to Lola. “Did you give the key to Slim?”
“You know I did. You were standing right there.”
“That means when they find it on him, they’ll know where he got it unless we make them think somebody stole it from you.”
“How’re you gonna do that, Boss?”
“Hit her and knock her down, Haze.”
“What?” Lola screamed.
With a sinister grin on his lips, Haze drew back his arm.
“Temp! No! Don’t let him—”
Her words were lost as Haze’s fist connected with her face with a sickening thump. Blood spurted from her nose and she lurched backward into the kitchen wall.
Before she struggled to her feet, Temp said, “Get her into the bedroom and hit her again.”
“Yes, Boss.” He grabbed Lola by the arm and dragged her toward the hall.
She screamed.
“I think I pulled her arm out of the socket.”
“Don’t worry about it. Throw her on the bed.” Temp grabbed his figurine from the table, put it in his pocket and followed them.
Lola was crying in agony. Temp ignored it.
“Now what?”
“Go back in the parlor and start tearing things apart. I’ll take care of things in here. I’ll call you when I want you to hit her again.”
Temp ripped her dress off and threw it in the floor. It didn’t take him long to find her pink nightgown in her dresser. He grinned. “It’s only fitting you wear this for your last night on earth.”
“Temp…why?” She whimpered.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way, Princess, but I won’t let you drag me down with you.” He put the gown over her head and pushed her down on the bed.
“Please,” she mumbled. “I love you.”
Temp ignored her and called, “Haze.”
He came into the bedroom.
“I’ve got to search the attic. She’s been hiding some of our money there after she changed the gold. While I’m gone, you take care of her.”
“You’ll pay for this, Temp,” Lola muttered.
Haze grinned. There was no mistaking the lust in his eyes. “I see she ain’t dead, is she?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. I ain’t had a woman in a long time.”
“Make it fast.” Temp threw Lola a kiss and left the room.
* * * *
Something awakened Quinn. It sounded like crying. She frowned and sat up. There was another faint sound. She wasn’t sure where it came from.
Shaking her head, she swung her feet over the side of the bed and moved to the open front window to peer outside.
There was a slight breeze and she noticed the wild flowers in the field across the street swaying gently. The mournful sound of a coyote or some desert animal sounded in the distance.
Quinn moved to the side window. She noted a light on in Lola’s house, but that wasn’t unusual. The woman kept strange hours. For a few moments she wondered if Ashe was there.
“No,” she whispered. “I trust him. I don’t think he’s there, but if he is, he has a good reason to be. I promised to trust him and I do.”
Turning away, Quinn went back to bed. She told herself to let it go. It had only been a dream. She didn’t hear anything.
She was about to doze off when she heard a door slam.
Jumping up, she ran to the side window. Two men were coming out of Lola’s house. They had sacks in their hands. One sat his sacks down, ran across the yard and returned leading two horses. They mounted and rode off in the direction leading from town.
Quinn watched for a few minutes. She still had the feeling something was wrong. But what could it be? Lola often had late night company.
Turning to go again to bed, Quinn paused. A frown crossed her face. Something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She looked out the window again.
Then she saw it. Lola’s front door was standing open. Why hadn’t she come to close it after the men left?
After waiting several minutes, Lola still didn’t come to the door. Quinn knew something had to have happened to the woman. She made a quick decision. Grabbing her robe, she ran down the hall to wake her sisters.