Shot to Hell by Scott Connor

Author:Scott Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2022-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

“How did you find him?” Ernest asked.

“I heard shooting behind the Wild Horse and went to investigate,” Doc Cavanaugh said. “Hill was lying here. I’m sorry, but there was nothing I could do for him.”

“I can see that.”

Ernest stood over his deputy’s body, not sure what he should feel. Hill had helped him dispense a kind of justice in Hamilton for the last five years, and their methods were sure to have annoyed many.

He had always presumed that, unless he kept his wits about him, this fate awaited him. Having his deputy receive it first made him wonder what mistake Hill had made.

“At least this gives you a reason to take on Gerald now,” Cavanaugh said.

“It doesn’t. Gerald wouldn’t be behind this.”

Cavanaugh snorted. “Gerald’s tendrils have entwined their way into all the dirtiest cracks in Hamilton. I know you and he have an understanding, but without Hill around you’re free to follow your instincts. Those instincts should tell you Gerald killed Lambert and now he’s moved on to Deputy Hill.”

Ernest smiled at Cavanaugh benignly. “Those instincts tell me not to jump to conclusions, as you’re doing.”

“I’m not. Lambert would have been even more successful without Gerald around.” Cavanaugh noticed Ernest’s skeptical expression. “Quentin Stone is Gerald’s man in the Stevenson empire. If you won’t question Gerald, question Quentin.”

Ernest frowned. He knew Cavanaugh was right, but the fact that he’d never acted on that knowledge made him feel ashamed.

“Quentin is a little man, and I’m starting to think this is all connected to the biggest man of them all in Hamilton, York Stevenson.”

Cavanaugh stepped back with shock. “Hamilton is prosperous only because of men like York. When we all worked at the stockyard, I doctored to him, and doctors get to know what makes a man tick. York is a decent man.”

“So they all say.” Ernest patted Cavanaugh’s back. “Now, leave me to do the investigating and I’ll leave you to do the doctoring.”

“I’ll do that, but don’t forget what I told you before: remember who your friends are and you’re sure to do the right thing.”

Ernest conceded the doctor’s point with a smile and then directed him to fetch the undertaker while he examined the scene. By the time the two men returned he had found nothing of interest.

He headed back to the law office in a somber mood. That mood didn’t lighten when he’d been at his desk for an hour and had started work on another bottle of confiscated whiskey. After York had threatened him Ernest had been sure that York knew more about his brother’s death than he’d let on, but he struggled to make a connection between York and Hill.

Worse, he had become used to having Hill around to share ideas with, even if they had been rarely about the crimes they were supposed to be investigating. That thought led him to think that, as they had been investigating Lambert’s death properly, Hill might have stumbled across an answer and had paid the price.

Ernest put the bottle away and walked over to the window.

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