Sign of the Wolf by Elaine Barbieri

Author:Elaine Barbieri
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781428504226
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing

Chapter Six

Elias Fink leaned casually against the upright in front of Winsome’s mercantile store, casually scrutinizing Winsome’s daily routine as the sun slipped rapidly toward the horizon. He barely resisted frowning at the unfamiliarity of the small town. He had been on his own since he was twelve when his father left him with his mother, a woman who drank herself into unconsciousness every night. He had been relieved of his mother’s constant demands on him when she was discovered dead in an alleyway shortly after his father disappeared. Actually, she had done him a favor because he had survived well afterward with a cunning that came naturally to him. He had lied easily and distorted facts to suit the situation. He had inwardly mocked those he deceived and had prided himself on his ability to do so. His confidence had grown with every encounter. The dark alleyways and mean streets of the city became his home; and as he grew, he had darkened them with blood whenever the situation suited. Without a single pang of conscience, he had never looked back. And if he had not made many friends along the way, he was satisfied to be respected by a certain element for his abilities, and to be feared by most who came up against him.

Yes, life had been good, until . . .

Fink’s lips twitched with discomfort. His present situation was different from any he had run up against, and that irritated him. A job that he could easily have taken care of in the city had become difficult through no fault of his own. He had planned well to compensate for his shortcomings in this unnatural environment, yet the time spent with Deputy Cobb earlier had confirmed that the man was a fool who could not be depended upon.

Fink eyed the small town cautiously. He had questioned the witnesses to the bank robbery with the thought that he might learn more about Meredith Moore’s circumstances, but the effort had been a complete waste of time. He was only too aware that he was a fish out of water and that the real Trace Stringer was western born, giving him the clear advantage. The fact that Stringer and Meredith appeared to have joined forces made his job even harder.

Fink ground his teeth with frustration. He needed to shift the balance in his favor. He was not certain how to accomplish that fact, but the few hours he had spent traveling with the posse had taught him that he needed to study the residents of the town a little longer before he would be able to right the situation.

The sight of a familiar figure riding onto the street stopped Fink’s thoughts cold. It was Sam Winston, the old man with the white mustache who had been guarding Meredith’s cell when she escaped. He had learned from Deputy Cobb that Sam had been Sheriff Keller’s deputy until Sam decided he was too old to do the job on a regular basis.

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