Wanted McBain by I. J. Parnham

Author:I. J. Parnham [Parnham, I. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2015-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

‘I’m sorry, but he wouldn’t listen,’ the guard said.

Isaac Gillespie looked up from his desk to face the advancing Deputy Hearst, the guard trailing behind him.

‘Then make him listen or throw him out,’ he said. ‘I’ve had enough of people barging in here.’

‘You will see me,’ Hearst said.

The guard grabbed Hearst’s hand and wrenched it back, forcing Hearst to swirl round. He flexed his arm and pulled both their hands down, but the guard halted Hearst’s progress and, with their eyes locked, the two men strained for supremacy.

‘You heard Mr. Gillespie,’ the guard said. ‘You’re leaving.’

‘Wait!’ Isaac said, with a resigned sigh. ‘If he’s quick, I’ll listen.’

Hearst and the guard exchanged a long stare. Then, with a snap of the wrist, the guard released Hearst’s hand and pushed him a pace towards the desk.

‘You’ve got one minute,’ he said.

‘In private,’ Hearst said, smiling.

The guard grunted an oath, but Isaac pointed to the door and, with an irritated groan, the guard paced outside.

‘So, why have you forced your way in here?’ Isaac said when the guard had shut the door.

Hearst paced across the office to stand before Isaac’s desk.

‘I’m looking for two men.’ Hearst placed both hands down on the desk and glared into Isaac’s eyes. ‘They claimed they were hunting Rodrigo Fernandez and you gave them information.’

‘Sounds like nobody I know.’

‘I’m a lawman.’

‘Then show me papers that say you’ve got a right to see them.’

Hearst raised an eyebrow and sighed. ‘I don’t need papers for these men.’

Isaac licked his lips and busied himself with moving papers from one side of his desk to the other.

‘Then I can’t help you.’

‘These men aren’t in trouble. They’re bounty hunters, and they have information on some other people I’m looking for.’

Isaac glanced down at the papers coating his desk and then waved in a dismissive manner towards the door.

‘I’m busy.’

‘I know. A gold shipment is coming in to Bear Creek today and you’re hoping that Fernandez doesn’t raid it.’

Isaac winced. ‘Just how many people know about this secret shipment?’

‘Enough, and once you’ve told me where I can find them, I’ll leave and head after them.’

‘I can tell you nothing.’

‘Then, I’ll go to the saloon.’ Hearst turned and strode to the door, but then stomped to a halt. ‘I hope I don’t get too talkative about what I know.’

Isaac took a long breath and sighed.

‘You want to know about two bounty hunters, you say?’

Hearst turned and smiled.

* * *

On hands and knees, Hearst crested the ridge and peered over the other side.

Fifty feet below, two men were kneeling behind a rock, halfway down the slope, peering down at the trail to Bear Creek.

With his eyes narrowed, Hearst confirmed that these men were Nat and Spenser – just as Isaac had promised.

For five minutes Hearst watched them, confirming that they weren’t feigning indifference to his presence. The men knelt with the easy calm of men who expected to surprise others with their sudden appearance, and didn’t expect others to surprise them.

So, with his head down, Hearst paced down the side of the slope.

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