Copper Sunrise by Carol Cox

Author:Carol Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-04-19T04:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The clear blue skies of early December gave way to a week of dismal gray. The leaden clouds overhead matched the mood of the scene Mitch strode through. He pulled his woolen scarf tighter around his neck. Winter in Phoenix might be a lot warmer than most other parts of the country, but that chilly north wind still carried a bite.

Mitch quickened his pace. It was a good thing he trusted his informant. This wasn’t an area of town he would have chosen to visit on his own. The gathering gloom of dusk didn’t help his frame of mind a bit. He stepped past a group of seedy-looking men huddled against a brick wall to keep out of the wind.

Following the directions he’d been given, Mitch rounded the next corner. A cluster of broken-down adobe buildings came into view. He paused for a moment to take a closer look. He felt sure his information had been passed along in good faith, but he wasn’t about to go waltzing into an isolated place like that without giving it a thorough once-over.

“I don’t see anything amiss there, Lord. If You do, I’d sure appreciate it if You’d let me know.” He crunched across the gravel and entered the circle of broken buildings.

“Anyone here?” he called in a low voice.

Silence. His whole body tensed as he strained to catch any furtive sounds of approach. . .or flight. Nothing stirred save the wind soughing through the holes in the walls.

I should have known. Mitch jammed his hands in his coat pockets and turned, ready to leave. Then he heard it: faint footsteps scraping across the gravel. He braced himself.

“Are you Brewer?” a voice behind him rasped.

Mitch spun around, ducked into a crouch. He let out his breath and relaxed when he caught sight of his visitor.

The slight man with the wispy gray hair grinned, his lips spreading wide to show a smile that was missing a few teeth. “Don’t guess I look any too scary, do I?”

Mitch wanted to laugh out loud. The fellow looked like a stiff breeze would carry him into the next county. He wiped his hand across his mouth to hide his smile. “I’m Brewer. And you’re. . .”

“Elmer Watson. I’m the one who sent word and asked to meet with you. I hear you’re interested in finding out more about who’s buying up all the land around here.”

Mitch nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off the man. “I’m also interested in anyone who wants to talk to me about it. I did some checking, and it’s a funny thing—I couldn’t find a record of Elmer Watson anywhere.”

The old man’s cackle bounced off the adobe walls. “You’re a sharp one, all right.” He spat on the ground, then leaned forward confidingly. “Truth to tell, I’m glad you figured that out. If I could have pulled something that easy over on you, so could the other side. Maybe you’re worth talking to after all.”

Mitch grunted at the backhanded compliment. He decided not to waste time.

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