that,” replied Zeb.
“What about the holsters?” asked Deputy Steele.
“They are a specialty item fast draw competitors use
in an event called the double draw.”
“What about the flak jacket?”
“That was mine. I picked it up at a gun show. A guy
owed me some money. When he couldn’t pay me back, I took it as collateral. It
wasn’t for sale. I know better.”
“A flak jacket and that many hand guns add up to
trouble. Any suspects come to mind?” asked Zeb.
“When you sell guns for a living like I do, it’s
pretty easy to get suspicious about anyone and everyone who walks through your
door. Sometimes even little old ladies who buy cap guns look like criminals.
If I ever get that paranoid, I’ll get out of the business. ”
Zeb and Deputy Steele nodded. They had both seen
plenty of criminals who didn’t look the part.
“I’ve only lived in Safford for a short time. I don’t
personally know all the people who walk in the door.”
“But you’re suspicious of our seasoned citizens?”
asked Zeb with a smile.
“I wasn’t being glib when I made the remark about
little old ladies. When my dad had a store down on the border, two
grandmotherly types robbed him. One stuck a gun in his craw and pistol-whipped
him while the other cleaned out his till. My old man was in the business for
twenty-five years. They were the only people who ever got the upper hand on
him. He got kidded about that until the day he died.”
The image of a pair of blue haired grannies knocking
over a gun shop brought a silly grin to Kate’s face. What she had heard was
true. Josh Diamond could spin a yarn.
“Is that really true?” Kate asked.
“With God as my witness,” said Josh raising his
uninjured arm. “Worst part was they hog tied him. He had to lay there all
trussed up for a couple of hours before anyone came in. When he finally was
rescued, it was by the biggest gossipmonger this side of the border. It wasn’t
long before the neighborhood was talking about how Big Ed Diamond was made a
fool by a pair of grandmothers. He took a lot of razzing. His store traffic
doubled on the curiosity factor alone.”
Zeb was familiar with his old border patrol buddy’s
style, and Josh’s easy-going manner was beginning to grow on Kate.
“We had better go down to your business so I can have
a look around. Is now a good time for you?” said Zeb.
“Yes, Sir,” replied Josh. “Never better.”
“Don’t ‘Sir’ me,” said Zeb sternly.
“Okay, boss,” said Josh sarcastically.
Kate knew that Josh had served under Zeb’s command as
a United States Border Patrol agent, so she figured that was an inside joke.
“I’ll meet you at your gun shop in fifteen minutes.”
From the corner of her eye, Kate watched Josh Diamond
amble out of the office. Even in his injured state he carried himself with a
uniquely dignified panache.
“Helen, Josh Diamond’s gun shop was robbed when he was
in the hospital. Could you put the paperwork together and put it on my desk?
I’m headed over there to have a look around. Here’s the list of stolen items.”
“Certainly. Do you want me to type in the particulars
I already know?”
Zeb knew Helen’s ears had acted as sonar detectors
during his conversation with Josh.
“That really would be helpful.”
Sheriff Hanks slipped into his office to finish off a
bit of paperwork. From his office he listened as Helen spoke to his deputy.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” said Helen. “Eskadi left this
for you.”
Helen handed Kate a sealed envelope.
“If you ask me, I think Eskadi Black Robes is jealous
of Josh Diamond.”
Kate’s response to Helen’s statement was to examine
the envelope. If Helen had tampered with it, there were no obvious signs.
Even though she had been civil to Eskadi Black Robes, Helen’s independent
nature would not allow her to forget the run-ins she had with him over the
years.
Kate
“What about the holsters?” asked Deputy Steele.
“They are a specialty item fast draw competitors use
in an event called the double draw.”
“What about the flak jacket?”
“That was mine. I picked it up at a gun show. A guy
owed me some money. When he couldn’t pay me back, I took it as collateral. It
wasn’t for sale. I know better.”
“A flak jacket and that many hand guns add up to
trouble. Any suspects come to mind?” asked Zeb.
“When you sell guns for a living like I do, it’s
pretty easy to get suspicious about anyone and everyone who walks through your
door. Sometimes even little old ladies who buy cap guns look like criminals.
If I ever get that paranoid, I’ll get out of the business. ”
Zeb and Deputy Steele nodded. They had both seen
plenty of criminals who didn’t look the part.
“I’ve only lived in Safford for a short time. I don’t
personally know all the people who walk in the door.”
“But you’re suspicious of our seasoned citizens?”
asked Zeb with a smile.
“I wasn’t being glib when I made the remark about
little old ladies. When my dad had a store down on the border, two
grandmotherly types robbed him. One stuck a gun in his craw and pistol-whipped
him while the other cleaned out his till. My old man was in the business for
twenty-five years. They were the only people who ever got the upper hand on
him. He got kidded about that until the day he died.”
The image of a pair of blue haired grannies knocking
over a gun shop brought a silly grin to Kate’s face. What she had heard was
true. Josh Diamond could spin a yarn.
“Is that really true?” Kate asked.
“With God as my witness,” said Josh raising his
uninjured arm. “Worst part was they hog tied him. He had to lay there all
trussed up for a couple of hours before anyone came in. When he finally was
rescued, it was by the biggest gossipmonger this side of the border. It wasn’t
long before the neighborhood was talking about how Big Ed Diamond was made a
fool by a pair of grandmothers. He took a lot of razzing. His store traffic
doubled on the curiosity factor alone.”
Zeb was familiar with his old border patrol buddy’s
style, and Josh’s easy-going manner was beginning to grow on Kate.
“We had better go down to your business so I can have
a look around. Is now a good time for you?” said Zeb.
“Yes, Sir,” replied Josh. “Never better.”
“Don’t ‘Sir’ me,” said Zeb sternly.
“Okay, boss,” said Josh sarcastically.
Kate knew that Josh had served under Zeb’s command as
a United States Border Patrol agent, so she figured that was an inside joke.
“I’ll meet you at your gun shop in fifteen minutes.”
From the corner of her eye, Kate watched Josh Diamond
amble out of the office. Even in his injured state he carried himself with a
uniquely dignified panache.
“Helen, Josh Diamond’s gun shop was robbed when he was
in the hospital. Could you put the paperwork together and put it on my desk?
I’m headed over there to have a look around. Here’s the list of stolen items.”
“Certainly. Do you want me to type in the particulars
I already know?”
Zeb knew Helen’s ears had acted as sonar detectors
during his conversation with Josh.
“That really would be helpful.”
Sheriff Hanks slipped into his office to finish off a
bit of paperwork. From his office he listened as Helen spoke to his deputy.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” said Helen. “Eskadi left this
for you.”
Helen handed Kate a sealed envelope.
“If you ask me, I think Eskadi Black Robes is jealous
of Josh Diamond.”
Kate’s response to Helen’s statement was to examine
the envelope. If Helen had tampered with it, there were no obvious signs.
Even though she had been civil to Eskadi Black Robes, Helen’s independent
nature would not allow her to forget the run-ins she had with him over the
years.
Kate
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