far.”
I waved my hand, dismissively. “He has the wherewithal.” When the sheriff refused to react, I decided to broach a far more sensitive subject. “I asked because Crown made such bad loans that I question his banking skills.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.” The sheriff acted nonchalant but then intrigued. “I thought most of his dealings were with Washburn.”
“Almost exclusively.”
The sheriff looked befuddled. “Washburn’s the richest man in the state.”
“Biggest debtor, you mean. That man owes me a lot of money. Damned if I’ll give him cash from that piddling hotel.”
Now the sheriff waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter. We won’t be partners long.”
“That’s right. I’m executing the buy-out option in the contract.” I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket, laid it on the table, and pushed it toward him.
“What’s that?”
“My offer. Four thousand dollars.”
The sheriff made no attempt to pick up the paper. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m offering you four thousand dollars for your interest in the Grand Hotel.”
“I’m not selling.” His blustering response didn’t hide his confusion.
“You said you didn’t like being in business with me. Four thousand dollars is a lot of money. Enough to get a new start in a different town … a different state, even.”
“I’m not looking for a new start, and you can’t make me sell.”
“But I can.” Finally, he looked concerned. “Or I can make you buy me out. It’s in the contract.”
“I don’t read contracts.”
“That doesn’t make them less binding. If one partner makes an offer to buy, the other partner must sell or purchase the other’s share for the same price. Do you have four thousand dollars?”
“That ain’t any of your business.”
“Unless you’ve got money stuffed in a mattress somewhere, it is my business.” I sat back in my chair and waited a beat. “You have only a little over three hundred dollars deposited at my bank.”
“Go to hell.”
“You need to enlarge your vocabulary.”
“Fuck you.” He got up to leave. “We never had this conversation.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve already mailed the papers to the circuit judge. You have thirty days to decide … per our contract.”
“Thirty days?” He laughed. “Plenty of time.”
“Sheriff, think about my offer. Things are going to get very dangerous around here. You might not want to be around.”
He leaned over the table, supporting his weight on two fists. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m making you a business offer. A good one.” I picked the newspaper up and snapped it open. “Have a pleasant day, Clyde.”
Seemingly at a loss, he blurted, “I’m riding out to see Washburn.”
“Good. The ride will give you time to think. Turn around if you change your mind. The cash will be waiting.”
After a few moments of trying to stare me down, the sheriff stormed out without another word.
I didn’t believe he would take me up on my offer, but I hoped my display of confidence would tip the balance in my direction. Whether he accepted the four thousand dollars or not, the prospect would at least be another piece to worry Washburn. He could lose both his mayor and his sheriff.
With any luck, Washburn would become so furious, he wouldn’t think straight. If his carefully crafted empire began to unravel, he might come out of hiding and give me an opportunity to attack the problem at the source. As I flipped the newspaper out straight, it occurred to me that I might be underestimating my adversary, but I squashed the thought and went back to my reading.
Chapter 14
A couple days later, I wandered over to see Richard at his print shop. Without preamble, he blurted, “Washburn’s more powerful than I thought.”
“What have you found out?” I asked.
“I received a post from the editor of the Carson City Tribune . He said that about two years ago
I waved my hand, dismissively. “He has the wherewithal.” When the sheriff refused to react, I decided to broach a far more sensitive subject. “I asked because Crown made such bad loans that I question his banking skills.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.” The sheriff acted nonchalant but then intrigued. “I thought most of his dealings were with Washburn.”
“Almost exclusively.”
The sheriff looked befuddled. “Washburn’s the richest man in the state.”
“Biggest debtor, you mean. That man owes me a lot of money. Damned if I’ll give him cash from that piddling hotel.”
Now the sheriff waved his hand. “Doesn’t matter. We won’t be partners long.”
“That’s right. I’m executing the buy-out option in the contract.” I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket, laid it on the table, and pushed it toward him.
“What’s that?”
“My offer. Four thousand dollars.”
The sheriff made no attempt to pick up the paper. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m offering you four thousand dollars for your interest in the Grand Hotel.”
“I’m not selling.” His blustering response didn’t hide his confusion.
“You said you didn’t like being in business with me. Four thousand dollars is a lot of money. Enough to get a new start in a different town … a different state, even.”
“I’m not looking for a new start, and you can’t make me sell.”
“But I can.” Finally, he looked concerned. “Or I can make you buy me out. It’s in the contract.”
“I don’t read contracts.”
“That doesn’t make them less binding. If one partner makes an offer to buy, the other partner must sell or purchase the other’s share for the same price. Do you have four thousand dollars?”
“That ain’t any of your business.”
“Unless you’ve got money stuffed in a mattress somewhere, it is my business.” I sat back in my chair and waited a beat. “You have only a little over three hundred dollars deposited at my bank.”
“Go to hell.”
“You need to enlarge your vocabulary.”
“Fuck you.” He got up to leave. “We never had this conversation.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve already mailed the papers to the circuit judge. You have thirty days to decide … per our contract.”
“Thirty days?” He laughed. “Plenty of time.”
“Sheriff, think about my offer. Things are going to get very dangerous around here. You might not want to be around.”
He leaned over the table, supporting his weight on two fists. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m making you a business offer. A good one.” I picked the newspaper up and snapped it open. “Have a pleasant day, Clyde.”
Seemingly at a loss, he blurted, “I’m riding out to see Washburn.”
“Good. The ride will give you time to think. Turn around if you change your mind. The cash will be waiting.”
After a few moments of trying to stare me down, the sheriff stormed out without another word.
I didn’t believe he would take me up on my offer, but I hoped my display of confidence would tip the balance in my direction. Whether he accepted the four thousand dollars or not, the prospect would at least be another piece to worry Washburn. He could lose both his mayor and his sheriff.
With any luck, Washburn would become so furious, he wouldn’t think straight. If his carefully crafted empire began to unravel, he might come out of hiding and give me an opportunity to attack the problem at the source. As I flipped the newspaper out straight, it occurred to me that I might be underestimating my adversary, but I squashed the thought and went back to my reading.
Chapter 14
A couple days later, I wandered over to see Richard at his print shop. Without preamble, he blurted, “Washburn’s more powerful than I thought.”
“What have you found out?” I asked.
“I received a post from the editor of the Carson City Tribune . He said that about two years ago
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