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Authors: James D. Best
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sure you’re approaching this from the right direction? This is a raw frontier, where men attack their enemies straightaway. Washburn solves problems like you by eliminating them.”
“Pinkertons are on the way,” I said, more irritated than his comment warranted. “I’m willing to employ force if necessary, but I’m not going to start a damned shooting war.” I sat back down. “I’ve got to fight this out the only way I know how.”
Richard looked unconvinced. With a resigned shrug, he said, “Commerce is run by the oldest money in the state—older than the silver strikes. They have an upright reputation. They usually don’t get mixed up in shady dealings, and they stay out of politics or at least hide their political dealings.”
“Would they loan money to Washburn?”
Richard thought about my question. “Probably not. They cater to the cattle, lumber, and railroad interests. Miners need these to run their operations and constantly gripe that the old-money barons extort all their profits. The two sides don’t mix easy.”
“Then who do you think Washburn might turn to?”
Richard again sat quiet for a minute. “Carson City First. Despite their name, they’re fairly new and welcome business with mine owners. The president’s a goddamn vulture, gobbling up every Commerce carcass he stumbles across. There’s no love lost between the two banks … yep, Washburn would go to Carson City First.”
“Birds of a feather flock together?”
“Exactly.”
I got up and resumed my pacing. After a couple of laps, I stopped in front of Richard’s desk. “Then I’ll set up a relationship with Commerce.”
“I thought you were trying to put the squeeze on Washburn. How can Commerce help?”
“We need an ally in Carson City. Always go with power. Besides, I bet Carson City First would be hard to dislodge from Washburn.” I headed for the door. “But in truth, I’m going on instinct. Gotta go.”
“Where to?”
“The telegraph office, then the bank. I need more money.”
“You got more?”
“Lots more. I need to transfer fifty thousand to Commerce to get their attention. Then I’ll write them a letter outlining an ongoing business relationship. I just hope I have enough time.”
Richard looked puzzled. “What kind of gun shop did you own?”
“I had more than a gun shop, but it was the source of my good fortune.” I was about to leave, but then I stopped and turned back toward Richard. “We catered to the wealthy. Sold mostly expensive shotguns to weekend bird hunters. My dad loved the exquisite machining and craftsmanship of the Italian and English models. Most of them cost more than a constable’s annual salary. We made lots of money, and when my dad died, I invested in real estate and railroads. Did pretty well.”
“I gather.”
I shrugged. “I learned how to deal with men like Washburn.”
“Do they shoot opponents in New York?”
“In the seamier districts, but I avoided those. The men I dealt with may not have taken their opponents’ lives, but they stole everything else, including their pride.”
“Is that why you left New York?”
“Partly. I wanted clarity. But in truth, this Washburn affair is teaching me something—I enjoy the game.”
“This is not a game of wits.”
I headed toward the door again. “Different stakes, but it’s a game nonetheless.”
Just as the door swung closed, I heard Richard yell, “You’ll need a lot more skill than you’ve shown at whist.”
Chapter 15
“Bolton’s dead!”
“What?” I dropped the telegram I had been rereading and leaped to let Richard inside the bank’s wood barricade. I hoped I had heard wrong. Bolton dead? That wrecked all my plans. I let Richard pass by me into the inner sanctum, but instead of following, I went into the foyer to lock the door and pull the shade. Damn it. Then it hit me. I had set up Bolton as a diversion. Was this my fault?
Before retaking my seat, I
“Pinkertons are on the way,” I said, more irritated than his comment warranted. “I’m willing to employ force if necessary, but I’m not going to start a damned shooting war.” I sat back down. “I’ve got to fight this out the only way I know how.”
Richard looked unconvinced. With a resigned shrug, he said, “Commerce is run by the oldest money in the state—older than the silver strikes. They have an upright reputation. They usually don’t get mixed up in shady dealings, and they stay out of politics or at least hide their political dealings.”
“Would they loan money to Washburn?”
Richard thought about my question. “Probably not. They cater to the cattle, lumber, and railroad interests. Miners need these to run their operations and constantly gripe that the old-money barons extort all their profits. The two sides don’t mix easy.”
“Then who do you think Washburn might turn to?”
Richard again sat quiet for a minute. “Carson City First. Despite their name, they’re fairly new and welcome business with mine owners. The president’s a goddamn vulture, gobbling up every Commerce carcass he stumbles across. There’s no love lost between the two banks … yep, Washburn would go to Carson City First.”
“Birds of a feather flock together?”
“Exactly.”
I got up and resumed my pacing. After a couple of laps, I stopped in front of Richard’s desk. “Then I’ll set up a relationship with Commerce.”
“I thought you were trying to put the squeeze on Washburn. How can Commerce help?”
“We need an ally in Carson City. Always go with power. Besides, I bet Carson City First would be hard to dislodge from Washburn.” I headed for the door. “But in truth, I’m going on instinct. Gotta go.”
“Where to?”
“The telegraph office, then the bank. I need more money.”
“You got more?”
“Lots more. I need to transfer fifty thousand to Commerce to get their attention. Then I’ll write them a letter outlining an ongoing business relationship. I just hope I have enough time.”
Richard looked puzzled. “What kind of gun shop did you own?”
“I had more than a gun shop, but it was the source of my good fortune.” I was about to leave, but then I stopped and turned back toward Richard. “We catered to the wealthy. Sold mostly expensive shotguns to weekend bird hunters. My dad loved the exquisite machining and craftsmanship of the Italian and English models. Most of them cost more than a constable’s annual salary. We made lots of money, and when my dad died, I invested in real estate and railroads. Did pretty well.”
“I gather.”
I shrugged. “I learned how to deal with men like Washburn.”
“Do they shoot opponents in New York?”
“In the seamier districts, but I avoided those. The men I dealt with may not have taken their opponents’ lives, but they stole everything else, including their pride.”
“Is that why you left New York?”
“Partly. I wanted clarity. But in truth, this Washburn affair is teaching me something—I enjoy the game.”
“This is not a game of wits.”
I headed toward the door again. “Different stakes, but it’s a game nonetheless.”
Just as the door swung closed, I heard Richard yell, “You’ll need a lot more skill than you’ve shown at whist.”
Chapter 15
“Bolton’s dead!”
“What?” I dropped the telegram I had been rereading and leaped to let Richard inside the bank’s wood barricade. I hoped I had heard wrong. Bolton dead? That wrecked all my plans. I let Richard pass by me into the inner sanctum, but instead of following, I went into the foyer to lock the door and pull the shade. Damn it. Then it hit me. I had set up Bolton as a diversion. Was this my fault?
Before retaking my seat, I
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