But that was almost certainly why Pew was here. A man like him hated not getting his way. He was here to beg for the help of Sully’s father.
Pew had never endeared himself to the Reconstructionists. He was wealthy enough to make sure they left him alone, but he hadn’t spent the time or money to gain real influence among them the way Sully and his father had.
Yes, that’s why the old man was here. He wanted the Weatherspoons’ influence.
Sully hurried up the steps and through the doors, saw the open door to his father’s office, and had just entered when Pew said, “Rickert should be fired.”
Sully’s father smiled coldly from behind his big desk. “Is that why you’re here, Mr. Pew? To ask that I have Rickert removed?”
“No, that’s not why I’m here,” Pew said, pacing back and forth.
“Ah, son,” Mr. Weatherspoon said. “Please join us. You know Mr. Pew, I believe.”
“Yes, sir,” Sully said, stepping forward, ready to shake the old man’s hand. “In fact, I saw Mr. Pew recently, waiting in front of the sheriff’s office.”
Pew didn’t offer to shake hands. Instead, he sneered disdainfully, “Sheriff.”
Sully, who had enjoyed plucking the wings from flies as a child, smiled innocently and said, “Yes, sir, Sheriff Rickert.”
“Rickert’s worthless,” Pew said. “Criminally negligent!”
“Son,” Mr. Weatherspoon said, and gestured toward one of the chairs in front of his large desk. “Please have a seat. Unless, like our esteemed guest, you would prefer to stand.”
“I’ll sit, thank you,” Sully said, and lowered himself into the chair.
Pew continued to march back and forth. “What I need from you, Weatherspoon, is help doing Rickert’s job.”
Sully’s father smiled politely, feigning ignorance. “Which job, specifically, would that be, Mr. Pew?”
“Running off Will Bentley, of course! Do that, and I’ll pay you a hundred dollars.”
“Mr. Pew, it’s my experience that men like Will Bentley don’t run off easily,” Sully’s father said, holding onto that polite smile.
“Sic the bluebellies on him.”
Now, Sully’s father frowned. “That might not be possible, I’m afraid.”
“Why not? You said they were at your beck and call.”
“Beck and call is a stretch, Mr. Pew. But yes, I had a good relationship with Major Forsythe.”
“Well, sic Forsythe on Bentley, then. Surely, you could pay him out of the hundred dollars and walk away with a tidy profit. And I’ll double the sum if you deliver Bentley’s sister to me. She’s supposed to be my wife!”
For just a second, Sully could see Father struggle to mask his irritation and contempt. But he managed to hold onto his polite smile and tone. “Like I said, Mr. Pew, I enjoyed a good relationship with Major Forsythe, but unfortunately, Major Forsythe left us. He’s been reassigned in the West.”
It surprised Sully that Pew didn’t know at least this much. Forsythe had been gone for weeks.
Was Pew senile, or had he just grown soft? Was it possible that money had weakened him?
Sully rejected the thought instinctively, knowing that he would never allow anything to dull his own edge.
“Well, bribe whoever’s in charge now.”
“Culp.”
“What?”
“Captain Culp, Mr. Pew. That’s the new commander’s name.”
