“Yes, sir. I can do that.”
“Good boy. You do that, and I’ll give you another dollar.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’m counting on you,” Conn said, and went into the doctor’s office.
10
The front room was an office with a little waiting area. A lamp on the desk cast the place in weird shadows.
A hallway led farther back, where brighter lights burned. Low voices murmured back there.
Conn pulled his Remington and walked slowly down the hall.
He saw a man in boots stretched out on a couch but couldn’t see his face because it was blocked by the gray-haired doctor standing beside the couch.
Conn knew he was the doctor because he was still wearing his pajamas.
The one lying there had helped murder Cole.
Conn stepped into the room. A floorboard creaked underfoot.
The doctor turned in his direction with an annoyed expression. “He’s awake. He has a broken nose, but a broken nose won’t kill you. Now, if you don’t mind, please remove him so I can go back to sleep.”
“I’m not one of them,” Conn said.
The doctor looked confused. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“Who’s that?” the man on the couch said and sat up with a groan. His face was a mess, all right, the nose badly broken and both eyes swollen half-shut and already turning black. He squinted at Conn. “Who are you?”
Conn just looked at him.
Then the man’s eyes stretched wide open. He sat bolt upright and scooted back against the wall. One hand went to the gun on his hip.
“You draw that thing, you’re dead,” Conn said.
The man lifted his hands. He was blubbering with terror now. “I’m real sorry, mister. I’m sorry we messed with you.”
“Who are you?”
“Name’s Daniels. Tripp Daniels. Look, I didn’t mean no harm. You already busted my nose, mister. I deserved it. I really did. But I reckon that squares us, don’t it? You can put that shooting iron away.”
“Who are your friends?”
“My friends?”
“Who brought you here?”
“I got no idea, sir. I didn’t know nothing until just a minute ago.”
“One has a beard and a big hat and a long coat. The other one’s tall and skinny with two, tied-down guns.”
“Sounds like Bo and Arthur.”
“Tell me about them.”
