Call addressed Berry again just as if Laurel hadn’t spoken. He was imagining throttling her and couldn’t talk to her just yet. “Why did you bring her along?”
“Could you have stopped her?” asked Berry. “It wasn’t a choice.”
Call grunted something unintelligible. “You can see for yourself that Carter’s still standing.” Not only was he standing, but he had also inched toward the bed in those brief moments when Call was speaking to Berry. Call gave him a look that stopped the sheriff in his tracks and then pointed to the spot on the floor where he wanted him to return.
Carter did as directed and appealed to Berry. “Are you really a Pinkerton man?”
“I am.”
He jerked his thumb at Call. “So you can arrest him.”
“Maybe.”
“He’s making all kinds of false accusations and he slugged me. Caught me unawares. Assaulting a lawman. That’s a jailing offense.”
“Hmm. You know you’re whining.”
Carter’s mouth snapped shut. He winced because his jaw still hurt.
“Perhaps this will help you, Sheriff. Miss Morrison and I had an instructive conversation with Miss Desiree before we came up here. Miss Desiree was forthcoming about her role in the robbery, and therefore most helpful in identifying your part. Do you understand what I’m saying? We know everything.”
The sheriff shook his head. “Desi is a liar. You can’t trust anything she says.”
Laurel said quietly, “That’s simply not true.” Her eyesfell on the metal strongbox lying on the floor at the foot of Desiree’s bed. She asked Call, “Is that the box we found and Digger took away from the bunkhouse?”
“The very same,” he said. “Closes the circle between Pye, Digger, Desiree, and this miscreant with a badge.”
Laurel shook her head slowly as she regarded Rayleigh Carter. “Do you even comprehend your mistake?” She didn’t wait for him to reply. “Desiree was in love with Mr. Pye. I can’t speak to whether the reverse was true, but she believed it was. She told us that they had plans to leave Falls Hollow separately and meet up in Denver. You made sure they couldn’t do that when you murdered Mr. Pye.”
“They were going to split the money and cut me out.”
No one spoke. No one moved. They all stared at Carter in the aftermath of his confession.
Carter frowned. “What are you looking at me like that for? That’s what you all think, isn’t it? That’s the yarn Landry’s been unraveling before you got here, Laurel Beth. I ain’t admitting to nothing.”
Laurel was more disappointed than surprised. “You always were strong-headed.” She glanced at the rifle Rooster was still cradling in his arms. “Is that the Springfield you used to try to kill me?”
The sheriff did not respond.
“It’s a real shame about my hat, Carter.” Laurel swept it off her head and poked her finger through one of the holes. “I never realized you hated me so much.”
Call said, “It was just business to him.”
Laurel nodded. She watched the sheriff’s complexion turn ruddy. Was he actually embarrassed? “I don’t know if that’s better or worse.”
“Desiree gave you up, Carter. Mr. Berry is taking you in.”
Carter squared his shoulders. “No, he’s not.”
“Afraid so,” said Berry. “You first, then I have business with Ephraim Hammersmith and his family. You could perhaps buy yourself some goodwill by clearing your conscience about their involvement.”
Call observed the sheriff subtly shifting his weight again. He only noticed because he was looking for it. The man’s hands were curling at his sides and the faint tic in his jaw was back.
“Where is your gun, Sheriff?” asked Berry.
Rooster answered when Carter remained mutinously tight-lipped. “His belt’s under the bed.”
“All right,” said Berry. “We have your rifle, your gun’s out of your reach, so how about you coming along without a Peacemaker poking you in your back. Miss Morrison tells me you’re familiar with sleeping in a cell. You’ll be fine.”
