There was nothing to say to that. Call let the statement settle before he asked, “Who is Miss Morrison’s missing stage tender?”
“Josiah Pye.”
“And he’s in the wind,” said Call.
“Seems to be. At least Miss Morrison wasn’t able to run him to ground.”
“What do you think?”
“The same. Miss Morrison already sent a wire to the sheriff in Denver and she’s alerted the law in Falls Hollow and Frost Falls. Passed on a description. I’m not hopeful it will be much help, but I appreciate her effort.”
“Have you spoken to Brady? He has a stake in this.”
“He does, and no, I haven’t sent for him yet. Thought he’d turn up here on his own.”
From Stonechurch’s tone, Call could tell that it was a black mark in the mental book he kept on Brady. He didn’t make excuses for the driver although several occurred to him. Brady’s absence had likely put him back on the list of suspects. Josiah Pye had disappeared, but that wasn’t proof that he had the strongbox in his possession. As far as they knew, he was guilty of stealing a horse. That was it.
Call said, “I’m guessing you’ve realized that Pye had an accomplice.”
Nodding, Stonechurch said, “At least one. He couldn’t have known the payroll was on that stage without help. Hell,Ididn’t know it was coming early.”
Call remembered Stonechurch had said the same last night. “You move the payroll on a random schedule?”
“We do.” He pointed to the door of his office to indicate the room and the man on the other side. “Mr. Fordham is in charge of choosing days and times and the stage that will carry it. Sometimes he doesn’t inform me until the money’s left Denver. Sometimes he forgets to mention it altogether, but he’s never failed me. He’s a cautious man. I trust him absolutely.”
“All right. Take Mr. Fordham off the table.”
“He was never on it. I want you to start at Morrison Station. Talk to everyone. Put your ear to the ground and listen for the rumbling.”
Call’s right eyebrow lifted in a skeptical arch. “That’s what you want, huh?”
“Yes, it is, but I’ll bite. What is it you want?”
“I sure would like to understand why you’ve decided that I’m the man to do this.”
Stonechurch chuckled. “And I was so sure you’d ask about money, but I suppose that will come.” He waited for Call to confirm, and when nothing was said, he went on. “You’re an outsider, and that’s in your favor. You’ve ridden for Overland, so if this assignment means you have to take up a job with Henderson Express, you’ll know what to do. Sam Henderson owes me after losing my payroll, but I won’t be putting in a good word for you unless you need the job and can’t get it on your own. I judge you’re a decent shot, maybe better than merely decent, and you survived the war so you’re lucky or skilled and probably a little of both. Does that reasoning do it for you, Call?”
“It does.”
“Then let’s talk money and get you out of here.”
6
Rooster was just about finished loading dry goods from Booker’s mercantile onto the wagon when he happened to glance up and see Call Landry coming toward him. It took him a moment to place Landry. Seeing the fellow riding on horseback and not on or in a stagecoach made Rooster question himself. Turned out that his eyes and his memory were better than either of his hips. He raised a hand to greet Landry when the man came abreast of the wagon.
“Rooster, is it?” said Call, though he remembered perfectly well that it was.
“That’s right.”
Call pointed to his chest. “McCall Landry. I was here a few days back.”
“Yeah. Thought it was you. You here on particular business or passing through?”
“Stonechurch business.”
Rooster blinked owlishly. “He sentyou? We knew he was sending someone, but never had word that it was going to be you.”
“It’s me.” He patted his jacket pocket. “Have a letter right here.”
