Wright led the way inside, one hand resting on the pistol in his holster. The entryway was empty, but footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Miss Darby appeared from around the corner. “Oh, thank goodness!” She placed a hand over her heart. “I was just about to send someone for you,” she said to Wright.
“Is my wife here?” Merrick cut in, getting a solid glare from Wright.
“She is, Mr. Benton. I didn’t know what to do. Mrs. Inman’s got a baby in her room, I could hear it crying earlier.”
A flood of relief nearly drowned Merrick. Davy was here. He was alive and well and Merrick wasn’t waiting another moment before—
He’d taken one step when Wright stilled him with a hand to his shoulder. Merrick frowned. It went against every instinct he had not to fly down that hallway.
“What happened, Miss Darby?” Wright asked, finally letting go of Merrick.
“I didn’t think anything of it until Mrs. Benton and Deirdre came running in here. Deirdre said the baby belongs to you and your wife, Mr. Benton. They banged on the door, and Mrs. Inman refused to let anyone in, but that baby kept crying. And she finally let Mrs. Benton come in, but no one else. And she—She says she’s got herself a revolver.” The words flooded out of Miss Darby’s mouth as she twisted her apron in her hands. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve never had such a fuss in here! We run a respectable place, Marshal.”
“I know you do,” Wright said in a reassuring voice. “Now, you said she let Mrs. Benton come inside? Could you see in there at all? Did you notice a weapon?”
Merrick gritted his teeth as he shifted his weight. All this talking wasn’t getting Davy back. And now Eleanor was in danger too.
“I didn’t, Marshal, but I couldn’t see much of anything at all. She opened the door barely wide enough to let Mrs. Benton through. I have a key.” She fished it from her pocket and handed it to Wright. “I didn’t dare open it on my own.”
“What about the lady’s husband? Inman? Is he here?”
“No, sir. He’s been working late hours at the bank. I doubt he knows anything about this,” Miss Darby replied.
The entire town was looking for Davy. Inman had likely already heard about it, although whether he’d suspect his wife was another matter. Merrick would find out about that later. Ifhe discovered that man knew what his wife was up to, Merrick would see to it he landed in a cell right next to hers.
“Could you send someone to get him? One of your guests?” Wright asked.
“I will.” Miss Darby’s nervous gaze darted back down the hallway. “I think Deirdre’s talking to them now through the door.”
“Thank you. You’ve been mighty helpful,” Wright said. “Why don’t you tend to your guests, and I’ll get this cleared up as fast as I can for you.”
Miss Darby hesitated, then she nodded and stepped into the adjacent dining room where a couple of guests were lingering over their supper.
They stepped into the hallway. Deirdre was pressed up against the door, listening. She caught sight of them and stepped back. “I didn’t know if I should let on that you were here,” she said to the marshal in a whisper.
“It’s all right,” Wright said. “She has to know it would come to this.” He knocked lightly on the door. “Mrs. Inman? Mrs. Benton? This is Marshal James Wright.”
“Go away now, Marshal.” Mrs. Inman’s voice was muffled through the door. “We’re doing just fine.”
Wright glanced at Merrick. The marshal hadn’t mentioned Merrick’s presence, and he presumed that was for a good reason. So as much as he wanted to call out to Eleanor, he kept his mouth shut.
“I can’t do that, ma’am. You’ve got a baby in there that doesn’t belong to you. And his mother too. I need you to open the door.”
“Leo is my son,” Mrs. Inman said. “I’m his mother.”
Merrick closed his eyes briefly. The woman had lost touch with reality. He could only hope she didn’t actually possess a revolver.
“Then can you tell me why Mrs. Benton is in there?” Wright asked.
“She’s my friend. I welcome my friends.” Mrs. Inman’s voice was strained.
“I haven’t heard her in there,” Merrick said under his breath. There hadn’t been a peep from either Eleanor or the baby.
Wright nodded. “I need to talk to Mrs. Benton. Ma’am, can you hear me?”
“I’m here, Marshal,” Eleanor’s terrified voice sounded through the door. “The baby and I are all right.”
