There was a sound of someone in the hallway outside the door. Will hoped it was the Pinkertons as planned.
Granite gave it no notice. “It’s a celebration, Mr. Vogel. I’m welcoming Will into our family. Surely you can take a drink in support of such a wonderful occasion.”
“I’m afraid not, Mr. Evans. You see, I’m on the job, and you’re under arrest.”
Evans turned to look at Edward. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it’s an inappropriate joke.”
“I’m afraid it’s no joke, Mr. Evans. You’re under arrest for a long list of offenses, including a plot to assassinate Governor John A. Campbell.”
Just then, Gus and Bigs entered the room. Granite lost thelook of concern. He turned back to the decanter of whiskey. “Well, I’m afraid that my offenses will have to wait. You see, my men here won’t allow you to drag me off to jail.”
“He’s right, you know,” Gus said, looking at Evans.
Granite took his glass and started to walk back to his desk. “Stop,” Edward demanded. “Don’t move.”
The order froze Granite temporarily. Will watched the situation play out as he stepped back against the bookcase. He had promised Edward and Gus that he’d get himself out of the way.
Granite motioned to his men. “Gus, Bigs, take this man out of here.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Gus replied.
“You work for me. You’ll do what I say,” Evans commanded in a growl. He slammed his glass down on the desk. It shattered, spilling whiskey everywhere.
Gus stepped forward. “No, sir, I only pretended to work for you. Same with Bigs here. We’re actually employed by the Pinkerton Agency. We were sent to get the goods on you and see you arrested. President Grant has long had his eye on you, given your traitorous offenses against the government as well as numerous individuals.”
Granite’s mouth dropped open in stunned silence. He slowly shook his head, then fixed Will with a glaring look. “Are you in on this as well?”
“I’m not a lawman, if that’s what you mean,” Will replied. “But when I found out you arranged the stagecoach attack and were responsible for my mother and sister being killed, I asked to be around for your arrest.”
Evans looked back at Gus and Bigs. “And you ... you’re both Pinkertons? How in the world did I fail to know that?” He began to pace. “Wait a minute. You’ve both done thingsfor me that were illegal. You’re just as guilty as I am. You’ve killed for me.”
“Never have,” Gus said. “We let you think we did. Those other stage and freight attacks we made were arranged with the people involved. As you know, by your own instruction, we were careful not to kill unless absolutely necessary. It was never necessary.”
Evans stopped and pointed a finger. “But your men killed. You ordered it done. Your cousins were involved.”
Gus chuckled. “My Pinkerton ‘cousins.’ There is a team of Pinkertons working with me, and while I call them cousins, we’re not related. We are like a brotherhood, however. And loyal to the end. Bigs and I served in the war. He saved my life, and I saved his. You don’t turn on a fellow when that’s in your history.”
Granite stood in silence. Will could see that he knew he’d been defeated. His gaze darted around the room as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat.
“I’ve seen trapped animals with the same look on their faces as you have now,” Gus said, moving toward him. “You’re trying to figure out how to get out of this fix, but you might as well give up. You’re gonna stand trial for a great many wrongs.”
Without warning, Granite pulled a small revolver from his pocket. A single shot rang out as Evans leveled his gun at the closest man, who just so happened to be Edward.
Granite stood for a moment, then clutched his chest where a crimson stain was spreading on his gray wool suit. He hadn’t even been able to get a shot off. Snyder was much too fast for him.
“I-I ... it was ... mine.”
Gus kept his gun trained on Evans as Edward went forwardto take the man’s revolver. When he did so, Granite Evans sank to the floor.
“It was mine,” Evans murmured again and fell over. He stared up at the ceiling. “God owed it to me. It was all ... mine.”
“I’ll carry him over to the hospital,” Bigs said.
“No need,” Gus replied. “He’s gone.”
Granite’s eyes were still open, but there was no life in them. Will thought of Laura and wondered how she would take the news. She had so wanted a close relationship with her father, and now that was impossible.
Will knew he had to find her and tell her what had happened. “I’m going to get Laura.” No one said a word to stop him.
