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“Well, I think we’ve established that. I have train tickets to Oklahoma City where we will catch the last train to Guthrie tomorrow night. I’m going to leave Emily with my family there, and travel to Kansas.”
“Ellsworth? I’m still waiting to hear from them.”
Hunter nodded. “Yes, I need to see them myself, take a look at their records. I want to check exactly what information the sheriff’s department has. I don’t expect much since I was the only witness and I never talked. Possibly someone saw Smith leave the bank. In any event, I want to get as much information as I can.”
“How will you get from the dress shop to the train station? I assume you won’t have a lot of time.”
“I arranged for a taxi to pick us up right around the time Emily goes there.” He grinned. “By the way, she doesn’t know any of this. I saw Millie last Thursday and spent the time since then setting this up. I can’t afford any more mistakes.”
Jeremy fiddled with the spoon on his saucer. “I have another appointment with Smith to go over my ‘investments.’ I hope to get him to show his hand a little bit, maybe put something in writing on what he can guarantee me in the way of a return. I’m assuming he will offer something that is not possible, which might help our ‘running a scam’ charges.”
“Also poke around and see if he’s had problems with violence with anyone else. From what the police officer told me, Smith is very well regarded in the community, but it seems unlikely he would be able to keep that temper in check all the time.” Hunter’s experience with the Rangers taught him that violence was rarely directed at one person. Usually someone with a temper like Smith’s would show it in other ways, especially when stressed.
“You just take care of your lady, and I’ll handle everything here until you get back.”
Hunter hesitated, wondering if he should mention the drugs again. It was obvious to anyone familiar with drug dependence that Jeremy was suffering with an addiction to morphine. He hated to leave his friend like this, but he had to get Emily away as quickly as possible.
He assuaged his conscience by telling himself that most likely bringing it up would not make a difference, and since he was leaving town anyway, it would be best to let it go. He stuck his hand out. “Thanks. I’ll see you when I get back. It might not be for a few weeks.”
He left and returned to the boardinghouse. He searched out Mrs. Pettiford to let her know he would be leaving the next day, and she should not hold his room. His landlady was sorry to see him go and assured him he was always welcome back.
A few hours later he looked around his room with satisfaction. He had everything packed, including Emily’s suitcase from their interrupted attempt to flee. Tomorrow he’d double check with the taxi driver to make sure he was ready to meet them behind Millie’s dress shop at eleven o’clock.
This time there would be no mistakes or trip-ups.
Chapter 16
After tossing and turning all night, Hunter rose and checked everything once more. He took a brisk walk to a coffee shop for breakfast. It was more to pass the time until he met Emily since he was unable to put anything into his stomach besides strong coffee. While he was there he must have checked his jacket pocket for the train tickets a dozen times.
As he arrived back at his boardinghouse, two men stood at the front door speaking with Mrs. Pettiford. His curiosity was piqued when he recognized Officer Mallory, along with an older man dressed in a plain business suit. His heart sped up when the thought crossed his mind that s
omething had happened to Emily.
Then he calmed down when he realized no one except Millie and Jeremy knew of his connection to her. He walked up the steps to hear Mrs. Pettiford say, “Here he is now, officers.”
Both men turned and stared at him. He was startled when Mallory moved his hand to cover his gun. What the hell was that all about?
“Step inside, son.” The older man said.
Hunter moved into the house and followed Mrs. Pettiford and the men to the parlor. Since all the residents were at work, they had the house to themselves.
Officer Mallory moved behind Hunter and said, “Hands behind your back, Henderson.”
“What?” He turned, but Mallory had grabbed his arm to stop him from moving.
“I said hands behind your back.” The officer tugged on Hunter’s other arm.
“Not unless you tell me what the hell this is all about.”
“You know what it’s about. Now hands behind your back.”
Taking a deep breath, Hunter complied, his mind in a whirl as fear licked at him like flames from an out of control fire. Had Louis discovered his plan to take Emily away and had him arrested for attempted kidnapping? He looked at Mallory over his shoulder. “Can you at least tell me why I’m being arrested?”
The older man spoke. “Son, you can play dumb all you want, but you know as well as we do why you’re being arrested.”
He was starting to get angry. Their condescending attitudes, along with whatever game they were playing grated on his already overstretched nerves. “I hate to disappoint you, but your confidence in my knowledge of what the hell is going on here is misplaced. I am a former Texas Ranger, and I know you cannot arrest me without telling me what I’m charged with.”
The older man in a suit gave him a half smile and shook his head, switching a toothpick back and forth in his mouth. “All right, Mr. Henderson. We’ll do it your way.” He pulled a legal document from his inside jacket pocket. Bracing his feet apart, said, “Mr. Hunter Henderson, it is my duty as Chief of Police of the Galveston Police Department to inform you that you are under arrest for the murder of Mr. Louis Smith.”
