Longarm shrugged. And handed Amos the bulky ledgers he’d confiscated from Braxton. “Do something t’ keep these safe, will you? Me, I’m purely worn out. I got t’ get some sleep else I’ll be walking into walls soon.”
“Good night, Longarm.”
“G’night, Amo … Lester.”
Chapter 36
Longarm hadn’t so much as had time to get through his breakfast before the locals began making courtesy calls. Courtesy hell, he realized. What they were doing was pleading for protection. Now that the police chief was dead, himself a victim of the unknown killer he had been sworn to apprehend, the Addington bigwigs were worried that their own asses might be on the line next. If J. Michael Bender could be shot down at his desk, then so could any of the rest of them. They knew it. And it scared the shit out of them.
“As mayor of this magnificent city,” Hiram Worthington declared in a rich, mellow tone as if from a speaking dais, “I do concur with my vice mayor’s action of last night, sir. I do hereby, and I might add quite heartily, request the assistance of the United States Justice Department and of you as a United States deputy marshal, sir, in upholding the laws of Texas and of this nation. And, um,” he glanced about on all sides and lowered his voice considerably, “I would ask in particular that you protect the elected officials of our city and of this county.”
“Anyone special that you have in mind?” Longarm asked, knowing damn good and well who the mayor was most interested in but curious as to whether he would admit it.
“Well, um, naturally I am concerned for the well-being of all our officials and indeed of all our citizens.”
“But …?”
“But I, uh, think perhaps the most vulnerable would be those in, ah, the highest and most exposed positions.”
“Namely?”
“Yes, well, uh, in truth, sir, I would suggest that as mayor …” Worthington didn’t want to complete the sentence. He did not want to seem the coward. On the other hand he was even less desirous of seeing himself bravely dead. He dropped his voice to a bare whisper and leaned close, hissing practically into Longarm’s ear, “Dammit, sir, I need protection.”
“Yes, sir, I think perhaps you do. And if I had any authority over the local police …”
“Is that what you want? Fine. I can, um, I can offer you a temporary appointment, complete with remuneration in the same amounts …”
“No pay,” Longarm said. “I draw my salary from the Justice Department. We don’t take anything on the side, not for services rendered nor even rewards. That kinda keeps things on a even keel if you see what I mean.”
His honor the mayor seemed slightly disappointed to discover that he did not have the leverage of cash to apply to his own future welfare. But he recovered quickly enough. “You would accept the appointment, though, if not the pay?”
“Yes, sir, I reckon I could do that for you.”
“Then consider yourself to be the new police chief pro tempore of Addington, Texas, Mr … excuse me, what is your name again?”
Longarm hid his amusement and settled for answering the question.
“Long. Yes. Of course.” The mayor smiled. “Deputy Long. Or perhaps I should say Chief Long, mm? I have the authority to make the appointment now on a temporary basis and we will convene a special meeting of the city council, say, tonight at eight o’clock in the second-floor chambers at City Hall. Your appointment will be confirmed then. You are, uh, welcome to attend if you wish. In fact, uh, I would be particularly grateful if you could be with me on a rather regular basis for the next few days and …”
“Mr. Mayor, excuse me for interrupting here, but I reckon I know what it is you’re getting at. An’ I got t’ tell you, being a bodyguard, however valuable that service would be, ain’t exactly what I come here t’ do. Besides, guarding one fella would just tell our killer he should go after someone else as an easier target. No, what I gotta do is find out who’s doing the shooting an’ put a stop to it that way. Howsomever, sir, as chief o’ police I expect I can assign one o’ the duty officers to keep a special eye on you an’ on the other, shall we say, more vulnerable folks.”
“That would be, uh, entirely acceptable, Chief.”
“Yes, sir. Now if you’ll excuse me?”
The mayor left, and the duly appointed police chief pro tempore finished his breakfast with not more than three further interruptions by public and party officials who were worried about protecting their butts.
Once done with his meal he stopped at the hotel desk to ask that a tub and hot water be carried up to his room, then walked over to City Hall to inform the day shift that they had a new, albeit temporary boss, and to instruct them that the powers that be should be mollified with a show of interest on the part of the uniformed officers.
“Make yourselves conspicuous as hell,” Longarm told the cops, all of whom had come in, including those who were not technically on duty at the moment. “You aren’t expected to accomplish much. No killer in his right mind will try anything with you boys around. Which o’ course is the whole idea. Keep the killer away by showing yourselves an’ at that same time you’ll be pleasing the fellas that come up with your pay. All right?”
The Addington police weren’t really all that bad a bunch, Longarm thought. They couldn’t much like the idea of a stranger taking over from their dead boss, but they were polite and didn’t offer any public mutiny. That was about as good as he could have hoped, and he was satisfied with it.
“I got an appointment over at the hotel,” he said without bothering to mention that his appointment was with a bathtub, “but I’ll come back over later an’ see what we can figure out about this mess. In the meantime if any o’ you has any ideas about what we’re looking for, get your thoughts in order ‘cause I’ll want t’ hear your arguments soon as I get back. Okay?”
The cops seemed to like the idea of being consulted—Longarm had the impression that listening to the thoughts of his subordinates might not have been among Michael Bender’s habits when he was chief—and were already conferring among themselves when Longarm departed.
When he got back to the hotel the desk clerk motioned him over. “I hope you ain’t gonna tell me that my bath isn’t ready,” he said.
“Not at all. Your tub and water are waiting for you. So is a visitor.”
“Pardon me?”
“It seemed … inadvisable for this particular visitor to wait in the public lobby. Not seemly, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I reckon I don’t know what you mean.”
“She said it was official business, deputy. She said she had to see you regarding an investigation?”
She, Longarm thought. Janie again. Damn, but that was one horny woman. Well then, she could just scrub his back for him. He supposed there were worse ways to spend a morning. He thanked the clerk and started up the stairs.
Chapter 37
It was not Janie Sproul who greeted Longarm on his return to the hotel room but slim and vibrant Clarice. She was smiling hugely when she ran lightly across the room and flung herself onto him, demanding kisses and hugs.
“I have the day off and I got to thinking that … well … the first time was so nice that I thought we should do it again just to make sure I really do like it as much as I think I do,” she told him.
Longarm chuckled and carried her over to the bed where he unceremoniously dumped her on her butt. “Some things oughta be checked out real careful before you reach conclusions,” he agreed.
Clarice smiled. And began unfastening the buttons at her throat.
Longarm stroked the soft curls of her pubic hair, petting her there while he gently sucked and licked at her nipples. Clarice liked that uncommonly well, and he’d discovered it was a surefire way to arouse the girl.
Not that either of them likely could stand much more in the way of arousal right now. He’d made it twice and she’d climaxed at least three times already. But the activity was still pleasant. And kind of friendly. He lightly stroked and licked while she fondled his limp, wet pecker and sighed repeatedly in his ear.