Unsurprisingly my Impala was one of several dozen available. I climbed in, put my coffee in the cup holder, adjusted my seat and began the drive.
I took the I-25 North exit and headed toward downtown
Santa Fe. Once I was reasonably sure I wasn't about to drive into a telephone pole or have a pack of wolves chase me, I took out my cell phone headset and called Amanda. Nobody picked up and it went right to voice mail.
"Hey, it's me. Just wanted to let you know I landed safe.
I'm driving a seven-year-old Chevy Impala with thirtyseven thousand miles on it. There's barely anyone else on the road. Actually, I think I might be the only person driving in New Mexico right now. Anyway, I love you, call me when you get this."
The drive was much easier than I expected, the coffee keeping my blood percolating, but the breathtaking scenery was what really kept my eyes open. Despite the set sun, there was just enough light to make out the stunning mesas and even snow-capped peaks miles and miles away. It was a far cry from the city, where I'd become accustomed to metal towers and gridlock. I listened to the absolute silence, just stared into the black horizon and tried to take in a part of the country most people back east barely believed existed.
When I finally arrived in Fort Sumner, I stopped at a
Super 8, parked the Impala and stepped inside.
The lobby was filled with framed documents that looked a hundred years old, and a kiosk held a handful of county maps and brochures for various tourist attractions. The night manager wore an actual cowboy hat, and booked my room with a sleepy smile. I studied the documents as I passed, and could immediately tell that not only did Fort Sumner house a great deal of history, it was damn proud of it. I grabbed a handful of brochures, including a pamphlet for the Museum of Outlaws and Lawmen. It opened at 9:00 a.m. I wanted to be the first one there.
The rooms were like any typical hotel-brown drapes, floral comforters, paintings of old men fishing and settled lakes reflecting moonlight. My cell phone log had three missed calls: two from the Gazette, one from Amanda.
I set my alarm for 7:30 a.m., remembering the time difference. Figured that would give me enough time to shower and grab a quick bite.
My jeans felt like they were glued to my legs, so I peeled them off, tossed them on top of my shirt. I checked myself out in the mirror, patted my stomach. New York food had been good to me.
I did fifty pushups and thirty crunches and then fell into bed after my right triceps cramped up. I turned off the light and closed my eyes, and then my phone rang. It read Amanda
Cell. I answered it.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself. How's the great outdoors?"
"I'm staying in a Super 8. And it does have a roof."
"Okay, how's the great Super 8?"
"Better than a Motel 6."
"Ooh, don't let Motel 6 hear that. So how was the flight?"
"Not too bad, actually left almost on time, which I don't think has ever happened to me before. I have to be up early tomorrow to get to the museum."
"Early bird gets the homicidal maniac's rifle, huh?"
"I think Socrates said that."
"So, you think there's a lead there?"
"Yeah, I do. You don't hang up on a question unless you've got something to hide."
"Guess they won't be able to hide much when you show up."
"That's the idea."
"Well, I'll let you get to sleep, Henry." I waited a moment to hear if she would say anything else. I wanted to ask it, but almost felt like by doing so I was ringing a bell that couldn't be silenced. But I had to.
"Amanda? Are we okay?"
"Yeah…" she said, hesitantly. "Why would you even ask that?" My stomach clenched.
"Just making sure. G'night, babe."
"Sleep well. Go get 'em tomorrow."
"I will. Night."
She hung up. I placed the phone on the nightstand and closed my eyes. It was barely five minutes later when the phone beeped again. Just once. I had a text message.
I opened the phone, clicked Text Messages. The message was from Mya. It read: Im Sorry. ForGIve Me.
I stared at the phone for a moment, wondered what she meant by it. Then it hit me, and I smiled.
As my eyes closed, I was glad to know Mya was finally moving on with her life, offering the closure I'd needed for so long.
24
I was dressed and ready to go by eight. Into my bag went a tape recorder, pen and notepad, and the copies of the Winchester 1873 Xerox from Agnes Trimble. I bought a muffin and slammed down a cup of coffee in the small motel dining room. My worry about standing out was assuaged, seems jeans and a T-shirt are common just about everywhere. The manager, a short, cherry-cheeked woman named Marjorie, inquired as to the purpose of my visit.
"I'm a history buff," I said.
"Ooh!" she squealed, nearly spilling the pot of coffee.
"Then you've definitely come to the right place. Are you going to the Museum of Outlaws and Lawmen?"
"That's actually my first stop."
"Oh goodness, if you love history, you won't be able to get enough of that place. My husband and I make a trip once a month, and as soon as the kids are old enough we're buying family passes. Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Pat Garrett, John
Tunstall, Billy the Kid, gosh, it's just enough to get a person excited." She gave me a mischievous grin and leaned closer.
"Just don't be stealin' nothin'."
I eyed her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, let's just say things have a way of disappearing around this town. Collectors and vagabonds are absolutely shameless. It's a real pity, how little respect some folks have.
If you take a look at John Chisum's military sword in the museum," she said, leaning closer, "it ain't the real thing. Real sword was stolen ten ought years ago. They just tell people it's the real thing to keep up appearances, save money on insurance."
I took out the brochure, looked at the dozens of guns, swords and artifacts in the pictures. "Is that so," I said, not so much a question.
"Places like that keep this town going," she added. "Heck, there wouldn't be any need for this hotel without them.
Anyway, enjoy your trip, don't worry 'bout what I said.
There's enough real history in that place to send you home happier'n a pig in slop."
I thanked Marjorie, grabbed my recorder and notebook and headed out. The museum was on East Sumner Avenue, less than half a mile from the motel. It was just past eight-thirty.
All the houses and shops looked like they'd been pulled from old Western movies. Low-hanging awnings, typeface with old-style lettering, bright yellows and reds slapped on warped wooden signs. It was like the town was bending over backward to retain its precious nostalgia.
The Museum of Outlaws and Lawmen was a one-story building that occupied most of one block. Sitting outside were two pitch-black cannons aimed at each other across the entryway, as though daring visitors to step past. Beside them stood a carriage-style wheel, painted bright yellow. The signage showed an image of a man leaning on a rifle. A rifle which, upon closer inspection, looked pretty darn like a Winchester 1873.
There were no lights on and the windows were barricaded.
Not boarded, but barricaded as though the museum was defending itself from an impending attack. And if Marjorie was telling the truth, maybe it needed that line of defense.
I wiggled the front door, which was locked, but nothing that would have prevented anyone with amateur lock-picking skills and ten free minutes from circumventing. I stuck my hands in my pockets and waited.