Every act of courage looked simple from outside and expensive from within.
“You can refuse.”
Elena looked at Caleb.
He continued:
“I won’t call you coward.”
Henry looked surprised.
Caleb meant it.
Then Elena spoke.
“If you refuse, give us key.”
Henry looked at her.
“What?”
“To machine.”
“You know telegraph?”
“No.”
“Then what would you do?”
“Find someone who does.”
Henry stared.
Joseph almost smiled.
Henry sat behind the desk.
“Damn all of you.”
He began tapping.
The first message went to Fort Bowie.
The second Tucson.
When he started the third, shouting erupted outside.
Caleb reached for his revolver.
Joseph moved toward the door.
Pike entered first.
Two men behind him.
Deputy Price followed.
Pike smiled.
“Well.”
Caleb stood between him and the desk.
“Orson.”
“I heard you were dead.”
“Disappointing?”
“Bit.”
Pike’s eyes moved toward Elena.
“There’s our thief.”
Joseph stepped forward.
Caleb blocked him subtly.
Not to protect Pike.
To protect the room from becoming exactly what Crowe needed.
Deputy Price held up both hands.
“Everybody calm.”
Caleb laughed.
“You brought Pike.”
“I’m serving a warrant.”
“For?”
“Stolen federal documents.”
Elena said:
“They are federal documents?”
Price looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Then Crowe cannot own them.”
Henry Moss stopped telegraphing.
Caleb nearly smiled.
Price looked at Pike.
Pike’s expression tightened.
“Don’t play word games.”
Elena answered:
“You said thief.”
Caleb spoke.
“Who filed the complaint?”
Price hesitated.
Pike said:
“Crowe Freight.”
Caleb nodded.
“For federal records.”
Silence.
Price frowned.
He had not thought through the contradiction.
Pike did.
Too late.
“These papers were in Crowe’s contracted office.”
Elena said:
“With government seal.”
Pike stepped toward her.
“You killed one of Crowe’s men.”
Joseph’s hand moved.
Elena remained still.
“No.”
“He’s dead.”
“I did not kill him.”
Caleb looked at Pike.
“Who?”
“Len Morris.”
Elena’s eyes hardened.
“He shot Rosa.”
Pike realized the mistake instantly.
Caleb watched.
“You didn’t mention Rosa.”
Pike looked at him.
“What?”
“Elena didn’t tell you Rosa was there.”
Pike said nothing.
Caleb continued:
“But you knew which fight.”
Deputy Price turned.
“Orson.”
Pike’s jaw tightened.
“Everybody knew there was trouble.”
Price stared.
“No report mentioned a second woman.”
The room changed.