Murder at Thumb Butte by James D. Best Read Free Book Online Page B

him dead an’ killin’ him are two different things. But, in truth, I don’t want him dead … not yet, anyway.”
    “ What business do you have with him then?”
    Sharp looked as if he were getting angry. “Steve, this is yer affair.”
    I hesitated and then lied. “Mr. Campbell might have information about my family. I need to talk to him. Afterwards, I don’t care if he’s lined up in front of a firing squad that includes every man in town.”
    “ A few women might join as well,” Brow quipped.
    “ What the hell did he do?” I asked.
    “ He owes money to everyone, including me. He’s even got a marker with Doc. The son of a bitch hides behind Governor Frémont—another damned debtor. Campbell romanced a couple of wives when their husbands were away. Took their pride and their husbands’ money. He’s got three lawsuits going, one against me. If you got anything, that sniveling tinhorn sues, borrows, or seduces his way to get it, all the while using the governor for protection. He’s not without his charms, but he’s just a common crook with an engaging smile.”
    “ How can I find him?” I asked.
    “ Why should I tell you?”
    “ Because he may have something I’m willing to buy. If I do a deal with him, I’ll let you know before he skips town.”
    Brow laughed uproariously, and I noticed a curious look from Holliday, seated at a poker table across the room.
    “ You’re a man after my own heart.” Brow laughed some more. “He’s out of credit on Whiskey Row, so he usually does his drinking in the home of a political figure seeking favor with the governor. He stays at Cunningham’s boardinghouse on Goodwin Street, so you might find him there.”
    Sharp jumped to his feet, wearing a fierce expression. Following his gaze, I saw a neatly dressed man in his fifties strolling into the Palace like he owned the place.
    Brow exclaimed, “Oh, my God, that’s Campbell there!”
    Without hesitation, Sharp marched across the saloon and smashed Campbell across the face with a huge fist. Campbell stumbled backward and collapsed against a table, spilling the drinks of four men. Two of them charged Sharp, but he easily dodged them, using his boot to trip one while flooring the other with a roundhouse punch that must have broken his jaw. It had all happened instantly, and now the saloon was so quiet, I heard a chair creak from a customer’s shifting weight. Moving carefully, I scanned the room, but nobody looked threatening.
    Sharp moved forward until he loomed over Campbell. “Eli, don’t let me see ya again, or next time, so help me God, I’ll kill ya with my bare hands.”
    Without a glance or hesitation, Sharp left the deathly silent saloon.
     

Chapter 9
     
    I rapped on Sharp’s door. Getting no answer, I knocked again. “Jeff, it’s Steve.”
    “ Come in, it ain’t locked.”
    I open the door to find Sharp sitting on his bed, rubbing his hand. His Winchester lay on the bed beside him. He looked angry, and his eyes challenged me. I had never seen Sharp like this before, and I wasn’t about to risk his rage by reprimanding him for hitting a longtime enemy.
    “ How’s the hand?”
    “ Sore. What happened after I left?”
    “ Not much. I offered Brow five dollars for the damage, but he wouldn’t take it. Said he’d have paid ten to see that punch. So I gave the five dollars to that stranger you clobbered to pay for the drinks and to make up a bit for his sore jaw. He was pretty drunk and seemed to blame himself more than you. Still, he took the five dollars.”
    “ What about that son of a bitch, Campbell?”
    “ Brow told the barkeep to throw him out, but Campbell scurried out on all fours first. As soon as the two of you left, the saloon went back to normal.”
    Sharp started to reach into his pant pocket and grimaced. “Damn!” He shook his hand, rubbed it, and then sucked on his fingers. “Steve, I’ll pay you the five bucks when this hand works again.”
    “ Forget it. I’d