White Lightning by Lyle Brandt Read Free Book Online Page B

dramatically,” said Berringer. “He’s what I’d call a restless sort. It’s not the first time he’s been absent without leave, as you may be aware.”
    “You wouldn’t be referring to the time he helped me track those fugitives to Texas,” Slade replied, not making it a question. Neither did he mention that the chase had takenLittle Wolf and him across the border into Mexico without official sanction from the governments on either side.
    “No, no,” said Berringer. “But I’m advised there was at least one prior occasion when he left the reservation for some reason of his own, never explained.”
    “That rings a bell,” Slade said. “In fact, it was the first time that he saved my life. And helped me bag the Bender family.”
    Berringer blinked at that. “The Benders? Out of Kansas?”
    “Out of anywhere they chose to go, until we stopped them. Me and Little Wolf.”
    Berringer sipped his wine, then said, “I had not heard that part of it.”
    “Don’t worry,” Slade replied. “It wouldn’t be the first time files were incomplete.”
    “Indeed, sir. At the risk of bearing tales, my predecessor’s record-keeping skills left much to be desired.”
    Slade brought the conversation back on track. “I’d be disturbed to learn that Little Wolf had come to any harm through no fault of his own.”
    “I have no reason to believe that is the case,” said Berringer. “Of course, once he’s beyond the reservation’s boundaries, there’s nothing I can do to find or help him.”
    “There were no incidents before you lost track of him?” Slade inquired. “I’m thinking of that trouble that he had before our trip to Texas, with the other fellow’s family.”
    “You’d be referring to the death of Mayank, also known as Moon,” Berringer said.
    “I don’t recall getting the name,” Slade said.
    “I likely didn’t mention it,” the agent granted. “Little Wolf was serving sixty days before he joined you in your manhunt. Is that proper terminology?”
    “It’s close enough,” said Slade.
    “Is he a tracker?” Naylor asked. “This Little Wolf?”
    “The best I’ve seen,” Slade said.
    “Too bad he isn’t here, eh? We might need the help before we’re done.”
    “Too bad,” Slade echoed. “But there’s nothing to be done about it, I suppose.”
    Their waiter came to clear away the plates and wineglasses, returning shortly with another liquor bottle and some smaller glasses on a silver tray.
    “Brandy,” said Berringer. “The perfect end to almost any meal.”
    “Another first for me,” said Naylor. “Fill ’er up.”
    The waiter poured while Berringer pressed on. “I trust you’ll stay the night with us,” he said. “To start for Stateline now…well, you’d be forced to camp before you’ve gone five miles.”
    “Sounds good to me,” Naylor replied. “I’ll take a roof over my head when I can get it.”
    Nodding, Slade said, “Thank you for your hospitality.”
    “Nonsense,” said Berringer. “You’re helping me—and all of us—by following this liquor business to its end. And finding justice for your friend, of course.”
    “Well, if you’ve got a cabin not in use…”
    “No, Marshal Slade. I wouldn’t hear of it,” said Berringer. “I have spare rooms made up for visitors. The odd inspector from the bureau, military officers, that sort of thing.”
    “Well, if it’s good enough for them,” said Naylor, “we’ll get by all right.”
    “I’ll have Rupali show you to your rooms.” Berringer rang his little bell again, a double chime this time. “Her name translates as ‘Beautiful,’ I’m told, but you can judge that for yourselves.”
    The young woman who stepped into the dining room a moment later was, in fact, quite pretty in her starched maid’s uniform. Slade wondered if her duties were confined to cleaning and conveying visitors to vacant rooms, but there was no good way to ask—and no point riling Berringer.
    Rising as Naylor did,