Outlaw Mountain

The front two pews of the crowded church had been reserved for family members, but when Joa

“I’m so glad you came,” she said. “People have been saying such awful things, but I knew you cared too much to let Ali down.”

“Where’s Susan” Joa

“She isn’t coming,” the old woman answered. “She’s up in Tucson, staying at the hospital with Ross. If he did even half the things they’re saying he did, I can’t see how she could tolerate being in the same county with the man. I wouldn’t waste another breath on him, but then Susan’s always been different. And I can see how even Susan might not have nerve enough to show up here in town and face people. I doubt I could.”

The funeral had been scheduled to start at two, but it was actually two fifteen before the ushers finished moving people around and cramming rows of extra chairs up and down the side and middle aisles. Once the service finally started, it seemed to take forever. Joa

At last the service ended. When it came time to walk back down the aisle, Joa

And with that, a dignified Jessie Monroe, leaning on her walker, led the procession out of the church. When they reached the door, Joa

Once Becker was safely in the car, Joa

“Are you kidding?”

He smiled. “Nope. The man from Garrity’s told us how many motorcycles were supposed to show up to escort the cortege to the cemetery. As soon as an extra cycle showed up, we took that guy out and handed him over to Ernie Carpenter. Ernie said to tell you he’s got a Nevada driver’s license, two long scratches down the side of his neck, and a nine-mm automatic. He also had an accomplice with a van parked up on Tough Nut Street. As soon as the motorcycle guy did the job, they would have loaded the cycle into the van and disappeared.”

Joa

Adam York gri

“But I didn’t do anything,” Joa

“On the contrary,” Adam said. “You found the dots. All we did was co

Carried forward by the crowd behind them, Joa

Quickly Joa

“Sheriff Brady,” Marliss said. “I understand there’s been some police activity here this afternoon. What’s going on?”

Joa

EPILOGUE

Di

While they waited for their order, Je

“I don’t know. He has what appears to be a valid marriage license that proves he and Alice Rogers were man and wife. The fact that he used a different name doesn’t matter as long as use of that name wasn’t done to defraud anyone. Since Farley Adams is the name the Witness Protection Program as-signed to him, I guess he has a right to use it.”

“So he’s likely to inherit something then?” Jim Bob asked. “If the only will found turns out to be the one drawn up by Dena Hogan, that one won’t stand up in court, so the state of Arizona will most likely end up divvying up Alice Rogers’ estate, depending on whether or not Susan Jenkins was involved in the plot against her mother. If she was, Farley Adams could turn out to be Alice’s sole heir.”

“If he does inherit,” Butch said, “will he stay in Tombstone or not?”

“I think he’d like to,” Joa

“I hope he can stay then,” Butch said.

Joa

Daisy’s was busy enough that Moe Maxwell, Daisy’s husband, had been drafted into waiting tables as well as busing them. He came over to the table carrying a tray of drinks.

“All right,” he said. “I’ve got four coffees and two chocolate shakes. Who gets the shakes?”

“Me!” Junior shouted. “Me. Me. Me.”

“Me, too,” said Je

Once again Junior was so excited that he needed help unwrapping his straw. Once again Butch did the honors. As Je

“That’s what the attorney told me,” Joa

“But does it have to be relatives?” Moe asked. “Couldn’t somebody else take care of him? It’s the only thing Daisy talked about all afternoon. She says to me, ‘Moe, we’re just rattling around in this big old house. Couldn’t we take him in?’ I tried to tell her it was the wildest-haired scheme she’s ever come up with, but if that’s what the woman wants…”

“Daisy wants you two to take Junior?” Joa

“She’s determined to talk to that lawyer and see if she could convince him to let us look after Junior. I’m about to retire, you see. Two weeks from yesterday, as a matter of fact. She says to me, ‘Moe, what the hell are you going to do with all your spare time?’ And you know what? I didn’t have a good answer.”

“But you barely know him,” Joa

“Daisy knows,” Moe Maxwell said. “Daisy had a baby sister once that was just like Junior here, only she died when she was just fourteen-two months after some state busybody convinced Daisy’s folks to put the girl in a state-run home. Believe me, Daisy knows exactly what we’d be up against, and that’s why she wants to do it: it’s for her little sister. Daisy and me may seem like we’re over the hill, but we’re neither one of us afraid of hard work. Besides, like I always say, ‘Whatever Daisy wants, Daisy gets.’ Once’t that woman gets some damn-fool notion in her head, I know better than to argue. So if you could see your way clear to put us in touch with that lawyer guy, we could at least talk about it. See what he has to say.”