The Case of the Murdered Boyfriend

by Janet

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Plot Summary: Adam Howard’s secretary is accused of murdering her boyfriend and Jarrod must defend her.

Prologue

“Oh my god!” she cried as she looked down at the body lying at her feet on its back in the hotel room. “Someone help me! Please! He’s dead!”

The scream pierced the night air of the city by the bay. Several people opened their doors, awakened in the middle of the night by that scream, to peer out into the darkness trying to see who and what had caused that scream. But they saw nothing. Most of them closed their doors returning to bed thinking they may have dreamed the whole thing.

“Help me!” she yelled as she ran away from the body and the room. “I need help! He’s dead!”

The high-pitched cries of a woman in trouble broke the nighttime silence of the city of San Francisco. This time as the people opened their doors to look; they saw a shadowy figure running down the middle of the street. No one could make her out but they all knew it was a woman from the panic stricken high tones they had heard. She was wearing a cornflower blue silk dress with white lace and black velvet ribbons as she ran. No one noticed that the right sleeve of that dress was torn off in some kind of a struggle. She was so afraid that she hadn’t noticed the chilly night air that was all around her. She just wanted to escape this nightmare that had descended upon her.

“I’m sorry miss,” an officer said as he stopped her after hearing her coming. “You will have to come with me. You evidentially have a problem and we need to discuss this calmly at the police station to see exactly what is going on. If there has indeed been a death, we have to know where and why.”

“I need help,” she replied looking like she had seen a ghost and grabbing him by the arm trying to take him with her. “Please. You must help me.”

“I will,” he told her trying to guide her toward the police station instead. “I need to get your statement. Can you tell me exactly what happened?”

“But he’s dead,” she said very avidly again trying to pull him to follow her. “I think I killed him.”

At her words the young officer stopped and she was forced to stop as well. She had not wanted to stop here in the middle of the street. She wanted him to accompany her back to hotel room to see if indeed he was dead. She was not sure anymore. Everything had happened so quickly. All she remembered was she had seen a body on the floor. The police officer looked at the woman closely. He couldn’t tell by her expression if she was telling the truth or if she was just a crazy from one of the insane asylums close by. But how did she escape? He had a lot of questions and not enough answers. But he was bound and determined to find out before this night was gone.

“Who are you?” he asked looking at her but not recognizing her. “Do you live around here?”

“I am Sandra Johanson,” the woman answered still looking very frightened.

She had finally stopped trying to lead this man to that room. She stood there looking at him wondering what was going to happen to her. Wondering if he would believe her story or think that she was just a crazy female.

“Please, you must come with me,” she said again trying to get him to go. “He’s dead and I need help.”

“And what were you doing running down the middle of the street in the middle of the night?” he asked trying his best to stay calm in the midst of chaos. “None of this makes any sense. I want you to come with me so we can straighten all this out.”

“I didn’t mean too,” she said not listening to him. “He started coming toward me and I tried to keep him away. I must have picked up something and struck him with it. I don’t remember for sure.”

“Are you married?” he asked trying to learn what he could from her. “Was it your husband?”

“No we weren’t married,” she answered looking at him. “We were thinking about it prior to this happening. But tonight he became so angry. I have never seen him that mad. It frightened me. The look in his eyes as he came toward me.”

“I see,” he said still trying to guide her to the police station. “There are several things that don’t make sense in all this. I need you to come with me. It’s only routine but I need to ask you some more questions about exactly what happened.”

“I work for Adam Howard and he has a young man working for him that I think is a lawyer,” she replied babbling thinking she might need an attorney and not knowing any except the young man who worked for her boss. “I think I need him. That is if he is a lawyer. To tell you the truth I’m not sure of anything right now.”

Sandra was at her wits end. She was so confused about the entire evening. It seemed to be a blur of activity. But she was not sure about anything as she walked trying to remember exactly what had happened with Paul. How did such a wonderful evening turn into a nightmare?

“What’s his name?” he asked again trying to learn what he could from her. “I will be happy to let him know what has happened as soon as I’m able to piece it together myself. Please understand that I’m not going to hurt you. You must trust me. I am here to help. Just tell me exactly what happened and I will know what to do.”

“Jarrod,” she answered hesitating. “Barkley I believe. I’m really not sure. So much has happened.”

“Does he live around here?” he asked not recognizing the famous last name. “I’ve never heard of an attorney named Barkley here in San Francisco. Are you sure he lives around here? Maybe you read about him in the newspaper or heard about him from others.”

“Yes,” she answered. “But I’m not sure where. Mr. Howard would know. Please. I need him. He’s my only hope if indeed he is a lawyer. You must help me.”

“You just come along with me,” he said continuing to guide her to the station. “He will arrive shortly I promise.”

“Good,” she replied finally relaxing a little and allowing him to escort her to the police station.

The young officer shook his head thinking to himself that this woman really had escaped from the insane asylum. He doubted any of her babbling was the truth. She had probably heard the name Adam Howard. He doubted she had ever worked for him. But he knew if he didn’t get her incarcerated, he would hear it from his superior.

Chapter One

Jarrod Barkley had returned to San Francisco after the disastrous events that took place in Carson City almost four months ago. He still shuddered at the thought of what he had to endure just because he wanted to make an impression on Adam Howard. Those long days lying in bed praying that he would survive long enough to put those men away. And he had. The three men that had held him prisoner for three days in that mine along with beating him, had been captured almost a month later in Sacramento where they had tried to do the same thing and were going to be tried for kidnapping and attempted murder. They had been brought back to Carson City and jailed until the trial began. Jarrod would have to return to Carson City to testify against them but he felt he was up to the task. After all, he had survived their attack and now he wanted to show everyone that he was truly a Barkley. Adam had welcomed him back to San Francisco, happy to see that he was completely recovered.

“Jarrod,” Adam said as he shook the young man’s hand as they walked into Adam’s beautiful office, “I was hoping you would return soon. You don’t know how much I have needed you. Are you completely well?”

“Yes sir,” he replied smiling to show the older man that he was completely healed. “I had a rough couple of weeks there to start with but with time, I completely healed. I’m sorry I didn’t get back sooner but the doctor wouldn’t let me come until I was over everything. I’ve never been so tired of a bed in my life.”

“I’m looking forward to this partnership,” Adam told him smiling. “The next six months will be a new experience for both of us. And I am looking forward to it.”

“Partnership?” he asked not understanding the comment. “What are you talking about? I thought I was going to work under you.”

“Yes,” Adam answered nodding and smiling at his new partner. “After all if you’re going to be my lawyer, it has to be on equal terms. I even have a small office for you right next to mine. I want you to be able to have a place for your other clients to come to you. And I feel like you are going to be very busy. San Francisco needs more lawyers. The ones we have are too expensive for some. You will do fine Jarrod. I’m sure of that.”

“I don’t know what to say,” he said shocked but very pleased. “I’ll do the best job I can for you.”

“I know that,” Adam replied pleased that Jarrod was happy. “I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I didn’t already realize that. You are a bright young man with a bright future in front of you as an attorney. What happened in Carson City was terrible but it wasn’t your fault. Those men knew they had to hide the truth about that mine from Miller. And when you showed up to take a quick look around, you became a liability too. So they tried to keep you from filing a report but it backfired because they were so hard on you. I frankly don’t know how you survived that abuse. But it showed what kind of man you are. And I’m proud to have that kind of man as my partner.”

“I hope so,” he told Adam smiling slightly. “I really need to get my name out amongst the people so they will know that I’m available to help them should the need arise. I have a dream of one-day having a practice both here and in Stockton. My father has already purchased an office for me on Front Street in Stockton. Now all I have to do is furnish it. Being an attorney is going to be a full time business. And I hope I’m up to the task.”

“Not quite Jarrod,” Adam said smiling broadly. “I still have six months of your time first. As for you being up for the challenge, I guarantee you are. You are going to make a fine attorney. You remember that. Bob Hodges would certainly be proud of all you have accomplished.”

“I remember,” he replied smiling. “And you will have it. I still miss him Adam. I could talk to him and he would sit down and listen to what I had to say. Then he would look at me with that expression and say, ‘Jarrod, you’re going to do fine. Stop worrying so much. You’re going to make yourself an old man if you don’t calm down.’ He reminded me of my father. In fact, when I was in Washington, he was the man I turned to when I was in trouble. And he never stopped trying to guide me in the right direction. I will never forget what he did.”

“Good,” Adam told him. “I remember that with Bob myself. He had a flair about him that put you at ease no matter how nervous you were. He was a good man and those are few and far between. He cared about everyone he met. Especially if they were young and needed a helping hand. He knew what to say at the correct moment and that’s what made him so valuable. Have you got somewhere to stay?”

“I have a room at one of the hotels until I can find an apartment,” he said looking unhappy. “The only problem is that none of them are within my budget. I never realized how expensive it would be to live in this city. I’ve always dreamed of one day living either here or Sacramento. But right now the way my finances are, I couldn’t rent a stall in a barn.”

“I think I know of one that you will like and the cost is low,” Adam replied smiling. “Jarrod will you stop worrying so much? You’re going to be a nervous wreck if you don’t calm down. Everything is going to work out. Have faith.”

“That’s great,” he told Adam getting excited at the prospect of having his own place. “Where is it? Is it close by?”

“It’s on the other side of town from here,” Adam said pointing to his right. “It is owned by a very nice lady named Monique. She will fix you right up. They are very clean and she screens her applicants very thoroughly before she rents to them. She’s had a few that were let’s say not what they said they were and she got rid of them in a hurry. You shouldn’t have any problems.”

“I can’t wait to see it,” he replied smiling. “You don’t know what a relief it is to have a place to live. I thought I might have to wire my father, explain the circumstances and ask him to send me some extra money. And he would have done it too. But this is something I want to do on my own without his influence or help. I want to prove to him and everyone else that I can do this without using the Barkley name to get it.”

“Yes I do,” Adam told him. “I remember when I first started out. It wasn’t that long ago. So I know what you’re going through. I wish I had someone like Bob to help me but I had to learn on my own and it wasn’t always easy. I had to live in the back room of this small dry goods store when I first arrived here in San Francisco. I would have to get up early most of the time before daylight to make my first job. I was a clerk for a prominent judge. He was a tough man who didn’t put up with anything and I had to learn that the hard way. I remember one time I was trying to run to make it to the courthouse before he did so I could make sure he had the proper papers he would need and I ended up falling flat on my face in a puddle of mud. Let me tell you, the judge was not impressed when I walked in all covered in dirt but I didn’t have time to go to my room and change. It was on the other side of town and that would have made me even later than I was. He started to fire me but he thought better of it. He decided the best thing to do was to get me a room closer to my job and I was never late after that.”

“I can’t believe that you would have done something like that,” he said very impressed. “You’re always so self assured and confidant. I hope that doesn’t happen to me. I can hear my brother Nick telling me, ‘Jarrod, how could you embarrass us like that? You know you didn’t need to do that. What’s father going to say?’ He always says that about father. And he should know. He was and still is forever getting into fights and misunderstandings. I usually was the one who had to smooth everything over. But now he’s going to have to learn to do that himself.”

“It won’t,” Adam replied grinning. “I’m already taking care of the apartment. I don’t want you to have the same problem I did. So this is my way of saying welcome to San Francisco.”

“What?” he asked not understanding what Adam meant. “You mean you rented it for me? I didn’t mean for you to do that. I can handle that on my own.”

“I’ve already bought it son,” Adam answered. “It’s now your new home. Take care of it and you’ll be set for the next six months and maybe even longer. Like I said, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to you like it did with me. I think you’re going to like it. You do a good job for me and your reward will be all those new clients you pick up as a result.”

“Yes sir,” he said smiling. “And thanks so much.”

“You’re welcome,” Adam replied also smiling.

Adam had taken Jarrod to see the apartment that afternoon after they had lunch at one of the classier restaurants. Jarrod was very impressed with the apartment. To him, it was a very expensive apartment but he wasn’t one to complain especially after Adam had bought it for him.

“Monique,” Adam said as he introduced Jarrod, “this is the young man I told you about. Jarrod, this is Monique.”

Jarrod looked at the beautiful Monique and couldn’t take his eyes from her. She was absolutely gorgeous. She had dark hair that flowed down her back and she also had the prettiest face to go with the rest of her beauty.

“I...uh,” Jarrod tried to say but couldn’t finish his sentence.

All he could do was stare. Adam knew why Jarrod couldn’t talk and he smiled at his partner.

“Jarrod,” Adam replied, “you look nervous. Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Jarrod finally told him. “I am very pleased to meet you.”

Jarrod was very relieved when he got the words out of his mouth. He couldn’t understand why he was so nervous around her but he was.

“Same here,” she said smiling. “Adam tells me you are a lawyer.”

“Yes ma’am,” Jarrod replied. “I graduated from law school several months ago. I am looking forward to opening a practice here.”

“No need to use titles,” she told him. “I’m Monique.”

“All right,” Jarrod said smiling. “Thanks for the apartment. I was afraid I would have to wire home.”

“Adam said you wouldn’t be any trouble,” she replied looking at Adam who was nodding. “I tend to agree after meeting you.”

“He’s right,” Jarrod told her. “One thing is for sure. Adam really knows people.”

“Good,” she said as she went back to her own room after giving Jarrod the key..

“Adam,” Jarrod replied after she had left, “you didn’t tell me she was so lovely.”

“I saved that for last,” he told Jarrod smiling. “Come on let’s go inside.”

It wasn’t a huge apartment but it wasn’t a small one either. It was on the bottom floor with the entrance to the main street. It had two bedrooms, kitchen and a sitting room. Jarrod took the apartment and moved in. In a smaller room that Adam hadn’t mentioned it having, he set up an office so he could work at home when the need arose.

“Adam,” he said as he stood in his new home looking at the man who had bought it for him, “I don’t know how to thank you for this. I will say this much. You won’t be sorry.”

“I know that Jarrod,” Adam replied knowing that this young man would have quite a future as a lawyer. “I wouldn’t have bought it or hired you if I was. Now what do you say we get some work done?”

“Yes sir,” Jarrod told him.

Chapter Two

“Inspector,” the young officer said as he escorted the hysterical woman into the office, “I ran into this young lady who keeps telling me that he’s dead. And that she thinks she killed him. It’s so confusing that I thought the best thing to do was bring her here and we could hopefully straighten all this out. I tried to find out from her exactly what happened but all I got was babbling.”

“What in the world are you talking about Krebbs?” Inspector Dan Scott asked as he sat behind his desk. “How many times have I told you to handle these problems on your own.”

“I’m sorry sir,” Krebbs answered looking slightly embarrassed. “But I’m not sure how to handle it. I can not get the straight facts.”

Scott was a twenty-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department and he always tried to run a top-notch police force but sometimes he would get an officer like Ben Krebbs who could screw up everything. Sitting as calmly as he could, he looked at the young man.

“Would you mind explaining exactly what is going on?” he asked the young officer. “You come in here with a young lady who you say was running down the middle of a street in the dark. Have you been drinking on the job?”

“Well,” Krebbs answered, “No sir. I haven’t drunk anything. It’s the truth. I saw this lady running down Main Street screaming to the top of her lungs. She keeps saying that he’s dead and so far I’ve been unable to find out who he is.”

“Miss,” he said looking at Sandra, “maybe you had better explain.”

“I was visiting my boyfriend at his hotel room,” she began a bit nervously. “We got into a terrible argument.”

“What was the argument about?” he asked trying to get as many facts as he could.

“Paul,” she answered shaking a little as she spoke. “That’s his name. Paul Davis. We’ve been seeing each other for over two years. He’s a salesman for a book company in Nevada. Carson City, Reno or Virginia City. I’m not sure which.”

“All right,” he said trying to prod her to continue. “What happened next?”

“We were arguing,” she replied trying to remember the events of earlier that night. “We had gone out to celebrate his new promotion and I guess we got a little carried away with the liquor. Anyway, when we went back to his room, he tried to attack me. And in the process he ripped my dress.”

Sandra showed him her dress with the right sleeve missing. It had indeed been pulled off in a rough manner.

“I grabbed something off his desk I think and he tried to take it away from me,” she said continuing. “I guess I ended up plunging whatever it was in his stomach. I dropped whatever it was and ran away. I guess I shouldn’t have panicked but everything happened so fast.”

“Where is he now?” he asked trying to find out if indeed there was a dead body.

He had his doubts but this woman seemed to think there was a dead body.

“Lying in his room on the floor,” she answered. “I was so frightened. All I could think of was getting help. So I ran.”

“Have you been to the room Krebbs?” he asked looking at the officer hoping he wouldn’t embarrass the inspector or the police department with his handling of this case. “That’s the first order of business when someone reports a mysterious death. You ascertain where the alleged body is and then you go there to see if indeed there is one. I don’t know why you can’t remember that. I’ve preached it enough times in the past that you should have it memorized by now.”

“No sir,” Krebbs answered feeling slightly embarrassed at forgetting the inspector’s cardinal rule. “I didn’t know I was supposed to.”

“How do you know there has been a murder if you don’t have a body?” he asked shaking his head. “Go check it out. Meanwhile the young lady will stay here with me. And I will try to find out as much as I can about what happened.”

“He’s in the Stansbury Hotel on Beeker Street,” she said looking up at him. “Room 16.”

“Right,” Krebbs replied looking at her.

Krebbs hesitated before leaving the inspector’s office.

“Something else?” he asked noticing that Krebbs hadn’t moved.

“Yes sir,” Krebbs answered. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for not following procedure. I guess I was stunned to see this woman running down the street and then babbling about a death. I did try to gain as much information as I could from her. I will put it all in my report.”

“All right,” he said nodding. “I forgive you this time. But the next time you will regret forgetting. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir,” Krebbs replied and left the office.

“Miss,” he asked turning his attention back to Sandra, “do you have anyone who can stay with you? I can’t release you unless I have someone who will be responsible for you and see that you return to clear all this up?”

“Just my boss and his aide,” she answered looking at him.

“Who is your boss?” he asked. “He might be able to clear some of this up. Although with the way all this happened I’m not going to hold my breath.”

“Adam Howard,” she answered looking at him very frightened. “And his lawyer is Jarrod Barkley. At least I think he is an attorney. Right now I’m not sure of anything.”

“Some of the Stockton Barkleys?” he asked impressed. “I am very familiar with Adam Howard. I’ve known him for the past fifteen years at least. Good man. Hard worker. But I didn’t know that he had a Barkley lawyer working for him. Of course, I haven’t seen Adam in several months. I’ve been too busy to get out and see him. And he hasn’t been here either in a while. I guess he’s been just as busy.”

“I believe so,” she answered. “Jarrod’s only been here a few days. He’s supposed to work for Adam for a while. And am I ever glad if he is a lawyer.”

“Are you afraid that you will need an attorney Miss Johanson?” he asked looking at her. “I mean we haven’t got a body yet and we don’t even know if anyone has died. I think you’re jumping the gun a little.”

“I believe you will find one when you go to the hotel room,” she answered. “It was a terrible accident. If only he hadn’t tried to come after me. I’m still not sure of the reason for that. Everything happened so fast.”

“After Adam has been notified and Krebbs returns from the hotel with his report,” he said looking at her, “you might be able to go home. I won’t know until all this can be sorted out. In the meantime I’m going to have another officer escort you to a room where you can wait. You’re not under arrest at this point. I’m only holding you until all this can be worked out.”

“I want you to know I didn’t mean to hurt Paul,” she replied looking very upset. “I wanted to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him. But tonight he became so aggressive. I still don’t understand why.”

“How long have you been seeing this man?” he asked while he waited for the officer to come to escort her to the interrogation room.

“A little over two years,” she answered. “I met him at a dance right here in San Francisco and we starting seeing each other. He is or rather was a book seller from Nevada."

“How old was he?” he asked trying to learn everything he could about the dead man if there really was a dead man. “I’m not prying but I need to know as much as I can about the dead man. Did he have any family that you are aware of?”

“Around thirty,” she answered trying to remember. “I think. He never mentioned anything about family. Of course, I never really asked.”

“Krebbs should have all that information when he returns,” he said smiling. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

“No thank you,” she replied. “I had enough at dinner.”

“Listen,” he told her trying to stay calm for her benefit, “I’m sure this will be cleared up quickly and you can go home.”

“Inspector,” she asked looking at him frightened, “what’s going to happen to me? Especially if you find Paul dead? Am I going to be arrested?”

“I don’t know yet,” he answered. “If there is indeed a dead body then we will need to figure out whether or not he was murdered.”

“Murdered!” she cried. “I didn’t murder him. I was trying to defend myself.”

“Like I said we won’t know what has happened until Officer Krebbs returns with his report,” he said as calmly as he could.

Sandra knew she was in very big trouble. She just prayed someone would be able to get her out of this mess before it was too late. The officer arrived and escorted Sandra to a room with only one window. It had a long table with several chairs around it. She sat down, put her head in her hands and cried.

Chapter Three

Adam heard a loud rapping on his front door at two o’clock in the morning.

“Who in the world could that be?” he asked as he rose from the bed. “It must be the middle of the night.”

Not wanting to wake his wife, Cora, asleep next to him, he eased out of the bed, picking up his robe, which he put on along with his slippers and walked to the door. His houseman, John, was already gone for the day. When he opened it, there was a police officer standing on the other side. Adam was shocked and the shock showed on his face.

“What is going on?” he asked not understanding. “Is there something wrong officer?”

“You have a secretary named Sandra Johanson?” the officer asked as he looked at a small pad in his right hand. “She is approximately five feet four inches tall with long brown hair, bluish green eyes and a rather high pitched voice.”

“Yes,” he answered still not understanding. “She works for me. What’s the problem? Has something happened to her? Is she all right?”

“She’s at the police station,” the officer said shifting slightly. “She is being held in connection with the death of a man she said she accidentally killed, Paul Davis.”

“She what!” he cried. “I’ll be right down to see her. I don’t believe that she could kill anyone let alone a man she was going to marry.”

“I was just sent here to inform you about what had happened,” the officer said starting to leave. “I will tell the inspector to expect you.”

Closing the door, Adam hurried back upstairs and quickly changed. He couldn’t believe that Sandra had somehow gotten herself involved in a murder. She was a sweet girl who had moved to San Francisco from San Diego a couple of years ago. She was a very bright girl who had done an excellent job for him as a secretary/receptionist.

“Adam,” his wife asked looking up at him, “what is it?”

“Sandra is at the police station,” he answered not believing what he had been told. “She said she killed her boyfriend. I’m going over there to see if I can somehow straighten this out.”

“What!” she cried sitting up in bed. “You have to help her. She’s got no one else here that can.”

“I am,” he said as he dressed. “I’m going to get Jarrod. I think she’s going to need a lawyer. He’s going to get his first case whether he wants it or not.”

“He’s not even tried a case yet,” she replied looking at him. “How in the world can you turn over a possible murder case to a boy? You need to go to that prominent set of attorneys that are always getting people off. They can help you more than an untried boy can.”

“In the first place,” he told her, “he’s not a boy. He is a grown man as well as being a lawyer. And although he’s never had a case before I believe in him. I wouldn’t have hired him if I didn’t trust him. I’m sure he can help Sandra. I’m going to pick him up on the way to the station. I’ll be back as soon as I can. But maybe you’re right. He may not be what I need. But then again who knows? He might be just the bulldog lawyer I need. Either way, I know I’m going to have to convince him to take the case. And I may have to resort to an underhanded way to accomplish it.”

“What do you mean underhanded?” she asked totally in the dark.

“I mean I may have to push Jarrod into it,” he answered. “He’s going to say he’s not ready but I believe that he is and I can use unorthodox tactics to get him to agree. But that’s not for you to worry about.”

“Adam,” she said looking at him. “I believe in you. You believe in Sandra.”

“I do,” he replied and left.

Adam left his house deciding to take the buggy instead of a horse. As he made his way toward Jarrod’s apartment he thought about what his wife had said.

“I’m sure Jarrod would do a terrific job,” he said going over everything in his mind. “But he is untried. How is he going to become a good lawyer if he never gets a case in the first place? But can I put the life of a young woman in his untried hands?”

Adam rode up in front of Jarrod’s apartment still arguing with himself and when he knocked on the door of Jarrod’s apartment, he saw a light come on inside. After a few minutes, the door opened revealing Jarrod in a robe standing bare foot.

“Adam,” he asked wiping the sleep from his eyes, “is something wrong? It’s four in the morning.”

“Yes,” Adam answered. “I think Sandra has been arrested for murder. An officer came to my home, telling me that Sandra is at the police station and she has asked for you and me.”

“What!” he cried. “Who was she supposed to have killed?”

“Her boyfriend,” Adam said remembering what the officer had told him. “Paul Davis. You remember him. He stopped by the office once to pick her up.”

“The tall guy with the reddish hair,” he replied thinking back to that day. “Yes. I’ll change and be right with you. Do you know how he was killed?”

“Jarrod,” Adam told him, “I want you to defend her.”

“I can’t,” he said looking at Adam. “I’ve never had a case before. I’m not ready. I could end up getting her hanged.”

“I don’t think you will,” Adam replied trying to coax Jarrod into defending her. “You need to start somewhere.”

“I’m not ready,” he told him still believing in his own mind that he was not the lawyer Adam needed for Sandra. “I’ll talk to her until you can get her a lawyer who can get her acquitted.”

“At least you have agreed to talk to her,” Adam said shaking his head. “And that’s a start. But I’m still going to try to change your mind.”

Adam watched Jarrod disappear into the apartment.

“I knew he would decline the offer of defending her,” he said to himself. “Now all I have to do is make him take it. And I know that I can. After all I learned from the best.”

Jarrod disappeared inside his apartment where he changed. As he thought about the circumstances he was walking into, he knew he wasn’t the lawyer that Adam needed.

“I’ll just tell him the truth,” he said to himself. “That’s all I can do.”

When he walked out of his apartment a short time later, Adam was still waiting. He readied himself for the argument he would get from Adam, but he knew it was for the best.

“Adam,” he said as he climbed inside the buggy and Adam drove away toward the police station, “I think you’re making a mistake asking me to defend Sandra. In the first place, this is a murder investigation. I’m not qualified. And in the second place, I’ve never even been in a courtroom except during classroom court sessions. I’m not the man you need. Get her someone who is self assured and knows what he’s doing.”

“But Jarrod,” Adam replied trying to convince the young man. “I think you are that man.”

“I mean it Adam,” he told him. “I’m not your man. She could be found guilty and she would blame me and I would blame myself. No. You need someone who has handled these types of cases before.”

“Will you at least talk to her until I can get her an attorney?” Adam asked hopefully.

“Yes,” he answered. “I will be happy to speak to her while you make arrangements to hire her an attorney.”

“That’s all I’m asking Jarrod,” Adam said nodding. “There is a firm of top notch attorneys here in San Francisco. In fact, they hired a new man not too long ago. Springer, I believe is his name.”

Jarrod looked at Adam with shock on his face. When Adam noticed Jarrod’s expression, he spoke.

“You recognize the name don’t you?” he asked wanting to know what Jarrod knew about the man. “What do you know about any of those attorneys?”

“Yes,” Jarrod answered. “I went to law school with Nathan Springer. He was a power hungry student who didn’t care how he won a case. He’s a good attorney I guess but he sometimes uses underhanded ways to win. If you do hire someone from that firm, stay away from Nat. You may not like the way he handles the case.”

“I’ll talk to him after we talk to Sandra,” he said looking at Jarrod to see his expression.

“Adam,” Jarrod said, “I’m not telling you who to hire or who not to. “But Nat is looking for accolades. And in the process of getting those, Sandra could be hurt in more ways than one. Nat only looks out for himself. If he can get a case with a lot of potential accolades, he’ll take it. It will make him more important than he already is. That’s what he strives for. To be the best and he doesn’t care how he does it.”

“Jarrod,” he asked him, “you don’t like Springer much do you? From what you’ve just told me, you have a strong dislike for the man. It’s not jealousy is it?”

“He’s all right as a person,” Jarrod answered. “But as an attorney, he just has some ways that I don’t approve of. Let’s put it this way. I wouldn’t do anything underhanded to win a case. And I’m not jealous of him. I wish him the best of luck with his law career. But he has always told me I came from a back woods town and that I wouldn’t make it as a lawyer there. I want to prove it to him and to myself but not at Sandra’s expense.”

“I see,” he said nodding.

They arrived at the police station and walked inside. Adam walked up to the large desk where an officer sat. He looked up as they walked inside.

“You need something?” he asked glaring at Adam and Jarrod.

Jarrod already didn’t like this man. He judged him to have a chip on his shoulder. He watched as Adam spoke to the officer.

“I need to see Sandra Johanson,” he said as forcefully as he could. “She was brought in here earlier. Something to do with someone getting killed.”

“You mean the crazy lady,” the officer replied laughing. “The one who said she didn’t mean to kill a man and ran away. Sure she’s here. And if you ask me she’s going to be staying until they can lock her up.”

Adam reached across the desk, grabbing the man by the front of his shirt. He pulled the officer so that their two faces were less than a foot apart.

“Listen here buddy,” Adam said with anger and conviction, “you watch the way you talk about my secretary or you’ll be wearing this desk around your throat.”

Jarrod realized that Adam might actually strike the man so he walked behind Adam trying to reason with him.

“Take it easy Adam,” he said as he tried to pull his partner away from the officer. “If you hit him, you’ll be locked up and who will help Sandra? Let’s just see if we can see her and take it from there. She’s our first priority.”

Adam glanced behind him at Jarrod finally releasing his grip on the officer’s shirt. The man looked at Adam with blind fury but he didn’t pursue the matter further. Adam knew he was beginning to wear Jarrod’s refusal to take the case down. He knew with a little more prodding, he would talk Jarrod into it. Or at least he hoped so.

All the desk officer said was, “Go through those two doors, down the hall on the left, last door.”

Adam and Jarrod hurried toward Sandra.

Chapter Four

Officer Ben Krebbs had arrived at the hotel room of Paul Davis. He had verified from the clerk on duty at the front desk that Paul Davis was indeed registered here and that Sandra had been in his room.

“Sure,” the clerk said looking at Krebbs, “I remember her. Pretty girl. I never understood why she didn’t marry the man. They were always together when he was in town.”

“How often was that?” he asked.

“Every couple of weeks just like clock work,” the clerk answered. “Always had to have room 16.”

“What was so important about room 16?” he asked trying to understand everything that had happened that night.

“I’m not real sure,” the clerk answered. “You would have to ask him.”

“I’m afraid that might be impossible,” he said looking at the clerk. “If he is indeed dead.”

“Dead?” the clerk asked. “Not in my hotel. I’ve never had any problems here in the twenty-five years I’ve been here.”

“You may now,” he answered. “I’ll know more after I examine the room.”

Officer Krebbs walked up a flight of stairs to room 16. The door to the room was standing wide open and sitting in a chair on the other side of the room was a man. Krebbs walked over to the man and when he touched him, the man fell forward to the floor and that’s when he saw the letter opener in the man’s back. There was a trickle of blood leading from the middle of the room over to a chair where he had found Paul Davis. There was no way that Davis could have stabbed himself. He knew this was a good case for murder and since the girl had told him she had stabbed the man, he knew she would be held for murder.

“This looks like a murder scene,” he said as he continued to search.

He found the man’s wallet in a jacket pocket hanging from a chair on the other side of the room but no money was inside of it. He would have to find out if Davis had any money as whether he was robbed or not. A large crate was sitting in the middle of the floor with the lid pried off. When he walked over to it for a closer look, he noticed that there were several books on the floor. To him that seemed a might odd. But he had no idea how they had gotten there. He looked inside the crate, noting that there seemed to be something missing. There was a hole in the middle of the crate surrounded by books. But whatever had been there was gone now. He had motive. He knew from what the girl had said that she was inside this room. He knew he had her for murder. But the court would have to decide if it was a planned murder or something else. Now to go tell the inspector, Krebbs left the hotel heading back to the station to file his report.

Adam and Jarrod were led back to the Inspector Scott’s office.

“I am Sandra Johanson’s employer,” Adam said as he walked into the office followed by Jarrod. “My name is Adam Howard. Now what in the blazes is going on?”

Adam hadn’t noticed the man sitting behind the desk. He didn’t realize that he knew him until the inspector spoke.

“Adam,” the man replied as he stood up from behind his desk. “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I hadn’t gotten around to seeing you lately. It’s been so hectic around here lately with all these new recruits who think they already know everything. It’s enough to make a man gray. I really didn’t think she even knew you let alone worked for you.”

“She does and she’s innocent,” Adam told him. “Dan, is this your case? I didn’t realize you were handling murders. They must have given you a promotion. Now where is she?”

“She’s being held here until we know exactly what happened,” the inspector said looking at Jarrod. “Who are you?”

“I’m Jarrod Barkley,” he replied stepping forward. “I work with Mr. Howard. He thought she might possibly need an attorney although I’m not the attorney she needs.”

“I see,” Scott told him, turning his attention back to Adam. “Your secretary was apprehended running down the middle of the street screaming at the top of her lungs that he was dead. We still haven’t been able to get a credible story out of her.”

“I would like to see her,” Adam said shaking his head. “There has to be a logical explanation for what’s happened. And I intend to find out what.”

“That can be arranged,” Scott replied standing up again. “She is in one of the interrogation rooms. I thought that would be better for her then locking her up until we get the report from the hotel. You can speak to her in there. You might consider getting her a good lawyer. I think she’s going to need it.”

Inspector. Scott escorted Adam and Jarrod to another room that had a large table with several chairs around it. Before Adam entered the room, he motioned for Jarrod to go on inside.

“Jarrod,” he said as he stopped outside in the hallway, “you go on in. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Right,” Jarrod replied walking inside.

Sitting in one of the chairs was Sandra. She was very quiet and looked to be quite upset. When she saw Jarrod, she burst out crying and trying to tell him what happened.

“Oh Jarrod,” she said crying rushing into his arms. “I didn’t mean to do it. It was an accident.”

“Calm down Sandra,” he replied coming to a stop as he held her until she stopped shaking. “Just tell me what happened.”

“It all started...” she replied beginning to tell her story.

Adam looked at his friend.

“Dan,” he said as he looked at the inspector, “I need your help with something. If it works, Sandra already has a lawyer.”

“You mean him,” Scott replied pointing toward the room where Jarrod and Sandra was. “He’s just a boy. How is he going to help her?”

“I know what I’m doing,” he told Dan. “And I think I know a way to get him to accept it. Will you help me?”

“Yes,” Dan said nodding.

Adam explained what he wanted to do.

Meanwhile, inside the interrogation room, Jarrod was seated in a chair listening to Sandra tell her story. Adam and Dan walked in during her explanation but they didn’t say anything.

“Oh Paul,” she said as he escorted her into one of the fanciest restaurants in San Francisco. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I was wearing this dress with a string of pearls that I must have lost in the struggle with Paul after we returned to the hotel room. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself,” she said and then continued.

“I wanted to take my girl to the best place in town,” he replied smiling and leading her to a special table in the corner. “Sandra, I got a promotion today. That means we can get married now. Today, if you want?”

“That’s wonderful Paul,” she told him smiling. “That book company doesn’t realize what a find they have in you. Paul, we’ve discussed this before. I’ll marry you when I’m ready. I have a lot to do before I can. Just be patient.”

“Please Sandra,” he said looking deep into her bluish green eyes, “I’m only a lonely book seller. And I want you to become my wife so we can travel all over the world.”

“Yes,” she replied looking into his brown eyes, “but you’re my book seller.”

“You mean after all this time,” he told her, “you’re going to become my wife.”

“Yes,” she said smiling. “I love you so much Paul.”

“I love you also my dear Sandra,” he replied kissing her.

“After dinner,” she said coming back to the present, “we went back to his hotel room.”

“Sandra,” he said as they walked inside, “you have to quit your job with Howard so you can come away with me. I don’t want you to work not as long as I can provide for the both of us.”

“Quit my job,” she replied looking shocked. “You never said anything about quitting my job to marry you. What’s going on Paul?”

“Nothing,” he told her. “I just don’t believe in my wife working.”

“Well,” she said looking very disappointed, “you might as well get used to it. I’m going to continue to work for Mr. Howard. I like my job and he is very nice.”

“If you are going to marry me Sandra,” he replied starting to get angry with her, “you will quit your job. I mean it. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Then I’m not going to marry you Paul,” she told him standing her ground. “I have made my decision.”

“Very well,” he said walking toward her, a strange look on his face.

“I realized that he was crazy with some kind of rage,” she said explaining what happened next. “He had had too much to drink for one thing and he lunged at me grabbing my right sleeve and tearing it. I had to do something so I saw a letter opener on his table. I picked it up to scare him into leaving me alone.”

“Paul,” she said scared to death, “please don’t. I don’t want to hurt you but I will if you don’t leave me alone.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” he asked continuing to come closer to Sandra. “You tell me you’re going to marry me and then you tell me that you’re not. Am I supposed to be happy about that?”

“You’ve had too much to drink and you need to calm down,” she said backing away from him. “I’ll be happy to marry you as long as I can keep my job,” she remarked. “Otherwise there is nothing more to discuss. Now, I’m going to go home. I think you need to sleep it off.”

“I have not and I won’t calm down,” he replied continuing to pursue her.

“But he just became more enraged,” she said shaking slightly. “Paul grabbed for the letter opener and we struggled. In trying to get it out of his hands, it ended up going into his stomach. I dropped it when I saw the blood on his shirt. The only thing at that point

I knew to do was run. I didn’t even know if he was dead. So I ran away.”

Jarrod both listened to her story. It sounded feasible to them. Then Jarrod and Adam both tried to make her feel better.

“It’s all right,” Adam replied after she stopped speaking. “It was an unfortunate accident.”

“I’m afraid it was anything but that,” Inspector Scott told them from behind.

Officer Krebbs was standing beside of him. He must have come in during Sandra’s explanation of exactly what had happened earlier in the evening. Adam and Jarrod both turned to look at them.

“What do you mean?” Adam asked not understanding.

“Krebbs just told me what he found in the hotel room,” Scott answered. “First of all, the deceased was sitting in a chair instead of on his back in the floor. Second, the letter opener was not in his stomach but in his back. It’s not likely that he could have stabbed himself in the back. There was a trickle of blood that left a trail across the room. I’m afraid that the young lady will have to remain here under arrest for murder.”

“But it didn’t happen that way,” she cried trying to explain. “It was an accident. I left him on the floor, not in a chair. And the wound was in his stomach not his back. Why won’t anyone believe me?”

“You admitted yourself that you had killed him,” Krebbs said looking at her. “From what I saw, it’s a clear case of murder.”

“No!” she cried.

“Easy Sandra,” Jarrod said trying to calm her down. “It’s all right. When you get into court, your lawyer will be able to free you.”

“How can you say that?” she asked looking at him. “I’m going to be tried for murder. I didn’t do it.”

“I know you didn’t,” Jarrod answered. “Just let Adam and me handle this. You just take it easy until we can get you out of here.”

“Hurry Jarrod,” she pleaded. “I’m very frightened. I have never been inside a police station before.”

“We will,” Jarrod said as he and Adam left Sandra.

Another officer led Sandra to a holding cell further down the hallway. She was indeed very afraid but she knew she had to do as they asked. Maybe Jarrod was right. Hopefully, her lawyer could clear her of the murder charge.

As Adam and Jarrod walked out of the small room, Inspector Scott stopped turning to look at them.

“She will stand trial for murder,” he said matter of factly. “And she will be convicted. The facts show that he was murdered. The best thing her attorney could do is have her plead guilty and save the court the cost of a trail.”

“It’s not over yet,” Jarrod replied looking at Scott. “Whoever her lawyer is will find the evidence to acquit her.”

“What’s the matter counselor?” Scott asked looking at the young attorney. “You too busy to take on the case?”

“No,” Jarrod answered trying not to be goaded into accepting such a high profile case. “I lack the experience needed to handle a murder case. And I don’t want to do anything that would get her convicted. If I had the experience I would gladly take the case. That’s the reason and not that I’m afraid.”

“I see,” Scott said looking at Jarrod. “You certainly aren’t like your father. He wouldn’t stand by and watch someone go to the gallows. Especially if he could free her. He would do something about it if he were a lawyer and not a pompous businessman.”

As the inspector called Tom names, Jarrod became slightly upset.

“You are entitled to your own opinion,” he said but he wasn’t happy. “You don’t even know him. He’s the kindest man I know.”

“I know him well enough to know that he raised a sorry excuse for a son,” Scott answered. “I bet he feels really sad when he thinks about all the money he spent on you only to find out he had raised a coward.”

“ How would you know how I feel?” he asked looking at the inspector. “I know when to accept a case and when not to accept. You just like to bully someone around. Well, it won’t work on me. My mind is made up.”

“No wonder he sent you to us,” Scott replied smiling. “He didn’t want to be embarrassed by a coward like you, too afraid to take on a case that I know he could win. But no. You have to tell everyone that you aren’t ready. The real reason is you’re too afraid.”

Jarrod was trying to hold his temper in check but this man for some reason wasn’t going to leave him alone. He tried to reason with the inspector again.

“Look,” he said trying to be as calm as he could, “I just told you that my mind is made up. Why don’t you go and arrest a murderer or something?”

The inspector shook his head.

“You are a coward,” he said again this time smiling as he said it. “I don’t understand how you can stand there and let that poor girl hang. What kind of lawyer are you?”

“I’m not going to take on this case because I’ve not had enough experience in court,” Jarrod replied with more conviction. “And that’s the last time I’m going to say it.”

He was starting to get very angry with this man. Why was the inspector pushing so hard for Jarrod to take on this case? Had someone put him up to it? Jarrod wasn’t sure .And he knew he had to hold his temper in check. But the man wouldn’t stop pushing him.

“I suggest you just get out of here,” he said pointing toward the door. “We don’t even need you around here. What a shame too. That father of yours will never live this down. His own flesh and blood turning to mush because he’s afraid.”

That did it. Jarrod had heard all he wanted to from this man. He reached over grabbing the inspector by the front of his shirt. He looked him in the eye and Jarrod’s blue eyes were blazing.

“Jarrod,” Adam said trying to get Jarrod to listen to him, “let him go. You’re only going to be locked up yourself. Don’t take it too hard. He’s not really insulting your father. Or you for that matter.”

“But Adam,” he replied still angry, “I can’t let what he said about father go without answering his challenge. Father wasn’t the only one he insulted. And what do you mean that he didn’t really mean it? What’s going on?”

Jarrod released the inspector and turned to look at Adam. He wasn’t sure what was going on between the two men but something was. Adam was smiling at him. And for that matter so was the inspector.

“Think about it son,” Adam told him. “What would your father say? Jarrod, you are a capable lawyer. Sandra needs you. Please take the case and prove her innocent.”

Jarrod looked at Adam then at the inspector. He knew what they had done.

“You did this on purpose,” he said realizing the truth. “You pushed me to my brink. You really think she wants me to defend her. I appreciate the faith you have in me but as I said before I don’t have enough experience.”

“We did,” Adam replied trying to understand why Jarrod was so hesitant. “But you were the one who wouldn’t even listen to me. I wanted you from the start. And when I heard you talk about that Springer I knew I wanted you even more.”

“Yes,” Scott told him. “Adam and I did this on purpose but you came awfully close to winding up under arrest yourself. And I would have been within my rights to lock you up.”

“Now Dan,” Adam told him trying to calm the situation. “You know perfectly well you did that on purpose to get a rise out of Jarrod too. And I thank you. You were perfect as the villain.”

Inspector Scott nodded at Adam.

“I had to know whether you had it in you to prove this girl innocent,” he said nodding. “You have all the tools from what I’ve heard. But you lacked the motivation.”

“I had to get a rise out of you to get you to take Sandra’s case,” Adam answered. “So I asked Dan to insult you and your father. I knew that would do it. There wasn’t anything personal meant. I just had to make you mad enough to take the case. That’s all.”

“You did that on purpose?” Jarrod asked not believing what he was hearing. “I can’t believe this. My own partner resorts to insults to get me to accept a case. How could you? Haven’t I proved myself to you?”

“Yes,” Adam answered. “I’m sorry Jarrod. But I had to make you take this case. I don’t want another attorney. I want you. And now that you’ve calmed down, you can now accept and let’s get to work on getting Sandra out of here.”

“You do?” Jarrod asked. “I don’t think I like your methods but it was a good act. I was really believing the inspector had it in for me.”

“Yes,” Adam answered. “Will you defend Sandra?”

Jarrod stood there looking at the inspector and Adam. He still couldn’t believe what they had done to him. Finally, he nodded his head.

“Yes,” Jarrod said agreeing to take the murder case. “I’ll take the case. I don’t guarantee that I’ll be the best trial lawyer but I’ll give it a try. And if I can, I will prove her innocent.”

“That’s a relief,” Adam replied smiling. “Now I know she’ll have the best.”

Jarrod doubted that but he didn’t say anything. Now started the real work. He would have to investigate this death to see if there were any other people who had a motive.

Chapter Five

Jarrod and Adam were informed that Sandra would have to stay at the police station until her inquest, which was set for Wednesday morning.

“I’m sorry Adam,” Dan said as they sat in his office. “I can’t release Sandra Johanson to you until after the inquest. There is a problem with the knife wound. Officer Krebbs says it was in his back and she says it was in his stomach.”

“Can’t you set bail?” he asked trying to understand the reason behind it.

“Judge Winegarden has decided not to set bail until after the inquest,” Dan answered. “You should have her out before the trial.”

“I hope so,” he said looking at his friend. “I don’t understand any of this. Sandra isn’t a murderer. She was just provoked and stabbed him before she realized she had.”

“Adam,” Jarrod replied looking at his boss, “I can understand how you feel. Sandra did have a very unbelievable story. And her story didn’t go along with the facts. Now, I’m not trying to say she’s guilty. But I can see the district attorney’s side.”

“Jarrod,” he told his partner, “I don’t believe any of this. It’s like a nightmare that won’t end.”

“I can feel for you Adam,” Dan said looking at his friend. “But she has to stay. You are free to visit her if you wish.”

“I guess I should to let her know that I haven’t abandoned her,” he replied standing up. “I’ll see her now.”

“All right,” Dan told him signaling for another officer to escort Jarrod and Adam to Sandra.

Adam was very quiet as they walked. Jarrod tried to make him feel better. But he knew the case against Sandra was a good one and he would have to be on his toes if he had any chance of winning.

“It’s for the best Adam,” he said as they walked to the visiting room. “I’ll go to the hotel room and start my own investigation after we’re through. After that and after the inquest, I’m going to go to Nevada to see if I can look into Paul Davis’ background.”

“Do you really think he might have set this up to frame Sandra and someone finished him off?” Adam asked speculating. “I mean if he had wronged someone like a partner maybe or someone else.”

“I don’t know for sure,” he answered having already considered both possibilities. “I want to see that hotel room and then check out his past. I am betting that the information I am seeking to free Sandra is in either that room or in Nevada. It’s just a matter of sorting through it to find that information.”

“How long will you be gone?” Adam asked as they arrived at the door to the room. “I mean with her inquest set for next week, you won’t have a lot of time.”

“Not more than a few days,” he answered stopping to look at Adam. “I should be able to find out what Paul Davis was really doing. And if he was doing something illegal. There were some items in Sandra’s story that leads me to believe that Davis wasn’t who he said he was. And I have to find out for sure.”

“What do you mean by that?” Adam asked not understanding what Jarrod meant. “Are you telling me that you don’t believe her now?”

“I feel sure that there’s more to this whole incident than what Sandra told us,” he answered. “I will know more later. After I return from Nevada.”

“Are you all right with going back to Carson City?” Adam asked knowing that was a very sore subject to Jarrod.

“Yes,” he answered knowing what Adam meant. “I’ll be fine. I should be back no later than Friday. That’s four days away. I’ll send you a wire the first day to give you some idea how long I will be.”

“I wish I could go with you,” Adam said looking at Jarrod. “But I better stay here. I still have a lot of work to do. You be careful and I’ll see you no later than Friday. And I will look for that wire. At least I will know that you are fine.”

“All right,” he replied as they walked into the visiting room.

Sandra was sitting at one of the tables. Both Adam and Jarrod could tell that she hadn’t slept. As they reached the table, she looked up at them.

“I understand I can’t leave,” she said as quietly as she could.

“That’s right Sandra, “Jarrod replied trying to comfort her as he sat down. “The judge will hear the facts at the inquest and then he will set bail. Your inquest is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. Until then you will have to stay here.”

“Jarrod this is so hard,” she told them. “I am so scared.”

“I know you are,” Adam said speaking for the first time. “But you are strong Sandra. You show them that you won’t let this minor setback get you down. Jarrod is going to free you once he returns from Carson City.”

“Are you going to Carson City to check into Paul’s background,” she asked.

“Yes,” Jarrod answered. “I feel that I have to. I have to see if he had another line of work other than selling books.”

“Jarrod,” she said looking at him, “I dated Paul for over two years. Don’t you think I would have known if he was involved in something illegal?”

“You may not have,” he replied. “Paul could have hid his real agenda from you and told you he sold books. If he only sold books, then why was he murdered? You see what I’m getting at.”

“You believe that Paul was mixed up in something and he used me?” she asked.

“No,” he answered trying to explain. “I mean that he could have sold books at one time but he had to be involved in something else to get him killed.”

“Jarrod is right,” Adam said looking at Sandra. “Paul wasn’t the man you thought he was. Maybe it was best that you had that argument last night. You found out that he had at least one secret.”

“I understand,” she replied nodding. “But it’s hard to believe that he wasn’t the nice young man I always thought he was.”

“I know,” Adam told her. “But right now just concentrate on getting out of here.”

“I will,” she said trying to smile. “I want to thank you two for helping me and believing in me.”

“I know you Sandra,” Adam replied smiling. “You have worked for me for a long time. You are no more a killer than I am.”

“We’ll be back to go over your story after I have a chance to see that room,” he told her standing up.

“Try not to worry,” Adam said as they left the room

Jarrod headed for the hotel room while Adam went back to his office. He figured that room would help him understand exactly what had happened last night when Paul Davis was murdered. He had Sandra’s story and he had the police story. What he had to figure out was which story was the truth. When he walked in, he saw the door standing open and two officers were placing the body on a stretcher. Jarrod stopped to look at Paul Davis’ body.

“You looking for something mister?” one of the officers asked when he saw Jarrod. “This room is off limits until we can check the crime scene.”

“I’m Sandra Johanson’s attorney,” he answered. “I have a right to have a look at the crime scene. You know that?”

“Yes,” the other officer told him. “Look around all you want. We have to get this body out of here. It’s not a pretty sight the way he was killed but they have a suspect and I hope she gets the book thrown at her.”

“You are judging her roughly aren’t you?” he asked as he looked at the young officer. “She could be innocent you know. In fact, I plan to prove that.”

“How?” The officer asked. “You don’t have much of a case.”

“Officer Krebbs stated that the body was sitting in a chair,” he answered. “Sandra Johanson isn’t a big woman and it would be very difficult for her to move a man the size of Paul Davis from the floor to a chair.”

“If he was even on the floor,” the officer said looking at Jarrod. “It doesn’t really matter. I’m not the one you have to convince.”

As they started to leave with the body, Jarrod stopped them.

“Can I have a look at that body?” he asked. “I have a right since she is my client.”

“Yeah,” the other officer answered. “But don’t touch it.”

“Why not?” he asked not understanding.

“Orders from the inspector,” the officer answered. “I’m not to let anyone touch the body.”

“I understand,” he said but he wasn’t happy about it.

Jarrod lifted the sheet that covered the dead man. To his surprise, he saw no evidence of blood on the shirt front of Davis’ body but there was indeed blood on the back. One of the officers had lifted the body so Jarrod could see the wound that had killed him.

“Was the door open or closed when you arrived?” he asked the officer who seemed to be in charge.

“It was open when I arrived,” the officer answered. “So was the crate over there. Several books were on the floor and something was missing from inside. Oh yeah. I found beads from a necklace on the floor. You going to really defend that woman? She is a little off in the head.”

“I don’t think so,” he said looking at the officer. “You just saw her after she was terrified by whatever happened in this room. Now I have to determine what happened and then prove it.”

“You really think you can do that?” the officer asked doubting Jarrod could prove the girl innocent.

“Yes,” he answered. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to look around.

He examined the entire room. He walked around looking at everything and then jotting down notes in a small pad he had pulled from his pocket. Then Jarrod looked at the crate. The lid had been pried off. He could tell that several of the nails were bent like someone was in a hurry to open it. It looked to him to like something was missing from the middle of the inside of the box. He made more notes as he examined the murder scene.

“Do you know where the letter opener was?” he asked turning back to the officer.

“In the dead man’s back,” the officer answered. “I found him in a chair instead of on the floor like she said. The opener was still in his back.”

“I see,” he said, as he was ready to leave. “Thank you.”

Jarrod went back to the police station to talk to Sandra again. He needed to clear up some points before he left for Carson City. When she was escorted inside the small room with the table, she looked very frightened.

“Am I going to be released now Jarrod?” she asked hopefully. “Please tell me you’ve found evidence to clear me of this murder charge.”

“Not yet,” he answered. “There are a few things that don’t add up. I need to ask you a few more questions.”

“What?” she asked concerned. “I’ve told you everything that happened. What more could you want?”

“You say that Paul’s body was on his back on the floor,” he said looking at her expression. “Where in the room exactly?”

“That’s right,” she replied nodding. “He fell backwards after I stuck the letter opener in his stomach by mistake. We were standing in the middle of the room from what I can remember. Although I still can’t be sure. It happened so fast last night. One minute we were celebrating and the next he was dead. I didn’t mean to hurt him. But he was trying to attack me and I had to defend myself. So I picked up the closest thing, the letter opener from a small table in the room close to the bed. And when he came toward me after ripping my sleeve off, I tried to push him away and the letter opener was in that hand.”

“Was the door to his room open or shut when you ran out?” he asked wanting to verify facts.

“Let me think,” she answered trying to remember. “I remember leaving it open when I left the room. And then I ran trying to get help for Paul.”

“Did you see a large crate in the room?” he asked. “It was in the middle of the room.”

“Yes,” she answered. “It was closed and I remember asking Paul what was in it. He acted very nervous about that crate like there might have been something inside of it that he didn’t want me to know about.”

“Just as I figured,” he said looking at her. “Here’s what the room showed when I went there. Paul was sitting in a chair with a letter opener in his back. There was a trail of blood from the middle of the floor over to the chair. There wasn’t a speck of blood on the front of his shirt and I was unable to get a look at the man’s stomach to see if there was a second wound. The officers forbid me from touching the body. I need to see that body to see if indeed there is a second wound. Because if there is, then someone else was in that room after you left and that person or persons killed Paul.”

“Why not?” she asked not understanding.

“The officer wouldn’t let me because they were moving the body and because the inspector had forbid it,” he answered. “I intend to get a look at it before the trial. It’s just possible that he had made enemies over the years and someone might have come in there to get even. It could be that whatever was in the middle of that crate had something to do with it. Maybe they saw Paul on the floor and took something out of that room. They could have easily moved him to the chair and plunged the letter opener into his back. It’s also possible that he wasn’t dead when you ran out but the wound in his back killed him. I am running into a wall not knowing which way to turn.”

“What about the missing blood?” she asked.

“Like I said,” he answered, “he might have been alive enough to get up from the floor. He could have even gone over to the water basin, which I didn’t look at, to wash the wound out. Then he changed shirts after wrapping the wound when he was surprised by someone he either knew or was working with him or for him. It’s just speculation. But I really believe that there was someone else in that room after you left.”

“Why go to Nevada?” she asked.

“To find out his background,” he answered. “It’s just possible that Paul Davis was mixed up in something illegal as I told you before. And his partner or partners could have killed him framing you in the process. They could have gotten into an argument over money or something else and then it escalated into murder. And when they noticed the wound in Paul’s stomach they made it look like a murder knowing that whoever had stabbed him the first time would be the one to get caught.”

“I can’t believe Paul would be mixed up in something like that,” she said thinking about the man she had once loved. “He was so kind and caring.”

“Except for last night,” he replied looking at her. “That was the only time wasn’t it?”

“He’s always had a temper,” she told him. “But he had never carried it that far before. We would argue about money, job or marriage but in the end we would make up and everything would be fine until the next time.”

“How many times has he lost it around you?” he asked needing to know everything he could about the man. “This could be valuable in trying to learn just what kind of man Paul was. If he did lose his temper often we use that to our benefit by saying that he could have made someone else just as mad and they killed him.”

“Not many,” she said trying to remember. “Most of the time Paul was wonderful. He took me out to eat often especially after he returned from Nevada. And he had a lot of money too. I thought that was a bit odd since he sold books. No one can read that many books. The only times he got angry was when I got too close to the crate.”

“The crate?” he asked thinking about the box in the room. “There must have been something in there he didn’t want you to know about.”

“Yes,” she answered. “He told me it was some of his books but he was always watching me to make sure I stayed away from it. I asked him once to see inside and he got real upset. He told me that I was never to mention that crate again. And he had a look on his face that really frightened me. Like he was willing to kill me if I didn’t leave that crate alone.”

“I see,” he said writing down notes. “Did he mention where in Nevada he worked out of?”

“Yes,” she answered. “One time he said that he had to go back to Carson City to see a Mr. Radcliff about some more books. He would make a trip there every week just like clockwork. I thought that was odd too but I didn’t dare mention it to him for fear that he might do something to me.”

“Radcliff?” Jarrod asked writing down the name. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she answered. “He said that Mr. Radcliff had an office on Main Street in Carson City. And that he ordered books almost every week so Paul had to go back every week to pick up the new shipment. But he always brought back that same crate. He only brought one too. As many times as he went, you’d think he’d have more books than one crate full.”

“I’m going to go to Carson City to check with this Radcliff,” he replied rising from the table. “Maybe he can clear up some of this mystery. You just take it easy and try not to worry. I believe I’ll have enough evidence to clear you of murder.”

“Oh thank you Jarrod,” she told him trying to smile. “You be careful yourself. I’m afraid this man Radcliff might want to hurt you.”

“I’ll be careful and once we get this inquest over,” he said smiling, “I’ll get you out on bail and then I’ll leave for Carson City.”

Jarrod left the police station. As he walked home, he went over what he had learned at the hotel and from Sandra. One thing was for sure, someone was lying and it was up to him to figure out who and why.

Chapter Six

On Wednesday morning, Jarrod and Sandra were sitting in the courthouse. Sandra was very quiet and very scared.

“Jarrod,” she said looking at him, “I can’t stay in that cell any longer. I am very scared. Please get me out.”

“Calm down,” he replied. “I’m going to do that. Just have faith in me.”

“I do,” she told him. “I do.”

The judge entered and the inquest started.

“Doctor,” the district attorney said walking to stand in front of the witness chair, “you have examined the body of the deceased, Paul Davis.”

“Yes sir,” he replied. I have.”

“What did you find?” the DA asked.

“I found two different stab wounds on the body,” he answered.

“Where were they?” the man asked.

“One was in his back,” he answered. “That is the one that killed him. The other one was a very small wound in his stomach. It wouldn’t have caused death. It was more like a small skin prick.”

“Doctor,” the DA asked, “are you positive that Paul Davis was murdered?”

“Yes sir,” he answered.

“Your honor,” the DA said looking at the judge, “I feel that I have shown that the defendant, Sandra Johanson killed Paul Davis by plunging the letter opener into the man’s back. Further, that she ran from the room after the murder.”

“Counselor,” the judge asked, “do you have any questions for the doctor?”

“Not at this time your honor,” he answered.

Sandra looked at him with horror on her face.

“However,” he said turning back to look at the judge, “I would like bail set for my client. Both myself and her employer, Adam Howard will guarantee that she will be present when the trial begins.”

“Your honor,” the DA remarked, “I don’t think she should be freed. I think she will flee if given the chance.”

“She won’t because this is her first offense your honor,” he said. She doesn’t have a prior record and she confessed to the crime of her own free will. She is also ready to stand trial to clear her name. I will guarantee she will not flee.”

“Mr. Morton,” the judge replied looking at the DA, “do you have any objections?”

“Not if Mr. Barkley can guarantee that she will not run.”

“Mr. Barkley,” the judge told him. “Anything else?”

“I can guarantee she will stay,” he said looking over at the DA. “Her employer is going to pay bail if it is granted and be responsible for her until the trial.”

“Mr. Morton,” the judge asked, “anything else?”

“No your honor,” Morton answered.

“I have no problem with setting bail,” the judge replied. “Bail will be set at $50,000. The trial will begin one week from Monday. Court adjourned.”

“That’s a pretty high bail Jarrod,” Adam told him as he walked to the table where Jarrod and Sandra were.

“Not really,” he said looking at Adam. “She was in the room with Paul. She admits to stabbing him. From his point of view there is motive.”

“Are you trying to defend her or trying to convict her?” Adam asked wondering which side Jarrod was on.”

“I’m going to defend her,” he answered. “But I have to look at it from every angle.”

“I know,” Adam said helping Sandra to her feet. “Well, young lady, why don’t we see about getting you out of here?”

“Yes sir,” she replied smiling at him. “Thank you Mr. Howard.”

“Remember Sandra,” he told her looking at her, “you’re not out of the woods. I still have to come up with enough evidence to free you. That’s why I’m leaving for Carson City this afternoon.”

“Do you really think you can find enough evidence to clear her?” Adam asked as they left the courtroom after Adam paid the bail.

“Yes I do,” he answered. “Now you keep a close eye on her. And Sandra, don’t you worry. I’ll have the evidence when I return.”

“I hope so,” she said trying to smile.

Jarrod went back to his apartment after leaving the courthouse. He quickly packed a few clothes and left on the late afternoon train for Carson City.

Chapter Seven

Jarrod arrived in Carson City the next day. The entire trip he had spent going over and over his notes looking for anything that would help him figure out exactly what had happened in that hotel room. There had to some connection but right now he couldn’t figure out what.

As the train rolled into Carson City, he remembered being here four months earlier but he had a job to do. He had to forget what he went through at the hands of those three men. Even thought he would have to come back here to testify later, he had to concentrate on Paul Davis and on this murder trial along with freeing a woman who he in his heart felt was innocent. But the biggest problem would be proving it.

He went to the same hotel and saw the same clerk. And he was still as lazy as the last time he was here. In fact, Jarrod believed that the man might have actually helped those men get him. He wondered how they knew in advance that he was coming out to the mine. It was almost like they had been dispatched to stop him. But he couldn’t worry about that now. He had another job to do.

“Good afternoon,” he said as he walked up to the desk. “I don’t know whether you remember me but I was here several months ago. I had a run in with some not so friendly men at a mine not too far from here.”

“Yeah,” the clerk replied nodding. “I remember you. What do you want now? I thought you would have learned a lesson from the first trip.”

“I need to see a Mr. Radcliff,” he told him noticing the expression on the man’s face. “I was told he has an office on Main Street.”

“Yeah,” the clerk said not wanting to say any more. “Down on the right. What do you want with him? He hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“Thank you,” he replied looking at the man. “You think he’s guilty of something? I just wanted to talk to him about a problem in San Francisco.”

“So,” the clerk told him, “you here for a reason?”

“I just told you why,” he said realizing the man knew more than he was saying. “So you can go tell the man, you need to get your facts straight. I am here because a man named Paul Davis was murdered in San Francisco yesterday and his girlfriend has been arrested. I’m her attorney. Now if you will excuse me, I need to talk to this Radcliff because Paul Davis supposedly worked for him.”

“Yeah,” the clerk replied. “Paul worked for him. I always rented him the same room every time he came to town. He would stay a couple of days, pick up a new crate of books and then leave.”

“New crate of books every time he was here,” Jarrod told him. “Was he selling that many books?

“I don’t know,” the clerk said. “I only know what I saw.”

“I appreciate the information,” he replied picking up his bag and leaving the hotel.

Jarrod was very anxious to talk to this gentleman. Sandra had said that Paul always returned with the same crate and this man just said that he got a new crate on every trip. This murder investigation was turning into a mystery in Jarrod’s opinion. As he walked down the street, he noticed that the office of Henry Radcliff was a very eloquent one. From his own point of view, the man had done very well for himself. He doubted that this man could really help him but he had to check every lead out. The man sitting behind the desk in that office was a tall, thin man with brown hair and a beard. He rose from his chair and walked around his desk.

“Can I help you?” he asked holding out his right hand to Jarrod. “I believe you are new in town.”

“Yes,” Jarrod answered shaking his hand. “My name is Jarrod Barkley and I’m an attorney. I would like to ask you about Paul Davis.”

“What about him?” he asked looking at Jarrod. “He done something wrong?”

“Did he work for you?” Jarrod asked trying to find out all he could from this man.

“Yes,” he answered not wanting to give anything away. “Sold books.”

“I see,” Jarrod said making more notes in his small pad. “Did you know he was murdered in his hotel room in San Francisco yesterday? His girlfriend of two years was arrested in connection with that murder. She told me that Paul came here every week to get more books.”

“No,” he replied but Jarrod could see that the man was lying. “I don’t get to see any new papers until they are several months old.”

“Are you sure?” Jarrod asked again knowing that he had struck a nerve with this man.

“Look,” he said getting upset, “I don’t know what you want here but I’m a busy man. I have people to see and sales to take care of. So if you’re through, would you please leave?”

“I am representing the woman accused of murdering Davis,” Jarrod replied. “She was his girlfriend and I believe that she is innocent. I also believe that Davis wasn’t who he pretended to be. From the size of the opening in the crate sitting in his room, I’d say he was keeping something from being seen. Maybe a small press of some kind to make counterfeit money. It’s just a guess but I have a strong feeling there was more to Paul Davis then just selling books.”

Radcliff realized that Jarrod knew the truth. He also realized that the man would have to be dealt with but he had to be careful. The name Barkley was as well known here as it was in California. He would take care of this meddlesome lawyer just as soon as he could.

“I don’t have any idea what you are talking about,” he told Jarrod knowing that this man knew the truth. “I suggest you leave now. I’m very busy and I don’t need to be bothered by someone like you.”

“I won’t bother you any longer,” Jarrod said realizing that this man could be trouble. “I’m sorry I took up your valuable time.”

But he had to find out the truth to free Sandra. He left the office walking back to the hotel where he would get a room for the night. And tomorrow he would have another talk with Mr. Radcliff. If he was successful, Paul Davis’ past would be revealed before he left here.

Chapter Eight

As soon as Jarrod had left his office, Radcliff called two of his other employees from the back room where they had been listening.

“Grayson,” he said calling to his two best men, “Bingham, get in here.”

The two men walked out of the back room. They had heard most of the conversation and knew that this lawyer could mean trouble.

“You heard?” he asked them. “I believe this young lawyer is going to have to be dealt with harshly. He knows too much and he could put the rest of it together. I can sense that he is smart enough to cause trouble for us. And we can’t allow that to happen. I’ve worked too long and too hard to get this set up. And I won’t have it ruined by some eager lawyer out to prove himself. We need to dispose of young Mr. Barkley.”

“Yes,” Grayson answered. “What do you want us to do? We can kill him and dump his body where it won’t be found. Or we can keep him hid until you are ready to use him.”

“Take care of young Mr. Barkley,” he said smiling. “But I don’t want him killed out right. He has to be kept away from that courthouse. You set it up so that Davis’ girlfriend would be arrested and charged with his murder. Now we don’t want some lawyer to ruin that. And with that name, he’s too well known to have his body show up around here dead. I need to get him away from here so he won’t jeopardize all this hard work we’ve done. If he tells the law or finds any more evidence, we’ll be out of business. Take him somewhere where he won’t be found and dispose of him but remember don’t kill him yourselves.”

“What do we do with him?” Bingham asked. “If you don’t want him killed, then what?”

“Dump him in the desert,” he answered thinking of a plan to get rid of Jarrod. “Leave him there to die and no one will ever know that he was even here. I can take care of the hotel clerk so he won’t tell that Barkley was here. The only thing they will know is that he disappeared one day never to be seen again. And all our problems will be solved. We got rid of Paul because he was becoming too greedy. Now we get rid of this lawyer so the girl will be convicted.”

“Sure thing,” they said and left the office.

Jarrod walked back toward the hotel slowly trying to work everything out in his mind. He was tired from being up half the night and then coming here only to run into another wall. This was a heck of a way to start a law career.

“I know that Sandra is innocent,” he said aloud as he walked. “But how do I prove it? I have to find out what Radcliff is hiding. Could it be that this man is a counterfeiter? I mean, his expression suddenly changed when I mentioned counterfeiting. If he is, then a press was in that crate.”

Jarrod didn’t see the two men that followed him for a short distance. His mind was on Sandra and the case.

“There he is,” Bingham said as they caught sight of Jarrod. “There is a side street up ahead of him before he gets to the hotel. We can make it to that side street along the back of the buildings and catch him there.”

“Right,” Grayson replied turning down one of the side streets and behind the general hardware store.

They made it to that side street a good five to ten minutes before they saw Jarrod.

“I’ll wait right here,” Grayson said as he leaned up against one of the walls near the street. “I’ll grab him from behind, pull him into here and then you knock him out.”

“Sure,” Bingham replied as he pulled his pistol from his holster. “It will be a pleasure to give this lawyer the biggest headache he’s ever felt. And no one will ever know that he was here in the first place. He’ll just be a missing person.”

“You just like your job too much,” Grayson told him smiling.

“And why shouldn’t I?” Bingham said smiling. “I am good at it.”

Jarrod walked past the street and before he knew what happened, someone grabbed him from behind pulling him into the side street.

“What the...” he started to say as he was pulled and grabbed from behind.

He momentarily got a look at one of the men before the other one cold cocked him on the head and he went down in a heap.

“Good,” Grayson said as they looked down at Jarrod. “We’ll load him into the wagon for his one way trip to the desert.”

“Yeah,” Bingham replied also looking down at Jarrod, “we’re going to enjoy dumping his body out there without any water. He won’t last a day.”

“Don’t get too excited,” Grayson told him. “He may know survival techniques. But they won’t do him any good. With that headache he’s going to have, he won’t be able to think clearly and that will be his end.”

“You’re right,” Bingham said smiling. “We better get him out of here before someone sees us.”

“I’ll get the wagon,” Grayson said as he left the side street heading toward one of the corrals where they had a wagon waiting.

The other man stayed with Jarrod. He knew from the way he had hit this man that he would be unconscious for a long while. And when he did wake up, he would be stranded forever in that cursed desert for the rest of his short life. The two men got rid of the bag Jarrod was carrying by tossing it behind some discarded crates and loaded him into a wagon.

“He’s not light,” Grayson said as he struggled to get Jarrod into the wagon. “You wouldn’t think he’d be that heavy.”

“We’ll just roll him out when we get out there,” Bingham replied trying to help his partner. “He’s dead weight now. Here let me help you get him in.”

They finally got him loaded and then they then headed for a place in the desert that was far enough away from civilization so that no one would find him. They stopped at an area that showed no trees or shelter of any kind about an hour later.

“This should be as good a place as any,” one of them said as he stopped the wagon. “I don’t think he will be able to summon any help before he dies out here in this searing heat.”

“Yeah,” the other one replied pulling Jarrod from the wagon and dumping him onto the sandy ground. “We better get back to town and tell Radcliff his problem has been taken care of.”

The other man nodded as they rode away leaving an unconscious Jarrod to survive in this god forsaken desert. The sun beat down unmercifully on Jarrod’s unconscious body lying in the open. Would he survive or would he die out here all alone?

The two men arrived back in town and went straight to Radcliff’s office. They were smiling as they walked into the office.

“Did you dispose of that lawyer?” he asked as the two men walked into the office. “No one will be able to find him I hope.”

“Yep,” Bingham answered. “He won’t be found and if he is, he’s got a headache that will last for a long time.”

“Good,” he said smiling. “Now we can proceed with our plans.”

The three men went to work on making more counterfeit money to flood both Nevada and California.

Chapter Nine

When Jarrod awoke some twelve hours later with a pounding headache, he was lying on dirt on his right side. He rolled over on his stomach pulling his knees up under him. He managed to get to his feet but his head was pounding. He had to stand there just a few minutes until the dizziness subsided some. He looked around at his surroundings and realized that he was in the desert. He wasn’t sure how he had gotten here.

“How did I end up here?” he asked out loud. “I remember getting grabbed from behind and then nothing until now.”

The last thing he remembered was walking down the street toward the hotel in Carson City and being pulled into a side street from behind. He figured he must have been hit on the head and that would explain the headache. Now he was stranded in the desert. He didn’t have a clue as to how he had ended up here but he knew he had to start moving or die right here. The air was cool being it was night but just as soon as the sun came up he knew the temperature would start to climb. He looked around for any sign of rocks or trees that he could rest under until his head stopped its pounding, but didn’t see any. He started walking but he wasn’t sure which way to go. He knew he had to get back to town so he could be there for Sandra’s inquest, which was scheduled for the first of next week. But in his present situation, he doubted he could get out of here for days. If he could get out of here at all. He wasn’t sure exactly which way to go so he followed the moon hoping he would run into someone who would be willing to help him. He knew enough about desert survival to know that he needed water. He could deal with the lack of food, but he really needed water so he wouldn’t dehydrate. He eyed some cactus trees in the distance the way he was walking so he made a point of keeping them in sight. At least they might be able to give him some water. But he wasn’t positive that they were cactus trees. He knew his mind could be playing tricks on him because of the headache but he had to try or die right here.

As the night turned into the first rays of a new day, he was barely able to stay upright. He was so thirsty. All he wanted was a drink of precious water. But he didn’t see any. The cactus trees he thought he had seen the night before were either hallucinations or something else entirely. He was barely able put one foot in front of the other one because his headache was still there and getting worse with every step he took but he continued to walk. He knew if he stopped, he would probably never get up on his feet again. He still wasn’t sure which way to proceed but he kept going and hoped that someone would find him.

“I don’t understand it,” Adam said as he sat in Dan Scott’s office at the police station. “Jarrod should have been back today. He told me that he thought he could wrap up things in Carson City in one day or no more than a couple. I should have received word from him telling me he was going to stay over. He promised he would wire me.”

“Calm down Adam,” he replied looking at his friend. “He probably just got busy and forgot to send it.”

“You don’t understand,” Adam told him. “Jarrod was in Carson City four months ago. And he was almost killed. I ended up having to inform his parents of his disappearance then. How do you think they’re going to react when I tell them he’s missing again? In the same city. It’s like a bad dream.”

“You’ll have to tell them,” he said trying to smile. “If he doesn’t get back here for the inquest, they will appoint an attorney for that girl.”

“I’m afraid of that,” Adam replied. “Someone who doesn’t care that Sandra is innocent. Someone who just wants to make a name for himself at the cost of that young girl’s life. It’s not fair Dan. Sandra didn’t really do anything wrong and now the man who was going to prove it is missing. I think it’s all tied together somehow. But I don’t know how to find out.”

“You had better let that boy’s parents know what’s happened,” he told Adam. “They need to know so they can try to find him hopefully before it’s too late.”

“You’re right,” Adam said nodding. “I’ll go home, put some clothes together and head out to Stockton as soon as possible.”

“Adam,” he replied standing up, “you know I believe Sandra is innocent. But I don’t count in this. Jarrod does and now that he’s missing, Sandra’s life hangs by a thread.”

Adam nodded realizing that Dan Scott was right. He had to find Jarrod before it was too late. He dreaded telling Tom and Victoria Barkley but he knew it had to be done and he had to do it in person. He went home to pack and explain everything to Cora.

“Adam,” his wife asked when he came home early from work and started packing for a trip, “what’s wrong? You look like you just lost your best friend.”

“Cora,” he answered stopping for a minute to look at her, “I think something has happened to Jarrod.”

“What now?” she asked rolling her eyes. “It’s been nothing but trouble since you hired him. Why don’t you just get rid of him?”

“Cora,” he answered still looking at her, “I think he has potential. I believe he has the drive inside to become a top-notch lawyer. But he can’t if he is missing or worse.”

“Go look for him,” she said sarcastically. “Or do you have any idea where he is? Adam, when are you going to stop trying to help everyone around you? That boy is going to have to make it on his own. Just because you made some stupid promise to a dead man doesn’t mean that you have to go off to inform his parents that he’s missing.”

“I am going to find him,” he replied determined to locate Jarrod in spite of what his wife said, “and bring him back where he belongs. This whole situation is crazy. First, Sandra is accused of murder and now that I have persuaded Jarrod to represent her, he disappears. Something is very wrong.”

“I know you will,” she told him smiling. “You really believe he is worth it don’t you?”

“Yes I do,” he said smiling. “Jarrod has a lot of potential. He will be a heck of a trial lawyer providing he is found alive.”

“I’ll see you when you return,” she replied kissing him. “You think he could be dead?”

“Thank you for understanding,” he told her returning the kiss. “I really don’t know at this point but I have a feeling that he stumbled onto something in Carson City and it may have cost him his life. Although I hope not.”

“You’ll find him,” she said smiling. “I have faith in you.”

Adam packed a bag and caught the first train for Stockton. This news he would definitely deliver in person.

“I pray that I’m not telling his parents that Jarrod is dead,” he said shaking his head.

Chapter Ten

By the next night, Jarrod thought he saw water but he was becoming delirious. He crawled toward the water only to discover that it was just more sand. When he tried to drink it, he nearly choked on the sand. He knew he couldn’t trust what he saw to be the truth. And his head was still pounding in rhythm with his heart as he tried to keep moving.

“Father,” he said out loud but it was barely a whisper, “help me. I need you. Nick. Please find me.”

Jarrod knew he had to keep trying to get home. He was getting slower and slower as he tried to reach those trees still in the distance. His throat cried out for some cool water but there wasn’t any around here that he could see. He was barely able to stay on his feet as he trudged on in the sand.

Then Jarrod thought he heard horses and that meant people. Someone who could help him. Someone who could give him the much needed water he could taste in his dry, parched mouth. He stopped and waited; trying to see who it was in the distance. But all he saw was a cloud of dust. As the sound got closer, he looked up to see two men riding his way. He was so relieved. Now he would be able to get water and maybe a ride back to town wherever it was. He was so turned around that his sense of direction was all messed up. He tried to motion to them to come his way. But he was so weak and barely able to flag them down.

The two men saw the lone figure standing in the middle of nowhere. And they decided to have a little fun with whomever it was trying to get their attention.

“Look Floyd,” one of them said looking at Jarrod, “he’s out here in this heat all alone and without water.”

“You lost or something?” Floyd asked as he rode up in front of Jarrod.

“I need water,” Jarrod said but it was barely audible. “Please.”

“I bet you would like some wouldn’t you?” Hank asked also looking at Jarrod and holding up his canteen for Jarrod to see. “You look so weak and tired.”

“Hank,” Floyd replied smiling, “he don’t need no water. He needs a swift kick in the teeth.”

Floyd rode over close to Jarrod, reaching out with his booted foot, kicked him in the face under the chin. The jolt of the kick sent Jarrod falling backwards to the hard dry ground. He tried to shake off the black spots that threatened to overtake him just as Floyd dismounted walking over to him; Floyd lifted his head up by the hair. Looking into his eyes, Jarrod saw something that scared even him. He saw a hatred. The kind of hatred that told him these two men weren’t going to help him. He tried to get away from them but in his weakened condition he wasn’t able.

“You want help boy,” he said smiling. “I’ll give you help. You won’t have to worry about dying from thirst. You will die from the beating I’m going to give you. I’ve been looking for someone to beat up and you’ll serve the purpose very nicely.”

“No,” Jarrod replied trying to get away from him. “I just want to get out of here. Someone left me here two days ago. I don’t remember everything but I do remember getting hit on the head. Please could you spare just a drop of water?”

“Too bad,” he told Jarrod as he pulled back his fist and shot it right into Jarrod’s face.

Jarrod couldn’t feel the abuse he was forced to take after just a few blows. He was on the verge of passing out but Floyd wouldn’t stop. He was also so weak that he couldn’t even defend himself. It was as if the man took pride in seeing just how much punishment he could dish out. Luckily, for Jarrod, the abuse didn’t last too long. The two men became bored with him.

“Floyd,” Hank said as he watched his friend continuing to abuse Jarrod, “let’s go. This isn’t much fun and the boy isn’t going to last too much longer. We can ride into Virginia City and find a couple of girls to have some fun with.”

“All right,” Floyd replied as he punched Jarrod one last time.

Floyd mounted up and the two men rode off laughing as they went. Jarrod watched them ride away even though he felt blood running down his bruised face. He couldn’t stand up any longer because of the abuse he had suffered so be began to crawl. He couldn’t even get his knees up under him. So he tried to drag himself along to try to reach help. His head started to pound and he knew his time was short. Jarrod was burning up both inside with a high fever and out from a heat stroke. His face hurt from the attack. Finally, after trying to maneuver across the wide desert, he passed out in the blazing sunlight. The desert began to heat up as the day went on and Jarrod lay quietly in the sand. Would help reach him in time? Or was he going to spend eternity here until his bones were found.

Chapter Eleven

Adam arrived in Stockton the next morning and rented a horse for the solemn ride to the Barkley Ranch. He knew that the news he brought would not be pleasant but they had to be told. Adam knocked on the door and waited.

Tom opened the door and was shocked to see Adam standing on the other side.

“Adam,” he asked unsure of why Adam was here, “what are you doing here?”

“I have some rather disturbing news Tom,” he answered. “It’s about Jarrod.”

“Come in,” Tom said gesturing for Adam to come inside.

Adam walked into the foyer and stood there. He was as nervous as a cat.

“Do you want to sit down?” Tom asked pulling him out of his thoughts. “We were wondering how Jarrod was doing in San Francisco. We had thought about coming up to see him but we haven’t had much time as yet.”

Adam knew in his heart that the news he brought was going to upset them tremendously but he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t keep this news from them. If he didn’t tell them, someone else would.

“No,” he answered. “What I have to say best be said standing up.”

“All right,” Tom said as he waited for Adam to say his piece.

“Tom,” he replied looking at Jarrod’s father, “Jarrod is missing again. He went to Carson City to investigate a mysterious death and I haven’t heard a word. I’m afraid something has happened to him.”

Tom just looked at him. He couldn’t believe that this man was standing in his home telling him that his son was missing again. He just wasn’t prepared for this news. As he stood there, he became very, very angry.

“How could you let it happen again?” he asked angry. “I warned you the last time what I would do if anything happened to Jarrod.”

“It was my secretary Jarrod was trying to defend on the charge of murder,” he said trying to explain. “She was accused of murdering her boyfriend. I asked Jarrod to take her case and he reluctantly agreed. That’s why he went back to Carson City. To find out all he could about the murdered man.”

“I see,” Tom replied still very angry. “You got any idea where he is?”

“No,” he told Tom. “I suggest you start in Carson City and see what you can find.”

“Why haven’t you gone?” Tom asked still very upset. “You were his boss. It’s your responsibility.”

“I couldn’t leave Sandra,” he answered. “I need you to go look for Jarrod. And I’m not his boss any longer. We are equal partners.”

“You need me,” Tom said sarcastically. “I am going to look for my son and I’m going to bring him home. And one more thing. If that boy is hurt again or even dead, you will pay. I promise that. You will pay. I can’t believe it. Jarrod missing and presumed dead. How could this have happened again?”

“I understand,” he replied sympathizing with Tom. “I must get back to San Francisco. Tom, I’m sorry.”

Adam slipped out the door before Tom could say anything else. Tom stood in the middle of the foyer looking at the closed door. He was still very angry but he had to find Jarrod so he decided to throw a few things together and go to Carson City.

“Why!” he cried which brought both Victoria and Nick running.

“Tom,” she said as she stopped beside of him, “I thought I heard you yell.”

“I did,” he replied looking at her with anger still on his face. “That was Adam Howard at the door. Jarrod is missing. He went to Carson City and now he’s gone. I don’t believe this.”

“No!” she cried not wanting to believe her son had disappeared. “How?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” he told her. “Something to do with a murder trial.”

“Father,” Nick said looking at his father, “I bet we could find him. But where do we look?”

“Carson City,” he replied nodding. “The same city he ended up nearly dead in four months ago. The same city that wouldn’t help him then.”

“I don’t believe any of this,” she told them. “Why Jarrod?”

“All Adam said was that his secretary was accused of murder,” he said trying to remember the conversation. “And that Jarrod took the case. He went to Carson City to investigate the murder.”

“Tom,” she replied looking at him with an expression of shock but also with an expression of rage at whoever had taken her son, “you have to go after him. I’m afraid for his life. Someone has already tried once. What’s to stop them from trying again?”

“I know,” he told her nodding “Nick, you want to go?”

“You better know it,” Nick said looking at his father. “That’s my brother you are talking about. I want to find him and then I want to personally break every bone in Adam Howard’s body. How dare him send Jarrod off alone? What was he thinking? He should know by now that Carson City is a bitter pill for Jarrod to swallow.”

“I agree,” he replied as he looked at his wife and son. “We’ll leave now and we’ll take horses. Victoria, when we find him, we’ll send word. You wait until you hear from us. We may need you before this is all over.”

“Why horses Tom?” she asked not understanding his motives.

“Because I have a bad feeling about where he could be,” he answered.

“Where father?” Nick asked trying to figure out what his father was talking about.

“The one place where a body may never ever be found,” he answered. “The one place where a man can die a very horrible death all alone. A place that has become a graveyard for both man and horse.”

“Tom,” she said not catching on, “stop babbling. “What are you talking about?”

“Victoria,” he replied trying to soften his news, “I am afraid that Jarrod has been left in.”

“Where Tom?” she asked pleading. “Tell me.”

“The desert,” he answered letting that one word hang in the air around them.

“Tom,” she asked, “do you really think so?”

“Yes,” he answered. “I know that if you want to get rid of someone, just strand them in the desert and Mother Nature will take care of the rest.”

“Father,” Nick said looking at his father, “I want to find Jarrod. Let’s go.”

“All right,” he replied looking at his wife. “We’ll wire you as soon as we know something. So you be ready. And you might check with Doc Merrar. It’s just possible we may need his services if we can get to Jarrod before he...”

“I wish I could go with you,” she told him, kissing him. “You find Jarrod and bring him home. You make sure you find him no matter what condition. Even if he is dead.”

“I will,” he said walking over to pick up his hat and gun belt. “Try not to worry. We’ll bring Jarrod home.”

That being said, Tom and Nick headed for the desert and Jarrod.

Chapter Twelve

A Payute Indian brave, the son of Chief Bohanna, was heading back to his village from a long hunting trip and rode by Jarrod’s unconscious body. His name was Red Cloud and he would soon become chief of his people. As he rode across the barren land, he thought he saw something lying not too far away. He couldn’t make out what it was at this distance. So he decided to have a closer look. As he rode closer to the object, he realized it was the prone body of a man. He jumped from his horse and hurried over to the man. Red Cloud knew that he was badly hurt and rolled him over onto his back. He could see the damage that had been done to Jarrod’s face and he also knew that he suffered from dehydration and maybe some form of heat stroke. He felt Jarrod’s face and it was extremely hot to the touch. The first order of business was to ascertain whether the man was alive or dead. Red Cloud felt the man’s chest and realized that he was indeed alive. But he also knew that this man was suffering from exposure, dehydration, and some kind of beating from the looks of his face. Gently, easing Jarrod up to his feet, he helped him walk to a small rock formation that was nearby, which Jarrod had failed to see, where he could get Jarrod out of the direct sun. He had no idea who Jarrod was but he decided to find out as soon as the young man came to.

As he eased Jarrod down onto the soft sandy ground to lean up against a large rock, he brought his canteen of water to the injured man. Gently, lifting Jarrod’s head, he poured a few drops of water into his mouth. Jarrod felt the cool liquid as it landed on his very dry tongue. He opened his eyes trying to understand what was happening to him. He noticed Red Cloud and tried to get up.

“Easy,” Red Cloud said as he eased Jarrod back against the rock. “You are suffering from many things. I must get you back to our people so you can be healed by our medicine man. Your injuries are bad.”

“Who are you?” Jarrod asked but he was barely audible. “Are you from around here?”

“I am called Red Cloud,” he answered looking at the injured man. “I am Chief Bohanna’s son. What is your name? And why are you out here in the first place? The desert is no place to be unless you are prepared.”

“I’m Jarrod Barkley of Stockton,” Jarrod said trying to stay awake.

He was so tired and thirsty and the task of trying to talk was weakening him further. His eyes almost closed but he managed to hold them open.

“I know of a woman who comes to our village every year and brings medicine along with supplies,” he replied looking at the young man to see how bad he was hurt. “Her name is Barkley. She has been a big help to my people helping them when they are sick or dying. And she has helped me learn to speak your language.”

“My mother,” Jarrod told him just as he lost consciousness again.

Red Cloud knew he had to help this man. If he was the son of the white woman with medicine as Red Cloud called Victoria, then he would have to return the favor and keep her son alive or alive long enough to get him home.

“Rest,” he said as he helped Jarrod to lie down on a blanket he provided. “We make our journey as soon as you are ready.”

Red Cloud placed water on Jarrod’s very red face and kept him as quiet as possible so he could take him to his village. Only then would Jarrod be able to be healed by the medicine man. Or at least Red Cloud hoped he would. He did not look forward to having to tell his mother that her son was dead.

Chapter Thirteen

Tom and Nick had been riding for most of the day. They were hot and tired but they weren’t about to stop searching for Jarrod who they feared might already be dead.

“Father,” Nick asked as they rode looking for any clue that Jarrod was here and still alive, “do you really think we can find him?”

“I don’t know son,” he answered looking at his second son. “I only know that I have to try. I can’t leave him out here in this heat to die alone. I will take him home no matter what condition he is in.”

“You mean whether or not Jarrod is still alive,” Nick said nodding. “I just can’t imagine life without Jarrod around. He’s always been there for me and now suddenly there is a possibility that he won’t be. I just don’t want to believe it. It also makes me angry. Angry at Adam Howard and whoever left him out here.”

“Exactly,” he said looking at his son. “We need to keep a close eye on the area so we won’t overlook Jarrod especially if he is on the ground. I’m betting he is no longer on his feet. It’s been nearly three days that he’s probably been out here. Without water, he’s going to be mighty weak if he is still alive.”

“I hope we find him alive,” Nick replied trying not to get upset at the prospect of losing his oldest brother. “And I’m going to make Jarrod a promise. I’m going to hunt whoever is responsible for doing this and I’m going to take it out of their hide.”

“I understand how you feel,” he told his son. “But the first order of business is to find Jarrod.”

They continued to search. As they rode, Nick looked at his father.

“Why?” he asked trying to understand why someone would do this to Jarrod. “I don’t understand why they would do this.”

“I don’t know son,” Tom answered shaking his head also trying to understand what had prompted someone to leave his son in this searing desert. “Someone evidently wanted your brother dead. And Jarrod is the only one who can tell us if he is still alive. I’m beginning to doubt that he could have survived three days out here. The searing heat and no water. It doesn’t sound promising.”

“You have to be wrong,” he said trying to hold out faith that they would find Jarrod alive. “I know he is alive. Remember I can tell. After all didn’t Jarrod ride all night when I was trapped in that mine?”

“Yes,” Tom replied trying to convince Nick that the possibility of finding Jarrod alive was dwindling. “But for how long. Without water, no one will survive for very long. But I am trying to keep the thought that he might just beat those odds and still be alive.”

“Father,” he told him, “I promise I’m never going to argue with Jarrod again. I just want to tell him how proud I am of him and how much he means to me. I have to have him in my life.”

“You will,” Tom said looking at Nick. “At least I hope you will. I feel the same way. I have watched him grow up into a handsome young man with a bright future. And then all of a sudden within six months, Jarrod has been almost killed. It’s not easy for a father to see that, to know that his child is dead.”

“Father,” he replied trying to help his father deal with what had happened, “you were the best father to us all. I know Jarrod would agree.”

“I appreciate that son,” Tom told him. “That really means a lot.”

Tom knew how much Nick loved Jarrod and how much Jarrod cared about Nick. He didn’t want to think about the prospect of losing a child. He was so proud of his oldest son and everything he had accomplished. Now, for that to be taken away by someone who didn’t want Jarrod to tell whatever he knew. At least that’s what Tom guessed had caused Jarrod to be out here.

“Father,” Nick asked, is something wrong?”

“I was just thinking about the reason for Jarrod being out here,” he answered. “I bet Jarrod found out something and someone decided to keep him from telling what he knew.”

“Maybe they knew who he was and that’s why they didn’t kill him out right,” Nick said grasping at straws. “It is possible.”

“Yes,” he replied hoping himself that somehow Jarrod had survived. “I agree. But now we have to find him or at least find his body. I don’t want to think about my son being dead but it is a distinct possibility.”

“I know,” Nick told him looking at his father. “I can’t imagine life without him myself. He’s always been there.”

“Yes he has,” he said as he thought about Jarrod. “You know something.”

“What?” Nick asked wondering what his father was going to say.

“I remember right after Jarrod was born,” he answered, “I thought to myself what a rancher that boy would make but it wasn’t in the cards. He wanted nothing to do with it. However, he kind of changed after you were born.”

“What do you mean?” Nick asked very curious.

“I remember one day when Jarrod was around ten or so,” he answered, “he told me he had something he wanted me to know.”

“Father,” Jarrod said as he stood in front of Tom, “I want to tell you something.”

“All right son,” he replied looking at Jarrod. “Go ahead.”

“I want to know if I might be able to help Nick with the ranch when we grow up,” Jarrod told him.

“I sat there looking at him,” he said coming back to the present. “I guess I was shocked by his statement.”

“Are you sure about this Jarrod?” he asked. “I mean you’ve shown no interest in the ranch since the day you were born.”

“Father,” Jarrod answered. “I want to work with Nick and help him but I know I won’t be a rancher. Isn’t there something else I can do?”

“You know,” he said smiling, “I might know of something.”

“Really,” Jarrod replied getting excited. “What?”

“How would you like to be the financial advisor?” he asked.

“I’m not sure what that means,” Jarrod answered.

“It means that you would see to it that the expenses were handled properly,” he said. “Nick would do the actual work but you would make sure he didn’t over spend and things of that nature.”

“I like it,” Jarrod replied smiling. “Like partners.”

“Exactly,” he told his son. “And that’s what I’ve always wanted. My sons to work together and take care of the ranch after I’m gone.”

“You’ve got it father,” Jarrod said smiling very broadly. “Wait till I tell Nick.”

“I’m sure he’ll be just as happy,” he replied very happy inside.

“And that’s how you two became partners in the ranch,” he said as he came back to the present again. “I’ve always wanted that. And with Gene, it will be a three-way partnership.”

“Father,” Nick replied shaking his head, “you know that college boy won’t stay here to help us. He’d rather run off after a sick animal.”

“If your brother thinks he can help animals then we must encourage him to pursue what he wants to do in life. And if that means he has to leave the ranch, then so be it. But it will still be partly his as well as Audra’s.”

“I understand father,” Nick told him.

And they rode on although both of them now doubted that Jarrod was alive. But they had to find him no matter what.

Chapter Fourteen

Red Cloud continued to try to do as much as he could for Jarrod. But he knew that it wouldn’t be enough. Jarrod was still unconscious and he was near death. So Red Cloud made a difficult decision. He would make a litter and take Jarrod to his village. He found several good-sized sticks from where a tree had once stood. He used them for the framework. Next, he tied his blanket to them. And finally, he eased Jarrod onto the litter, tied it to his horse and began the task of taking the injured man to his village. As Red Cloud walked, he would periodically look back at Jarrod. He could see that Jarrod was still in very serious condition. He knew that Jarrod would probably be dead soon if he wasn’t able to get him help. And that would be a shame. He had come to respect the white woman when she came to his village every year. He did not look forward to seeing her knowing that he had been unable to save her son.

Tom and Nick were heading toward Red Cloud and Jarrod. They were getting very ancy as they kept searching. They knew the longer it took, the less likely they were of finding Jarrod alive. But they wouldn’t give up.

“Father,” Nick said looking at his father, “we’ve been out here for at least two days and nothing. We must have missed him somewhere.”

“It’s a mighty big desert,” he replied nodding. “He could be almost anywhere. But we must keep searching.”

“You’re right,” Nick told him.

“If we don’t find him by dark,” he said looking at the vast desert in front of him, “we’ll turn and go back.”

“Yes,” Nick replied nodding. “At least we haven’t given up. But the longer it takes, the less likely we are of finding him...”

Nick couldn’t get the word out. Tom knew exactly what he was going to say.

“I know son,” he said. “Believe me I know. And it’s tearing me up inside to know that.”

“Me too,” Nick replied.

They continued on but neither expected to find Jarrod alive after this many days out here without water.

Red Cloud stopped about dusk. He gave Jarrod some more water but he never opened his eyes. He could tell that Jarrod was weakening with time. He knew that time was growing short but he also knew he had to keep going. And he did. He knew the desert and could find his village in the dark. So he kept moving, being very careful not to jar Jarrod too much. Although he knew that it was going to be a miracle if he survived to reach the village at all.

“I will do all I can for you,” he said looking at Jarrod as they proceeded. “Your mother has been such a big help to my people. For me to let her son die is not going to happen. I want her to have her son back. You rest and we will be there soon.”

But he doubted Jarrod even heard him. He looked so weak but Red Cloud knew he had to try. He forced some more water into Jarrod’s mouth. But again no movement. He knew that Jarrod was dying. How would he explain it to his mother?

Tom and Nick saw something in the distance and stopped just about the time they were going to turn around and head back.

“Father,” Nick said pointing, “I see something. Although at night this desert can play tricks on your eyes. It looks like someone walking. Do you think it could be Jarrod?”

“I do too,” he replied looking straight ahead. “We need to be on our guard. There are hostile Indians around. I don’t really think Jarrod would be walking at this juncture.”

The two men drew their guns proceeding on with extreme caution. As they got closer, Tom realized it was a man. Nick saw that it was an Indian and then he saw the litter.

“He’s got Jarrod,” Nick said as he pointed his rifle at Red Cloud. “He’s going to kill Jarrod.”

“Hold it a minute son,” he replied recognizing Red Cloud. “That’s Chief Bohanna’s son, Red Cloud. He’s probably taking Jarrod to his village. Come on. He’s got Jarrod. Maybe he’s not dead.”

“Taking Jarrod to his village,” Nick told him. “I don’t understand. He’s going to kill Jarrod. That’s all Indians are good for. They kill innocent people and then scalp them.”

“No son,” he said pushing the rifle down. “Chief Bohanna is an old friend. And I’ve known Red Cloud since he was a boy. He’s trying to help Jarrod. He wouldn’t hurt Jarrod especially if he knows who he is.”

“Are you sure?” Nick asked looking at his father. “It could still be a trick.”

“No it’s no trick,” he answered. “I know in my heart that he is trying to help Jarrod.”

“All right,” Nick said but he was still leery of the Indian.

The two of them rode up to Red Cloud who had stopped, drawing his own rifle. He held it in his hands pointed at Tom and Nick. He didn’t know who was riding up to him. For all he knew, it could have been white men who were outlaws. They had been known to kill innocent Indians when they wanted to. He wasn’t going to take any chances.

“Who are you?” he asked as they rode up still holding the rifle on them. “What do you want? I am trying to take this man to my village. He needs help.”

“Red Cloud,” Tom answered stopping and raising his hands up, “I’m Tom Barkley. “That’s my son. Is he still alive? Where did you find him?”

“You are mate to white woman who brings medicine,” he said remembering. “I remember you. Been long time. Yes I see now. You are father to him.”

“Is Jarrod alive?” Nick asked looking over at his brother.

“This is Jarrod’s brother Nick,” Tom said looking at his oldest son. “We have been in the desert searching for him for three days. How in the world did you find him?”

“Yes,” he answered looking at Nick. “But he is very sick. I was taking him to my village so the medicine man could help him. Black River has many ways to heal sick.”

Tom jumped from his horse, hurrying over to his son. He kneeled down beside of Jarrod. As he looked at his son, he could tell that Jarrod had been in what looked like a fight. He was just relieved to find him alive.

“Son,” he said quietly, “I’m here. You’re going home.”

Jarrod’s eyes opened a slit and he tried to smile at Tom after he recognized Tom’s voice. But he was too weak.

“I’m here,” he said again taking one of Jarrod’s hands in his. “You are going to be all right.”

Nick was at Jarrod’s other side. As he looked down at his brother, rage was all he could feel. He knew that he shouldn’t let it overtake him but he couldn’t help it. Jarrod was lying there fighting to live. And he knew that whoever had left him here would pay for what they had done.

“Jarrod,” he said trying to smile, “I’m here too. We’re going to take you home.”

Jarrod barely nodded as he looked up at his brother and then closed his eyes. Tom just looked at him trying to keep from crying at the shape Jarrod was in.

“Your son will heal,” Red Cloud said as he watched. “But it will take time. I found him maybe ten miles back. He was unconscious then. He had been beaten and he was hot to the touch. I gave him small amount of water. I not want to hurt him. Decide best thing to do is take him to village. See if Black River can heal him.”

“We thank you for what you’ve done,” Tom replied looking up at the Indian. “You have at least saved Jarrod for the moment. But we need to get him to help. I need to wire his mother. She is worried sick about him. There is also a doctor ready to make the trip here from Stockton. But I don’t think he can stand the trip to Carson City. In his present condition, he’d most likely die en route.”

“Village close,” he told them trying to make them understand what he intended to do. “Medicine man cure.”

“I hope so,” Tom said nodding. “Let’s go. Nick and I will go with you. Now that I’ve found Jarrod, I’m not leaving him. He needs me. He needs his mother. He needs a doctor.”

“Father,” Nick replied looking at Tom, “I don’t like the idea of some crackpot Indian trying to help Jarrod. He’ll die. We don’t even know what he might give Jarrod. It could kill him. I can ride back to Carson City and send a wire to mother who can bring Doc Merrar to help Jarrod.”

“The medicine man is no crackpot,” Tom told him knowing from experience just how much medicine men did to cure afflictions. “He knows what will cure. He knows about the different herbs that have healing powers. Jarrod will never make it to Carson City and Red Cloud’s village is our only hope. I’m willing to take my chances with their medicine man.”

“I don’t know,” Nick said still not wanting to trust Jarrod to some Indian. “I still think I should get mother.”

“Son,” Tom replied, Jarrod is getting weaker by the minute. If he’s to have any chance, we have to get moving. Try to understand. I’m just as worried as you are. But Red Cloud’s people are good people and they will try to save his life. We have to allow them to try. It’s Jarrod’s only chance to survive.”

“All right,” Nick told him giving in and nodding. “I just hope they don’t kill him or make him suffer any more than he already has.”

“I’m sure they won’t,” he said mounting up.

The small party mounted up and rode toward Chief Bohanna’s village. Tom kept an eye on his son. Jarrod’s breathing was getting shallow and he knew that time was growing short.

“Nick,” he said as they rode, “I want you to go get your mother. Bring her to Chief Bohanna’s village. She will never forgive me if Jarrod dies and she is not present. Tell her that Jarrod is still alive but he is fading. I believe that if she is present, he might try to fight to survive. I’ll stay with Jarrod until you return.”

“Are you sure?” Nick asked not wanting to leave his father or his brother. “I don’t trust them. It will take a day maybe two to reach Carson City. Then another day for them to get here. That’s a long time for Jarrod with these Indians. They could kill him and you. And I wouldn’t know it.”

“I’m positive,” he answered looking at his son’s concerned face. “This is Jarrod’s only hope for survival. I’m not about to throw that away because you don’t trust Indians. Your mother and I both know Red Cloud and his people. They will do everything they can to save him. Please Nick. Let us do this. I know that your are worried but I promise he’ll be in good hands. Now go.”

“All right,” Nick said understanding what his father meant. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“If you’re not sure where the village is,” he replied looking at Nick, “your mother will. She’s made the trip every year.”

Nick nodded and rode away from them heading for town to wire his mother to meet them in Carson City. Tom and Red Cloud kept going toward the village. But it was slow going. Neither one of them wanted to jar Jarrod any more than was absolutely necessary.

Chapter Fifteen

When Tom and Red Cloud arrived at the village, Chief Bohanna was waiting on his son. He at first didn’t recognize Tom or Jarrod. He walked over to look down at Jarrod. Then he looked at his son.

“What has happened my son?” he asked as he saw Tom and Jarrod. “Why have you brought white men to our village. They have their own medicine men.”

“Father,” Red Cloud answered pointing to Tom, “you remember the white woman who brings the supplies and medicine to our village. This is her mate and son. He has been in desert for long time. And he is very sick. Too sick to take to white doctor. I think bring him here to medicine man. See if he can help. Die if help not found.”

“I see,” he said looking at Tom. “I did not recognize you my friend. Why son out in desert? He not know how bad desert be?”

“I’m not sure chief,” Tom replied shaking his head. “I think he found out something that someone didn’t want him to and they decided to get rid of him. He’s so weak and he looks like he’s been in some kind of fight. I haven’t been able to question him about the events that took place prior to him being left out here. I’m just happy that your son found him.”

“Put him in tent,” he told them pointing to one of the closer ones. “I bring medicine man.”

Tom eased Jarrod up into his arms. Jarrod was so limp. And he feared that even the medicine man couldn’t help him now but he held on to the thought that Jarrod would somehow overcome this and get better. He carried him into the tent, laying him on some skins on the floor. He covered him up as well. He looked down at his son’s face, devoid of color and he could hear Jarrod’s labored breathing. He prayed that the medicine man could somehow save his son. Jarrod was still hot to the touch so Tom knew he had a fever inside and probably a heat stroke.

“Father,” Jarrod said very weakly barely opening his eyes to Tom’s surprise.

“I’m right here son,” he replied looking at his son. “You need to rest. You have been out here in the desert for at least three days.”

“I hurt,” Jarrod told him.

“I don’t doubt that,” he said nodding. “Were you in some kind of fight?”

“Yes,” Jarrod replied trying to stay conscious. “I was attacked by two riders I thought would help me. When I asked for water, they beat me till my head began to pound again. I tried to make it...”

Jarrod passed out again. Tom looked down at Jarrod knowing the he was in worse shape then he had imagined. Tom was finding it hard to contain his anger at what had been done to his son. But he knew he had to be strong for Jarrod. There would be time enough to get those responsible for hurting Jarrod but for now he needed to concentrate on helping his son to heal.

An older man walked into the tent a short time later. He carried a pouch with him and he wore a band around his head that signified that he was the medicine man. He was taller than Tom and very thin. As he approached Jarrod, Tom could see that the man knew what he was doing. But Tom still had the feeling that Jarrod needed a regular doctor or he would die. Somehow, what Nick had said before he left stayed with Tom. And he had agreed to bring Jarrod here.

“Sun has power to heal or hurt,” he said as he looked at Jarrod. “This brave hurt by sun. I will now call on the Great Spirit to help me heal this brave.”

He sat down beside of Jarrod and to Tom went into some kind of trance. He began to chant something Tom couldn’t recognize. Tom looked at Red Cloud who had accompanied the medicine man.

“Black River is communing with the Great Spirit,” he said to Tom as he noticed that Tom was confused by what Black River was doing. “Only this way will he be able to help son. He will call on the Great Spirit to guide him to heal son. It take time but son must be strong.”

“I don’t understand,” Tom replied completely baffled. “Is he going to help Jarrod or hurt him more? I was wrong to bring my son here. I know that now. I need to take him to someone who can help him.”

“He will help,” he told Tom trying to convince him. “Take time. He will make medicine to heal. Son must drink. Be here long time as heals.”

As Black River continued to sit beside of Jarrod chanting, Tom noticed that he was mixing different herbs from his small pouch in a small cooking pot over a small fire. Tom hadn’t even noticed that Black River had even started a fire. This was amazing but would it help Jarrod? Tom doubted that. He really thought it might kill his son. He realized that he was thinking the same thing as Nick had voice earlier. He had to have faith that somehow Jarrod could be saved. Black River poured some of mixture into a small cup. Reaching over to Jarrod, he lifted his head forcing him to drink. At first, Jarrod tried to stop him but in his weakened condition he wasn’t able so he ended up drinking the mixture. He made a face as he swallowed it. But then he passed out again. Tom started toward him but Red Cloud stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“What is he giving Jarrod?” Tom asked very concerned as he turned toward the younger Indian.

“He has spoken to the Great Spirit,” he answered trying to explain. “And he now will give son healing medicine. He must get great fire to leave son’s body. When that done, son have chance.”

“That would be Jarrod’s fever,” Tom said understanding. “He has a multitude of injuries. Frankly, I’m amazed that Jarrod is still alive.”

“Yes,” he replied looking at Jarrod. “He will use all his tools to try to save son’s life. Be patient. Take much time. Son very sick. Must continue to ask help from Great Spirit.”

Tom nodded continuing to watch.

Nick had rode most of the night but he had finally made it to Carson City by early the next morning. He hurried into the telegraph office.

“You look like you’ve rode all night,” the telegraph officer said looking up. “Can I help you with something?”

“I need to send a wire to Stockton, California,” he replied stopping at the counter. “To Victoria Barkley. Barkley Ranch in Stockton. Mother, come at once. We found Jarrod. Bring doc. Hurt bad. Nick.”

“I’ll send it right away,” the man told him. “Is that your brother?”

“Yes,” he said as he paid the man. “He’s been stranded in the desert for the past three days. He’s alive but barely. He’s at the Indian village.”

“Why there?” the man replied looking worried. “They will more than likely kill him.”

“What was I supposed to do?” he asked. “I wanted to bring him here but he was too weak. I know my mother will bring our doctor here. I just hope Jarrod is still alive when they get here.”

Nick left the telegraph office.

“I promise that if Jarrod dies, that Indian village will also pay. ”

Nick knew he had to wait for his mother to arrive which would take at least a day if not more. But he didn’t like the idea of leaving Jarrod in some Indian village with some crazy man who might kill him rather than save him.

“Don’t worry Jarrod,” he said as he took a room at the hotel for the night, “I’ll get revenge for you. I swear.”

Nick couldn’t rest. All he could see in his mind was the form of Jarrod lying on that blanket. He knew that Jarrod was very sick. And the thought of a total stranger let alone an Indian trying to heal him didn’t set well with Nick.

Chapter Sixteen

Black River looked up at Tom. He shook his head.

“Give brave medicine,” he said as he handed the cup to Tom. “Every time hear wolf cry. Make brave better with time. I talk to Great Spirit. See if any more medicine needed.”

Tom took the cup and nodded at the older man. He sat down beside of Jarrod. Then he looked up at Red Cloud.

“How often?” he asked not completely understanding. “I didn’t understand about the wolf cry. Do you know anything about hours?”

“It would be like two of your hours,” Red Cloud answered understanding Tom’s apprehension. “Medicine made of healing herbs. Help son. Black River continue to work hard to save son. Like I say before, take long time. Son very sick.”

“I hope so,” he said as he turned his attention to Jarrod. “I’m just very worried. I’m afraid he won’t survive and that really scares me.”

“You rest also,” Red Cloud replied getting ready to leave the tent. “Must be strong for son.”

“I will,” he told the Indian.

Red Cloud left the tent and Tom stayed beside of his son giving him the herbal mixture every two hours. But so far there had not been any change. Jarrod was still unconscious and he was still very weak but he tried to hold out hope that Jarrod might survive.

Nick continued to wait at the hotel. He was as jumpy as a frog with the hiccups. He prayed as he met every train that arrived from California that his mother and the doctor would be on it. But so far he hadn’t had any luck. When the latest train arrived from California the next day, Nick watched the people leaving the train. He spotted his mother and Doc Merrar. He hurried to them.

“Nick,” she asked as he reached her, “how is Jarrod? Is he still alive? Where is he?”

“I don’t know,” he answered shaking his head. “He is not in town.”

“Where is he?” she asked very concerned. “I don’t understand what is going on. When I received the telegram, you said that he was hurt. I just assumed that he was in Carson City under a doctor’s care. Now you tell me he’s not even in town. Just where is he?”

“Jarrod is at the Payute Indian village,” he answered trying to explain. “Being treated by some crazy Indian. We found him with a brave named Red Cloud in the desert. He was taking Jarrod to his village in hopes of making him well. But Jarrod didn’t look good to me.”

“Chief Bohanna’s son,” she said as she recognized where Nick was talking about. “They are good people Nick. They will do everything to help Jarrod.”

“Yes,” he replied looking at her realizing she felt the same way as Tom did. “Father said that Jarrod was in good hands. I don’t agree. I think these people will end up killing him. I want to get back to him as soon as possible.”

“It’s all right,” she told him trying to ease his fears. “I go to that village every year with medicine and supplies. You should remember that. Chief Bohanna will go out of his way to try to cure Jarrod once he finds out who Jarrod is. It’s his way of thanking me for all of my help. Try not to worry.”

“I guess I forgot,” he said looking at her. “I just want the doc to see Jarrod. I don’t trust them.”

“Nick,” the doctor asked changing the subject, “is it the medicine man?”

“Yeah,” he answered turning his attention to the doctor. “I don’t trust him. He could end up killing Jarrod with mumbo jumbo.”

“How bad is Jarrod?” she asked trying to ascertain exactly what Jarrod’s condition was. “Just what happened to him in the desert?”

“He was beaten up while he was in the desert,” he answered trying to remember what he had seen. “”He was hot to the touch as well as hot inside, he complained of a bad headache. I’m sure there was more wrong with him but Jarrod passed out and I haven’t been back. Father told me to stay until you arrived. He said they would be all right.”

“That sounds like a serious concussion,” the doctor said as he listened to Nick’s explanation of Jarrod’s condition, “a fever, dehydration and maybe some kind of heat stroke. Nick, how far is it to this village?”

“About a half day’s ride,” he replied looking at the doctor. “I can take you if you want to leave now. Or at least mother knows exactly where it is.”

“I do,” the doctor told him. “Jarrod is going to need antibiotics and fluids to survive. I will need to see what else is wrong with him.”

“Doc,” he asked hoping for a positive answer, “can you save him? I mean, do you think he will live or die?”

“I don’t know,” The doctor answered looking at Nick. “Not until I have examined him. Once I do that, I can tell just how much damage there is to him.”

Nick nodded and they left the train station heading for the livery stable to get horses to take them to Jarrod.

“Mother,” he asked as they headed for the livery, “do you want to take a buggy?”

“No,” she answered realizing just how slow a buggy would be. “I want to reach Jarrod as soon as possible. I want to be with him no matter what happens.”

“Agreed,” he said as they got horses and headed off toward the Payute village.

Tom continued to give Jarrod the liquid that smelled terrible and probably tasted even worse. Jarrod had not regained consciousness since he had several hours ago and that had Tom worried as well. He prayed that Victoria and the doctor would arrive soon. Or they may just be burying Jarrod.

Chapter Seventeen

Tom heard horses and knew his wife had arrived. Standing up from where he had been sitting beside of Jarrod, Tom headed out of the tent. Once he emerged, he saw his wife and son along with the doctor. Tom released a sigh of relief as he walked up to them.

“Tom,” she asked as she rushed to him, “is he still...”

“Yes,” he answered taking her in his arms to comfort her. “I’ve been giving him something the medicine man had mixed up. It smells terrible. Doc, I’m glad you’re here. Maybe you can help him more. I’m not sure this stuff is really helping him.”

“I would like to see Jarrod,” the doctor said looking at Tom.

He’s in here,” he replied walking to the tent.

When they went inside, Victoria could see her son lying on a bed of skins. She rushed to his side. The doctor also went to Jarrod to examine him.

“Doc,” he said holding out the cup of liquid, “this is what I’ve been giving Jarrod. Red Cloud said it was some different herbs used for healing. I have my doubts.”

The doctor took the cup examining the contents.

“This is an herbal remedy and I believe it will help with his fever but as for his concussion, time will heal that.” the doctor said still examining him. “He has some bruises and abrasions but those will also heal in time.”

“Is he going to make it?” she asked looking at the doctor. “I mean he is so weak and with all his injuries does he have a chance?”

“I believe so,” the doctor answered finally looking up. “I’m going to stay with him to make sure. Did Red Cloud say anything about the length of Jarrod’s stay here?”

“He said it would take a long time,” he said looking at the doctor. “He say desert hurt Jarrod. I know what hurt him and it walked on two feet. Let me tell you if I find those responsible, they may not have all their body parts when I’m finished with them.”

“Tom,” the doctor replied still looking at Jarrod, “you’re not giving this medicine man much credit. If it hadn’t been for Red Cloud and the medicine man you would now be burying him rather than knowing that he has a good chance for survival.”

“I’m very relieved doctor,” she said looking at her son. “Can I try talking to him? I want to let him know that I’m here with him.”

“Certainly,” the doctor remarked as he pulled out a few items from his medical bag. “I think he needs to know that you are all here with him urging him to get well.”

“So am I,” he replied as he looked at Jarrod again. “I feel better with you here. It’s not that I don’t trust Black River. I just trust you more. I don’t completely understand what he’s doing to Jarrod.”

“Most of the medicine men I have had any dealings with are very sincere in trying to help whoever is ill,” the doctor told them. “They know of all the herbs that can aid in healing the patient. He hasn’t hurt Jarrod. In fact, Jarrod may get better sooner than if he had been in my office.”

“I hope so,” he said trying to smile. Because I don’t know what I’ll do if he dies.”

Victoria sat down beside of Jarrod, taking his hand in hers. She looked at her son and her heart went out to him.

“Honey,” she said looking at him, “you’re going to be all right. I know you are. You are a strong young man. You just rest.”

Jarrod’s eyes slowly opened and he looked up to see his mother.

“Mother,” he said but it was just a whisper, “father told me you were coming. I’m glad you’re here. You could always make it easier for me when I was sick.”

“How do you feel?” she asked hoping that he didn’t hurt any longer.

“Weak,” he answered. “I still have a headache.”

“You will have,” the doctor said as he came into view. “Jarrod, you have a serious concussion. You will have to stay quiet to let your head heal. And I mean quiet. You also need to drink liquids. In time, this will all be a bad dream.”

“I understand,” he replied nodding but stopping when his head threatened to explode. “Where is Red Cloud? I owe him my life. He found me and kept me alive. I really thought I was a dead man after those two men beat me up. But then he arrived.”

“He’s with his father,” Tom told him smiling. “We’re lucky he came along when he did. I shudder to think what might have happened if he hadn’t.”

“I might have met up with more like those two that beat me up for fun,” he said remembering what they had done to him. “All I wanted was a little water. My mouth was so dry. But all they wanted was to see just how much abuse I could take.”

“How many were there?” Tom asked trying to learn what he could. “If you can describe them, it might lead to their capture.”

Two of them,” he answered thinking back. “And when I was brought out here I believe there was two also. I saw one of the men very clearly but the other one was behind me and that’s when he hit me.”

“Exactly what happened Jarrod,” Tom said wanting to know whether Jarrod knew who had stranded him out here.

“I went to see a man in Carson City that Sandra had told me her boyfriend worked for,” he replied trying to remember. “His name was Henry Radcliff. He supposedly sold books but from the expensive office he had and the missing item in the crate, I believe he was involved in counterfeiting. I can’t be positive but when I mentioned that to Radcliff, he appeared to be very nervous.”

“I’ll take care of having him arrested when we get to town,” Tom told him but that might pose a small problem. “He’s going to spend a long time behind bars if we can convict him.”

“Father,” he said trying to stay awake, “I’ll have him arrested. I believe that he is the one that had Paul Davis murdered framing Sandra in the process. I have to get her out of jail. And I need to get back to San Francisco as soon as possible. Her inquest is scheduled for Monday. What do you mean you don’t know whether he’ll be arrested.”

“Son,” he remarked, “Henry Radcliff is a very wealthy man. I don’t know whether he owns the law or the judge. If you’re not careful, this whole thing could blow up in our faces.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to make it,” the doctor replied looking at his patient and changing the subject. “As I told you earlier, you have a serious concussion, a fever, sun stroke, bruises and abrasions along with that exposure. You’re going to be flat of your back for the next week at least.”

“I can’t,” he told the doctor trying to sit up. “I have to get back. I have to defend Sandra.”

Tom eased Jarrod back onto his bed. He knew that Jarrod wanted to do this himself but he wasn’t physically able.

“Son,” Tom said as he looked at Jarrod, “you listen to the doctor. He knows what’s best.”

“Yes sir,” he replied but he wasn’t happy. “Would someone wire Adam to let him know so he can make arrangements to delay the inquest until I can get there? Or hire another lawyer if he chooses.”

“Sure we will,” Tom told him nodding. “In fact, Nick will go right now.”

“That’s right,” Nick said walking closer so Jarrod could see him. “I’ll send that wire and you listen to the doctor. There is a lot of work waiting at the ranch for both of us plus your job with Adam.”

“All right,” he replied smiling letting his tired eyes close.

Nick left the tent heading for Carson City.

Chapter Eighteen

Over the next several days, Jarrod began to heal. He was still weak but the fever finally came down and the headache slowly passed. Jarrod was now able to sit up but the doctor had forbid him to get up and walk until he could regain some of his strength. Black River had left the rest of Jarrod’s recovery with Dr. Merrar. He had to return to the desert to commune with the Great Spirit as he did very often. But he was happy that Jarrod was getting better.

“You’ve come a long way Jarrod,” the doctor said as he examined Jarrod again. “But you’re not well as of yet. So I don’t want you trying to do too much until you are stronger. If you continue to improve, you’ll be able to head for home in a few days.”

“Doc,” he replied trying to make them understand how he felt, “I need to get back for Sandra. Her inquest is day after tomorrow. She is going to be convicted if I don’t find some way of proving her innocent. Radcliff is that way. He had her boyfriend killed and then framed her. He had me disposed of so I wouldn’t ruin what he had going. I need to do all this now before he leaves town.”

“Son,” the doctor told him, “I don’t want to have to sedate you. But I will if you don’t listen to me. You are still much too weak to take on anything other than regaining your strength. I understand how you feel but if I allow you to go back and you have a relapse, you could be out of work indefinitely. So either way she is not going to have a lawyer that is capable of defending her. I want you to wait at least several more days before you ask me again. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir,” he said but he wasn’t happy.

“Jarrod,” Nick replied as he walked closer to Jarrod, “I sent that wire a few days ago. I’m sure Adam has made other arrangements by now. He probably got a continuance or something.”

“I hope so,” he told them. “Otherwise that very nice lady will end up in prison for the rest of her life for a crime she didn’t commit. Why did I have to end up figuring out what was going on? If I had only kept my mouth shut, I wouldn’t have ended up in that desert. I told Radcliff that I thought Paul Davis was mixed up in counterfeiting. I didn’t think about it at the time but I believe I noticed a slight change in his expression. He knew that I knew about his secret. And he had to get rid of me. I just wish I could have saved Sandra’s life. ”

“It will all have to wait,” the doctor said smiling. “I don’t want to repeat myself again.”

“I understand,” he replied nodding. “I’ll wait but I’m not happy.”

“Son,” Tom told him, “you are going to be able to clear all of this up when you get well. But in the meantime I want you to do exactly what the doctor tells you. We came very close to loosing you. Do you realize that?”

“Yes sir,” he said looking at Tom. “I’m sorry I didn’t handle the situation better.”

“You handled it as well as you could,” she replied. “But he made the decision to have you taken to the desert and left. He didn’t want to kill you himself.”

“Your mother is right,” Tom told him. “I probably would have done the same thing if I had been in his boots.”

“Tom,” she said looking at him, “I hope you wouldn’t do anything like that to anyone.”

“I didn’t mean that I would,” he replied trying to explain. “I only meant that if I were Radcliff, I would have handled it in the same manner.”

“Father,” he told him, “I really believe that I can get her freed. But I need to confront Radcliff. If he knows he’s no longer safe, then maybe he will make a mistake and I can have him arrested. Although I’m pretty sure he didn’t really kill Davis. He probably had men who worked for him to do the actual killing. I’m willing to bet that the same men knocked me out and deposited me in the desert. If I could find them, maybe they would agree to testify against him.”

“It will have to wait Jarrod,” the doctor said looking at him with a stern expression. “As I told you, you are far too weak to try anything yet. In a few days I feel that you will be able to do what needs doing. Until then, rest.”

“Yes sir,” he replied nodding at the doctor. “I’ll try.”

“Honey,” she told him smiling, “you better get some rest. Chief Bohanna said that you could stay here as long as you needed to.”

“He’s a very nice man mother,” he said looking at her. “I am most thankful to him, his son and Black River. I owe Red Cloud my life and I intend to pay him back someday.”

“You will,” she replied. “For now sleep.”

Jarrod nodded letting his tired eyes close.

“He is a stubborn boy,” Tom said looking at his son. “You just about have to threaten him to get him to listen.”

“And where does he get that from?” she asked already knowing the answer.

“You don’t mean me I hope,” he answered. “I’m not that stubborn.”

“Oh no,” she said looking at him. “What about the time you broke your hand while trying to break that horse?”

“I was mad then,” he replied trying to explain. “I had to prove it to the horse.”

“How did you break your hand father?” Nick asked very curious.

“It happened when Jarrod was a young boy,” she answered remembering that day very well. Your father had recently bought a new horse that wasn’t completely broken. Instead of letting one of the hands try breaking it, Tom decided to do it himself.”

“Webster,” he said as he walked up to the corral, “I want a chance at that horse.”

“But boss, “Charlie Webster replied looking at Tom, “this horse is a rough one. He’s already thrown two riders. What makes you think you can break him?”

“Because I know horse flesh,” he told him. “Now saddle him.”

“Yes sir,” Webster said saddling Dynamite.

“So your father climbed up on the horse and tried to break him,” she said coming back to the present. The only problem was that the horse was just as stubborn as he was. It wouldn’t yield to him and ended up throwing him. That didn’t hurt Tom but then the horse became very agitated and stomped on his left hand. The doctor said that it was broken in several places. And he didn’t listen to the doctor either.”

“Doc,” he said as he sat on the couch in the study, “I don’t need any medicine for my hand. I can handle the pain.”

“I don’t think you realize that your hand is broken in three places,” the doctor replied looking at Tom. “It’s going to hurt like the blazes in a short time. I wanted to give you something now to help you deal with that pain.”

“I’ve had pain before,” he told him sticking to his guns.

“All right,” the doctor said shaking his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“A couple of hours later your father was working in the study when I heard him say a few choice words,” she said as she continued to tell the story. “I went in there to see if there was anything I could do to help. Your father was pacing the room holding his broken hand in the other one. I knew that the pain was unbearable for him. But I didn’t say anything.”

“I said it first,” Tom replied picking up on the story.

“Victoria,” he said as he looked at her, “I think I could use that medicine now.”

“What’s the matter Tom?” she asked shaking her head. “Can’t the great Tom Barkley handle a little pain?”

“Who said anything about it being little?” he wanted to know. “My hand feels like it’s going to blow up. I admit I was wrong. I need something to make it easier to handle the pain.”

“You had an opportunity to get some pain medicine,” she answered “but you said you could handle it.”

“I was wrong,” he said trying to talk over the searing pain in his hand. “I admit it. Please.”

“All right,” she replied smiling. “I just wanted to make you admit it.”

“I know,” he told her nodding. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” she said.

“Did the doctor give you anything?” Nick asked Tom.

“Yes,” Tom answered smiling at his son. “I had to practically beg him but he did. My hand healed and your mother has never let me forget it.”

“I wanted to prove a point to Jarrod,” she said looking over at her oldest son. “He has his father’s stubbornness.”

“I guess you’re right,” Tom replied also looking at Jarrod. “I know Nick does.”

“I’m proud of it too,” Nick told them smiling. “It really comes in handy for me.”

“Sometimes you need it but sometimes you don’t,” she said. “And right now your brother doesn’t need it. He needs to listen and do what the doctor said.”

“Don’t worry mother,” Nick replied smiling. “He’ll listen eventually.”

After receiving a telegram from Nick explaining that Jarrod would be unable to make it back to San Francisco by the date of the scheduled inquest, Adam had gone to see Judge Rhyne in his chambers trying to get a continuance to give Jarrod time to heal.

“Judge,” he said as he tried to explain why Jarrod was not going to be in court, “I want you to hold off on the inquest. Sandra’s lawyer is indisposed at the moment. He won’t be available to defend her for at least a week.”

“I see,” the judge replied looking at Adam. “All right. I’ll give you one more week. If her attorney is not present, an attorney will be appointed for her.”

“Thank you,” he told the older man. “Jarrod will be back by then I’m sure.”

“Jarrod?” the judge asked recognizing the first name. “Would his last name by any chance be Barkley?”

“Yes your honor,” he answered wondering how the judge knew Jarrod. “His father is Tom Barkley of Stockton. Why? Is there a problem?”

“No,” the judge said smiling. “I know Tom and I had met Jarrod many years ago when he was probably about ten years old. Bright boy. I always figured he’d go some other route than ranching. Didn’t appear to me to be interested in ranch work. It seemed to me that he always had his nose stuck in a book.”

“Yes he is,” he replied smiling. “He is working for me and when my secretary was arrested for the murder of her boyfriend, I knew I had to have him defend her.”

“I don’t blame you,” the judge told him understanding. “I wonder if he has any of the ambitions that his father does. He would make a good governor. Tom has a way with people and I wonder if that rubbed off on young Barkley.”

“I don’t know,” he said trying to remember. “All I know is that I want that boy to succeed. I thought having him work for me for six months would be better than having him clerk in a large attorney’s office. Jarrod is cut out for law. I’ve known it since the first day I ever saw him. You don’t have to win me over. I’m already sold.”

“Just exactly where is he?” the judge asked sensing something in the way Adam spoke about Jarrod. “Has something happened that I should be aware of?”

“Well,” he answered, “Jarrod went to Carson City to see the employer of Paul Davis. He’s a man named Radcliff. I’m not sure exactly what happened but after Jarrod met with this man, he was abducted and stranded in the desert. I believe that he must have tipped his hand to Radcliff and that’s why the man had to get rid of him. I’m sure that the name Barkley kept Jarrod from being killed right then. No one wants to kill a Barkley. They are too well known and respected.”

“Is he all right?” the judge asked concerned about Jarrod. “How long will he be gone?”

“He’s at the Payute Indian village being treated for dehydration, a concussion and a fever,” he answered trying to explain what he knew. “The doctor won’t let him up for several days. But he assured me that Jarrod would be fine. Nick told me in the wire that Jarrod was going after the man he felt was responsible for the murder.”

“I see,” the judge said thinking. “If Jarrod is right about Henry Radcliff, it will ruin the reputation of a man who is very respected in the state of Nevada. I hope young Mr. Barkley can produce the proof. People in Nevada feel the same way about Henry Radcliff that the people of California feel about Tom Barkley. I hate to hear that Henry has gone the illegal route. He sure has a business head and could have done very well for himself it he hadn’t gotten mixed up in counterfeiting.”

“He can,” he replied coming to Jarrod’s defense. “He knows who is behind it all and all he has to do is make them tell him what he needs to know. And if Radcliff won’t admit his part, it’s possible the two men who did the actual killing will talk. If Jarrod gets their testimony, Sandra will be freed.”

“I’ll tell the district attorney,” the judge told him standing up. “If Jarrod is not here in one week, the case will be turned over to another attorney. Is that clear Adam?”

“Yes sir,” he said leaving the judge’s chambers and feeling relieved that he had bought Jarrod some more time.

Adam sent a wire to Jarrod in Carson City to inform him that he had one more week. If he couldn’t make it to court, another attorney would be appointed to defend Sandra. And he doubted that any other attorney would even take the case. And even if one did, he felt that the way the case had already gone, the lawyer would probably make her plead guilty to a lesser charge. Which means she would still have to spend time in prison. Adam didn’t think Sandra was capable of surviving in prison. She was too naive. All he could do was wait and try to keep Sandra’s spirits up.

“Mr. Howard,” she said as she sat in the visiting room of the police station, “what do you mean Jarrod has been delayed? I thought everything had been taken care of. He promised me he would get me released. Now you tell me that he won’t even be here for the inquest. What exactly is going on?”

“There was a slight problem and Jarrod has been detained in Carson City,” he replied trying to cheer her up. “Don’t worry. He’ll get everything straightened out.”

“What kind of problem?” she asked worried. “He’s my only hope.”

“He knows who is behind the murder,” he answered smiling. “And once he has him arrested, your case will be dismissed.”

“Why can’t he come back?” she asked trying to figure out what was going on. “I want to know the reason. I have a right.”

“Sandra,” he answered looking into her face, “Jarrod has been injured.”

“Oh no!” she cried not wanting to believe her. “How bad?”

“He was stranded in the desert for several days,” he said as calmly as he could. “He has been found but he ended up with a concussion, and a fever.”

“Who found him?” she asked.

“An Indian brave,” he answered. “Jarrod is still under a doctor’s care and until he is released there’s nothing we can do but wait.”

“Why was he left in the desert?” she asked wanting to know everything.

“All right,” he answered trying to fill her in and not leave anything out. “Jarrod went to see a man named Henry Radcliff.”

“Yes,” she said remembering Paul mentioning that name. “Paul told me that Mr. Radcliff was his boss.”

“Jarrod told him that he believed that Paul was murdered by someone other than you,” he replied continuing with the story. “He casually mentioned that the missing item from the crate could have been a printing press used in making counterfeit money. Radcliff became very upset after Jarrod left. So he had a couple of his men get rid of Jarrod by stranding him in the desert. A young Indian brave found him and took him to his village where his medicine man was able to help him begin to heal. There is a doctor now with him and he thinks Jarrod will be up and around in a few more days. So the judge has set a week from today for the inquest. If Jarrod doesn’t make it back, another attorney will be appointed to represent you.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” she told him. “I want Jarrod.”

“Will you stop making yourself upset?” he said trying to keep her calm. “He’ll be back by then and he’ll have the proof to have the charges against you dismissed.”

“I understand,” she said. “I hope he gets well soon.”

“So do I,” he replied smiling.

Chapter Nineteen

When Jarrod was told about what the judge had said, he was relieved.

“I wanted to try this case,” he said looking at his family. “I need to know whether I am worthy of being called a counselor at law. It’s hard when you’ve never been in court except in classroom exercises. I need to know if I can read a juror’s expressions to see what he is thinking or a witness to see if they are telling the truth. How am I going to get that experience if I don’t get a case?”

“You are son,” Tom replied smiling. “If you weren’t, Adam Howard would never have hired you. He thinks you have what it takes to make a fine lawyer. And for that matter so do I.”

“I believe it also,” his mother said smiling. “You have a bright future ahead of you.”

“True,” he told his father and his mother. “I need to figure out how to get Radcliff.”

“Honey,” she said trying to keep him focused on getting well first, “you need to wait until you are better.”

“I am better!” he cried wanting to get up and get this murder case solved.

“Jarrod,” Tom said looking at his son with an expression of anger, “I don’t want to hear you raise your voice to your mother. I don’t care if you are sick or not.”

“Yes sir,” he replied looking over at his mother. “I’m sorry. I only have a week. I want to get the man responsible for murdering Davis and almost killing me.”

“Son,” Tom told him, “you need to tell the sheriff of Carson City everything that you know. Then he can take Radcliff into custody.”

“Father,” he said shaking his head, “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Tom asked not understanding. “It’s clearly a case of Radcliff hiring someone to kill that man and strand you.”

“Henry Radcliff is a very powerful man in this state,” he answered. “I may not be able to convince the sheriff to arrest him. He’s kind of like you are in the state of California.”

“Why not?” she asked not understanding.

“Because he could have the law in his pocket so to speak,” he answered nodding. “I’m not sure of anything at this point. But I also can’t rule out anything. I have to be very careful trying to get my proof.”

“So you think this Radcliff hired someone to go to San Francisco to kill Paul Davis and then frame Adam’s secretary for the crime?” Tom asked trying to see it from Jarrod’s point of view.

“Yes sir,” he answered wanting to explain his suspicions to them. “I also know that the two men that took me to the desert are probably the ones who did the actual killing. I just have to prove it all.”

“Jarrod,” Red Cloud said after listening to what his family had said, “I may be able to help you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked looking at the young brave.

“I was in town last week,” Red Cloud answered trying to explain what he knew. “I hear man called Radcliff tell two men to take care of problem they have. He say that problem is Paul Davis. He say get greedy.”

“You heard this Red Cloud?” he asked perking up. “If that is true then Davis was a liability to them and had to be eliminated. I believe that after Sandra ran from the room that Paul Davis got up. I don’t believe the wound in his stomach was that bad. He got up; tried to treat the wound, put on a fresh shirt and someone paid him a visit. They might have gotten into an argument over money and Davis was killed. Then the next stage of the plan went into place. They decided to frame Sandra by making it look like she had killed Paul. Now all I have to do is prove it.”

“Yes,” Red Cloud answered. “But not help you. I no testify. Town no like Red Cloud. No trust.”

“We’ll just see about that,” he said smiling. “Do you know whether or not anyone else heard that?”

Red Cloud thought about the question. Then he remembered.

“Yes,” he said remembering that day. “Hotel man hear.”

“The clerk?” Jarrod asked thinking back to what the clerk had told him.

“Yes,” he answered.

“That’s great,” Jarrod said getting excited at the prospect of clearing Sandra. “I had a talk with him before I saw Radcliff and he seemed to think there was more to all this then met the eye. He’s my witness and then Sandra will be freed.”

“Good,” he replied smiling. “Jarrod good man.”

“Thanks Red Cloud,” Jarrod told him smiling. “If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be here now.”

“Only doing what need to be done,” he said trying to wave off what he did for Jarrod.

“I want to do something to help you,” Jarrod replied looking at the young brave.

“If my people get in trouble,” he told him, “you get out.”

“Sure I will,” Jarrod said smiling. “Thanks for everything.”

“You welcome,” he replied smiling.

“Barkley family,” Chief Bohanna told them before they left, “you take care. I want young brave to work hard. If Red Cloud could speak, he would say truth.”

“I know that sir,” Jarrod said looking at the older man. “I think I’ll be able to clear all this up once I get back to Carson City.”

The Barkleys along with Dr. Merrar left the Indian village.

Chapter Twenty

The Barkley family returned to Carson City along with Dr. Merrar. Jarrod went to the sheriff’s office to see if the law would help him or not.

“Sheriff,” he said as he walked in, “I’m Jarrod Barkley, an attorney from Stockton and San Francisco. I have a complaint.”

“You’re who?” the man asked as he looked up. “I didn’t catch the name.”

“I said I was Jarrod Barkley,” he answered a little aggravated at this man for not listening to what he had said. “I’m an attorney.”

“What’s the complaint?” the man asked looking at him.

“I want you to arrest Henry Radcliff on an attempted murder charge,” he answered watching for the sheriff’s reaction. “As well as hiring two men to murder Paul Davis in San Francisco.”

“Are you crazy?” the man asked him. “I couldn’t do that. Mr. Radcliff is a very respected man. He wouldn’t murder anyone. You are mistaken and I could lock you up for slandering a man’s name and reputation.”

“I didn’t say he did,” he answered trying to explain in more detail. “I said he hired the men responsible for almost killing me and for killing Davis.”

“You got any proof?” the man asked wondering what this young man would show him. “Ain’t no way I’d arrest him if I wanted to without concrete proof.”

“Yes,” he answered telling the rest of his story. “I saw one of the men clearly before I was knocked out and I would recognize him if I saw him again.”

“All right,” the man said nodding. “I’ll give you that. But how do you know they work for Mr. Radcliff? They could be anyone here in town. Just because you saw one of them don’t prove they work for him.”

“I had a long discussion with him the day I disappeared,” he replied standing his ground. “I mentioned counterfeiting and I got a rise out of him. He didn’t say anything but his expression did. My client in San Francisco is going to stand trial for a murder she didn’t commit. I’m the one who can clear her. But I need Radcliff to do it.”

“And how do you propose to get him?” the man asked waiting to hear the young man’s answer.

“I am going to confront him with the truth,” he answered looking at the sheriff. “And I believe he will either hang himself or his men will come forward. If I could get to them away from him, they might be willing to make a deal. One way or the other, I will get Henry Radcliff.”

“Al right,” the man said nodding. “I’ll arrest him if he does say he had anything to do with the murder. But I am still having a hard time believing that a man like Henry Radcliff could be involved in anything illegal.”

“That’s all I’m asking,” he replied getting ready to leave.

“Just a minute,” the sheriff told him stopping Jarrod from leaving.

Jarrod turned to look at him.

“Who did you say you were again?” he asked looking at Jarrod with a look of recognition on his face.

“Jarrod Barkley,” Jarrod answered wondering why the sheriff had asked again.

“Are you any relation to Tom Barkley?” he asked wondering.

“My father,” Jarrod answered looking at the man.

“I thought so,” he said nodding. “You don’t have to worry young man. I’ll do everything I can to help you prove it.”

“What made you change your mind?” Jarrod asked a little confused.

“Your name,” he answered smiling. “I remember meeting your father some ten years ago at a murder trial in Stockton. I was escorting the accused and we bumped into each other. He told me he had children but didn’t elaborate. I always wondered how he was doing.”

“He’s here in town,” Jarrod said nodding. “He came as soon as he found out I was missing.”

“I would have too if it had been my son,” he replied understanding how Tom felt. “It’s not easy when you are confronted with the fact that your child has been taken from you.”

“You sound like you know about this from experience,” Jarrod told him.

“I do,” he said remembering a horrible episode from his own past. “I was a deputy in a wild town. I had just started working there. My wife and son, who was ten, were at our home. One night there was some trouble at one of the saloons. I was told by the sheriff to take care of it. As I went inside, I saw a drunken cowboy beating the heck out of another cowboy. I immediately broke up the fight and arrested the one who had started the ruckus. After I had him locked up, he told me that his brother would be coming to look for him. I didn’t really believe him at the time so I went back to the office. When I went home that night...”

The sheriff stopped talking because he was getting very upset as he remembered what he had seen when he went home.

“Anyway,” he said pulling himself back together, “I walked into the house and that’s when I saw them. My wife and son were dead. My wife had been beaten to death. My son, Tyler, had been stabbed over and over and over.”

“Did you find those responsible?” Jarrod asked concerned for what the man had gone through.

“Yes,” he answered nodding. “I wanted to kill them but to this day, I don’t know why I didn’t but I didn’t. I instead locked them up to stand trial. They did and I testified. I learned that the man who had caused the fight in the saloon was a member of a very rough pack of men called hounds. They loved to kill and hurt people. The rest of his pack went to my house where they killed my wife and son. They were convicted and sent to prison but my family was gone. I gave up being a lawman for a long time but I soon realized that I could hopefully stop that from happening to another man. So I came back. My son would be about your age. I guess I feel something toward you.”

“I’m very sorry about your family,” Jarrod said. “I would have felt the same way.”

“Thank you for listening,” he replied opening up for the first time. “You’re the first person I’ve told this to. I didn’t want to bring up old bitter memories but something about you reminds me of Tyler. You tell your father just how lucky a man he is. Children can be taken away in an instant.”

“I will sir,” Jarrod told him heading out the door.

As Jarrod walked, he thought about what the sheriff had told him.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I had been in that situation,” he said as he walked. “But I don’t think I would have arrested them. I would have probably killed them with my bare hands.”

Jarrod walked into the hotel where his parents and brother were.

“Did you speak to the sheriff?” she asked as he walked into their hotel room.

“Yes,” he answered smiling. “He’s going to help me. Now all we have to do is confront Radcliff.”

“Son,” Tom said looking at his son, “I wish you would reconsider this. It could escalate into violence.”

“That’s what I’m banking on,” he replied. “If I can scare Radcliff enough to tip his hand then I’ll have the proof I need.”

“And you could wind up dead,” Tom told him trying to reason with Jarrod. “Let the sheriff handle it.”

“No,” he said looking at Tom with determination. “This is something I must do. I have to prove something to you and to myself.”

“You have nothing to prove to me,” Tom replied.

“I think I do,” he told him nodding. “I want to show you and everyone else that I am worthy of being a lawyer and a Barkley.”

“You don’t have to prove to me that you are a Barkley,” Tom said looking at his oldest son. “I know you are.”

“That’s not the point,” he replied. “I want to earn the right to bear the name and the title. And I can’t do that if I don’t stand up for myself. I can’t rely on you and Nick to handle my fights. I have to do it.”

Tom nodded understanding exactly what Jarrod meant.

“But you can’t do this alone,” he said looking at his family. “Nick and I can go in the back way. If we run into anyone that works for Radcliff, we can persuade them the best thing to do would be to testify against him.”

Jarrod thought about what Tom had said.

“I agree,” Nick said smiling. “I am frankly looking forward to a fight.”

“You’re always ready to fight,” he replied smiling. “All right father. I guess I can use your help.”

“I knew you would see it our way,” Tom told him. “Let’s get this over with.

They left the hotel and headed for the office of Henry Radcliff. Tom and Nick along with the sheriff, who they met outside of the hotel, put their plan into motion. Jarrod walked into Henry Radcliff’s office. The other three men went in the back way where they ran into Grayson and Bingham.

“You two are in a heap of trouble,” Tom said whispering so Radcliff couldn’t hear him.

“What do you mean?” Grayson asked.

“Let me put it into words that you might be able to understand,” the sheriff answered. “If you had anything to do with that young lawyer being left in the desert to die, I want you to tell me. If you don’t, you will be arrested anyway because I know he will be able to identify one of you. It’s up to you.”

The two men looked at each other. They finally nodded.

“It was Radcliff’s idea,” Grayson said nervously. “He told us that Paul Davis was getting to greedy for his own good. He wanted the problem to be eliminated. So we went to San Francisco. We confronted Paul after the girl had run out. He was standing up wrapping a bandage around his stomach.”

“What are you two doing here?” Paul asked when Grayson and Bingham walked into his hotel room.

“Mr. Radcliff was getting a little bit concerned about you Paul,” Bingham answered. “He thought you might not go through with your part of our deal.”

“I’m doing my part,” Paul said anger evident in his voice. “I’ve got the press in the crate. I plan on switching the money tonight.”

“He seems to think you want more money,” Grayson replied smiling.

“I would like to get more for what I have to do,” he told them. “In fact, since I’m doing all the dirty work, I should get paid more.”

“I had moved behind Paul, picking up the paper opener,” Grayson said coming back to the present. “Bingham walked toward Paul who began to back up. The next thing I knew the opener plunged into his back. He crumbled to the floor. We got scared.”

“So we moved Paul to a chair,” Bingham replied picking up the rest of the story. “We sat him in it to make it look like the girl had killed him.”

“Well you two will be spending a long time behind bars if you don’t hang first,” the sheriff told him.

“What if we testify against Radcliff?” Grayson asked.

“I could see if I could get you life in prison,” he answered. “After all, you did kill a man and almost killed that lawyer.”

“We’ll take it,” Bingham said nodding to Grayson who also agreed. “But you have to protect us from him.”

“You’ll be protected,” he replied nodding. “I promise.”

Now they waited to see what happened between Jarrod and Radcliff.

When Radcliff saw Jarrod, he was completely shocked.

“What’s the matter?” he asked seeing the man’s expression. “You surprised to see that I’m still alive?”

“Uh,” Radcliff answered trying to sound convincing but not succeeding, “no. I heard you were missing.”

“You heard it or you set it up?” he asked trying to get the answer he wanted from the man.

“How dare you accuse me of setting anything up?” Radcliff remarked with force. “I am a businessman. I don’t go around killing people or making them disappear.”

“Who has his hands in counterfeiting,” he said finishing the sentence. “I saw your expression. I know you were Paul Davis’ boss. And I also know you set up the murder of Paul Davis as well as my disappearance.”

“I never denied that Davis worked for me,” Radcliff replied trying to talk his way out this. “But you are wrong about the counterfeiting. I am an honest businessman.”

“Am I?” he asked smiling. “OK Nick bring them in.”

Nick and Tom along with the sheriff walked in from behind Radcliff escorting the two men who had kidnapped Jarrod and killed Davis.

“It’s true,” Grayson said looking at Radcliff. “He hired us to get rid of Davis and frame the girl.”

“And when you arrived in town,” Bingham replied looking at him too, “we were to get rid of you.”

“All right sheriff,” he told them, “he’s all yours.”

The sheriff took Henry Radcliff into custody.

“You haven’t heard the last of me boy,” he said as he was escorted out. “I’ll get even with you. I promise. I’m a big man and you just signed your death warrant.”

“Radcliff,” the sheriff replied looking at him, “I suggest you shut up. You’re only digging yourself in deeper.”

“Good job son,” Tom told him as he walked over to Jarrod and put his arm around the younger man’s shoulder. “I knew you would make a fine lawyer.”

“Thanks father,” he said smiling. “Now to wire Adam. Sandra will be released and Radcliff will stand trial for murder and attempted murder. Of course, I will have to testify at his trial. But I will be looking forward to putting that man away for hopefully the rest of his life.”

When Tom, Jarrod and Nick arrived back at the hotel room, Victoria was very relieved to see them and know they were all right.

Is it over?” she asked as they walked in.

“Yes mother,” Jarrod answered nodding. “Radcliff’s two hired killers confessed and Radcliff was arrested. Sandra is now a free woman.”

“I’m proud of you Jarrod,” Victoria replied hugging him. “You stuck by her. She’s lucky to have a lawyer like you.”

“I appreciate that mother,” he told her smiling. “I better get back to San Francisco. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes,” they said as one.

Chapter Twenty-one

By the time Jarrod arrived back in San Francisco, Sandra Johanson had been freed. The sheriff of Carson City had sent a wire to Adam explaining what had transpired. Adam immediately took it to the judge.

“Your honor,” he said as he walked into the judge’s chambers, “I have a telegram that will clear Sandra Johanson of murder.”

“Let me see it,” the judge replied as he was handed the paper.

He read it and then looked up.

“It would seem that this young lawyer did what he said he would,” the judge said looking up at Adam.

“I had faith in Jarrod,” he replied smiling. “And so did Sandra.”

“I’ll inform the inspector,” the judge told him. “One thing.”

“What?” he asked stopping and turning back to the man.

“When this young lawyer arrives in town,” the judge answered. “I would like very much to meet him.”

“I think that can be arranged,” he said leaving the judge’s chambers.

Jarrod arrived in San Francisco that afternoon. As he walked into Adam’s office, a happy Sandra met him.

“I don’t know how to thank you Jarrod,” she said smiling. “You stood by me and I know at one point that you didn’t believe me.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t believe you,” he replied trying to explain. “It was just that too many things didn’t add up right.”

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Adam told them. “And I’m glad that I picked the right man for the job.”

“Thanks Adam,” he said smiling.

“What do you two say we get some work done now?” Adam asked smiling.

“Yes sir,” she answered also smiling.

“I’m with you,” he said smiling too.

“Oh by the way,” Adam replied looking at Jarrod, “the judge wants to meet you.”

“Me?” he asked surprised.

“Yes,” Adam answered nodding. “He was very impressed with the way you handled this case. I don’t think you have to worry about clients. You just started off on the right foot.”

Jarrod smiled and went to work.

THE END