Antebellum BK 1 by Jeffry S.Hepple

nothing to do with your banking arrangement and won’t alter it in any way. We’ll merely deposit the gold in your Swiss bank under your account number. Your bank balance, however, will be subject to fluctuations of the gold market and can be audited at any time.”
    “ Very good.” Billy completed the form and pushed it back.
    “ Will you be accompanying the shipment, sir?”
    “ No. I’m traveling overland to the east coast. I’ll sail from there some time in the future.”
    “ If there is to be a significant delay until you reach Switzerland, might I suggest that you convert the gold to bonds or stocks?”
    “ Why would I do that?”
    “ With all the new gold fields in California, the price of gold will be eroding. At the same time, stocks or bonds will be appreciating and earning interest or dividends.”
    “ I’ll take my chances on the gold market. Given the current political tensions, I have little confidence in the American treasury.”
    “ As you wish, sir.”
    “ Have you ever been robbed?”
    “ No, sir. There’s never even been an attempt.” He pointed toward a row of high windows near the front. “We have armed guards up there behind mirrored glass.”
    “ I was just wondering why it was so easy for me to walk in after closing time.”
    “ Walking in is easy. Walking out with our depositors’ money is impossible.
    “ What about at night?”
    “ Guards inside and out. And our vault would stand up to cannon fire. You’ve come to the right place.”
    “ So it seems. Lucky me.”
    “ Yes indeed, sir. If you will give us a few more minutes we should be able to wrap this up.”
    “ Fine. I think I’ll just step outside and smoke my cigar.”
    “ That would be fine, sir. Leave everything to me.”
    Billy got up, walked through the lobby and waited for a clerk to unlock the door. On the sidewalk, he leaned against one of the overhang’s support posts and lit his cigar with a sulfur match.
    A woman in a bright red dress with a matching parasol stepped up and linked her arm with his. “Everything go alright?”
    He nodded and blew a plume of smoke toward the plaza. “They’re finishing up the transaction.” He took an envelope from his coat pocket and gave it to her. “The deed is in there, all properly executed.”
    She folded the envelope and pushed it into her clutch purse. “I should be happy, but I’m not.”
    “ Why not?”
    “ We’ve been partners for a long time.”
    “ All things must come to an end. Besides, I haven’t been holding up my half. The place is rightfully yours.”
    “ You’re a complicated man, Billy. Sweet as candy one minute and mean as a rattlesnake the next.”
    “ Like Romulus and Remus, I was suckled by a she-wolf.”
    The bank door opened. “Sir? Mr. Young says that your documents are ready.”
    “ Thank you.” Billy extracted his arm and gave the woman a light kiss on her lips. “You go on now. I have some business in Mexico, but I’ll stop back to see you before heading north.”

June 27, 1849
    Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

    J osiah Whipple was sitting in the dark hotel room with his pistol in his lap when a key rattled in the door lock. “Don’t do nothin’ stupid, William,” he said as the door began to open. “Just come on in.” He cocked the pistol. “If I have to shoot ya through the door the lead paint on the wood slivers is gonna poison you, no matter where I hit you.”
    “ Very thoughtful of you to warn me, Josiah.” William Van Buskirk pushed the door wide open, being sure to show his empty hands.
    “ Light one o’ them lamps, then close the door.”
    “ As a US Marshal, you have no authority in Mexico anymore, Josiah. The Republic of Mexico’s been established since last we met down here.” Van Buskirk lit a lamp with a match and trimmed the wick.
    “ There’s a U.S. Mail reward poster on you here for the gold robbery down at Panama. Any yahoo with a gun can arrest you and claim the reward. It ain’t smart to steal from