Blessed are the Merciful by Al Lacy

are?”
    “Well, she wasn’t too excited about it at first. But when she saw how much it meant to me, she said she would gladly move out there.”
    “I’m sure that means a lot to you.”
    “I’ll say.” Welles paused. “And how about Philipa? Is she happy about your plans?”
    “Well, sir, I … ah … haven’t talked to her about it yet.”
    “Isn’t the wedding set for October?”
    “Yes, sir. The latter part of October, but I know it’s not very far away. The reason I haven’t talked to her about it yet is because living out West will be vastly different from living here in Philadelphia. It will be quite a change. I … I just haven’t found a way to bring it up to her.”
    “Well, Adam, you need to do that soon. But from what I could see last night, that girl adores you. If a woman loves her man, she’ll go along with his big dream.”
    Adam grinned. “That’s what I think, sir.”
    Welles snapped his fingers. “I just thought of something.”
    “What’s that, sir?”
    “Before I tell you, have you got some growing town in mind?”
    “I’ve done a little reading, but I haven’t set my mind on any particular location yet. I figured that once I told Philipa about it, I’d get down to business about just exactly where to go. What were you going to tell me?”
    “It just came to me. When my friend in Grand Island wrote about coming out there, he mentioned that North Platte, Nebraska, is in dire need of a law firm. The people there have to go all the way to Grand Island for legal help. You ought to seriously consider North Platte.”
    “I will, sir. Thank you for telling me about it.”
    “Let me write down the name of the law firm in Grand Island. I want you to write and let me know wherever you end up. Will you do that?”
    “I sure will, sir. And if it’s North Platte, maybe we can see each other once in a while.”
    The next day, after getting some help at the county courthouse, Adam wrote to Ben Colter, sheriff of Lincoln County, Nebraska, for information about North Platte.

S ETH C OLEABAN ENTERED POLICE HEADQUARTERS and headed for Chief Bennett’s office with an envelope in his hand. Two officers were coming down the hall toward him.
    “How was your day, Seth?” one of them asked.
    “One of the quiet kind. Nice to have a quiet one now and then.”
    “For sure,” the other officer said. “Everything back to normal for you?”
    “Not quite,” Seth said as they passed in the hall.
    “Little more time yet?”
    “Yeah, I suppose.”
    Seth drew up to the chief’s door and knocked, and he heard a muffled command to enter. Seth opened the door and paused, setting his gaze on the man behind the desk. “Would you have time to see me, sir?”
    “Sure,” said Bennett, laying down a paper in his hand. “Come in and sit down, Seth.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. “What can I do for you?”
    “I hate to say this, Chief, but … I’m still having a problem with the treatment I’m getting from some of the men on the force.”
    “I take it it hasn’t improved?”
    “Oh, two or three of the men have quit giving me dirty looks and will at least speak to me. But other than that it’s gotten worse. It’s not much better with the people out there on the streets, either. Sir, I really think I need to move somewhere else to go on with my career as a law officer.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that, Seth. I still think that in time this attitude will disappear.”
    “Sir, I’ll be honest with you. I’m just not willing to give it any more time. I don’t mean to contradict you, but the way I see it, the problem is only going to get worse. These people have their minds made up that I murdered Lawrence Sheldon, and nothing is going to change that. I’ve got to get out of Philadelphia.”
    “I know you don’t have family to be concerned about, but you do have friends here. Would it be that easy just to pack up and leave? Besides, where would you go?”
    Seth