Longarm #399 : Longarm and the Grand Canyon Murders (9781101554401) by Tabor Evans Page A

gentleman was tall, well dressed, and quite the dandy, and he looked to be approaching forty. He had swarthy good looks, a hooked nose, dark piercing eyes, and straight black hair, and he was wearing a fine derby hat and a white starched shirt and collar. He also wore two large gold rings and a diamond stickpin in his tie, and his black boots werepolished to a high shine. He was clean-shaven and Heidi sized him up as a successful gambler or perhaps a prosperous saloon owner. The woman sitting right next to him was very young and pretty…probably not much older than twenty. She wore too much makeup and kept her eyes downcast as if she were studying something no one else could see in her lap. Heidi thought she detected a dark bruise under one of her eyes but couldn’t be sure because it was heavily powdered.
    It was the dandy who first introduced himself while removing his derby and placing it on his lap then flicking off a speck of dirt. “My name is Frankie Virden, and this young lady at my side is my…fiancée, Miss Carrie Blue.”
    Heidi smiled at the cowed-looking woman, hoping to lift her spirits. “You’re very pretty, my dear.”
    The girl glanced up for an instant, managing a grateful smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”
    “My name is Mrs. Heidi Long,” she said, trying to get the girl to relax and open up just a little. “Carrie, have you been to the Grand Canyon before?”
    The girl nodded unenthusiastically. “Quite a few times.”
    Frankie Virden jumped back into the conversation. “We’re going up to the Grand Canyon on business. I have just opened a saloon a few miles east of Lees Ferry, along with a hotel, to entice and entertain the growing number of tourists. I’m betting that tourism will grow faster than weeds and in a few years I’ll be raking in the money.”
    When Heidi said nothing, Frankie Virden motioned toward the young man who had not yet said a word. “This is Seth and he’s my…uh, assistant.”
    Seth looked at Heidi’s face, then her bosom, and grinned wolfishly. “Mighty nice to have such attractive company on this run, ma’am.”
    Heidi gave him no reply. She immediately judged that Seth was the kind of person to be avoided at all costs, and she guessed that he was more of a bodyguard or gunman than any kind of assistant.
    “We’ll be stopping at the Cameron Trading Post soon, and there we can stretch our legs and take some refreshments. You ladies can also use the powder room while Seth and I take some liquid refreshment.”
    “You sound,” Heidi said, turning back to the wealthy man with the dark, glittering eyes, “as if you are quite familiar with this stagecoach trip.”
    “Oh, I am! I’ve been coming up here several times a month with Carrie and Seth. I have to make sure that my interests are being well served. I’m sure that you’ll enjoy staying at my Rimrock Hotel.”
    Heidi had not discussed where they would stay with Longarm, so she said nothing.
    “And Mrs. Long,” Virden added, “if there is anything I can do to make this trip more comfortable for you or your marshal, please let me know.”
    Heidi noticed that Frankie Virden’s teeth were bone-white, straight, and perfect. He was certainly attractive, in a rather predatory way, and well mannered, but she sensed that he had a dark side that would not be hard to expose.
    “I’m sure that my husband and I will be just fine,” Heidi said, managing a smile.
    She had turned away from Virden, to the older couple. “And you are?”
    “I’m Mr. Elmer Potter and this is my wife, Emily.We’re on our way up to see the Grand Canyon for the very first time. We’ll be staying at Mr. Virden’s new hotel and viewing the canyon as much as we can. We’re only visiting Flagstaff for the summer and plan to return to Boston in the fall.” Elmer squeezed his wife’s chubby hand. “I have to confess that Emily and I are celebrating our fortieth wedding anniversary in a few days.”
    “Congratulations!” Virden and