In The Blood (Unflinching Book 2)

Book summary

Set in the Wild West, Detective Simms of the Pinkerton Agency faces off against ruthless desperadoes targeting nascent railroads. As he shadows train robbers, he discovers he's the prey in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Excerpt from In The Blood (Unflinching Book 2)

One

Utah/Colorado border, 1858

The retort of the gunshots rang out across the still, open countryside, echoing amongst the nearby mountains. There were six shots, even and measured. Simms squinted through the cordite and whistled.

“You've nailed it, Noreen,” he said, grinning, and glanced across at the short, dark-haired woman with the striking face, dressed in dungarees and red-checked shirt.

She smiled back at him, cheeks reddening. “Ah, shush, you're just saying that!”

“No I ain't,” said the Pinkerton detective and he strode over to the fence not fifteen paces away and looked down at the cluster of tin cans lying on the ground. The holes torn through their sides from Noreen's bullets testified to her improved accuracy with the six-gun. He got down on his haunches and picked a can up, examining it more closely. He straightened his back, holding the can as if it were a prize. “I'm proud of you,” he said and nodded across to her. “Reload your piece, Noreen. No point having a gun that ain't loaded.” He shook his head, eyes growing distant for a moment. “I've seen that happen more than once.”

“What?”

“Dropping an unloaded, just fired revolver into the holster, then dying when another assailant steps up and you ain't got nothing to stop them with.”

“That ever happen to you?”

He tilted his head and gave a small chuckle. “I wouldn't be here if it had. Now, reload your piece.”

“But I'm so dirty already,” she said, giving him that coy look of hers which broke down his defenses with such ease. She held up a hand. “Look at me, covered in all this horrible, black powder.”

“Well, that's why I carry three, sometimes more, pre-loaded cylinders.” He moved closer to her and for a long time they stood there, so close. After a moment, she reached up and clawed the hair at the back of his head. Melting, he leaned into her and kissed her smooth mouth, the warmth seeping through him.

They pulled apart slightly and he rested his face on her cheek, loving the way her fingertips massaged away at his scalp. Forcing himself back to the real world, he gently took the revolver from her fingers and gave it a long, admiring look. “Brand new, Remington Navy. A fine gun indeed. Easier to maintain than my old Dragoon, that's for sure.”

She stared at him. “There's so much I don't know about you. Your life, where you're from.”

Simms shrugged. “Not much to tell, really. Maybe when we're old and grey, I'll fill out the long evenings with my story.”

“You think we will grow old together?”

“Would you like us to?”

A smile flickered across her full lips, those lips he loved to kiss. “I'd like nothing more.”

Now it was his turn to smile, before he lifted the still-smoking gun. “Best take this over to the firing table and reload, like I said.”

As he wandered over to replace the cans, he craned his neck to watch her dutifully filling up the cylinders with black powder before ramming home the lead shots with the under-barrel lever. He gave an appreciative nod, settled the cans back on the fence post and moved towards where she stood at the little trestle table. He was about to place his hand on her slim shoulder when something caught his eye. Drawing in a breath, he looked beyond her and peered out across the plain, taking in every detail of the slowly approaching rider. Without a word, Simms took the gun from her fingers and slipped it into his own, empty holster.

She frowned. “I only did four.”

“Get inside,” he said quietly.

“What do you mean? I thought we might try it again, make sure none of it was—”

“Get inside. Take my carbine from above the door, lie on your belly the way I taught you, and don't make another sound.”

Their eyes met and he saw the alarm there. He brushed his fingers across her cheek, to reassure her. “What is it?” she asked.

“Just do it.”

With no further explanation needed, she broke into a run, hurrying across to the small, log cabin where they lived together. From above the inside doorframe she pulled down the carbine, checked it, then lay down, following his instructions to the letter.

Satisfied, Simms turned and waited for the rider to come closer.

The stranger sat astride a piebald horse on a brightly polished saddle of coal black. Big across the chest, his long hair fell to his shoulders, hat pushed back to hang down over his back, suspended by a leather cord around his throat. Across his back, a long-barreled musket hung in a frilled canvas scabbard. As he drew closer and reined in his horse, his coat fell open to reveal two ivory handled Navy Colts, butts inwards for a double cross-belly draw. Snorting, the horse pawed at the ground and the rider leaned forward and grinned, his teeth stained brown with tobacco.

“My name is Beaudelaire Talpas,” said the rider, running his tongue around the inside of his mouth before spitting out a long trail of tobacco juice.

“And my name is Simms. You're late.”

Talpas frowned and leaned back in his saddle, measuring Simms with unblinking, alert eyes. “Late? What the hell do you mean by that?”

“The fight is over. News came through but two weeks ago, saying the President himself had granted a pardon to those who had taken up arms.”

“The Mormons?”

Simms nodded.

“Well, I ain't in the employ of no Mormons.” The long-haired man's eyes twinkled with barely contained glee. “Not now.”

“You're still late.”

The humor slowly drained from his face. “And how is it you're knowing who I am?”

“People talk. I listen, see, remember.”

“I see. Well,” Talpas rolled his shoulders, lifted his backside from the saddle, farting loud and long. Grimacing, he settled back down in the saddle, which groaned under his weight. “That's what I think of President Buchanan and all those rascals over in Washington. Brigham Young, too. Never could quite grasp how they came to an agreement. Maybe Young will be given a Governorship.” He jutted his chin towards the log cabin. “Mind if I ask you to tell the little lady to point her gun somewhere else?”

Without averting his stare, Simms nodded once. “Noreen, move back inside.”

Wriggling like a snake, Noreen withdrew, soon swallowed up by the murkiness of the interior.

“She's still pointing it.”

“As I told her to.”

A change came over the face of the man on the horse, eyes narrowing, jaw clenched. “Now why would you do that?”

“I might ask you what you're doing here, coming onto my place?”

Talpas grunted, moved around in his saddle as if it were not quite to his liking, and sighed. “Just passing through.”

“My advice would be to move on.”

Talpas leaned over to his left and released a second trail of tobacco juice to the ground. “I don't much like being told what to do, mister.”

“It's a suggestion.”

“Simms, you said?” The detective nodded, unblinking. Talpas sneered. “Don't think I know what you do. For employment, I mean.”

“No reason for you to.”

Talpas mulled Simms's words over, chewing hard on his tobacco. “The way you wear your gun makes me think you know how to use it.”

“I protect my own.”

“Well, you have a mighty nice home here to protect. Let's hope it stays that way. Nice talking to you.” Straightening himself up once more, Talpas flicked the reins, turned his horse about and slowly made his way back the way he had come.

The seconds trickled by, Simms remaining motionless until Noreen sidled beside him. Without a word, he slipped his arm around her waist. “Who was he,” she said, voice barely above a whisper.

“Death on a horse, that's who he was.”

Her face came up, her eyes big, full of fear. “You think he will come back?”

Simms gnawed at his bottom lip for a moment. “I reckon you could guarantee it.”

Two

Pinkerton Central Office, Chicago, Illinois

Three months before Simms taught Noreen to shoot, he rolled into the main office of the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago, Illinois. A stunned silence settled over the room, every face from every desk staring. Standing in the doorway, Simms met each of his colleagues' faces with icy resolve, wondering what their next reaction would be. He didn’t have to wait long. The room erupted into a frenzy of wild cheering, backslapping and general merriment as colleagues rushed to him, congratulating him with unbridled delight. From somewhere, someone thrust a tumbler of whisky into his hand, whilst someone else broke out in song, but it all ceased as quickly as it had begun when the commander's office door swung open. An uneasy silence descended. Simms gave his excuses, edging his way through the press of beaming fellow detectives, and stood in front of Chesterton.

“I have to hand it to you, Simms, you did better than I expected.”

This was as close to a compliment as Simms was going to get, and he smiled, tipping his hat. “General Russell was overcome with joy to be reunited with his daughter.”

Chesterton grunted, then turned his gaze to the room where men were laughing and joking again, the tension easing. They drank too, perhaps more than Chesterton was prepared to allow. The big Commander of Detectives pulled in a breath and barked, “Get back to work. Party is over!”

Without a pause, the men obeyed the commands and scurried back to their desks, some muttering, most silent. Chesterton grunted again and waved Simms inside his office.

Simms pulled up short. A man sat with his back to him. Broad across the shoulders, he wore a brown tweed jacket, his lank, black hair falling to the collar. He swung around in his chair, face impassive, large, dark eyes studying the detective with a keen interest.

Simms felt a dryness in his throat, something he didn’t normally experience when faced with another human being. But this man was different. He was his employer, Allan Pinkerton.

“Detective Simms,” said Chesterton, moving around to the far side of his desk, “this is Mr. Allan Pinkerton, founder and director of our agency.”

Simms nodded. “I recognize you from your photograph in the newspapers. Pleased to know you, sir.” The detective stepped forward and shook the man's hand.

“Likewise.” Pinkerton made no move to stand up but instead remained sitting, his eyes taking in the lean figure of Simms who, himself, offered no movement. He dropped his hand to his lap. “So, you read newspapers, Mr. Simms.”

“When I get the chance.”

“Yes, when you get the chance.”

“Out on the range it's often difficult to keep abreast of news and the like.”

Chesterton blew out a sigh and sat down, face dark with annoyance. Simms's gruff manner often had such an effect on the Chief of Detectives.

“You wear your guns like a gunfighter,” remarked Pinkerton, motioning to the Colt Dragoon holstered at Simms's waist. Underneath his coat, another pistol rested in its holster under the detective's right armpit. “I'm not certain if such a display is warranted, certainly not here in Chicago. You could even be breaking the law by carrying such firearms, detective.”

Simms tilted his head. “I have permits. As all detectives are so obliged. I'm no different.”

“Even so.”

Simms dragged his gaze from his employer to Chesterton, “Is this why I'm here? To be berated over carrying weapons?” Simms gave an easy smile. “After all I've done?”

Chesterton bristled, shot a glance towards Pinkerton, then back to his lead detective. “We have another situation, Simms.”

“One that doesn't require me to shoot…” He turned again to Pinkerton. “Or kill?”

It was Pinkerton's turn to recoil a little. “Mr. Simms, what you accomplished out in the Territories was nothing short of a miracle. Not only with the rescue of Elisabeth Russell, but also your single-handed apprehension of those two heartless killers. You have promoted the work of our agency to dizzying heights. I was honored to be in the presence of the President only the other day, and listen to him commending us for the work we have done. So, I'm not criticizing you, Detective, I’m merely pointing out that perhaps, just perhaps, you should be a little more circumspect in your display of firearms. We have appearances to maintain now.” He reached into his own coat and produced a small, black revolver.

But Simms was already moving. In a blur, the Colt Dragoon materialized in his right fist, pointing unerringly at Chesterton, with the other gun, a Navy Colt, levelled at Pinkerton. In the eerie stillness of the room, the heavy sound of the hammers cocking and cylinders being engaged, sent a chill through the air.

Chesterton managed a rattling, “Jesus, Simms.”

“Don't ever pull a gun on me,” said Simms through gritted teeth, his eyes glinting with a barely controlled menace towards Pinkerton. “If you do, you're a dead man, Mr. Pinkerton.”

Pinkerton, frozen in the act of drawing the revolver, held up his other hand, palm outward. “Mr. Simms, I'm not about to shoot you.”

“Doesn't seem that way from here.”

“I beg you, please…”

“Simms, put the goddamned guns away,” said Chesterton, the anger rumbling in his throat.

Simms blinked, but only once. “Lay it on the table, then step back.”

“I have no intention of—”

“On the table, Mr. Pinkerton. Then you can explain why you pulled a gun on me.”

Pinkerton nodded and with infinite care, settled the revolver on the tabletop. He looked up at Chesterton. “He's quite right, I should have warned him. My mistake.” He turned to Simms. “You're a dangerous man to know, Mr. Simms. I'm not sure if I'm all that comfortable with such knowledge.”

Simms holstered the Dragoon, but kept the Navy in his left fist. He stepped across to the table and lifted the smaller revolver Pinkerton had produced.

“It's a pocket-model Colt,” explained Pinkerton. “My plan is to arm all of my detectives with this weapon, allowing them to maintain a modicum of decency whilst conducting their duties in the city. Its size allows for its positioning in a shoulder holster, not unlike your own, Detective, but without the overt display you seem so intent upon. Concealment and protection – that’s my desire.”

“You could have said.”

“I do not need to explain myself to you, Detective. But, in this instance, you are correct. I should have pre-warned you.” Pinkerton's smile returned. “Apologies.”

Simms released his breath in a long stream. “Apology accepted.” He slowly released the hammer of his Navy Colt and dropped it back into his holster, at the same time examining the pocket model more closely. “It's not even loaded.”

“It is not my desire to walk around the great city of Chicago with a loaded gun, Detective. As I explained.”

Simms looked up to catch Chesterton's enraged face. “You're awful close to crossing the line, Simms.”

Pinkerton threw up his arms, “Ah, commander, the fault lies with me. Detective Simms is a man of the Frontier, a hardened, intrepid enforcer; a man who must react as instincts dictate. You fought in the Mexican War, so I understand?”

“Yes, I did.”

“With some distinction, I’ve heard?”

“I wouldn't know about that.”

“Really? You were mentioned in dispatches, on several occasions. I understand you refused a Certificate of Merit?”

“It wasn't something which much interested me – I never quite saw the reasons for honoring a man's ability to kill others.”

“I believe you rescued a group of civilians who were being held in a church? You single-handedly—”

Holding up his hand, Simms cut off any further narration. “I don't care to talk about any of that, Mr. Pinkerton. It was all a very long time ago.”

“Yes, but it made you into the resourceful and skillful individual you are now. Our agency has need of such talents.”

“That's hardly the word I'd use for what I do.”

“No, but nevertheless …” Shooting a quick glance towards Chesterton, Pinkerton sat back in his chair and sighed. “Very well, let's put this behind us and continue with what I came here to discuss.” He smiled at Simms. “What I'm going to say will suit your particular attributes entirely, Detective Simms.” He motioned Simms to another chair which stood in the far corner. “Please, sit down, and hear me out.” He pointed to the pocket revolver. “You may keep that, for when you're next in Chicago.”

“I already am.”

“Yes. But not for much longer.”

Simms sank into the nearby chair and listened to what this curious man had to say.