Blaze! Hell's Half Acre Page 5

  Chapter Six

  J.D. slowed on his way back to the hotel, then came to a dead stop and stared, not believing his eyes. His wife came piling out a window, then crouched below the sill in a bed of dead flowers. He would have laughed at her exit from the building if she hadn't clutched her derringer and looked so intent. A move to draw his Colt was checked when he saw a man lean out and look around. From the way Kate stared up, J.D. knew she was within an inch of shooting the man.

  He bent, scooped up a stone and flung it hard. His aim had been better when he was younger, but the rock still hit the glass. It bounced off without breaking the pane, but it distracted the man. He looked up, giving Kate a few seconds to slide along the wall and get away from the window.

  J.D. yelled, "I saw him, mister. It was a kid. A redheaded kid threw the rock." No such urchin was in sight, which prompted his accusation. "Are you all right?"

  The banker growled, made an obscene gesture and pulled down the window. J.D. sauntered along and joined his wife at the next street corner.

  "You've been busy getting into trouble," he said. "Who was that you were avoiding in such a hurry that you couldn't even use a door?"

  "Justin Bogardus is his name, and he owns the bank."

  J.D. looked at the building. While it wasn't marked on this side, he saw how it had been constructed to provide added security with sturdy brick walls. He made an accurate guess where the interior bank vault had been installed.

  "Is he any relation to—"

  "Captain Adam Bogardus," Kate cut in. "He says he is. I doubt he is in the same class of marksman, but I didn't want to find out."

  He held out his arm. She took it as they made their way back to the hotel to freshen up. J.D. was antsy about telling her what he had found out, but he knew better than to speak of such things in public. Too many people nearby had the look of spies. That might have been his imagination, but J.D. held back relating his adventures so he could better watch the expression on her face. Then again, she had a tale to tell, also, and he wanted to hear how she had become tangled up with a banker and had to escape his office through the window.

  He tipped his hat to a lady sitting in the hotel lobby, who winked back winningly. Kate pinched him, then gave him an insincere smile. They waited for the elevator to rattle down from the second floor. The elevator starter ushered them in. The trip to the third floor progressed so slowly J.D. almost blurted out the details of his shootout with Three-fingers Frank Bell.

  Both exploded with what they had found once their room door clicked shut behind them. Kate stopped J.D.'s torrent of words when she dropped the wad of greenbacks onto the bed. He stared at it, started to say something, then clamped his mouth shut.

  "Go on, say it. That's big enough to start a bonfire." Kate grinned broadly. "I won it playing pool, and then took a few dollars more off Justin Bogardus in a poker game. He's not half as good a player as he thinks he is."

  J.D. counted through the money, looked at her. She nodded. He tucked most of it into his vest pocket. This would be more than enough to pay for their fancy hotel room. That eased his conscience even as it carried them over nicely until they collected the rewards for Bell and Morrisey.

  "I broke into his office to rifle through the files, but I didn't find anything worth mentioning. From the way he acted, though, Bogardus knows Three-fingers Frank Bell. He reacted when I dropped the name."

  "He might worry about bank robbers with a reputation as big as Bell's."

  "I don't think so, but I didn't find any connection between the men."

  "I shot it out with him. I traded lead with Bell in a saloon down in Hell's Half Acre." J.D. enjoyed the sudden silence that fell in the room. For once Kate had no comeback. He waited until she got over the shock and explained what had happened in the Keg Saloon.

  "I thought you smelled of gunpowder. He didn't put a round through you, did he?" She eyed him critically. When she didn't spy any holes in his clothing or hide, she went on. "They keep a panther chained inside?"

  "The man who died told me where to find Three-fingers Frank. I don't know where it is but how hard can it be to find Miss Purdy's whorehouse? All we have to do is ask around and hope word doesn't get back to Bell so we can lay a trap for him."

  "It's on 15th and Houston, behind the Palace Saloon."

  "How do you know that?" J.D. sank to the bed and stared at her. Kate looked a little pale, and he asked if she felt all right.

  "It's all fitting together. I saw that name in Bogardus' files. He owns the entire block of land at the south end of Hell's Half Acre. "

  "If Three-fingers Frank hangs out there and Justin Bogardus owns the land, they might have forged a partnership." J.D.'s mind raced. The banker must have use of a gunman if he owned property in the toughest section of town.

  "We're real close, J.D.," she said. "We ought to hie on down there now. If you shot up Three-fingers Frank, he might have gone to ground. Most cathouses have a doctor on call to take care of the worst problems."

  "And to supply opium and other drugs to the ladies of the evening," he said with some bitterness.

  "We'll be improving everyone's lot when we take out Bell."

  He slid his six-shooter from its holster and reloaded. When he looked up, he saw that she had not changed from her dress into trail gear.

  "Are you going to strap your Colt on over your skirt?"

  "I've got a better idea. Let's go, and I'll tell you on our way there."

  After she told him, he couldn't persuade her she had come up with a terrible idea.

  * * *

  "There's nothing else we can do. How many doors did you count?" She held up her fingers and indicated she had found nine different ways in and out of the brothel.

  "If we get onto the Palace Saloon's roof we can watch two sides. That'll leave five doors out of sight."

  "Five entries—and exits—on two sides. I can watch one, not the other."

  "We should cover the streets. That'll make it easier to spot Bell."

  Kate shook her head. "My plan's looking better all the time. We can't cover that place, not the two of us, not from outside."

  "They'll never buy you as a working girl looking for a crib."

  "Oh? I'm not pretty enough?"

  "You're too pretty," he said hastily. "They'll know you're not hunting for a job. And what if Bogardus spots you? You said he owns the place."

  "The land under the house," Kate said. "But he probably does own the entire operation. He had a cabinet full of folders showing what else he owned. What are the chances he would come to this particular place?"

  "We don't know. If the barkeep's dying words are right, Three-fingers Frank hangs out here. If he and Bogardus are partners, that might be all it takes to get him into the house."

  "We can use that to track down Bell, if he's not there when I go in and get a job. Don't you think I'm sexy enough?" She spun about and thrust out a dainty foot. Inch by inch she lifted her skirt to reveal more leg.

  J.D. reached for his six-gun when men in the street slowed and then stopped to watch the show.

  "Move along. This doesn't concern any of you."

  "Says you. Missy, I'll have what you're sellin'."

  "Oh, not here, sir. In there. I'm going to work there." She pointed to Miss Purdy's, a two-story brick building. "Why don't you go into the saloon and have a drink or two to get ready—and think on me when you're drinking." Kate dodged the man's clumsy lunge to grab her. He had already downed more than a drink or two. "You ask for me. Ask for...Theresa."

  "Will. I will. Damned right I will!" The cowboy staggered away to the saloon.

  "At least you had to good sense to give him a false name."

  "I like to think of it as a nom de amor." She came to him and gripped his arm. "I would never do this if I didn't know you were out here to help me out of a jam."

  "Don't get into trouble that takes more than six rounds to resolve." He saw her quizzical look. "I don't want to have to reload. It'll tak
e too long."

  She stood on tiptoe and kissed him, then sank back and took a deep breath. Her breasts rose and fell, making him uneasy. Once in the brothel there wouldn't be a whole lot he could do to help her, and looking the way she did, men would be lining up shoving money in her direction to spend a few minutes alone.

  "Off to work." With that she went to the nearest door leading into Miss Purdy's whorehouse.

  J.D. watched her with some trepidation. She could take care of herself, but neither of them had any idea what she was barreling her way into. When the door didn't budge when she tried to lift the door handle, she knocked. A small peephole opened. He was too far away to hear what was said, but she was quickly let inside. Pacing hardly made the feelings gnawing at his gut go away.

  He had to trust her and her abilities. Still...

  * * *

  Kate stared at the eye on the other side of the door. Inches away let her get a good look at the bloodshot eye. A heavy lid blinked a few times before a gravelly voice asked, "Whatcha want?"

  "I'm here to make you some money."

  This caused a furor inside. She heard whispered words, then the peephole closed and a bolt slid back. The door opened a few inches. Rather than push her way in, she waited for the door to open to a more welcoming width. Only then did she step into the house. Heavy perfume caused her to sneeze. She wiped as her eyes ran with tears. The incense burning deeper inside the warren of passages filled the narrow corridor with haze.

  A hulking figure blocked her way.

  "Let her in. Annabelle wants to talk with her."

  The bouncer grunted and stepped to the side, forcing Kate to press her back against the wall and rub her front across the man's bulging belly. He was big, but he was mostly fat and stupid from the look on his face. He leered as she worked past his bulk. A quick knee to his groin wiped the smile off his piglike face.

  "Sorry," she said insincerely. She hurried after the wisp of a girl leading the way toward the source of the haze.

  Seated on a sofa, a woman matching the bouncer in bulk looked up from her tatting. Her mousy brown hair piled high and muddy eyes as bloodshot as the man's, she gave Kate the once over.

  "What do you want?" The voice came out squeaky and irritable.

  "A job. I need to make some quick money."

  "So a pretty little thing like you intends to do it on your back and with your legs spread for some drunk cowboy having his way with you?" The woman snorted. The sound was more piglike than Kate expected. She kept from laughing.

  "I can make us both a pile of money. Let me work here for a week, I'll take my earnings and be on a train to San Antonio and you'll never see me again."

  "If you're half as good as you think, why'd I want to let you go?"

  Kate glanced toward the elfin girl who had shown her into the room sand read the truth on her face. Once a woman let the door to Miss Purdy's close behind her, it was a lifetime commitment, like it or not. She almost played a trump card by claiming to know Justin Bogardus, then caught herself in time. That error would doom her. He would recognize her from the poker game. He might even have questioned the bank president and gotten a description of the woman who ransacked his office. Whatever else the land owner was up to, he wouldn't take her meddling lightly.

  There were plenty of empty lots scattered around Hell's Half Acre that would serve as unmarked grave sites.

  "Look, I need a job. I'm willing to work hard. My name's Theresa and—"

  "All my girls work hard, damned hard." The corpulent woman laughed harshly. "They all get it hard. Ain't that so, Big-hearted Abby?"

  "Yes, Miss Purdy. Hard. That's the way we all get it."

  "See? That's straight from the horse's mouth. Now get outta here." She motioned to a door on the far side of the room.

  From what Kate could tell, that led to the street in front of the Palace Saloon.

  "Please, I need to—"

  "Out. You don't never contradict me."

  Kate started to play the dubious trump card of Justin Bogardus' name, but a commotion down the tight corridor where she had entered cut off her protest. A quick glance into a mirror behind Miss Purdy sent her heart pounding a little quicker. J.D. swayed from side to side, herding the bouncer ahead of him. He staggered into the room and flopped into a chair across from Miss Purdy.

  "Thass the one. Thass the filly I wanna ride. Calls herself Theresa. Ain't that so?" He pointed at her.

  "Who sent you? This is an exclusive house catering to only the finest gentlemen." Miss Purdy laid aside her tatting and reached under her skirts. The glint of a knife showed.

  Kate slipped her hand into the folds of her skirt for her derringer. She wasn't going to let a fat old whoremonger throw a knife at J.D.

  "Him. Him and him and him. They sent me." J.D. held up a fistful of greenbacks. With a toss he sent the money fluttering into the air. He pulled out another dozen bills. "This here's fer her. Never seen a woman what looked so good. Not in all my born days, and I been in the saddle with the best of 'em in Paris and London. I want her." He tossed this wad of bills into the air.

  Miss Purdy eyed the money on the floor, then looked from J.D. to Kate.

  "You have excellent tastes in womanflesh, sir. She is our finest demimonde."

  "Demi what?" J.D. frowned. "I don't want no demi nothing. I want a good looking whore. I want her." He pointed at Kate, who shot him a dark look.

  "Abby, show them up to the presidential suite. You've paid for a full hour of her time."

  "An hour? Thass all?" J.D. got to unsteady feet, braced himself and declared, "I want her fer the whole damned night. Thass enough for a dozen of your pixy whores." He began to thrash around.

  The bouncer stepped up to settle his hash. Kate saw the gleam of appraisal in her husband's eyes. He unleashed a short, hard punch directly into the bouncer's solar plexus. The man let out a gusty sound and sat. His eyes were open, but J.D. had knocked him out with the single blow.

  "Sorry. I git all mean when I don't get my way."

  "Abby. The entire night, if the gentleman wishes. I suspect he'll be done much sooner than that." The madam stared at Kate. Her expression was unreadable. "You run along now, whatever your name is."

  "Theresa," Kate said sweetly. The madam wasn't buying it, but she didn't care as long as she and J.D. got the chance to poke around, looking for Three-fingers Frank Bell.

  "This money all over the floor belongs to the house. Whatever more you get off him, we split fifty-fifty." Miss Purdy watched her as she trailed behind J.D., Big-hearted Abby in the lead going up a staircase to the second floor.

  Kate pushed J.D. away when he tried getting fresh. He laughed, whispered in her ear, "I'm paying for you" and staggered along in his fake drunken swagger until they came to an ornately carved door.

  "It was made down in Mexico," Big-hearted Abby said. "This is the best room in the whole damn place. Enjoy yourselves." She looked longingly at J.D.

  Kate pushed her back and said, "We will. I will."

  "We both will. I guarantee it."

  Abby opened the door to allow Kate to enter. The sumptuous room rivaled the one they had at the El Paso Hotel. A fancy four-post bed dominated the room. Mirrors mounted on every wall gave an unobstructed view of anything happening on the bed. Kate craned her neck around and saw mirrors mounted flat above the bed. Whoever was on the bottom had an unobstructed view of what went on above.

  "I'm going to like this place a whole lot."

  The door slammed, causing her to jump. She turned to a grinning J.D.

  "From the outside, this place looks like a real cesspool. It's fixed up nice and proper inside, though."

  "We need to hunt for Bell," Kate said. She found herself caught up with J.D.'s arms circling her, holding her firmly in place.

  "I bought you. You're mine."

  "Did you now." She tried to knee him the way she had the bouncer, but he was too quick for her. He reached down, grabbed and got his hand under her thigh. With a s
udden lift, he sent her flying through the air to land on her back in the center of the bed. She rocked about, then looked at him. A thrill went through her. Was this what it meant to be a bought woman?

  She shook herself, and that notion went away. The soiled doves led horrible lives, filled with brutal men, drugs and many ended up killing themselves. But she had to admit playing the part—and with J.D.—was sexy.

  "You bought me. Can you claim what's rightfully yours?"

  He swarmed atop her, but she moved too fast. He ended up grabbing a pillow.

  "Come back here, you little vixen." He threw the pillow at her. She foolishly caught it, giving him a chance to wrap his arms around her waist and hoist her off her feet, dangling belly down over his shoulder.

  "You...you're going to punish me?"

  "I ought to strip off all that extra cloth you're wearing," he said, "but we might need to haul ass out of here at a moment's notice. So I'll just do this."

  She yelped as he dropped her and swung her about, landing her over his knee. A sudden cold wind rushed over her exposed hindquarters. Then her exposed, bare flesh turned warm as he landed a few swats on her fleshy curves. Struggling got her nowhere. And then he stood. She tumbled over half onto the bed, her knees on the floor and her arms stretched out in front of her across the bedspread.

  "What are you doing? You can't take me like a dog!"

  She tried not to shiver in anticipation. This position excited her most of all. With her buttocks aglow from the light spanking, she was ready for him. He entered her from behind. A shudder passed through her, then warmth began spreading from her groin throughout her body. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of his fleshy column parting her soft nether lips before plunging deeply into her hot core.

  "Oh, yes, yes," she sobbed. She buried her face in the bed. Warmth in her loins turned to a fire that spread, grew, threatened to consume her.

  He moved faster now. His manhood generated carnal friction that ignited the ultimate fire. She felt her body consumed by pleasure. Trying to hold back failed. She screamed out in passion as he drove harder, deeper, into her from behind. She gasped for breath and wanted him to slow, to keep up the lovemaking all night long. Then he grunted and sank balls deep into her. His hands gripped her waist and pulled her body back into the circle of his.