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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2616864" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 143, "Red O'Brien", Monday January 16th, 5:00 P.M. </strong> </p><p></p><p>After Ruby left the room Manuel Gonzales began his spell. He gathered together his various components and deposits them in his brazier, which he then lights. He tells Jake "I am going to start an incantation. When I extend my hands outward I want you to grab onto them." He begins to cast the spell, which requires considerable hand gestures and elaborate incantations from which Jake discerns words in Latin, Greek and French. He then thrusts out his hands as a pink colored smoke rises up from the brazier. Jake decides that holding hands with another man is rather awkward but does as instructed. The pink smoke encompasses them and when it dissipates they find themselves standing inside of a stone building. </p><p></p><p>Within the building several stone vaults that remind Jake of caskets. Gonzales opens the door and sees that a cemetery surrounds the building. Manuel says “A mausoleum is not the most exciting location to be but I had to bring us somewhere in the city where our arrival would not be observed.” They exit the building and the cemetery and head into the city proper. </p><p></p><p>Manuel begins to tell Jake about the past history of the community stating “Elves had lived in this region for millennia. Then in 1775, Hugo O'Conor established the Tucson Presido, making it the official birthdate of the City of Tucson. By 1804, some 1,000 people lived here, which was still a dusty adobe village. The population was mostly Spanish, Mexicans, and Native Americans who made their living raising crops and livestock. The community had little contact with the outside world. </p><p></p><p>After the Mexican Revolution of 1821, Tucson became part of Mexico. As trade opened between the East Coast and California, a new brand of Americans - trappers and traders - began traveling through Arizona. After the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, Tucson falls under the jurisdiction of the United States. Arizona becomes an official territory in 1863. In 1867 Tucson became the territorial capitol, which it held for a decade before the capitol moved back to Prescott. In 1880, the Southern Pacific Railroad reaches Tucson. By the end of the year the population reached 8,000. Jubilant townspeople sent out announcements that Tucson was now connected to the rest of the world.” </p><p></p><p>Jake looks to be bored by the lesson and says “Thanks. I appreciate the ride.” Manuel says “Well, I’m heading over to find Maggie. Would you care to join me?” Jake hesitates for a moment and then says, "Alright, for a short bit. I'll let her know how things went." Gonzales and Jake make their way over to the Plaza Hotel on Elm Street. At the main desk Manuel asks about the room for Mary O'Shea and is told that she is in room 224. They soon find the room and Manuel knocks, identifying himself. Maggie unlocks the door and is surprised to also see Jake standing there. </p><p></p><p>The two men enter the room. Maggie asks "What happened back at the Lone Star after I left?" Jake gives a mostly honest account of what happened, how her father and brother were less than cooperative but leaving out the fact that Jake nearly drew on Tom. He finishes with them leaving in the morning for Denver. "Here, Tom did leave you a letter. In my opinion he was getting pretty irrational, but he did have some concern about you. Or at least appeared to."</p><p></p><p>Maggie takes the note and sits down on the bed to read it. Jake watches her facial expression change from sadness to anger to frustration and then to sadness again all in the course of two minutes. She folds up the note and shoves it into the pocket of her dress. She then stands, sighs, and tells Jake "Thank you for bringing it. I guess I had to know." </p><p></p><p>Gonzales tells Jake "We will be leaving this city soon and I will probably be gone for a few days. Would you like me to stop back here for you or are you going to be heading back to Promise City on your own?" I know my way back, if you don't need me for anything I'll head back on my own. That way you aren't waiting for me and I'm not waiting for you. Have a safe trip you two. Good luck Maggie." Jake says with some sincerity. "Thanks again for the company on the trip out Senor." Jake tips his hat and leaves them to their travels. </p><p></p><p>It's still early, Jake thinks so he heads out to the Water Hole Saloon in search of a friend. Jake asks about the saloon and receives directions to the northern end of town. The saloon is located on a small side street off of Court Avenue. The saloon doesn't look like much, a single-story wooden clapboard building fifteen feet wide and forty-five feet long. He enters through the main door seeing that the main room goes twenty feet back and consists of only a U-shaped bar and twenty barstools, only three of which are currently occupied. There are two doors in the back of the room leading to the remainder of the building. A bartender wearing a red cotton shirt with a white apron over it stands behind the bar, barely paying any attention to Jake and asks "May I get you something, Sir?"</p><p></p><p>"Kentucky bourbon if you got it, whiskey if you don't." Jake takes a seat that has the best view of all doors and the least amount of worry behind his back. He looks over the other patrons out of the corner of his eye. The other three patrons look worn out and ragged. The bartender gestures to the door at the back right of the building and says "I believe that there's a bottle waiting for you right through that door."</p><p></p><p>Jake nods, gets up and flips the man two bits. As he leaves the stool he adjusts his trousers and palms his derringer in his left hand. Silver Jake Cook casually walks to the back right door and raps lightly twice. And the door opens up to a darkened room, although nobody appears to be inside. Jake continues to stand there palming his gun and does not enter. Jake then notices the three patrons at the bar depart out the front door. </p><p></p><p>The bartender ducks down under the bar and Patrick 'Red' O'Brien immediately rises up from the same spot. "Always the cautious one Jacob, good to know," O'Brien states as he smiles at his former student. Red puts two glasses on the bar and produces a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon and says "Glad to see that ye are still drinking my beverage of choice."</p><p></p><p>Jake takes a seat in front of him and looks him straight in the eyes. "It IS you. I wondered for a long time if you made it out OK, but in my heart I knew you were too slippery to kill that easy." Jake reholsters the derringer. "I have grown rather fond of it, and I figured if you weren't watching you'd be listening." Jake takes up the glass and looks at Patrick O'Brien again in the eyes. "Damn it's good to see you."</p><p></p><p>"And it is good to see you too Jacob me boy. I would have contacted you before if I knew where you were. I must say that I was rather surprised when I walked into the Lone Star nine nights ago and saw you sitting there, almost blew me cover. Probably would have if ye hadn't decided to rush out the door just then and become a silver baron."</p><p>:</p><p>"I have a thousand questions, but that's nothing new is it? Is it safe to talk here? I noticed you cleared the place rather quickly of the others." Jake savors a sip of the bourbon " Red replies, "Sure it's safe. Cornelius Van Horne happens to own this place. It doesn't look like much but it has a few hidden surprises to it." </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Don't make me ask all the questions. Tell me what happened and who you are hiding from." He says "Read for yourself" and removes a rolled up piece of yellowed paper from inside of his jacket. Jake unrolls it seeing that it is a wanted poster with an excellent artist's rendition of Red that reads: </p><p></p><p><strong>Reward $ 2,000 </strong></p><p><strong>Patrick 'Red' O'Brien </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Wanted Dead or Alive </strong></p><p><strong>For the Murder of Ezikiel Ogden </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Claim reward with the Kansas City Police Department</strong></p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Nice picture. Not the notoriety you were looking for however." Jake looks up at him. "Who was Ogden? Or did I meet him briefly the last time I saw you?" O'Brien replies "Well, you could say that. You're the one who killed him. At the card table everyone called him Union Zeke but it turns out that his real name was Ezikiel Ogden."</p><p></p><p>Jake takes his hat off and puts in on the bar. "Sorry about that. He was trying to kill you at the time though. Nearly did so if I recall." Jake makes a clucking sound and takes a bigger swig of the bourbon. "Bastard ambushed you, and you get the wanted poster. It's always the way. So every bounty hunter in the Midwest is looking for this face." Jake hands him back the poster. "Anybody else looking? And how in Hades do you do that, uh, change thing?"</p><p></p><p>Red replies, "Lots of questions. Yeah, Zeke shot me first, but everyone scattered after that so it was assumed that I was the one who shot him back. I don't blame you for running, Old Man Jackson had gone for his shotgun and wouldn't have been picky about who he used it on. </p><p></p><p>As for the wanted poster, it turns out that Ezekiel Odgen was well connected. Sure, he was a washed up drunk, but he also happened to be the cousin of Malvina Belle Ogden originally of Cincinnati. You would know her by her married named, Malvina Armour. Yeah, that's right, the wife of Philip Danforth Armour, who is quickly becoming the slaughterhouse and meat packing king of the Midwest. He practically owns Kansas City at this point. Putting up $ 2,000 to make his wife happy was barely a drop in the bucket for him. </p><p></p><p>As for Van Horne, that my boy was just serendipity, a case of my being in the right place at the right time. It's a long story. Before I get into though why don't you tell me about how you met your wife. She's quite a looker that Ruby. Usually marriage doesn't sit well for people in our profession, you tend to favor either the woman or the job and the other suffers, but in your case this match seems to work."</p><p></p><p>"She is quite a looker, that IS for sure." Jake chuckles, downs the rest of his glass and holds it out for a refill. "You been reading Baxter's yellow rag, Ruby and Jake aren't married." Jake laughs hard. "Marriage is the only game of chance I know of where both people can lose." When the laughing trails off he starts again, "Ironically, it was Baxter's competition, that half pint walking mouth Chumbley that accidentally introduced us. I pretended to escort Ruby and the Kale widow to get away from his incessant chatter. That and it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time to spend time admiring the women." Jake catches expression in O'Brien's face, "No, that hasn't changed either." </p><p></p><p>"Well one thing led to another, in no time at all Jake and Ruby are the talk of the town. We only met two and a half weeks ago! That woman has talents you wouldn't believe." Again, Jake catches the grin on O'Brien's face, "Yes the obvious ones, and even more not so obvious. I don't know, it does seem to work. I'm sure not suffering any. Sometimes I worry that Jake and Ruby are like too much oil on really dry tinder." Jake laughs again. "But what a way to go."</p><p></p><p>O'Brien laughs at that "I should have know you wouldn't have settled down. Although, if you ever did, I'm sure it would be with someone like her. So Jacob me boy, what brought you to Promise City?" Jake answers, "I headed south from Denver, and wore out my welcome along the way. After Santa Fe I cut cards and Arizona Territory won. When I got here to Tucson I heard about all the silver discoveries in Tombstone and Promise City. So off I went to help the miners spend their money." Jake smiles and shrugs. "Nothing more than that. I did not plan and could not predict that I would own a share of a silver mine, a share of a saloon and have more friends and enemies in one town than I have had in most of the last five years." O'Brien cocks his head and raises his eyebrows. "Ok" Jake adds, "there were a couple of times were I had more enemies."</p><p></p><p>O'Brien says "Well, you made a mistake turning Evan Adair into your enemy. And from what I hear Hamilton Fisk isn't exactly the president of the Jake Cooke fan club. Oh, and don't underestimate Baxter. He's generally a useless drunk, but half the newspapers in the country picked up his James Gang story last summer and his Doc Holiday one again in October. So he has the connections to get things circulated if they are newsworthy enough."</p><p></p><p>"Patrick me boy" Jake puts on his best Irish accent, "I'm not even bein' sure wot I was doin' that put a burr under that laddy's blanket." Jake drops the accent. "Really. I know that Ruby made him mighty angry and that the Whipples were stealing his business, but what in Hades did I do besides be near them to make him want to shoot me?"</p><p></p><p>Red replies, "Well, your saying that Ruby made him angry is an understatement. Jacob, she slapped him! According to him every person who has ever taken a hand to him is lying in a grave somewhere, except for her. So that's his challenge. But thanks to Baxter he thinks that you are her husband so to him it's a package deal."</p><p></p><p>Jake replies, "I was hoping to talk sense to the man up until the time when he pulled the trigger. Kinda puts a damper on my enthusiasm to work out a deal. What's your opinion, anyway to call it off with this man short of racing to see who can put the other in a six foot hole?" Red says, "Jacob, you were a fool. You blew your opportunity to be rid of him. You were wearing a badge and he shot first. Things like that don't come along every day. Jacob, once I had the gun lowered you should have drawn. Why didn't you?"</p><p></p><p>"Fool. Damn Fool. Great damn fool." Jake shoots the bourbon in his hand. "There were three of them plus Van Horne. At that time, even though you knocked his gun aside, I didn't know it was you. Ruby was quite drunk and I hadn't discovered that until a few minutes earlier. So even if I kill Adair on the first shot, then I have to see if Van Horne is going to draw a weapon, and the other two with Adair already had weapons out. Ruby would have fired I'm sure, but she was in no condition to duck. At that point if Van Horne doesn't draw, Jake and Ruby managed to shoot down the three I still don't know what Van Horne says in court." </p><p></p><p>Jake shakes his head. "I only had that badge on temporary from Earp to help with Deadeye's gang. I'm not sure that Isby wouldn't have had me hang regardless of the badge. 'Despicable the way he abused that badge for his own revenge' Isby says and the floor drops out." Jake holds out the glass. "I only had a second to decide. Decisions done now. That fool Cook needs another plan."</p><p></p><p>Red states, "Jacob me boy, I owe you an apology. You did the right thing. You acted correctly in showing restraint in order to protect your woman. It was what a gentleman would have done. But it's not what the reckless gambler who I apprenticed would have done. You really are married my boy, you just haven't finalized it yet." O'Brien pours them each another drink of Kentucky Bourbon and says "I never should have taught you to appreciate this fine beverage. I've had to go without it for the last week, seems that you and your lady bought up every bottle in the Cochise County for yourselves. Good thing I knew that I had another case of it back here in Pima County. "</p><p></p><p>"Married. You're funny O'Brien." Jake laughs but stops when he looks his face. "You are being funny? We are going to have to do something to improve the supply down in Promise City. I think I know how to do that too. What are your plans? And you aren't getting off the hook telling me about how you do the change thing. I want to know about your outrageous winning streak, that isn't all skill is it?"</p><p></p><p>O'Brien reaches down his shirt and pulls out a gold chain with some sort of gold silver dollar sized coin attached. In the center of the coin in a green stone that appears to be an emerald. "This my boy is what I have been using, not for the change but for the winnings. Allows me to detect a person's thoughts. Can only be used a maximum of five times a day, and even then it only works around half the time. But it's usually enough of an advantage combined with everything I already know to tip the balance in my favor."</p><p></p><p>Jake comments, "You are a mighty fine player, I'll grant you that. Knowing a couple times a game when to run up the pot, plus learning what folks are thinking behind their attempts at poker faces so you can recognize the expressions again later.... impressive." Jake gets a wistful look. "Don't you just want to play straight up sometimes? There is something about an honest game." Red responds, "Jacob my boy, some nights I don't use this thing at all. Gives me enough confidence just knowing I have it. Used it the other night though, that's how I knew that Adair was going to take a shot at you when he did." </p><p></p><p>He sighs and continues "As for the change, that's another trinket I picked up. He unhooks the chain holding his pocket watch to his vest pocket and slides it across the bar. Jake examines it, noticing that it is the same watch that Red has always had. Jake says "So what? You had this before." O'Brien replies "Not the watch, the magic is in the chain. Projects a different appearance. Very strong magic, hard to detect. I actually have two of those. One for Van Horne, the other for the man you saw standing behind this bar when you walked in a few minutes ago."</p><p></p><p>"When I first heard about how hard it was to beat Van Horne, I figured it was some enchantment. When I saw that watch chain I almost made a try for it, figuring that was it." Jake laughs "I suppose Van Horne would have slapped my hand, eh? Do you stay here? Is there a spot for me, or would you rather I find another place for the evening to keep things from being too suspicious?"</p><p></p><p>Red states, "Yes I stay here. Let me show you around. This is the bar, not much to look at but that's intentional. A beat up bar with a generic name is just what I'm looking for. Nobody notices or cares who comes and goes. I employ a half dozen bodyguards of which at least two are on the premises at any time. Those were the three men who were sitting here when you came in. They blend in and look and act like customers except that they only drink from the bottles with the red line at the bottom right hand corner of the label, which are colored water. </p><p></p><p>He then takes Jake into the first of the two back rooms, the one that the door was opened into. Like the main room it doesn't look like much, just a plain rectangular windowless room with two small beds, a small wooden table, two chairs, a gas lantern, a shelf on the wall with two metal mugs and a book, and a woven Native American style rug on the floor. The only thing in the room that doesn't appear simple are the door locks, which include three top of the line bolt locks and an iron bar with iron hooks on both sides of interior door to hold. </p><p></p><p>O'Brien says, "This is the safe room. All of the walls, the ceiling and the door are triple thick, with a solid sheet of iron between the two layers of wood. Nothing short of a cannon would be able to penetrate. There are also three well trapped escapes from here, one in the floor, another in the ceiling and the other in the wall to the other back room." He heads to the sidewall and fiddles with the wall, knocking on it in a few select places. He then goes to one of the door bolts and pivots the bolt brace out like a book, revealing a wire in the wall behind it, which he then pulls. He then returns to the side wall, placing both hands on it, and then sliding a three by four foot section to the side. </p><p></p><p>This opens up to a window slightly smaller than the panel from which O'Brien craws through and gestures for Jake to follow. The other room is also rectangular and windowless. The room is magically lit and opulently furnished, with plush wool carpeting, gold framed paintings on the wall, a large four-posted bed with thick down comforters and goose feather pillows. A fancy oak armoire and matching dresser are along the door where one would expect the door to the saloon to be located.</p><p></p><p>Jake whistles when he sees the plush room. "Very impressive Mr. O'Brien, very impressive indeed." He walks around examining the paintings and other details. Red says, "The largest of those paintings is actually a Rembrandt. Those other two are by a young French painter named Claude Monet. He's not well known yet but I think he has promise." </p><p></p><p>He looks back to his old friend with a smug grin. "How many people know who you really are? Or do all your associates know you as either Van Horne or the bar tender?" Before he can answer Jake adds with a widening grin, "So if a lady friend only knows Van Horne, where do you put the chain?"</p><p></p><p>Red replies, "The men have met all three men but obviously never at the same time and believe that we are each a part owner who each pay part of their salaries. The key is for me to remember which one entered the back room to make sure that the same one leaves. I also pay them well enough to not ask questions. And I'm sorry to say that I've only had a chance to try it twice, but have found that the chain can fit snugly around my ankle if necessary. </p><p></p><p>And in answer to the earlier question, you can stay here, not in this room mind you, this one is mine, but the other one. It's simple but safe. That's why I wanted you to meet me here rather than in Promise City or Tombstone, too much risk of us being seen together. We'd also better return on different days."</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "I've slept in far worse. It'll do fine. I can't stay long this time anyway, too much going on back in Promise City. I'm glad you'll still be spending time in Promise City. We'll have to figure out how we can have some fun without jeopardizing your cover." Jake scratches his beard. "Hey, do you know anything about this currency?" Jake hands him one of the 100 denominations that he has in his pocket separate from the rest.</p><p></p><p>He looks at the bills "Sorry, can't help ye much there." He sits down on the bed and says "About Promise City, there really isn't much more for me to do there other than keep you and your friend Ruby alive. I've played it out for about all that Van Horne can and was about to move on when you showed up. You see, for the last six months I've been using this town and saloon as my base of operations while then hitting the big communities in the region and taking their saloons for all they are worth. I spent two months cleaning out the Pheonix, Scotsdale and Mesa area. Then after a few weeks back here took Casa Grande for all it was worth. Next was Sierra Vista, and then finally Promise City. I figure after another break here I'd then go see what Benson and Bisbee have to offer. I thought about Tombstone but am afraid that Virgil Earp will now be onto me due to his brothers."</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "I like staying alive, I appreciate any help on that front. I know you need to live your life, and you have pretty much cleaned out the Promise City dealers. They are ducking under tables when you show up." Jake laughs. "I'm open to suggestions. Whatever you decide, do you have a little time tomorrow to share some of your wisdom and skills with a former pupil? That and do you know where I can sell some jewelry? No it's not hot."</p><p></p><p>Red replies, "Jacob me Boy, it's been rather lonely for me this past year or so. Only had one person who I ran into that I'd call a friend since I left you and that was for far too brief a time. Spending a few days together would we wonderful. I have a few ideas about where to sell jewelry. Don't know what to do about Adair but if we put our heads together I'm sure that we can figure out something."</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Red, I think there is enough of that bottle of bourbon left to take us through a few catch up stories. We'll take turns. What do you say you besotted Irishman?" Red hands Jake the remainder of the current bottle and pulls out an unopened bottle from the bar. "I guess it's time to retire to the back room. One minute me boy." He heads back towards the front door. Before opening it he takes out a gold chain and holds in his hand. He mumbles something. He says it softly enough that Jake is not able to deduce the exact words but recognizes the phrase as French. Red then transforms into the non-descript dark haired human man who had been standing behind the bar when Jake entered. </p><p></p><p>Red then opens the door and removes a "closed" sign hanging there, turning it around to "open" and hanging it on a higher nail in the door. He comes back in and shortly thereafter so do two of the three men that were around earlier. Red gestures towards the bar and one of the them goes behind it and puts on a bartender's apron. Red says "Richard, this is Mr. Jacob, an old associate of mine and Mr. Patrick's. He will be staying with me for a few days. Please treat him as you would one of the owners, he's considering making an investment in our business ventures." Red and Jake then head into the back room with the bottles.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2616864, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 143, "Red O'Brien", Monday January 16th, 5:00 P.M. [/B] After Ruby left the room Manuel Gonzales began his spell. He gathered together his various components and deposits them in his brazier, which he then lights. He tells Jake "I am going to start an incantation. When I extend my hands outward I want you to grab onto them." He begins to cast the spell, which requires considerable hand gestures and elaborate incantations from which Jake discerns words in Latin, Greek and French. He then thrusts out his hands as a pink colored smoke rises up from the brazier. Jake decides that holding hands with another man is rather awkward but does as instructed. The pink smoke encompasses them and when it dissipates they find themselves standing inside of a stone building. Within the building several stone vaults that remind Jake of caskets. Gonzales opens the door and sees that a cemetery surrounds the building. Manuel says “A mausoleum is not the most exciting location to be but I had to bring us somewhere in the city where our arrival would not be observed.” They exit the building and the cemetery and head into the city proper. Manuel begins to tell Jake about the past history of the community stating “Elves had lived in this region for millennia. Then in 1775, Hugo O'Conor established the Tucson Presido, making it the official birthdate of the City of Tucson. By 1804, some 1,000 people lived here, which was still a dusty adobe village. The population was mostly Spanish, Mexicans, and Native Americans who made their living raising crops and livestock. The community had little contact with the outside world. After the Mexican Revolution of 1821, Tucson became part of Mexico. As trade opened between the East Coast and California, a new brand of Americans - trappers and traders - began traveling through Arizona. After the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, Tucson falls under the jurisdiction of the United States. Arizona becomes an official territory in 1863. In 1867 Tucson became the territorial capitol, which it held for a decade before the capitol moved back to Prescott. In 1880, the Southern Pacific Railroad reaches Tucson. By the end of the year the population reached 8,000. Jubilant townspeople sent out announcements that Tucson was now connected to the rest of the world.” Jake looks to be bored by the lesson and says “Thanks. I appreciate the ride.” Manuel says “Well, I’m heading over to find Maggie. Would you care to join me?” Jake hesitates for a moment and then says, "Alright, for a short bit. I'll let her know how things went." Gonzales and Jake make their way over to the Plaza Hotel on Elm Street. At the main desk Manuel asks about the room for Mary O'Shea and is told that she is in room 224. They soon find the room and Manuel knocks, identifying himself. Maggie unlocks the door and is surprised to also see Jake standing there. The two men enter the room. Maggie asks "What happened back at the Lone Star after I left?" Jake gives a mostly honest account of what happened, how her father and brother were less than cooperative but leaving out the fact that Jake nearly drew on Tom. He finishes with them leaving in the morning for Denver. "Here, Tom did leave you a letter. In my opinion he was getting pretty irrational, but he did have some concern about you. Or at least appeared to." Maggie takes the note and sits down on the bed to read it. Jake watches her facial expression change from sadness to anger to frustration and then to sadness again all in the course of two minutes. She folds up the note and shoves it into the pocket of her dress. She then stands, sighs, and tells Jake "Thank you for bringing it. I guess I had to know." Gonzales tells Jake "We will be leaving this city soon and I will probably be gone for a few days. Would you like me to stop back here for you or are you going to be heading back to Promise City on your own?" I know my way back, if you don't need me for anything I'll head back on my own. That way you aren't waiting for me and I'm not waiting for you. Have a safe trip you two. Good luck Maggie." Jake says with some sincerity. "Thanks again for the company on the trip out Senor." Jake tips his hat and leaves them to their travels. It's still early, Jake thinks so he heads out to the Water Hole Saloon in search of a friend. Jake asks about the saloon and receives directions to the northern end of town. The saloon is located on a small side street off of Court Avenue. The saloon doesn't look like much, a single-story wooden clapboard building fifteen feet wide and forty-five feet long. He enters through the main door seeing that the main room goes twenty feet back and consists of only a U-shaped bar and twenty barstools, only three of which are currently occupied. There are two doors in the back of the room leading to the remainder of the building. A bartender wearing a red cotton shirt with a white apron over it stands behind the bar, barely paying any attention to Jake and asks "May I get you something, Sir?" "Kentucky bourbon if you got it, whiskey if you don't." Jake takes a seat that has the best view of all doors and the least amount of worry behind his back. He looks over the other patrons out of the corner of his eye. The other three patrons look worn out and ragged. The bartender gestures to the door at the back right of the building and says "I believe that there's a bottle waiting for you right through that door." Jake nods, gets up and flips the man two bits. As he leaves the stool he adjusts his trousers and palms his derringer in his left hand. Silver Jake Cook casually walks to the back right door and raps lightly twice. And the door opens up to a darkened room, although nobody appears to be inside. Jake continues to stand there palming his gun and does not enter. Jake then notices the three patrons at the bar depart out the front door. The bartender ducks down under the bar and Patrick 'Red' O'Brien immediately rises up from the same spot. "Always the cautious one Jacob, good to know," O'Brien states as he smiles at his former student. Red puts two glasses on the bar and produces a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon and says "Glad to see that ye are still drinking my beverage of choice." Jake takes a seat in front of him and looks him straight in the eyes. "It IS you. I wondered for a long time if you made it out OK, but in my heart I knew you were too slippery to kill that easy." Jake reholsters the derringer. "I have grown rather fond of it, and I figured if you weren't watching you'd be listening." Jake takes up the glass and looks at Patrick O'Brien again in the eyes. "Damn it's good to see you." "And it is good to see you too Jacob me boy. I would have contacted you before if I knew where you were. I must say that I was rather surprised when I walked into the Lone Star nine nights ago and saw you sitting there, almost blew me cover. Probably would have if ye hadn't decided to rush out the door just then and become a silver baron." : "I have a thousand questions, but that's nothing new is it? Is it safe to talk here? I noticed you cleared the place rather quickly of the others." Jake savors a sip of the bourbon " Red replies, "Sure it's safe. Cornelius Van Horne happens to own this place. It doesn't look like much but it has a few hidden surprises to it." Jake says, "Don't make me ask all the questions. Tell me what happened and who you are hiding from." He says "Read for yourself" and removes a rolled up piece of yellowed paper from inside of his jacket. Jake unrolls it seeing that it is a wanted poster with an excellent artist's rendition of Red that reads: [B]Reward $ 2,000 Patrick 'Red' O'Brien Wanted Dead or Alive For the Murder of Ezikiel Ogden Claim reward with the Kansas City Police Department[/B] Jake says, "Nice picture. Not the notoriety you were looking for however." Jake looks up at him. "Who was Ogden? Or did I meet him briefly the last time I saw you?" O'Brien replies "Well, you could say that. You're the one who killed him. At the card table everyone called him Union Zeke but it turns out that his real name was Ezikiel Ogden." Jake takes his hat off and puts in on the bar. "Sorry about that. He was trying to kill you at the time though. Nearly did so if I recall." Jake makes a clucking sound and takes a bigger swig of the bourbon. "Bastard ambushed you, and you get the wanted poster. It's always the way. So every bounty hunter in the Midwest is looking for this face." Jake hands him back the poster. "Anybody else looking? And how in Hades do you do that, uh, change thing?" Red replies, "Lots of questions. Yeah, Zeke shot me first, but everyone scattered after that so it was assumed that I was the one who shot him back. I don't blame you for running, Old Man Jackson had gone for his shotgun and wouldn't have been picky about who he used it on. As for the wanted poster, it turns out that Ezekiel Odgen was well connected. Sure, he was a washed up drunk, but he also happened to be the cousin of Malvina Belle Ogden originally of Cincinnati. You would know her by her married named, Malvina Armour. Yeah, that's right, the wife of Philip Danforth Armour, who is quickly becoming the slaughterhouse and meat packing king of the Midwest. He practically owns Kansas City at this point. Putting up $ 2,000 to make his wife happy was barely a drop in the bucket for him. As for Van Horne, that my boy was just serendipity, a case of my being in the right place at the right time. It's a long story. Before I get into though why don't you tell me about how you met your wife. She's quite a looker that Ruby. Usually marriage doesn't sit well for people in our profession, you tend to favor either the woman or the job and the other suffers, but in your case this match seems to work." "She is quite a looker, that IS for sure." Jake chuckles, downs the rest of his glass and holds it out for a refill. "You been reading Baxter's yellow rag, Ruby and Jake aren't married." Jake laughs hard. "Marriage is the only game of chance I know of where both people can lose." When the laughing trails off he starts again, "Ironically, it was Baxter's competition, that half pint walking mouth Chumbley that accidentally introduced us. I pretended to escort Ruby and the Kale widow to get away from his incessant chatter. That and it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time to spend time admiring the women." Jake catches expression in O'Brien's face, "No, that hasn't changed either." "Well one thing led to another, in no time at all Jake and Ruby are the talk of the town. We only met two and a half weeks ago! That woman has talents you wouldn't believe." Again, Jake catches the grin on O'Brien's face, "Yes the obvious ones, and even more not so obvious. I don't know, it does seem to work. I'm sure not suffering any. Sometimes I worry that Jake and Ruby are like too much oil on really dry tinder." Jake laughs again. "But what a way to go." O'Brien laughs at that "I should have know you wouldn't have settled down. Although, if you ever did, I'm sure it would be with someone like her. So Jacob me boy, what brought you to Promise City?" Jake answers, "I headed south from Denver, and wore out my welcome along the way. After Santa Fe I cut cards and Arizona Territory won. When I got here to Tucson I heard about all the silver discoveries in Tombstone and Promise City. So off I went to help the miners spend their money." Jake smiles and shrugs. "Nothing more than that. I did not plan and could not predict that I would own a share of a silver mine, a share of a saloon and have more friends and enemies in one town than I have had in most of the last five years." O'Brien cocks his head and raises his eyebrows. "Ok" Jake adds, "there were a couple of times were I had more enemies." O'Brien says "Well, you made a mistake turning Evan Adair into your enemy. And from what I hear Hamilton Fisk isn't exactly the president of the Jake Cooke fan club. Oh, and don't underestimate Baxter. He's generally a useless drunk, but half the newspapers in the country picked up his James Gang story last summer and his Doc Holiday one again in October. So he has the connections to get things circulated if they are newsworthy enough." "Patrick me boy" Jake puts on his best Irish accent, "I'm not even bein' sure wot I was doin' that put a burr under that laddy's blanket." Jake drops the accent. "Really. I know that Ruby made him mighty angry and that the Whipples were stealing his business, but what in Hades did I do besides be near them to make him want to shoot me?" Red replies, "Well, your saying that Ruby made him angry is an understatement. Jacob, she slapped him! According to him every person who has ever taken a hand to him is lying in a grave somewhere, except for her. So that's his challenge. But thanks to Baxter he thinks that you are her husband so to him it's a package deal." Jake replies, "I was hoping to talk sense to the man up until the time when he pulled the trigger. Kinda puts a damper on my enthusiasm to work out a deal. What's your opinion, anyway to call it off with this man short of racing to see who can put the other in a six foot hole?" Red says, "Jacob, you were a fool. You blew your opportunity to be rid of him. You were wearing a badge and he shot first. Things like that don't come along every day. Jacob, once I had the gun lowered you should have drawn. Why didn't you?" "Fool. Damn Fool. Great damn fool." Jake shoots the bourbon in his hand. "There were three of them plus Van Horne. At that time, even though you knocked his gun aside, I didn't know it was you. Ruby was quite drunk and I hadn't discovered that until a few minutes earlier. So even if I kill Adair on the first shot, then I have to see if Van Horne is going to draw a weapon, and the other two with Adair already had weapons out. Ruby would have fired I'm sure, but she was in no condition to duck. At that point if Van Horne doesn't draw, Jake and Ruby managed to shoot down the three I still don't know what Van Horne says in court." Jake shakes his head. "I only had that badge on temporary from Earp to help with Deadeye's gang. I'm not sure that Isby wouldn't have had me hang regardless of the badge. 'Despicable the way he abused that badge for his own revenge' Isby says and the floor drops out." Jake holds out the glass. "I only had a second to decide. Decisions done now. That fool Cook needs another plan." Red states, "Jacob me boy, I owe you an apology. You did the right thing. You acted correctly in showing restraint in order to protect your woman. It was what a gentleman would have done. But it's not what the reckless gambler who I apprenticed would have done. You really are married my boy, you just haven't finalized it yet." O'Brien pours them each another drink of Kentucky Bourbon and says "I never should have taught you to appreciate this fine beverage. I've had to go without it for the last week, seems that you and your lady bought up every bottle in the Cochise County for yourselves. Good thing I knew that I had another case of it back here in Pima County. " "Married. You're funny O'Brien." Jake laughs but stops when he looks his face. "You are being funny? We are going to have to do something to improve the supply down in Promise City. I think I know how to do that too. What are your plans? And you aren't getting off the hook telling me about how you do the change thing. I want to know about your outrageous winning streak, that isn't all skill is it?" O'Brien reaches down his shirt and pulls out a gold chain with some sort of gold silver dollar sized coin attached. In the center of the coin in a green stone that appears to be an emerald. "This my boy is what I have been using, not for the change but for the winnings. Allows me to detect a person's thoughts. Can only be used a maximum of five times a day, and even then it only works around half the time. But it's usually enough of an advantage combined with everything I already know to tip the balance in my favor." Jake comments, "You are a mighty fine player, I'll grant you that. Knowing a couple times a game when to run up the pot, plus learning what folks are thinking behind their attempts at poker faces so you can recognize the expressions again later.... impressive." Jake gets a wistful look. "Don't you just want to play straight up sometimes? There is something about an honest game." Red responds, "Jacob my boy, some nights I don't use this thing at all. Gives me enough confidence just knowing I have it. Used it the other night though, that's how I knew that Adair was going to take a shot at you when he did." He sighs and continues "As for the change, that's another trinket I picked up. He unhooks the chain holding his pocket watch to his vest pocket and slides it across the bar. Jake examines it, noticing that it is the same watch that Red has always had. Jake says "So what? You had this before." O'Brien replies "Not the watch, the magic is in the chain. Projects a different appearance. Very strong magic, hard to detect. I actually have two of those. One for Van Horne, the other for the man you saw standing behind this bar when you walked in a few minutes ago." "When I first heard about how hard it was to beat Van Horne, I figured it was some enchantment. When I saw that watch chain I almost made a try for it, figuring that was it." Jake laughs "I suppose Van Horne would have slapped my hand, eh? Do you stay here? Is there a spot for me, or would you rather I find another place for the evening to keep things from being too suspicious?" Red states, "Yes I stay here. Let me show you around. This is the bar, not much to look at but that's intentional. A beat up bar with a generic name is just what I'm looking for. Nobody notices or cares who comes and goes. I employ a half dozen bodyguards of which at least two are on the premises at any time. Those were the three men who were sitting here when you came in. They blend in and look and act like customers except that they only drink from the bottles with the red line at the bottom right hand corner of the label, which are colored water. He then takes Jake into the first of the two back rooms, the one that the door was opened into. Like the main room it doesn't look like much, just a plain rectangular windowless room with two small beds, a small wooden table, two chairs, a gas lantern, a shelf on the wall with two metal mugs and a book, and a woven Native American style rug on the floor. The only thing in the room that doesn't appear simple are the door locks, which include three top of the line bolt locks and an iron bar with iron hooks on both sides of interior door to hold. O'Brien says, "This is the safe room. All of the walls, the ceiling and the door are triple thick, with a solid sheet of iron between the two layers of wood. Nothing short of a cannon would be able to penetrate. There are also three well trapped escapes from here, one in the floor, another in the ceiling and the other in the wall to the other back room." He heads to the sidewall and fiddles with the wall, knocking on it in a few select places. He then goes to one of the door bolts and pivots the bolt brace out like a book, revealing a wire in the wall behind it, which he then pulls. He then returns to the side wall, placing both hands on it, and then sliding a three by four foot section to the side. This opens up to a window slightly smaller than the panel from which O'Brien craws through and gestures for Jake to follow. The other room is also rectangular and windowless. The room is magically lit and opulently furnished, with plush wool carpeting, gold framed paintings on the wall, a large four-posted bed with thick down comforters and goose feather pillows. A fancy oak armoire and matching dresser are along the door where one would expect the door to the saloon to be located. Jake whistles when he sees the plush room. "Very impressive Mr. O'Brien, very impressive indeed." He walks around examining the paintings and other details. Red says, "The largest of those paintings is actually a Rembrandt. Those other two are by a young French painter named Claude Monet. He's not well known yet but I think he has promise." He looks back to his old friend with a smug grin. "How many people know who you really are? Or do all your associates know you as either Van Horne or the bar tender?" Before he can answer Jake adds with a widening grin, "So if a lady friend only knows Van Horne, where do you put the chain?" Red replies, "The men have met all three men but obviously never at the same time and believe that we are each a part owner who each pay part of their salaries. The key is for me to remember which one entered the back room to make sure that the same one leaves. I also pay them well enough to not ask questions. And I'm sorry to say that I've only had a chance to try it twice, but have found that the chain can fit snugly around my ankle if necessary. And in answer to the earlier question, you can stay here, not in this room mind you, this one is mine, but the other one. It's simple but safe. That's why I wanted you to meet me here rather than in Promise City or Tombstone, too much risk of us being seen together. We'd also better return on different days." Jake says, "I've slept in far worse. It'll do fine. I can't stay long this time anyway, too much going on back in Promise City. I'm glad you'll still be spending time in Promise City. We'll have to figure out how we can have some fun without jeopardizing your cover." Jake scratches his beard. "Hey, do you know anything about this currency?" Jake hands him one of the 100 denominations that he has in his pocket separate from the rest. He looks at the bills "Sorry, can't help ye much there." He sits down on the bed and says "About Promise City, there really isn't much more for me to do there other than keep you and your friend Ruby alive. I've played it out for about all that Van Horne can and was about to move on when you showed up. You see, for the last six months I've been using this town and saloon as my base of operations while then hitting the big communities in the region and taking their saloons for all they are worth. I spent two months cleaning out the Pheonix, Scotsdale and Mesa area. Then after a few weeks back here took Casa Grande for all it was worth. Next was Sierra Vista, and then finally Promise City. I figure after another break here I'd then go see what Benson and Bisbee have to offer. I thought about Tombstone but am afraid that Virgil Earp will now be onto me due to his brothers." Jake says, "I like staying alive, I appreciate any help on that front. I know you need to live your life, and you have pretty much cleaned out the Promise City dealers. They are ducking under tables when you show up." Jake laughs. "I'm open to suggestions. Whatever you decide, do you have a little time tomorrow to share some of your wisdom and skills with a former pupil? That and do you know where I can sell some jewelry? No it's not hot." Red replies, "Jacob me Boy, it's been rather lonely for me this past year or so. Only had one person who I ran into that I'd call a friend since I left you and that was for far too brief a time. Spending a few days together would we wonderful. I have a few ideas about where to sell jewelry. Don't know what to do about Adair but if we put our heads together I'm sure that we can figure out something." Jake says, "Red, I think there is enough of that bottle of bourbon left to take us through a few catch up stories. We'll take turns. What do you say you besotted Irishman?" Red hands Jake the remainder of the current bottle and pulls out an unopened bottle from the bar. "I guess it's time to retire to the back room. One minute me boy." He heads back towards the front door. Before opening it he takes out a gold chain and holds in his hand. He mumbles something. He says it softly enough that Jake is not able to deduce the exact words but recognizes the phrase as French. Red then transforms into the non-descript dark haired human man who had been standing behind the bar when Jake entered. Red then opens the door and removes a "closed" sign hanging there, turning it around to "open" and hanging it on a higher nail in the door. He comes back in and shortly thereafter so do two of the three men that were around earlier. Red gestures towards the bar and one of the them goes behind it and puts on a bartender's apron. Red says "Richard, this is Mr. Jacob, an old associate of mine and Mr. Patrick's. He will be staying with me for a few days. Please treat him as you would one of the owners, he's considering making an investment in our business ventures." Red and Jake then head into the back room with the bottles. [/QUOTE]
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