Page 24 of Calder Country

Ruby took a chance. “You’re looking for an informant.”

“That’s right. Your father can give us names, but that’s not enough. We can’t arrest people without evidence. And even then, that wouldn’t stop the smuggling. What we need is to know when a shipment comes in and also when and where deliveries are to be made. If we can stop enough transactions ahead of time and catch people in the act—not only the smugglers but their buyers—we can cut off profits and shut down the whole network.”

“And how do I fit into this? My employers don’t tell me anything I don’t need to know.”

“You keep your eyes and ears open. Make friends with people who can tell you what’s coming. Flirt if you have to—I imagine you know how. We’ll arrange a way for you to pass us your information.”

“And now for the big question,” Ruby said. “If I do my job, what happens to my father?”

Hoover took a long drag on his cigarette and tapped the ash into a porcelain teacup. “You tell her, Hargrave. I’ve said enough.”

“You understand, we can’t just turn him loose,” the agent said. “We’ll arrange to fake his death—probably burn his plane with an unclaimed body from the police morgue. Then we’ll keep him in custody until your work is finished.”

“Exactly what do you mean by custody?” Ruby asked.

“Minimum security in the state prison at Deer Lodge. His own room. Decent food. Access to books and writing materials.”

“And no hard labor—absolutely.”

“Absolutely.”

“And if I keep my end of the bargain, all charges against him will be dropped and you’ll send us somewhere safe. Can you guarantee that with a contract, in writing?”

Hargrave glanced at his boss.

“All right,” Hoover said. “But we’ll have to define the conditions—for example, what would constitute default on your part. And if we give you a document, you’ll have to keep it somewhere safe. You can’t risk having it found. If you back out of the agreement, Mr. Murchison will be formally charged, go to trial, and serve his sentence. Agreed?”

Ruby sighed, knowing she’d crossed a line, and there could be no going back. “Agreed—but only after I’ve seen my father and made sure he’s all right.”

“Fine. He’s in the back room. I’ll have Agent Jensen bring him out.” Hoover nodded to the blond man, who rose and vanished down the hallway.

“How did my father get caught?” she asked as they waited.

“His client was turned in by a neighbor,” Hargrave said. “The client gave us the pilot and the delivery window. We had agents waiting when the plane landed.”

And of course my father gave you my name. The words remained unspoken.

Now she could hear muffled footsteps coming back down the hall. Ruby had hoped to see her father alone, but she knew better than to ask. She’d be lucky to exchange a few words with him.

A moment later, he was ushered into the room, looking like a child who’d misbehaved and been punished at school. His hair and clothes were rumpled, his cheek bruised. His wrists were secured in front by steel handcuffs.

Poor, proud, naive man. All he’d wanted was a chance to make a better life for the two of them. He should have weighed the risks. He should have known something like this would happen. But it was her fault, too. She should have held firm against this adventure. Now it was too late. They were both trapped.

His gaze met hers. The look of desperation in his eyes broke her heart.

“I’m sorry, Ruby,” he said. “You know I meant for this to turn out well.”

Leaving her seat, she pushed past the agent to embrace him. He felt frail in her arms, older somehow. “I know you did,” she said. “I’ll be here for you. You can count on that.”

He shook his head. “Don’t waste your life being here for me. Find a good man to take care of you. Have a family while you can. Live the life I want for you.”

Tears sprang to Ruby’s eyes. She choked on her reply as the agent pulled her father away from her and marched him back down the hall.

She turned toward the table where Hoover sat watching her. “Satisfied?” he asked.

Gulping back the emotion she knew that she mustn’t show, Ruby nodded. “Tell me what to do,” she said.

A week later

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