Edward Hoch - Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Vol. 111, No. 1. Whole No. 677, January 1998

1997 by L. J. Washburn

L. J. Washburns sleuth Lucas Hallam debuted a decade ago in a story for a Private Eye Writers of America anthology. Since then be has brought his author several honors, including a Shamus Award for best novel. The last Hallam story EQMM published (Double Take 12/95) was selected for The Years 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories.

Hallam hadnt been to Fort Worth since the late twenties. A lot had changed in a decade and a half. Back then, even though Fort Worth had already grown into a city, a man could look at the place and see the frontier town it had once been. Now those vestiges of an earlier time were pretty much gone, replaced by structures of glass and steel that speared toward the sky and almost made Hallam feel like he was back in L.A.

Beside him, his daughter Beth let out a surprised whistle. You didnt tell me Fort Worth was this big, Lucas, she said.

Didnt know it was, Hallam replied as he picked up their suitcases and started through the lobby of the train station. The redheaded twelve-year-old hurried along beside him, carrying a smaller bag. Her coltish legs enabled her to keep up with her fathers long strides.

Hallam knew he looked more like Beths grandfather than her daddy. The shaggy hair that poked out from under his fedora was gray, as was the drooping moustache. His face was seamed by sun and wind and burned to the color of old saddle leather. Beth had been born late in his life, too late for any sensible fella to be having a kid, but Hallam had always been one to play the hand he was dealt. Besides, he was still in pretty good shape for his age, and he didnt dwell on the fact that he was already grown when the centuries changed. A careful man kept an eye on his back trail, Hallams own daddy had been fond of saying, but a wise man watched where he was going, too.

Lucas! There you are!

The womans voice made Hallam stop and look around. Coming toward them was a handsome, white-haired woman in her late sixties. The family resemblance was strong, which was bad luck for his sister, Hallam thought. He put his arms around her, hugged her, and said, Howdy, Sarah.

She kissed him on the cheek, then turned to the girl. This cant be Beth! Shes gotten so big.

Beth turned her eyes toward the floor and looked uncomfortable. Hallam said, Say howdy to your Aunt Sarah, Beth.

Howdy, Beth mumbled.

Sarah hugged her, adding to Beths discomfort, then she turned back to Hallam and said, I cant thank you enough for coming, Lucas. I dont know what I would have done if you hadnt. When the police came and arrested Johnny, I just... just...

Beth looked up sharply, and Hallam winced. As far as Beth knew, they had come to Fort Worth simply to visit relatives and see some of Hallams old stomping grounds.

He hadnt said anything about murder.

Now the cat was most of the way out of the bag, so Hallam patted his sister on the shoulder and said, Dont you worry, Sarah. Well get this mess all sorted out.

Johnny didnt kill that man. He swore to me that he didnt, and he wouldnt lie.

Of course he didnt kill nobody. Hallam glanced at Beth, saw the interest shining in her eyes. You take Beth on home with you, and Ill take a pasear up to the jail to see him.

I want to go with you, Lucas, Beth said eagerly, just as he had known she would.

Not this time, Hallam told her. He was going to make it stick, too.

Beth looked up at the Tarrant County Courthouse, impressive in its dark granite and marble majesty, and said, Is this the jail?

Next door, Hallam said. Stay in the car with your aunt.

He hadnt been able to talk Beth into going home with Sarah, but they had reached a compromise. Sarah had driven them in her car from the south end of downtown, where the depot was located, to the north end, where Hallam now stood in front of the courthouse.

I want to go with you and meet my cousin Johnny, Beth said from the backseat of Sarahs Ford roadster.

A jail aint no place for a little girl, and Johnnys got a lot on his mind right now. Like being charged with murder, Hallam added to himself.

Im not a little girl anymore, Beth protested.

Hallam grunted. Dont remind me.

Without giving her a chance to argue anymore, he swung away from the car and strode toward the building next to the courthouse that housed the Tarrant County sheriffs department and lockup. Kenneth Wards body had been found outside the city limits, in the northwest part of the county near Eagle Mountain Lake. So it had been sheriffs deputies who had arrested Johnny Reeves.

You got my nephew in here, Hallam said to the deputy on duty at the desk in the jail. Id like to see him.

The deputy was a young man with slicked-down hair parted in the middle, and his voice was even more of a drawl than Hallams as he asked, And who might that be, old-timer?

Hallams eyes narrowed at being called an old-timer, but that was exactly what he was, he reminded himself. Reining in his temper, he said, Johnny Reeves. My names Lucas Hallam.

Lemme check. The deputy looked at a list on his desk. Yeah, Reevess mama said youd be stoppin by. He leaned forward as he noted something else on the paperwork. Say, whats this? You a real private eye, mister?

Licensed in California, Hallam said. Here in Texas Im just a citizen.

You know Dan Turner? Lordy, I like to read about them adventures he gets into. The deputys face creased in a grin. It sure is funny the way all them gals seem to lose their clothes whenever Dan Turners around. Thats a mighty neat trick. You ever run into him out there in Hollywood?

Hallam hesitated, unsure whether to explain to the deputy about how all those yarns in the pulp magazines were just made-up stories. Not wanting to disillusion the man, he said, Nope, never have run into ol Dan.

Well, if you do, tell him Burt from Fort Worth says howdy. The deputy snapped his fingers and stood up. Oh yeah, you wanted to see one of the prisoners. Come on.

Three minutes later, a jailer ushered Hallam into a cell and clanged the door shut behind him. Hallam frowned. He never had liked that sound, no matter which side of the bars he might be on.

The man in the cell sat on the bunk, smoking a cigarette. He was in his forties and seemed small, especially next to the tall, broad-shouldered Hallam. Johnny Reeves had gotten that from his father, Hallam supposed. Ben Reeves hadnt been a big man, but he had treated Sarah decent. That was all Hallam could ask for in a brother-in-law. Ben had been gone for quite a few years now, ten or twelve at least.

Uncle Lucas? Johnny asked as he looked up at Hallam. He got to his feet, dropped the smoke onto the floor and stepped on it, held out his hand. Good to see you again. He smiled sheepishly. I just wish it wasnt under these circumstances.

Hallam shook hands with his nephew and said, You and me both, Johnny. This has been mighty hard on your mama. She tells me you didnt kill that fella.

Johnny blinked. Well, of course I didnt. You believe me, dont you, Uncle Lucas?

I dont know you well enough to say either way, Hallam said bluntly. Youre blood kin, so I want to believe you didnt. But youd best sit down and tell me about it.

Sure. Sure. Johnny passed a hand over his face. Pull up that stool.

There was a three-legged stool in a corner of the cell. Hallam hooked it with a toe. He sat down as Johnny sank back onto the bunk.