When eleven o’clock rolled around, I stood at my desk. The negatives that the judge wanted were inside a locked drawer and I had already put them into an envelope which sat on the desktop. After putting on my leather holster, I pulled out the .45 inside the desk, then removed the filled clip. Pulling back on the slide, I inspected the gun for an empty chamber and cleanliness like I was taught, then let the slide release before sliding the clip back into the handle. I noticed my hand shook, and I sat in the chair.

After I shoved the gun into the holster and heard the door to my office open. Sally stood there, staring at the gun holster wrapped under my arm.

“You’re expecting that kind of trouble,” she said. Her flat tone revealed disapproval, but she didn’t try to argue against the idea.

I shook my head, embarrassed that I acted like a damn TV character, hiding the fact that I’m afraid.

“No, but I’m not taking chances.”

Of course, I realized I was talking shit. The last time I shot a gun was years ago. I doubt I can pull out this thing quick enough to stop anything that’s going down. After all, the thugs with Antonio probably have plenty of nasty stories about killing people. But I’m thinking the .45 is better than carrying nothing at all.

“Lane, you’re putting yourself in danger.” She closed the door and went to the desk. “That bastard isn’t going to forget what you’re doing.”

“What about you?” I deflected while putting on my suit coat. “He’s after you, not me, at least not yet.”

She paused with a grimace on her face, then she finally told me.

“I decided that I’m leaving town with Joe. I’ve already packed since I couldn’t rest. We’re going to a place where he can get help.”

“That sounds permanent. What about your company?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“I’m not leaving permanently. It’s just for a little while, I hope. I—well, he’ll need someone with him,” she explained. “However, I don’t know when I can come back...” she paused, leaving the idea open. I understood what she meant.

At least she’s smart enough to see that she needed to keep her head down once we’re done with Antonio.

“You’ve got good people to run the place, so it’ll be fine. Oh, that reminds me, you and Joe can pick up tickets under my name at the station for the two forty-five train,” I said. “Alice says it goes to Sacramento.”

It was her turn to be surprised.

“What, you planned this already?” Sally asked.

“I’m good at planning. Anyway, I think you’ll return here soon enough. I have an idea that will keep Antonio too busy to worry about either of us.”

Now, what I told her wasn’t a complete lie. I did have an idea, but I still lacked the ability to put the thing into motion. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I would have time. In a few hours, I expected I needed eyes in the back of my head while trying to leave town. Yeah, I’m dumb enough to try it again. This time in public with plenty of people on a train.

“It’s time to go get your money,” I stepped around the desk.

Sally didn’t move. Instead, she reached out, grabbing my arm.

“I still can’t understand why you’re doing this, since there’s nothing in it for you. Don’t you have a family to worry about?”

When I turned to her, the woman suddenly wrapped her arms around me.

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“I’m so sorry to ask for your help. You’re the only one I could turn to,” she said into my coat. Confusion and concern appeared on her lovely face when she looked up.

I’ll admit I didn’t know what to do, so I grinned like an idiot and reassured her that all would end well. I also hoped that she didn’t feel the shakes coming from me. I’ll admit that the thought of meeting death wasn’t high on my bucket list. Actually, it’s not on the list.

Deep down, her worry about my situation puzzled me. I also recognized that she was correct. Any sane person would put their family ahead of helping a stranger.

Does that mean everything I told Adele is a lie?

The image of Adele’s horrified face when she saw my injury in the car came to mind. It left no doubt that she cared deeply for me.

No, she feels deeply for Lane. I’m just a guy borrowing his suits.

However, I would not let her get hurt again. Antonio might consider Adele as my weakness. What would I do if he goes after her and I can’t leave this town? I took a deep breath, deciding everyone was leaving, including me.

“Let’s go meet the judge,” I said.

The world I used to live in carried a lot of restrictions. You’ve seen all the signs on the windows like no smoking, no soliciting, and no weapons. Interestingly, in 1940, you don’t see those signs. Trust me, I looked and there were no signs like that on the Community Bank when I walked with Sally to the cashier’s window. I was carrying a .45 strapped to my chest, and I felt the sweat starting down my back. That feeling heightened when the clerk, a small man in a black suit, took the check to another office. Soon, he returned with an overweight man dressed in a similar black suit. We learned that the fat man was the president of the bank, Wallace Mellon.

“Mr. Lane, you need to give us more time for transactions like this.”

I smiled and told him it was a last-minute business decision.

“I’m buying into Mrs. Vaugh’s company.” I turned to Sally, who returned a nervous smile.

“Well, there be a problem?” she asked with obvious concern.

Her question flustered Wallace, eyeing me closely before a fake smile came to his lips when he looked back at Sally.

“It will not be a problem for our bank,” he assured her. “Just give us a few minutes. Can you come to my office? It’s less public this way.”

We left the bank a few minutes before I expected the judge to arrive. As we stood on the corner of the street, both of us were self-conscious about the amount of money in the woman’s purse. When Sally asked about the person we waited for, I got her up to speed.

“I thought we needed a public figure that Antonio will think twice about harming. So, I invited Judge J. Samuel Seabury to join us. I’m not sure if he’ll bring anyone else, but I offered him the opportunity.”

Sally stared at me like I suddenly grew another nose.

“How did you do that? Are you his friend?”

I shrugged, appearing nonchalant about it.

“I’m not friends with anyone, but I have my methods.” For just a moment, it felt good to act as the hero with a plan.

A moment later, a cab pulled up and out of the back stepped a large man in a blue pinstripe suit. His long face and enormous nose reminded me of a walrus without the tusks.

“Get in, Judge Seabury is waiting,” the man’s eyes danced looking at Sally.

Well, that’s not unexpected, I guess. Sally and I glanced at each other before we got into the cab. The man introduced himself after giving instructions to the driver to drive around for a while.

“I’m Shane O’Conner,” he said. “Seabury called me to tag along on your little adventure.”

“I take it you’re his bodyguard,” I surmised aloud. While I told the judge to bring along someone, I fumed for failing to realize that an important person like Judge Seabury wasn’t going to walk into something blind. His bodyguard would assess things first.

Shane nodded at my observation while he continued to look over Sally. I understood the reason, but I wanted him to focus on the coming problem. I asked where the judge was, but Shane ignored the question.

“I see you’re carrying, so give me the scoop about what the judge is walking into,” O’Conner’s tone clarified that he might veto my idea.

Guessing the bodyguard might be an ex-cop, I leveled with Shane. I laid out the basics, including some of the raw deal Antonio forced on Sally. It never hurts to use a guy’s natural instinct to protect a pretty woman, I thought cynically. You can call me sexist if you want, but that’s reality folks. As expected, my guess was accurate.

“I’m still waiting for the guy to plug Antonio one of these days. That bas..,” he caught himself and reddened. “Sorry, ma’am. I had my dealings with that rat back when I walked the beat.”

O’Conner turned to me.

“You’re not too smart by going to his place, you know.”

“We have no choice,” I replied. “He made the terms with Sally by using her husband as bait. I’m just going to stop him from collecting. That’s why we need someone like the judge.”

The ex-cop leaned back and thought about it for a moment. Eventually, a grin broke on his flabby face.

“Alright, let’s do this. I’m happy to surprise that no good vermin.”

The man’s expression darkened as he issued a warning.

“You don’t get stupid when we get there and don’t pull that gat unless I’ve got mine out. Otherwise, I might shoot you to keep Seabury safe.”

What’s a gat?