Free Murder at Thumb Butte by James D. Best

When you address someone as doctor, it means they’re most probably not in the legal profession.”
    “ At present, if I’m not mistaken, you’re a gambler, and gamblers know people—or they don’t stay in the profession long. I thought you might direct me to a lawyer with skill and character.”
    I worried that I had overstayed his patience, but Holliday laughed instead of snarling at me. “A lawyer with character. Next, you’ll want me to find you a generous banker. Well hell, you might as well sit, sir.” He waved me into a seat across from him. As I sat, he bellowed out to the room in general, “Don’t none of you jackals get the idea you can bother me at breakfast. I’m likely to put a bullet in your fat yaps.”
    As I sipped some scalding coffee, Holliday gave me a sly wink before asking, “What are you looking for?”
    “ The best lawyer in the territory. One with experience defending criminals but also savvy in delaying trials. I have money.”
    “ That’s always handy.”
    I shrugged.
    “ Why do you want a delay?”
    “ I have a detective en route, but it will take him a while to get here.”
    “ You believe your friend’s innocent?”
    “ I know he is.”
    Holliday seemed to mull that over. “Lots of people are happy Campbell’s dead … including your friend. What makes you think he’s not the one who did it?”
    Now I thought. Sowing a little worry around town about what we might know or what evidence we might possess could be advantageous. “I can’t disclose that at the moment, but we need time. I need a lawyer who knows how to tie the proceedings in knots that’ll take weeks to untangle.”
    “ You want Mac Castle.”
    “ What can you tell me about him?”
    “ A rarity—an honest lawyer. If he distrusts you, he’ll send you on your way. But if he accepts you as a client, he’s the best around. That boy’s clever as a saloon gal sizing up the clientele. When he’s in court, everybody comes to watch because he’s entertaining, sarcastic, and irreverent.” Holliday chuckled. “A man after my own heart. But somehow his cranky style appeals to juries as well as the grandstands.”
    Castle seemed like my man, but I had to ask, “What do you think of George Blanchet?”
    Holliday jerked back like I had shown him a photograph of a circus freak. “If you steal a claim or commit fraud, Blanchet will gladly defend you. He’s as shifty as they come, but Ah wouldn’t hire him to defend your friend.”
    I nodded. “Just checking. Someone else recommended him.”
    “ You trust this person’s judgment?” He sounded incredulous.
    “ I wouldn’t be interrupting your breakfast if I did.”
    He gave me an odd look. “You trust me?”
    I tried a friendly smile. “I trust your judgment.” I stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to find Mr. Castle.”
    “ Not hard. His office is next door. Good day, Mr. Dancy.”
    I left the Palace, pleased that Doc Holliday had remembered my name.
     

Chapter 14
     
    I climbed to the second floor of the narrow building and saw a long hall with a series of mahogany doors painted with gold lettering. The third one read, “Mac Castle, Attorney at Law.”
    I knocked, and a male voice yelled at me to enter.
    When I opened the door, a man in shirtsleeves sat in a leather chair reading what looked to be a legal brief.
    I walked over. “Mr. Castle, my name is Steve Dancy.”
    Without attempting to get up, he asked, “What can I do for you?”
    “ I need a lawyer experienced in defending tough criminal cases. I was hoping for a few moments of your time to interview you.”
    “ Usually the client is the supplicant.” His amused expression told me I hadn’t offended him.
    “ This case is so important to me that I must hire not only the best but also the most experienced in cases similar to mine.”
    “ And what type of case would that be?”
    “ Murder.”
    “ The Elisha Campbell murder?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ You said, ‘in cases similar to