Pinkerton was seated at the foldout desk in the main car when Hollister and Chee returned to the train. There were offices and sleeping rooms available in the warehouse headquarters, but Pinkerton still used the train. His briefcase was open, papers covered the surface, and he furiously scribbled away in a journal.
“Gentlemen,” he said, as they walked in. “I trust you enjoyed your meeting with the senator?”
“Enormously entertaining,” Hollister said. “Are you always going to be sitting there?”
“Sitting where?” Pinkerton asked, not looking up from his paperwork.
“At the desk, on this train? I just wondered if every time we came back here, we’d find you, is all. Maybe one of Dr. Van Helsing’s traps around the windows and doors is holding you here?” Hollister asked.
Pinkerton looked up, studying Hollister to see if he was serious. He couldn’t tell.
“What did the senator have to say?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Not much. His son is apparently a weakling, the camp was attacked by Utes, not vampires, and he doesn’t like jokesters or people who aren’t ‘punctual,’ ” Hollister said. “I’m pretty sure he gave his man Slater the order to have me killed after I left.”
“Why would he do that?” Pinkerton asked.
“It’s what I would do,” Hollister said.
Pinkerton stared off into space a minute, as if considering all the facts.
“I’ll have a couple of my operatives dig into this Slater fellow, see what they can turn up. Does the senator believe in what it is we’re dealing with here?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” Hollister said. “What do you think, Sergeant?”
Chee hesitated. He was not used to contributing to conversations like this, or being asked for his opinion. Most of his time in the army-his life, actually-he had been overlooked and ignored. He could deal with rowdies like Slater. He was comfortable in that world. But Hollister and Mr. Pinkerton and Dr. Van Helsing and all their educated talk were new territory. Monkey Pete he liked a lot. So far.
“I think at first… no… he didn’t believe it. Assumed it was Indians, like the major says. But he probably sent his man Slater to the camp and Slater knows it wasn’t Indians. And now the senator has come to realize he’s dealing with something he doesn’t know anything about. He’s worried of what it might cost him,” Chee said.
Pinkerton nodded. “And rest assured, the senator will try to glean any information he can from you. It is incumbent upon you both that it stays with us.”
“Going to be hard to keep it under wraps for long if we go traipsing about in this fancy train. It won’t be long till somebody from a newspaper knocks on our door to see what we’re up to. And if we use any of our fancy gear in public…” Hollister let the words hang there.
“Be that as it may, people may wonder about the train, your weapons, all they wish. But any word leaking out about these creatures can only cause needless panic,” he said. Pinkerton reached in his briefcase and pulled out two badges, handing one to Hollister and one to Chee. “I asked the president for one more thing that might help both of you… adjudicate this matter. He had the attorney general sign the commissions this morning. Congratulations. You’re both U.S. Marshals.”
Hollister and Chee looked at the badges in their hands and then at each other.
“You have the authority to make arrests, cross state lines in pursuit of criminals, and pretty much anything you might need in the way of legal recourse. You can even go back and arrest the senator as a material witness if you want,” Pinkerton said.
“I can?” Hollister asked.
“Don’t,” Pinkerton said. “I’d keep those in your back pockets, and only use them if necessary.” He stood up, gathering his papers. “I’m leaving for Washington within the hour…”
“You aren’t taking our train, are you?” Hollister interrupted.
Pinkerton stared at him with knitted brows.
“It’s just… I’ve… well, I’m very attached to the train,” Hollister said.
“Really. After just a few nights?” Pinkerton asked, finally getting the joke.
“I fall easily,” Hollister said.
“So it appears. No, Major. As I promised you in Leavenworth, the train is at your disposal. I’ll be taking other transportation back to Washington. I will expect to be updated regularly. Wires sent by the onboard telegraph will get to me. Monkey Pete is also an accomplished telegrapher.”
“Is there anything Monkey Pete can’t do?” Hollister asked.
“No,” Pinkerton said, snapping his briefcase shut. He shook hands with Hollister and Chee.
“Be careful, gentlemen,” Pinkerton said before departing the car. “I’ll be back from Washington in a few weeks. Hopefully, you’ll have this wrapped up long before then. Try to do it quickly; more people getting killed is not going to be helpful in the long run.”
“And don’t worry, Mr. Pinkerton, we’ll be careful too. Your concern is appreciated,” Hollister said.
Pinkerton was again caught off guard by Hollister’s specious manner. He made a little growling sound in his throat and left.
“You didn’t tell him about whoever was following us,” Chee said to Hollister after Pinkerton was gone.
“Knew I was forgetting something,” Hollister said. “I had a feeling he might be leaving soon. I wanted to make sure he’s gone so we can start on the real work.”
“The real work, sir?”
“Yes. We wouldn’t be here without Pinkerton, and he’s in charge. But I told him in Leavenworth I make the decisions on how we hunt these things. Now that he’s out of here we can get started.”
“Get started where, sir?”
“James Declan, Junior,” Hollister said.