Page 84 of Taming Lady Temperance

39

James strolled through Clevenger’s Emporium while the owner completed a sale with a customer at the counter. James smiled and tipped his hat to Clevenger upon entering, not wanting to alert the man to his suspicions. Clevenger had nodded in return, though his thin mustache grew twitchy as his gaze followed James and the preacher into the store. His voice pitched high with false cheer as he exchanged pleasantries with the middle-aged matron purchasing what looked to be shaving soap and hair tonic.

“I know it’s not much,” she said, “but Mr. Taggert lost everything, and the ladies from our church decided to put together a basket of some basic necessities. Toiletries, clothing items, some baked goods. Anything to help relieve his burden.”

“I’m sure he’ll be most grateful, Mrs. Malloy.”

The man was smooth. Even sounded sympathetic.

James turned down an aisle stocked with candles, lamps, lanterns, and the item he’d been looking for—kerosene. Most of the inventory consisted of one-gallon tins, but larger cans sat upon the floor. James crouched down to examine the five-gallon tins and noticed a dust-free circle on the floor behind one of the cans.

“Looks like one is missing,” James said as he straightened.

The parson shrugged. “Could have been sold.”

“Maybe, but the sale would’ve had to have been recent to account for the lack of dust. I’ll check his inventory lists, though it’s pretty easy to forge those.”

The tinkle of a bell announced the departure of Mrs. Malloy and signaled James to make his move. He strode to the front of the store and cornered Clevenger near a display of kitchen implements.

“Deputy!” Clevenger chuckled nervously as he backed away from James while trying to look busy tidying the position of a nearby teakettle. “What can I help you with today?”

For once, James didn’t offer a smile. “I need to ask you some questions regarding last night’s fire.” He nodded to the door. “You might want to close up shop for a bit. Keep our conversation private.”

“Goodness. That sounds ominous.” Clevenger laughed again, but when James simply raised an eyebrow, he coughed and turned belligerent. “Look, Paxton, you’ve no right to barge in here and make demands. My taxes pay your salary.”

“It’s not my right, it’s my duty.” James stepped closer to Clevenger and noted the sweat beading on his forehead. “And I take my duty very seriously. Which is why I’m here. I’ve come into possession of some evidence that implicates you in the burning of the saloon.”

His face grew red. “That’s ridiculous!” He retreated a step, then narrowed his eyes and went on the offensive, advancing toward James instead.

James held his ground and let him come.

“I knew you were sweet on Noreen, but I didn’t think you’d go so far as to implicate an innocent man. It’s disgraceful.” He tried to shove James out of his path, but James refused to budge, so Clevenger huffed and navigated around him on his way to the door. He opened it wide. “I have nothing to say to you, Deputy. But I’ll have plenty to say to Sheriff Adair when he returns. I might have a few words for the editor of the Albany News as well. I’m sure he’d be very interested in running a story on corruption in the local constabulary.”

Unimpressed, James ignored the open door and the threats. He retrieved his notepad instead and flipped to a clean page. “Where were you between four and five o’clock this morning, before the alarm bell sounded?”

“Do you not understand plain English, man?” Clevenger stomped forward until he stood directly in front of James, then jabbed a finger toward the door. “Get out of my store.”

Avoiding the question. Yep. The man was definitely hiding something.

“If you prefer to conduct this interview at the jailhouse, I’m happy to oblige. Fetch your coat and we can be on our way.”

“Fetch my coat? I’m not going anywhere. You are. Get out!”

Clevenger’s shout drew the attention of those outside. A crowd began to gather outside the door. Faces peered through display windows. Quiet murmurs gained momentum.

Brother Cowan stepped out of the candle aisle and strolled toward the front of the store. “Let’s keep things civil, shall we?”

Clevenger glared at the preacher. “You’re in on this ambush, too, Parson? And here I thought you were a man of integrity. Guess I was wrong.” He gave a disdainful sniff. “You afraid your sweet daughter will be tainted by association? Is that why you’re willing to railroad me with false accusations? Everyone knows Noreen set that fire. She hates the saloon. Hates Taggert. Hates men who drink. She was bound and determined to close the Salt Fork one way or the other. I’m just glad she didn’t burn down the entire town in the process.”

Now he was pointing fingers. So they were getting under his skin. Good. The more off-balance he was, the more likely he’d let something slip.

Thankfully, the parson didn’t rise to Clevenger’s bait. “I’m just here to observe, Arthur. And what I’m observing at the moment is a man making a scene in order to avoid answering a few questions. Spawns a question or two in my own mind. Like what are you trying to hide?” He nodded toward the half-dozen people loitering on the boardwalk. “Perhaps they are wondering the same thing.”

Score one for the preacher. James had to fight to keep a smug grin from overtaking his stony expression.

Clevenger peered into the street, his complexion paling slightly. In a blink, he’d donned an ingratiating smile and sauntered to the shop’s entrance.

“Sorry, folks, I’m going to have to close the emporium early today. Deputy Paxton requires my assistance to solve his arson case. After our town suffered such a tragedy, I feel it my civic responsibility to help any way I can. I’ll be open first thing in the morning. Be sure to return then.”