We were sitting on a bench in the shade of an adobe building that was being used for a general store. I chose this spot so I could keep an eye on the corner in case the thugs decided to come looking for me. “Tell me what you know,” I urged Elfego.
“Not much, senor. Marshal Udall does very little that I can see,” he began. “Those two men and others put pressure on the merchants to pay them. They force them to buy, how you say, an insurance policy.”
I’d seen this scam before. Pay me to protect you and if you don’t I’ll bust your head. I knew it was common practice among some of the gangs back in the big eastern cities. Rackets, people preying on the less fortunate or the weaker. “Who is runnin’ this racket?”
“I do not know. I’m not sure even how many men there are. I’ve seen those two,” he said pointing from the way we came.
“There were three of them,” I interrupted. “One was across the street.”
“There are others though, I know it,” he spoke excitedly.
Putting my hand on his shoulder, I said, “You best run along. I’ll go see if anyone will talk to me about what is happenin’ to them.”
He shrugged my hand off his shoulder. “I go with you!” he protested. “They will not speak to a gringo.”
I nodded, he might have something there. It takes time to gain people’s trust, and I had just ridden into town. “Let’s start here,” I urged as I stood then started for the door of the general store.
It was dark inside, with the only light coming from the windows on the side and in the front. There was one lamp lit over by the checkout counter. An elderly gentleman was wiping off the glass cases with a cloth when we entered. He was grayish, wearing a white shirt with suspenders holding up a pair of dark blue trousers.
He stopped his wiping and straightened up as I approached him. “Mornin’, Sir. I’m Deputy U.S. Marshal Miles Forrest and thought you might be able to help me out.”
I could tell he was surprised when I said he could help out a marshal. Then he saw Elfego and gave him a smile. “What can I help you with, Marshal?” he asked, emphasizing the “I”.
“On behalf of the territorial government, I’ve been asked to come check out some disturbances in Socorro. When I arrived it came to my attention that the merchants here are bein’ strong-armed into buyin’ protection.” His smile left him when I informed him, and he took a step back. A look of panic crossed his face and I could see he was glancing out the window.
“Uh, well, Marshal, that’s not true. I don’t know what the boy told you. You know how young lads like to imagine things,” he said with a false laugh.
“Did I say anything about Elfego?” I questioned, stepping toward the man. “You willingly give into thugs?”
“It’s, it’s not like that,” he stammered. “We, I, pay for certain services…”
Elfego tugged on my vest, and I nodded my head that I knew. “Mr. Green, is this man bothering you?” came the voice of the deputy.
I turned so that I could watch the deputy and by turning my head could see the proprietor. “No, Deputy Case. We were just having a discussion.”
The deputy put his hand on his gun butt. “Mister, you best come along with me,” he commanded.
“It’s Deputy United States Marshal Miles Forrest, in case you forgot,” I quickly reminded him, then added. “I don’t think I’ll be goin’ anywhere with you. I have business to attend to.”
He snarled, then started toward his gun. I brought the Greener down on his wrist, hearing the bone snap, then felt a tug of someone grabbing my pistol from the holster. A shot was fired from the doorway, hitting the merchant. He groaned as he fell. I leveled, the Greener in that direction when I heard the sound of my gun firing. The man fell against the frame of the door as Elfelgo fired my gun. I pushed the deputy aside as he was moaning holding his broken arm. Another man appeared in the doorway and began to fire. Elfego fired again.
I didn’t want to cut loose with the Greener as I wanted one of these men for a witness. I could see the third man running across the street to join them. It was against my better judgment, but I also wanted to stay alive, so…