“Not right away. But I’ll have to ask you to be in Central City this evening about seven. An informal get-together preceding the official inquest which may save you from being called to attend the public hearing later.”
Some of her first hauteur returned to her. “I’m afraid that will be impossible. I plan to leave for Reno tonight.”
Shayne said, “Make it easy on yourself. I can’t force you to come tonight, but I’ll see that you’re subpoenaed as a material witness for the public inquest — and you won’t be allowed to leave town.”
She paled, biting her underlip and shooting him a sharp, worried glance. “If I come at seven, have I your assurance that I’ll be free to leave afterward?”
“Unless we decide to hang a murder rap around your neck,” he told her lightly.
Olivia’s answering smile was forced. “Very well. I suppose I’ll have to risk that.”
Shayne told her, “A lot of others will be taking the same risk. At Dr. Fairweather s private hospital. Just ask for Mr. Shayne — and I appreciate your cooperation.”
Chapter sixteen
RETURNING TO CENTRAL CITY via the new oiled highway through the tunnels from the foot of Floyd Hill, Shayne eased his car into second gear to climb the steep grade west of Black Hawk. Entering the outskirts of Central City, he drove slowly, leaning out to scan the wall of the canyon on his left.
He pulled off the highway to the left at the point where he and Cal Strenk had crossed to reach Pete’s cabin the preceding night, and let the car coast down the steep incline to stop on the rickety bridge where the wooden flume ended and the creek water emerged from under the village to flow along the bottom of the gulch.