It suddenly occurred to me to wonder who had been driving those horses. And why hadn’t he stopped them and returned to finish the job?
I had more immediate worries, though, and I said, “I told you I have powerful enemies. I will leave immediately.”
“What’s this about leaving?” Mrs. Hicks came in, bearing a bowl of stew on a tray.
“You are all endangered because of your kindness to me.”
“He’s got a point, Frank,” Mrs. Hicks said. “The coppers have been snooping around. Oh, I put a bug in their ear and sent ‘em about their business, but it won’t be long before they come back. Too many people know about Charley, and even if they have nothing against the Chinese, tongues have been known to wag.”
“Mickey?” Frank Johansen took the bowl of stew from Mrs. Hicks and set it down on a small tabl
