Longarm and the Colorado gundown

_{One good thing, he reflected. Nobody in the vicinity seemed angry enough to start shooting at him.}

_{Of course the locals were having things go all their own way about this so far. Or so they believed. Longarm knew better than to count on things staying peaceable once he commenced getting his licks in. So it likely was a good idea to rest up all he could now. Might not be opportunity for dozing in the sunshine much longer.}

_{The City Hall clerk named John looked up with a start when Longarm came bursting in, Counselor Able at his heels. The man actually stood and took half a step toward a side door before he got control of himself and determined to brazen it out. “Yes, Marshal?”}

_{“Where?” Longarm demanded.}

_{“Where’s what?”}

_{“The police chief,” Longarm said.}

_{“But I already told you—”}

_{“The mayor,” Longarm snapped. He’d reached John’s desk by then, and swept around it so that he was staring the clerk eyeball to eyeball. The difference was that Longarm’s eyeballs were set a good five inches higher off the floor than John’s were. John commenced to look uncomfortable.}

_{“I... don’t know.”}

_{“Bullshit.”}

_{“I don’t. I swear I don’t.”}

_{“Justice of the peace.”}

_{John shook his head. “I don’t know, Marshal.”}

_{‘Town councilmen.”}

_{John’s lips firmed into a thin line and he began to look smug instead of worried. Aggie stood beside Longarm although her presence wasn’t so intimidating as his. The lady lawyer might be tolerated by the men of this town, but she was only liked by the women. John obviously wasn’t much concerned about anything Aggie might threaten.}

_{“Got any other elected officials here?” Longarm asked.}

_{John, feeling much better with the situation now, gave Longarm a shit-eating grin and a loud, derisive snort. “Nope, that about covers the subject.”}

_{“How ’bout appointed officers o’ the town or the country?” Longarm asked.}

_{“Nope. Just them that you mentioned already. And I don’t know where none of ’em is right now, Marshal.” The i lie sparkled in his eyes, and he had to struggle to keep a straight face while he was telling it.}

_{Longarm took a step backward and gave the clerk a long looking over. The man continued to look smug.}

_{“I say you’re lying.”}

_{“Your opinion,” was all John would concede.}

_{“Lying is one thing, mister. Obstructing justice is another. I say you’re obstructing justice. Now d’you want to tell me where I can find them folks? Or d’you want to sit in a jail cell while you think it over?”}