Reborn in 1878: America's Number One Bandit

Chapter 71 Pinkerton is getting old
Thorne's heart sank.

This conclusion sent a chill down his spine.

"You mean..."

"We've been chasing after that gang of thugs the whole time,"

Kane nodded: "But perhaps we were going in the wrong direction from the very beginning. Where did it all start?"

“Coleman Parker’s farm!” Thorne replied immediately.

"Yes! The gang first appeared at Pike's ranch, after Pike died."

"And then what? Who benefits the most?"

"..."

Thorne's body jolted: "That cowboy! The one who married Parker's widow, what was his name again?"

“Jack Anderson,” Kane added for him, “a cowboy who appeared out of nowhere and inherited all of Parker’s land, cattle, horses, and cash.”

"Based on the principle that whoever benefits is the prime suspect, we should investigate him."

"Yes."

Kane also realized: "I just received intelligence that Jack Anderson and his wealthy widow no longer live on the manor; they've moved to town."

Which town?

Strawberry Town!

Strawberry Town again.

The town that was controlled by angry townspeople and the White Tiger Security.

Thorne said in a deep voice, "Strawberry Town seems to have been completely taken over by that company called White Tiger Security. Do you know anything about this company?"

Kane looked disdainful when the company was mentioned.

"I checked, and it's just a small company that was registered in San Francisco a month ago. It's just some Eastern speculator who got lucky and wanted to make a quick buck on the West Coast."

"Then there's no need to pay them any attention; they don't have the guts to obstruct the Pinkerton Detective Agency's investigation."

"Let's go, we'll head to Strawberry Town first thing tomorrow morning."

……

Strawberry Town is now a completely different place.

Thorne and Kane rode in slowly on horseback.

The two met Jack Anderson and his new wife, Isabel, in the best new wooden house in town.

Pinkerton Detective Agency?

Jack glanced at the identification the two men presented and politely stepped aside: "Please come in, gentlemen. Isabel, dear, we have guests."

Isabel came out of the kitchen.

She had clearly never seen anything like this before, nervously twisting her apron, her large eyes darting anxiously between her husband and the two uninvited guests.

In the living room, Kane led the questioning.

"Mr. Anderson, when did you arrive in Marin County?"

"Oh, about two months ago. You know, a cowboy always goes with the flow."

Jack's answer was flawless, and his expression showed no sign of fear.

"How did you happen to be near Isabel that night?"

“A lucky coincidence, sir.”

Jack looked at Isabel beside him with eyes full of love: "I was camped nearby when I heard gunshots and a woman screaming. The best thing I've ever done in my life was to rush over and save my angel."

Isabel blushed immediately and shyly took Jack's arm.

His expression made it seem as if he were the Messiah sent by God.

Thorne and Kane exchanged a glance.

This guy's a seasoned veteran.

He's like an eel that's been swimming in deep water for years—slippery and unreliable.

This person's politeness is his most powerful weapon; any probing you make will be effortlessly deflected by him.

"Mr. Anderson."

Kane couldn't stand the pointless small talk: "We're here mainly to talk to Mrs. Anderson about her ex-husband, Mr. Coleman Parker."

"Oh?"

Jack's smile remained unchanged, but Isabel gripped his arm nervously. She was like a startled rabbit, simple-minded, with almost every emotion written on her face.

“Mr. Parker has many enemies; we just want to ensure Madam’s safety. After all, you are the sole heir to that enormous fortune.”

Mrs. Anderson.

Kane leaned forward, trying to bypass Jack and look directly at Isabel: "Before your husband was murdered, did he mention any suspicious people to you? Or any concerns about the property?"

"I-I don't know!"

Faced with the two aggressive individuals, Isabelle instinctively shrank back behind Jack.

"Perhaps you'll remember more if you're in a different environment."

Kane sneered, "Madam, we believe it is necessary for you to come back to our command post in San Raphael for a private talk, for your safety."

"alone?"

Jack's smile vanished instantly, and he suddenly turned hostile.

"FUCK! What the hell did you say?"

"Talk to me alone? Do you think I'm dead?"

He pulled Isabel behind him, shouting, "You two bastards in suits! You think I don't know what you're thinking!"

"You think my wife is pretty, so you want to take her home and have sex with her alone?"

He abruptly ripped open his suit jacket, revealing the handle of a Colt revolver at his waist.

"I don't care if you're Pinkerton or whatever damn detectives you are! You want to take my wife? Fine! Come and fight me one-on-one!"

"Right now! Right here on this street! Do you dare? Or are you saying that Pinkerton's detectives are a bunch of cowards who only dare to scheme behind women's skirts!"

This sudden outburst left Thorne and Kane stunned.

A duel? That's insane!
They are detectives, not street gunmen.

To duel with such a famous person in town in broad daylight would be an act of bullying the weak if you won, and an even greater disgrace if you lost.

“Mr. Anderson, you’ve misunderstood…”

"I misunderstood your mother!"

Jack didn't give them a chance at all; his hand was already on the gun handle.

"what happened?"

At this time, the door was pushed open.

A three-person patrol team from the White Tiger Security Company walked in.

“Mr. Jack, Mrs. Anderson.”

The captain nodded politely to the two men before turning to Thorne and Kane: "Gentlemen, is there any trouble?"

Jack sneered, pointing at the two men: "These two bastards tried to forcibly take my wife away! Right here in town!"

"Is that so, gentlemen? I regret to inform you that Strawberry Town is under the protection of White Tiger Security Company."

The captain calmly stated, "According to our service regulations, no one can forcibly take her from this land unless she consents."

Thorne's patience finally ran out, and he got up and approached the captain.

"Kid! Do you know who you're talking to? Obstructing the Pinkerton National Detective Agency's work—can your little company afford the consequences?"

The patrol captain scoffed dismissively, "Oh, of course I know. Is it that company in Rattlesnake Canyon, where a group of Irish bandits smothered twenty-eight elite soldiers to death with smoke?"

"Is it that company whose remaining thirty-two elite members were kidnapped, and which is now openly demanding a ransom of 100,000 Eagle Feathers, and hasn't even managed to find a trace of the hostages?"

"you!"

Thorne was speechless with anger; they really couldn't refute that statement.

"Gentlemen."

The patrol captain stepped forward, his imposing manner no less than Thorne's: "This is Strawberry Town, not Chicago."

“Your Pinkerton badges are no more valuable here than my White Tiger badge.”

He tapped his name tag.

"We are all legal companies registered in the United States of America, earning our living through our own abilities. Your charter (franchise) doesn't say you are the masters of this country."

"Excuse my bluntness, but it's probably time for your old tricks to be phased out. After all, an old dog's teeth get dull."

"What this western region needs are sharper teeth."

(End of this chapter)