Lincoln’s Main Street remains oddly quiet as Kate carefully makes her way to the Murphy Store. Several businesses remain closed, even with the sun well above the horizon. Scanning the row of buildings, the outlaw only sees activity at Ike Ellis’ place, the Montaño, Murphy, and Tunstall stores, and the Ramsey’s restaurant. All else is dark and still. A lantern burns in the window of the Thornton-Curry, but no horses are on the hitching rail outside.

Jesse Evans is smoking a cigarillo, seated on the porch of the Murphy Store as Kate approaches. A large, broad shouldered man wearing a wool coat and a derby is behind him, slowly pacing the planks of the covered porch. ”Good mornin’,” Evans says, grinning as though he has just heard a clever joke as he notices her.

"Don't look none too good from where I stand hombre."  Kansas Kate replied nonchalantly, but she did not elaborate deliberately.

She was striking a careful balance here, trying to come off like she knew something they didn't without insulting their intelligence.

The large man snorts, seemingly in agreement with Kate’s observation.

”So what do you want to do first? Talk about how you’re gonna make my people better outlaws,” Evans asks, ”Or would you rather go ahead and step inside? Meet Mr. Dolan?”

Evans regards her calmly. ”He’s eager to make your acquaintance. Has something he feels you’re well suited to take care of for him.”

Kansas Kate simply smiled.  "Well as they say south of the border, por que no las dos?"

Evans stands and motions for Kate to follow him. The tall man trails behind the pair.

Evans leads into a building right of the Murphy Store, the same one where the outlaw met with Jim McDaniels the evening prior. The small group moves down a long hallway to a door near the rear of well furnished structure. Stepping inside behind Evans, Kate is immediately reminded of a lawyer’s office. Much of the wall space is taken up with bookshelves which are filled with volumes. An iron stove in one corner of the room provides heat to the room, which is dominated by a large desk with a marble top, upon which are arranged a few ledgers and a neat stack of correspondence. A well dressed, dark haired man is seated behind it, writing what appears to be a letter with a fountain pen. He does not look up.

”Is this her?” he asks.

”Yes, sir. It is,” Evans replies, stepping to one side.

The man sets his pen down, then looks up, regarding Kate silently for a moment. ”Good morning. My name is James Dolan. I represent a party who has...significant interests in Lincoln County. An individual I’m sure you’ve heard of. It’s my understanding that you were helpful to my associates here in ridding our community of a troublemaker. One who was trying to spy on some of our business ventures.”

“I’m also told that you have some considered criticisms of how we go about business here. That Mr. Evans and his partners are rather...amateur in how they approach things. Am I correct?”

"Ah don't like th' word amateur."  She countered.  "An amateur's what somebody that don't go hard enough, they's only tryin' a little bit."

Dolan’s eyes narrow. ”I’ve actually been fairly pleased with their efficiency. What precisely do you propose to improve their quality of service?”

"If'n ah may beg yer indulgence kind sir."  Kansas Kate replied, thrusting her right hip forward and presenting her Toothpick, which she drew presently.  "Yer familiar with th' likes of this right?"

"Ya see Mr. Dolan..."  She took a step back and took the long knife in a reverse grip position, then demonstrated each technique.  "Ya come in like this, ya slide in right there twixt th' ribs.  Plumb likely ta kill a man.  Now yer crew is mighty keen at this, as good as anybody.  On that part we see eye ta eye."

She reset her stance.

"But what good is it ta kill a feller if'n he owes you fifty dollars?  Oh now don't start with me ah know ya gotta make a few examples, cost of doin' bus'ness.  But ya can't make examples of every'un or there's no one left ta pay up.  What ya do is, ya take this here..."  She lifted the large blade again, and then tapped a spot on her neck with her finger using the other hand.  "...an' ya just barely touch 'em right here.  Looks like he's gonna die.  An' if ya shoved it all th' way through, he would, but even if ya just cut 'em a little bit, he won't.  But it'll put th' fear in him.  Then you tell 'em he owes ya seventy five dollars.  An' he thanks ya fer it.  He thanks the Lord almighty for you putting that blade to his neck, do ya understand, Mr. Dolan?"

She got excited.  Animated, fired up.

"The next week, he's only got twenty dollars.  Now he owes you a hundred.  This keeps going, soon he owes you three hundred, and he's paid a hundred and twenty five, and all you wanted was fifty.  Da ya understand, Mr. Dolan?"

She couldn't help but let out a little whoop as she cleaned her nails with the long knife and spoke softly.

"Them boys 'n girls of yers last night did an unnatural thing, an impressive one, one what should've ended yer fight here in Lincoln County.  But ah been pokin' around Mr. Dolan.  Ya got ya a damn Ranger in town.  A Chiney-man at that.  He done whooped the ass of yer little toy single handed last night.  Ah done saw it.  T'were pitiful.  Hell, ah didn't even know what the blue hell yer crew was doin', an' they done started a shootin' at some walkers by.  Won't do Mr. Dolan, they gots to fear, not hate.  Ain't th' same thing.  That whole thing was a sorry joke, all them resources an' nothin' not a damn thing fer it.

"Now, we all got our vocations in this world, our divine callings.  Some are doctors, some raise cattle, the elite of course are men of enterprise such as yerself, naturally.  Now me?  Well now, I'm what ya call an acquisitions specialist.  Do ya want this county Mr. Dolan?"

Before he could answer, Kate was like lightning.  She casually threw the Toothpick, not hard, just a lazy lob so it landed point first in his desk, and from nowhere her Schofield came up, pointed at the man.

"Because Bloody Kansas Kate is how ya get it."  She pulled back, calmly re-holstering her revolver and retrieving her edged weapon.  "We can help each other.  Ah need th' publicity, ya need deniability.  If'n ya wants ta keep th' place, yer gonna have to look legit afterwards ain't ya.  Ah am sure yer capable of doin' th' job yerself, but it ain't an option if ya wants to play this game.  Ya might as well hire th' best.  Question is, are you in?"

Dolan watches Kate steadily as she speaks, his eyes tracking her movements closely. He doesn’t flinch when the knife lands on his desk, nor when the outlaw draws her Schofield, but the ghost of a smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. Leaning back in his chair, he twines the fingers of his hands together.

”I certainly appreciate boldness, Miss Kate, which you seem to possess in spades,” he says, ”though I’m afraid I would have to disagree with your assessment of the events of last evening. While I cannot claim that it was a complete success, it did serve to remove a significant obstacle.”

“Nonetheless, you certainly have the mindset, and the tools, of a predator. You clearly know how to bend those that are less capable to your will. Such abilities are, admittedly, rare.”

He leans forward, placing his elbows on the desk. ”I’m intrigued. Though I’m certain you’ll not find it surprising when I say that I’m also suspicious. Taking care in investing my trust has been a cornerstone of my success, I’m afraid.”

Pointing to Kate’s hip, he asks, ”You seem quite skilled with that blade. Do you make use of it often?”

Kate shrugged.  "As often as ah need ta.  It's part of mah kit, nothin' more nothin' less.  Ah may be better with some tools than others on account 'a more practice, but they's all tools ta me.  Ah use th' right one fer th' job.  Sometimes th' ol' longknife is th' right tool."

”Practical,” Dolan says with an approving nod. He reaches into one of his desk drawers, withdrawing a wide, brown envelope which he places in front of him.

Nodding to Evans, he continues, ”Mr. Evans tells me that you were instrumental in removing a spy from our town’s midst. Someone who was intent on stirring up conflict. I’m grateful. And on that basis, I’m more inclined to extend you trust, along with long term gainful employment. But not just yet.”

“Your reputation proceeds you, ma’am. There’s no question that you’re an accomplished outlaw. But I fear that many of those that share in your chosen profession lack loyalty. They fail to perceive larger opportunities when offered a quick dollar.”

He taps the envelope. ’You spoke of those that need to be made an example of. There is one such person here in Lincoln that fits that description. An individual who is well past the point of seeing reason. Of being open to considering things in a different light.”

“I want them dealt with. Permanently. Not with a firearm, but in a manner that is close. Personal. Where they will have time to know what is coming for them. And I want them left in their place of business, for others to find.”

“Do this, and I assure you that you will have a rich future with our organization.”

Now that was interesting.  Kate had come here thinking she'd have to sell them on an idea, but he already had one.

Well, in for a penny.

"Wellsir, first ya had my curiosity, but now ya have my attention."

If he surrendered the envelope Kate was all too happy to accept it.