<hr/><div class="floatleft">(http://gunsofold.com/marshal_badge_silver_balltip.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 3rd, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Morning<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Gomorra<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Jia Li<br/><hr/>“You are... entirely out of line, sir!”  Cochran's soothing voice went a little shrill at Bilton's comment.  “Whether in public or private, I expect you to treat me with the respect due my position - “<br/><br/>“I am,” said Bilton, the sneer clear in his voice.  “Promise you, I ain't treating you different than any other spineless yeller toady I've ever met.”<br/><br/>“Mr. Findley!” said Cochran, his moustache aquiver, his eyes beseeching the white-haired businessman for intercession.  Bilton just gave a booming laugh.<br/><br/>“Daddy, daddy, the lawman was<em>mean</em>to me,” mocked Bilton, his voice rising into a falsetto.  “Make him stop or I'm gonna cry.”<br/><br/>“Mr. Findley!”  Cochran stood, his chair squeaking back.  “I – I will not be<em>treated</em>in this manner, I will not be - “<br/><br/>“CHILDREN!”  Findley's voice thundered, cracking across the room, and both the men quieted.  “May I remind you both that you face imminent election, and your candidacy and election war chest are entirely dependent on my good graces.  So if you like the hedonistic life of drinking and whoring you've so enjoyed upon Sweetrock's dime, might I suggest the both of you take some time and perhaps<em>perform</em>the duties of the positions you have been appointed to.  Perhaps for three<em>days</em>out of the year.  I'm sure you can return to your useless lechery and hedonism in short order.  In the meantime, I'd like to hear some<em>intelligent</em>suggestions regarding the alternative candidate for sheriff.”<br/><br/>“Alternative<em>candidates</em>,” pointed out Oswald, from across the room, leaning against the wall still with his arms crossed.  “Warwick made a point of pointing out there could be more than one.”<br/><br/>Findley looked up at Oswald, his eyes narrowing and gleaming.  “That... is a brilliant suggestion.”<br/><br/>Oswald tilted his head.  “Pardon?”<br/><br/>Findley smiled.  "Multiple candidates.  As many as possible.  We make it clear to our people that anyone who<em>doesn't</em>vote with Bilton will be cut loose, fired – while everyone else squabbles over the other candidates.  Diffuse the votes across a broad base of candidates.  Whereas we have Nash Bilton, the rough and tumble Sheriff, ready to finally rid us of the troublesome raiders, and his loyal deputy Nate Hunter, an honest lawman with a sterling reputation that will keep the integrity of the office intact.”<br/><br/>“No,” said Nash.  “Nate's out.”<br/><br/>Findley raised an eyebrow.  “No, he's not.”<br/><br/>Nash tilted his head and met his gaze.  “No, he's out.  That was the deal.  Pretentious little mamma's boy has been running around for years sucking up to Daddy Coleman trying to make me look bad.  There's no way he's going to play my number two.”<br/><br/>Cochran's jaw was dropped.  “You're... you're tossing away your most valuable resource.  His reputation, coupled with yours would make you an unbeatable ticket.  The honest lawman and the ruthless protector.   Freedom from concerns about their safety or the infringement of their civil rights.  You would just - “<br/><br/>“ - I don't give a fuck about politics,” snarled Bilton.<br/><br/>Cochran's eyes widened.  “Well, you' better start!  Do you have any idea how these people look at you?  You the thug who'll ruin Gomorra's law abiding reputation.  You'll punish those you want to punish with a bullet to the head, and let your friends get away with murder.”  Bilton cocked his head, the sneer still on his face.<br/><br/>“Ain't that exactly what I been doing for y'all for eight goddam years?  Killing miners, getting rid of evidence, bailing your idiot enforcers out of trouble when they leave a mind full o' bodies for Nate to find?  You know what Coleman would have done to me if he had ever found out?”  He stood up, pushing away from the desk.  “I been waiting eight years for a bigger desk, and I'll be damned if I put up with Nate goddam Hunter for one more day.”<br/><br/>In the corner of the room, Oswald Hardinger had stiffened at the mention of Nash's role working for Sweetrock.<br/><br/>“I can no longer be party to this,” he said, stiffly.  His jaw clenched.  “Murders.  Destruction of evidence.  It is bad enough to ask me to direct my people to a vote that ensures this … thug becomes our Sheriff.  I will … “  He shook his head.  “Good day, gentleman.”<br/><br/>He turned on his heel towards the front door, slipping his top hat on his head, his stride brisk and angry.<br/><br/>Behind her, Jia Li heard the creak of footsteps coming up the stairs to the upper landing.