Lemoyne National Bank.
The second-floor café next door.
Watching the panicked crowd pouring out of the bank, Davey felt completely speechless about Dutch's thinking.
You're robbing a damn bank, and you still feel the need to act noble and let everyone go? Davey truly couldn't wrap his head around that logic.
Most of the people inside Lemoyne National Bank were part of Saint Denis's upper class.
Ordinary folk didn't even have enough money to deposit in a bank like this.
If Dutch had been just a little smarter and taken everyone hostage, would the Pinkertons still dare act so arrogantly?
Would they dare shoot Hosea right in front of Dutch?
If Dutch demanded Hosea's release in exchange for the hostages, Milton would likely have no choice but to agree under pressure.
At that moment, an employee came upstairs to report.
"Sir, Senior Pinkerton Agent Milton and Ross are requesting to see you."
Davey frowned slightly. Instead of arresting Dutch and the others, Milton came to see him?
"Let them up."
"Yes, sir."
Downstairs, Ross's expression was grim.
Even though Davey was a sharpshooter, he valued his own safety greatly and never traveled alone.
Whenever he went out, there were at least a dozen employees visibly accompanying him, with others in plain clothes scouting ahead for potential threats.
The moment Milton and Ross entered the first floor, they were subtly surrounded by employees.
Ross felt humiliated.
Among them were men he recognized—former Pinkerton colleagues—now working as Davey's security employees.
"Scott, what are you doing here?"
Ross couldn't stop himself from asking.
Scott had been one of the elite among Pinkerton's veteran agents. His performance had always been outstanding, and in a few more years, he would likely have been promoted to Senior Agent.
When Ross heard that Scott had resigned, he had felt genuine regret. He hadn't expected to see him here.
"This is my job, Mr. Ross."
Scott's gaze was steady. He felt no shame working for Davey—if anything, he felt fortunate.
Because of his Pinkerton background, he had received preferential treatment when applying to Land Security Company and was hired directly as a senior employee.
If he had stayed with the Pinkertons, it would have taken years before he could become a Senior Agent. And even then, the salary was only 100 dollars a month.
At Land Security Company, he earned 150 dollars per month, with eight days of leave each month. Overtime pay was calculated separately.
More importantly, Davey promised every senior employee an apartment in Valentine.
Scott had seen it himself. The décor was far beyond anything he had imagined. Even if he became a Senior Pinkerton Agent, it would take him many years to afford such a place.
His wife and children had already moved in.
On top of that, Davey promised that upon retirement, ownership of the apartment would be transferred to them. Senior employees would also receive a pension equal to half their active salary.
That meant even after retirement, he would still receive 75 dollars a month. Even if he grew too old to work, it would be enough to support his family comfortably.
The retirement system wasn't something Davey invented. In the late nineteenth century, a few companies in the United States had begun offering pensions to retain key employees. But it was rare, far from standard practice.
So why wouldn't he work for Davey?
Ross didn't understand. The disappointment in his eyes was obvious.
Scott didn't care. Land Security Company was a legally registered company in the United States. It was no less legitimate than the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
As for the fact that his employer had once been a criminal—that hardly mattered.
After years with the Pinkertons, Scott knew very well how corrupt the upper levels of the United States could be. Compared to them, ordinary criminals looked almost innocent.
"Mr. Milton. Mr. Ross."
"The boss will see you upstairs."
Milton gave Scott a slight nod before heading up with Ross.
He wasn't surprised by Scott's choice.
Milton himself was aware of the generous benefits at Land Security Company. Honestly, if it had been a few years earlier—before he became a Senior Agent—he might have been tempted too.
But during the Pinkertons' peak years, Milton had other sources of income. He wasn't overly concerned about salary.
Being a Pinkerton had become his life's work.
Upstairs.
When Milton and Ross entered, Davey smiled.
"Our Pinkerton gentlemen. Shouldn't you be arresting criminals? What brings you here?"
Time was tight, so Milton didn't waste words.
"Mr. Land, Ross has a plan he'd like to discuss with you."
Davey raised an eyebrow. Another mastermind with an idea?
He turned to Ross. "Mr. Ross, what's your plan? Do you need my cooperation?"
Ross suppressed his frustration and forced a polite smile—one so stiff that Davey found it almost amusing.
"Yes, Mr. Land, I do have a plan."
"You heard the explosion earlier. It was caused by Hosea Matthews to create a diversion and make the robbery smoother."
"Our agents have captured Mr. Matthews."
Davey wasn't surprised. Hosea being captured had been expected. Dutch's movements and personnel deployment had long been under Pinkerton surveillance.
"So what's your plan, Mr. Ross?"
Ross took a deep breath.
"Mr. Land, I propose that we 'kill' Mr. Matthews in order to—"
Davey cut him off sharply.
"Do you even hear yourself, Mr. Ross?"
His tone turned cold and stern. The surrounding employees immediately tensed.
Kerry, Davey's personal security captain—the former legendary hunter—had already rested his hand on his holster.
At a single word from Davey, he would not hesitate to shoot Milton and Ross.
"No, no, no, Mr. Land, please don't misunderstand," Ross quickly corrected himself. "Not truly kill Mr. Matthews. A staged death. Like in a theater performance."
Milton shot Ross an annoyed look.
If you're going to propose something like that, at least phrase it properly.
If not for the fact that Ross's plan aligned with his own thoughts, Milton wouldn't have come here at all.
Davey let out a cold laugh.
"So, gentlemen, your plan is to come to me and discuss how to 'kill' my father?"
It was the first time Davey had publicly acknowledged that Hosea was his father.
Of course, father in the sense of adoptive father.
With Davey's current status and position, he no longer needed to conceal his relationship with Hosea.
...
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