Gunfire was sporadic but loud, filling the canyon with thunder. Brandon looked grimly determined, white lines carved beside his mouth, the pistol steadier now. Steve saw the resolve in his eyes.

“You’ll have to stop it, Senator. You’re responsible for this, but for the love of God, do it quickly before even more men are killed. Isn’t it enough that you’re getting rich off the slave labor of these poor wretches?”

Balanced on the balls of his feet, he calculated that he could reach the senator with the butt of his empty rifle if necessary, but it would probably knock him off the steps and over the railing. It was a good twenty feet to the ground below.

Brandon sucked in a sharp breath, and his eyes narrowed into thin slits as he stared at Steve, then blurted, “My God! It’s—Steve Morgan?”

The last was said with disbelief. Steve ignored that, snapping, “Call off the guards! Now!”

“If you think I have any influence, you’re mistaken.” The barrel of the pistol wavered slightly. Brandon looked uncertain. “Delgado is in charge here.”

“Then for chrissake, tell him to put a stop to it! He’ll listen to you. It’s not likely he’ll be in any mood to listen to me.”

The senator gave him a swift, frowning glance before he moved down one step. “I’ll tell him, and when this is under control, you had better come up with a damn good explanation for why you’re here, Morgan. My daughter has been worried sick about you.”

“If she was that damn worried, I wouldn’t still be here.”

Steve had the impression that Brandon was genuinely surprised to see him. But then, the man was a consummate politician and capable of disguising his real intent extremely well.

When the brief rebellion was subdued and the few prisoners that were left once more secure, Steve sat across from the senator in the mining office. His voice was hard.

“I’ll accept that you had nothing to do with me being here. For now. If I find out differently, you know I’ll come back to you for an explanation.”

Brandon paled. His hands clasped atop the silver head of his cane trembled slightly, but he nodded, his mouth set into a harsh line. “As I just told you, I had nothing to do with it. I may be a lot of things, Morgan, but I’m not a fool.”

“And I had the little idea that you wanted to be rid of me lately, that you’ve been unhappy with some of my actions. Guess I was wrong.”

“No, you’re right about that.” Brandon grimaced. “I will admit I haven’t been pleased by your efforts to ruin my plans. And I have tried to stop you. But not this. Not what amounts to kidnapping and slavery. I leave the abductions to you.”