Tombstone.
As the sun rose, I walked over to the hotel and waved to Josh and the two girls. I went into the kitchen to pour myself a coffee, then headed back outside. Twig had joined the group and I listened to them all talking. When I was finished drinking my coffee I went into the kitchen and returned the cup, then went back across the road to the sheriff’s office to begin writing questions from the files on Clint Houston. Things in the case notes were escalating quickly and I knew that I needed to talk to Tye.
I started to look around for Tye but no one seemed to know where he was. I headed over to the schoolhouse and saw Tye sitting in the back of the room. I tapped lightly on the window to get his attention and he looked back at me, then looked around quickly, looking busy. I sighed and decided to wander on, since Tye was insistent on ignoring me.
I walked over to the saloon and saw Ali sitting at a table by herself. “Hey there, Ali! Mind some company?”
“Morning, Miss Trin,” she smiled. “Sure, have a seat!”
“How's it goin' today?” I looked over at her as I sat down beside her.
“It’s going well so far. Still early in the day though,” she laughed. “How bout with you?”
“Spent the morning buried in paperwork but finally makin’ some progress. Feels great to be working an actual case for once.”
“Glad to hear you makin’ some progress. This town keeping you busy on cases?”
“You bet. I don’t think I’ll be slowin’ down anytime soon,” I smiled. “What do you keep yourself busy with during the day, Ali?”
She pointed at the front door and said, “Keepin’ those chairs out that door warm.”
“You don’t have a job?” I chuckled.
“Aside from that, been working round the house trying to fix it up. Not as of yet Miss Trin.”
“I would be bored stiff if I were you, no offense.”
“Well, when I get bored in town, I make my way home and do some work or go fishin’ and try to catch some supper.”
“Bet Gabe loves that you do that. What does he do exactly?” I nodded with a smile.
“He does umm, a little of this and a little of that.”
I nodded, noticing the evasiveness but wasn’t sure why. “Was quite the trial last night, huh?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Sure was.”
“I saw the woman before the trial. I watched as she went to get a dress to, and I quote, ‘make herself look innocent’. We went out to warn the judge ‘cause they were threatening to stop the trial from happening at all, though nothing happened that way. But the judge didn’t do nothin’ about it. Just went on with the trial anyway and let the woman go scot free.”
“I didn’t know it was against the law to shoot a wagon wheel. An nobody saw her shoot the sheriff.”
“The point is she claimed herself that she was making herself look innocent and they were threatenin’ against the judge. That’s all I need. Perhaps that’s a different case though,” I sighed.
“How you know she was not kidding when she said she was going to make herself look innocent?”
“Guess I don’t. Didn’t seem like she was kidding though.” I stood, realizing the time and not wanting to talk about the trial anymore, even though I was the one who brought it up. “I should head back to the office.”
“Have a good day Miss Trin. Don’t be workin too hard.”
“I’ll try not to,” I nodded and headed outside.
***
A few hours later I walked out of the office and headed down the street, noticing the group in front of the hotel. I walked over and greeted the group. Pet told me that Jamie gave the best advice. We talked about food and then I took a seat in front of the hotel, getting to work on files.
***
This afternoon I stood with the crowd in front of the hotel again and met a deputy named Dave. Jy told us how he got shot by Cole while protecting the bank. I saw Tye walk over and smiled, “So he does exist.”
“Pinky. I’m a busy man. What now?” Tye grumbled.
“I finished readin’ and have some questions.”
“Of course you do,” he huffed.
“You didn’t expect them?”
Tye looked at the man standing near us and said, “This here’s that detective I was complainin’ about all the way here.”
“You tellin’ people ‘bout me?” I chuckled.
“Don’t say that! I mean, nice to meet you ma’am!”
“Yes Pinky, I certainly expect questions. Let’s have ‘em.”
“Hi there. Trin Paige,” I smiled at Paul and shook his hand.
“Very nice to meet you!”
“Don’t go all gettin’ nice with him and throwin’ around that pretty smile,” Tye grumbled.
“See, he tells rumors about me is what he tells,” I chuckled. “You wanna talk here or somewhere else?” I looked at Tye.
“Well, I’ll try to keep my eyes open.”
Tye looked around and said, “Depends on what you wanna ask. I ain’t got any secrets.”
“Well I got a few of ‘em...”
He narrowed his eyes and said, “Define few. I should start chargin’.”
“The first case...” I started. “What was Avier threatening Pet karu and her daughter about that first case?”
“I hope not for me, I don’t have much money and I’m sure to have lots of questions!” Paul said then.
“Keep Quiet,” Tye warned. “You say anything around her and she’ll ask you about it six years from now and you’ll regret it.”
“Was that to me or to this man?”
“That was to my nephew here, Pinky. You’ll not bother him like you do me.”
“I’m just doin my job, Tye,” I sighed.
Tye greeted Dave coming over and Paul said, “Well, she could ask me questions like that, but I don’t know much useful.”
“You mean Incident 67 eh?” Tye looked back at me. “You need to define which case yer talkin’ about.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t remember Avier bein’ part of that incident,” he took out a pad. “You mean 77.”
“No wait, I did mean 77. Didn’t have any questions until 77.”
“See now, in cases like Avier’s, he ain’t threatenin’ people in earshot of the law. When I arrived, Pet told me to keep an eye on him, and he straightened right up.”
“Okay... so only Pet Karu would know the answer to that one.”
“Yes’m. But good luck gettin’ her to remember eight months ago. She’s a preacher and a colored woman. She gets threatened regularly.”
“Moving on then... Did Clint know Avier? Are they connected? Seems Avier left because he saw Clint coming.”
Tye exhaled slowly and said, “Clint knew him. A bit. Knew he could be useful. That’s how Clint works. Avier was a big man, easy to hide behind. They were workin’ out some sort of agreement.”
“Why did Clint run to the Apache village? Is he native? Does he have connections there?” I asked, smiling that I had been right.
“Clint ran to the Apache village because he knew we wouldn’t follow. He caused enough confusion that the natives were still tryin’ to figure out what was goin’ on - and I didn’t want to be in the crossfire. Kristoff, however, ain’t that bright.”
“Fair enough. Moving on then... Incident 81...” I said and we went to sit in front of the sheriff’s office. “I told you I had a few.”
“And I told you I’d be chargin’!” he set down his empty mug.
“It’ll be worth it for the information you’re givin’ me. Why did Clint shoot Mixorroxim?”
“Why does Clint shoot anybody?”
“Just wonderin’ if there’s a motive, if he’s still alive, where he is now...”
“Motive? I done told you, Pinky, his only motive is misery. Causin’ misery. He’ll hide amongst a group of children and shoot people. He’s shot his own wife, on more than one occasion. He’s shot his own family, three of them at once!”
“I remember the files, Tye... Just wonderin’ if there was somethin Mix might be able to tell me....”
“Oh, that,” he laughed. “Naw. Don’t bother. Mix ain’t all there. I ain’t seen Mix in a good while anyway. The one time I arrested her, she laid on the floor of her cell - where folks do all sorts of nasty bodily functions... and started to strip and ask me rather unfortunate questions. I’d rather not get into it.”
“Alright then... Who are Doc Jen’s children? How does Clint know them?”
“Doc Jen’s children? Let’s see. She’s got Teddy, Skyler, Casper, and Meghan. Clint - he’s their uncle. Doc Jen is his sister.”
“Well that explains that,” I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, believe me. I’ve had enough of her youngest boy. He used to call me all sorts of nasty things Clint taught him - thought Clint was an angel.”
“Okay... inc. 86... Just one question for this one... Who is Theo Caedmon? Did Clint and him seem to know each other before this incident?”
He sighed, remembering that name. “Theo. Just about the worst shot you could imagine. Clint used him much like he did Avier. A distraction. He was new in town, tryin’ to prove himself.”
“Tyler!” Skyla shouted then.
“Wut?” Tye glared at her as she came over.
“Ya know I still need a report from you on Star.”
“Hell. I thought maybe you’d forget about it.”
“Do I look like the forgetting type?” she laughed.
“You know between the two of you I ain’t ever gonna get any real work done.”
“But you know you love me, Tye!” Skyla grinned big.
“Tye ya just have to answer these questions for me then I’ve got a list a mile long of witnesses I wanna talk to,” I told him. “I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
“I would even more if’n you paid me for all the times I help the law,” Tye smirked. “And Pinky, believe it when I see it.”
“You can just wear the badge again and...” I said and then shut up.
“Maybe I will but then I’d be paying you for what you love to do,” Sky snickered.
A boy named Teddy walked over and I recognized it as Tye had just mentioned it. Teddy asked how he was doing and Tye said, “I’d be better with a few less women around son. You’ll feel the same way soon I’m sure.” He looked at both me and Sky and said, “Everybody’s a critic.”
“Inc, 93, Tye...?” I looked at him, wanting to finish the interview.
“93. 93... Uh...”
“How did Clint injure Annie? With a gun? With his hands?”
“Oh. What about - hell. I charged him with shooting her. He shot her. How’s that not clear?”
“Moving on... Next one’s a big one... Inc. 94. What kinds of problems had Clint been giving the Apache village?”
“When he killed Leesh. I remember that,” he nodded. “Look at the dates. You were just askin’ me about him goin’ up there before in a previous case. They ain’t that far apart.”
“Okay then... Who is Glicea Rae? Why did she try to help?”
“Glicea. It weren’t so much helpin’ Clint as hinderin’ the rest of us.”
“Just wonderin’ why. Didn’t mention Clint with that question,” I winked. “Why’d she help you then?”
“That the time all them outlaws helped? That mighta been when Clint had shot some doves. The Alvord-Stiles weren’t too happy with him.”
“So Blackfoot, Cyrus and Augustus are all outlaws? That was my next question.”
“Naw, wait. That’s right - Glicea. Course. She weren’t happy with what he done to Leesh. Glicea and Leesh were datin’.”
“Did they ever find out who ambushed Blackfoot and helped Clint escape?”
“I ain’t even sure Black was bein’ truthful about that. Clint mighta bought him out.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Black. That’s just Black. He had been hit over the head, sure, but Clint is slippery and Black ain’t real committed to anything but himself and money.”
“Okay so I”m sure I know the answer to the next question but... in the incident #2.... Did Clint wound his wife intentionally or accidentally as he tried to shoot at you? I’m almost done, Tye. Then I’ll go hound some witnesses,” I winked.
“I don’t believe he’d ever shoot her intentionally, but I do know he’d shoot her if he thought it’d help him get away. He didn’t hold his fire when she was clearly tryin’ to talk me down from arresting him. Shot right through her to get to me.”
“Okay... two more incidents with questions then I’m done.”
“Inc. 17... Where is Lillith now?”
“I told you that two days ago. You can find her scalp hangin’ in the Apache village. Damn nut had no sense when it came to the Apache. She’d go up there and kick rocks at their kids. It never stopped. Eventually they just killed her.”
“I’m sorry Tye... lots of names rollin’ around in my head still and I ain’t even been here a week yet.”
He pointed to my notepad ad said, “That’s what this is for.”
I sighed and looked at the next question. “Why did Clint want Maverick killed? Because of the incident 86 on 9/2?”
“Told you that, too. Maverick was a habitual traitor. Out for his own interests. And he just happened to be coming into town as Clint tried to put a bounty on me.”
“Okay... I know you already talked about the Apache enough but it seems like there was something Clint had in particular against them. No one attacks a tribe that much without personal motive. I’m sure I’ve just missed it in being dizzy with information,” I sighed. “This is the last question, I promise.”
“Dammit Pinky. Motives, again? Misery. The fool sought conflict, didn’t matter where. If he could make you hate life, he’d try.”
“I’m sorry Tye I just guess I don’t wanna admit that a man could just be that evil.”
“Welcome to Tombstone,” he leaned across the table and examined me slowly, then sat back up.
“So what do I owe you?” I asked, putting the notebook back into my pocket of my vest.
He flipped to another page and scribbled down more, then slid it to me. “That right there. By the hour how much I’m losin’ by not tendin’ my hotel.”
“Tye...” I swallowed hard, not sure if he was joking or not, but he didn’t seem like the type that would joke much.
He picked up his pad and stood. “Remember that next time you come to me for information.”
I sighed and looked at him. “Do you want Clint taken down or not? Besides... you were the one who gave me the files. If you didn’t want me askin’ about ‘em you should have just let me get stuff on my own, behind your back. Then where would we be?”
“If I see Clint there won’t be a question about desires, I’ll be draggin’ him in myself, whether I get arrested or not for it.”
“Be glad I came to you first,” I said, somewhat frustrated.
“I gave you those so I wouldn’t have to sit here and tell you my life story, Pinky.”
“I didn’t want your life story, I want Clint’s. We’re both going after the same goal here, Tye,” I said and he sighed heavily. I smirked at the lack of response and said, “Thanks for your help, Tye. Sorry I took so much of your time.”
“Yeah, we’re done,” I nodded. “Really, thanks.”
“Good. Thought you’d keep me here long enough for my nephew to grow a real beard.” He gave me a look and said, “And Pinky?”
“Would you rather I sit on my butt and do nothin’?”
“Thanks for the help stoppin’ that fire,” he motioned to the hotel and then walked inside before I could even respond.
No comments:
Post a Comment