Tombstone.
This morning I walked into town and talked with the crowd in front of the hotel. I saw Sirus and went over to him in the kitchen where we made coffee and he asked, “So What’s new, Trin? Catching all the bad guys?”
“Well, I had a question for you along those lines actually...”
“Uh oh,” he swallowed hard.
“I know it’s not an easy topic, Sirus, but I think you’re the key for me to find this guy.”
“I guess ya can ask..but just cause I hung me guns up don’t make me no stool pigeon.”
“I know, Sirus... I just need to know anything you can tell me about this though it’l be hard to talk about. Can you talk to me about Clint Houston?”
“I knew the man... real good with a gun.”
“Any ideas where he would be now?”
“Not a one.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“Few months back down Mexico way... Last I seen he was with his wife and sisters.. then again thats who he was always with.. been looking to have a word with Harmony myself. Best advice I can give you is this... don’t go looking for Clint. When he’s ready he will be back here soon enough... and you might not like it when he returns.”
“He has more than one sister?” I looked at him.
“His wife had a least one sister. I’m not really certain about his family tree.”
“I knew he had at least one, just didn’t know he had more than that. Anything else you can tell me, Sirus?”
“Nope, that’s about all I know.”
“Okay well thank you for this,” I finished my coffee and set down the mug. “It really does help. I should head to the office, I hear Adrian’s fixed it all up for me.”
“No problem, Trin... Have a good day.”
I waved and headed outside. I went to my new office and organized files from Tye, then locked them in the cabinet with my other files. After a while I headed outside and walked over to the sheriff’s office.
“Hey Ansar,” I greeted the marshal.
“Hey.”
“Got somethin on Clint ya might find interesting, if ya don’t already know it.”
“Wait, hey! I see ya got yourself an official badge now!” he smiled.
I nodded and said, “Got my own office with a lock and key too It’s official.”
“So what’s this about Clint?”
“So a source I was talkin’ to said he saw Clint back a few months ago in the Mexico area.”
“Mexico area? Woo, that ain’t even close to town.”
“Apparently he was with his wife and sisters... like always... Said somethin’ about a sister named Harmony. At least I think it was the sister.”
“Well I guess he’s safe, long as he ain’t in the U.S.,” he shrugged.
“I thought the point was to find him? You can still arrest him out there as a marshal, can’t you?”
“I am a US Marshal. If he is out of the US how can I arrest him?”
“True... So what, he’s untouchable? We just give up until he wanders back into town?”
“About sums it up. If he comes into the State of Arizona, we got him.”
“So unless I find out where he’s been since Mexico... Ain’t much else I can investigate on him right?”
“Not yet, but good work,” he made a few notes.
“Been an interesting case to work. Hope I haven’t hit us with a dead end.”
“I knew that list would be hard as it was. I was having a tough time finding them myself. But more information on them never hurts.”
“For sure. I made a list of all the people involved in Tye’s cases with him, started asking around and that’s how I got to Mexico at least...”
“Now that I know he’s out of state, then I can just keep a look out on the borders to town. Then if and when he shows up... bam!”
“That’s if he hasn’t moved into state since those few months ago. I mean we don’t know what he’s been up to since my source saw him. Or even if he was just passing through the area or not.”
“Then it never hurts to keep tabs. But I said this list are the wildly ones and the hardest I have found to track down. I wouldn’t be so shocked if they all wasn’t out of state by the sounds of it.”
“That’s why I worked on this one more than the others. Figured it was more serious.”
“They’re all wanted men or women, but yes, Clint is one of the most deadliest on the list.”
“I’lll keep digging. Hope that helps you a little bit. I should head back to the office. Just thought I’d give ya the update,” I smiled.
“Keep up the good work. I’ll let ya know if I get more cases for ya.”
“Thanks Ansar. Always willing to help!” I waved and headed back to the office.
***
This evening I walked towards the hotel and listened to the chatter around me. I saw Tye and walked over to him and announced, “Hey Tye. Have some interesting developments to tell you about.”
“Mmmhmm. I’m sure you do.”
“Feel like wandering to Mexico?” I looked at him.
“There ain’t a thing in Mexico that could get me off this here front walk right now. That I can promise.”
“How about our suspect?” I looked at him seriously.
“Our suspect? I ain’t gettin’ paid to track down anybody. And last I checked I was practically doin’ yer job anyway.”
“Then how come I’ve found the man I’m lookin’ for? Or at least have a serious lead.”
Tye squinted towards the jail and asked, “You got him behind bars, Pinky?” When I shook my head he said, “Then ya ain’t done.”
“Didn’t say I was done. Said I had a decent lead.”
“Ya said ya found him. Mexico then eh? Well, where did you get this here... lead?”
“I ain’t gonna reveal my sources,” I smiled. “Not out in the street anyway.”
“Sources? Bah. Ya ain’t got sources. You got people we already tapped dry. Don’t matter anyway, if your little song and dance happens to be successful, the real law’s still gotta step in and finish the job.”
I waved to Skyla as she walked over and I sighed, knowing I was never going to get any kind of affirmation from this man in front of me. Tye inhaled and sighed, greeting the sheriff.
“Caged bull today, Tye,” Sky snickered at his reaction. “Rumor has it we need to get you to speak to a judge.”
“Somethin’ happenin’?” I looked between them.
“Maybe. Thought you had ‘sources’, Pinky,” Tye curled his lip.
“I do but it don’t make me omniscient.”
“Well, I ain’t gonna bother tellin’ the fancy detective what’s goin’ on,” he shook his head.
“Alright fine you want my source? He’s a guy who used to run with Clint and said he’d last seen him in Mexico a few months ago. I wanna go down there and see if Clint is there still or if he was just passin’ through.”
“Clint ain’t in damn Mexico, woman,” Sky shook her head.
“I got it. I know. Ya ain’t gotta keep lookin’ dead at me like I’m a steak and potatoes on a platter,” Tye looked at Sky.
“Someone fed ya false information,” Sky told me.
“What?!” I looked to her. “He wouldn’t...”
“Who wouldn’t? Eh? You just said ‘used to run with Clint’. If that ain’t a dead giveaway, ya got a lot to learn Pinky.”
“Your employee, Tye. Sirus,” I answered as Tye and Skyla started bantering back and forth about nothing again. I looked at Sky and said, “He was on the witness list, he was one of the few on that list I already knew. I had to ask him what he knew. Now that I’ve asked him, I’ll leave it alone but I couldn’t not ask him.”
Tye rolled his eyebrow at me and said, “Dammit Pinky. Ya know I want to like you but you ain’t in candyland no more. People here lie. They steal. I gotta watch Sirus too, I know his past. But Mexico? That’s too easy. They’re whole gang came back sayin’ he was dead and even had a finger that mighta been his once. Then he came strollin’ into town like nothin’ was up.”
“Where was that information when we talked last week huh?” I raised my eyebrow.
“She don’t get it Tye,” Sky smirked. “She just don’t get it!”
“I ain’t an info dump,” Tye pointed to his head. “You wanna get up here, good luck. You’ll get lost just as I have.”
“So maybe I should just not trust you two either and do my own damn thing,” I sighed, not liking being made fun of.
“You asked me...” Tye shook his head. “Go on, get off my deck ya no good hired mess. Don’t go blamin’ me for your own confusion.”
“Things you need to understand woman are simple,” Sky put her hands on her hips. “We arrest a lot, we see a lot. Sometimes details escape us at the time asked, when it’s happened much later. That’s called being human, and not a damn... damn... what’s it called, Tye?”
“I get that, but ya’ll gotta remember that I just moved here a week ago,” I looked between them. “I ain’t askin’ for much, just for a bit of help to do my job. Ansar told me to look into Clint Houston, so that’s what I’m doin’.”
“I sat with you for hours of my own time and you want to doubt me? No. Go on. Come back when you’re ready to apologize for takin’ that tone with me,” Tye said.
“Clint you can find where the sun doesn’t shine,” Sky said. “Unless he’s surrounded by his crew, Clint won’t fight on his own unless he has to. Bat ya eyes, put on a dress and go calling his name saying ya madly in love with him... he’ll come to you.”
“Yeah, ya did, and I thank you for it. But I thought I had a good lead here and you all but shut me down.”
“It’s not shutting down, Trin,” Sky shook her head. “Have to look at it from our point of view. We give and we give, how much do we get in return?”
“Pretty much called me a fool for just looking into a lead.”
“Pinky. What you did was get a piece of information you thought might show some favor to us. You got your work cut out for you, I get it, but I ain’t dealin’ with you until you realize we’ve done our part too,” Tye growled lowly.
“Tye, I know ya have,” I sighed. “That’s why I keep comin’ to ya’ll as soon as I hear anything. I don’t know what ya already know, or what would be new information, okay? I’m just trying to have full disclosure here and keep everyone on the same page.”
“This weren’t lookin’ into a lead! Call it like it is! You came over here lookin’ to get a cookie! This ain’t yer mama’s house, and I ain’t yer daddy. I’m done talkin’ right now. Hell,” Tye replied angrily.
“What? No, I wanted to include you in some information I’d been given, is all!” I raised an eyebrow.
Sky looked at me and asked, “Why don’t you take my advice or information but ya do Tye’s?”
I looked down, defeated. “I’m sorry. I hear of anything I’ll just assume ya’ll have heard it and keep it to myself.”
“Clint comes to me. I don’t have to worry about it being the other way around, never have,” Sky shrugged.
“Then what the heck am I doin’? Might as well just tell Ansar I did all I can, let you handle it. Since you seem to have it so under control and don’t really need my help.”
Tye rubbed his forehead and asked, “You gonna quit already, Pinky? First Pinkerton I’ve met, and I spent my adult life in Boston, mind you, that gives a damn. You give that up so quickly and I’ll have wasted my time on you. I really don’t like wastin’ my time.”
Sky laughed slightly, “I didn’t say it’s under control, I said he comes to me, meaning I have a badge that says, ‘look, I’m a target. Try and get me if ya can.’ I don’t have to run all over hell and God’s green earth to try and track him down.”
I shook my head at Tye and said, “Didn’t say I was gonna quit, just sayin’ I might as well not trapse all the way to Mexico if it’s a dead end anyway.”
“Now get yer tail out form between yer legs and get back to work,” Tye told me and I looked back at him, not even sure what to say anymore.
“I’ll tell ya where to start,” Sky laughed. “William McCoy. He’s here off and on in front of the sheriff’s office.”
“Who’s William McCoy?” I looked at her.
“Runs with Clint and his brothers. See what ya get fer not asking me?”
“Oh? And he’s here in town often?” I summarized.
“Get you some coffee and go look at your things again. You got more out of this conversation than you realize,” Tye pointed to the kitchen.
“About once a week,” Sky nodded.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you this whole time, Sky. Ya’ve been busy arrestin’ people,” I winked at her.
“William McCoy, Dominic James, Anthony James, David James, and Colt McCoy,” Sky listed.
“Dominic James?!” I perked. “Dang it, Ansar,” I muttered at the fact that he’d hid the information from me. “He told me to track Dominic down too. Didn’t tell me why.”
“That’s Ansar fer ya,” Sky laughed as she greeted Suzy and a man named Strider.
I avoided eye contact with Tye and asked Skyla, “So how about Nikki Mullery? She connected to this whole thing too?”
“Nikki is, well, Nikki. She runs more with the Wild Bunch, which is Lot’s gang.”
“Oh I see... Another one he told me to track.”
“He’s having you track down warrants too?” Sky laughed. “Dear God, that man.”
“I should start charging rent space right here,” Tye grumbled.
“Hey, I’m here ‘cause I need to talk to you, Tiny Tim, so don’t get all huffy with me!”
“Two cents a minute, unless you got a pretty smile and bring other folks over. Then one cent a minute. That could do well...” Tye rubbed his chin.
“So the James guys been back huh?” Suzy asked.
“James guys?” I looked to her.
“Greenie, Pinky,” Tye shook his head and kept mumbling.
“Only one been around lately, Suzy, is William McCoy,” Sky answered her, “Ad Clint’s wife Harm.”
I shot Tye a look and he shook his head, “Naw, I seen Tayra with Harm here ‘bout two weeks back. They was tryin’ to give some kids some tobacco.”
“Uh Sky? I saw Andrew yesterday evening,” Pet chimed in then.
“They were here on Cinco de Mayo too,” Sky said.
“How about Clint’s sisters?” I asked.
“Ya, saw Andrew James, Pet,” Skyla nodded.
Tye rolled his eyes and said, “Helpless, I tell ya. Harm and Tayra. I just said!”
“She’s having a hard time remembering who’s who,” Sky went to slap him.
“It’s been a lot of names in a short time,” I admitted.
“Trin, I suggest making a list for reference since ya ain’t been here as long as most of us have,” Sky suggested.
“Trust me, I’ve been working on journals and gettin’ names straight,” I nodded.
“Just gonna stand here, crowd up my storefront, need my help but don’t pay for it, AND slap me when I complain? Bah. Both of ya should go find another place to postulate,” Tye grunted.
I looked from Sky to him and said, “Ain’t our fault everyone gathers to your place of business to be social. You’d think he’d be grateful for the exposure.”
Suzy started complaining about the law then and said that a kid had come to the fort looking for help because some other kids had stolen the bed and food in the orphanage from him. She said there was no law in town that had helped the poor child.
They continued to talk and I let the conversation continue around me. I went back to my office after a while and closed the door, working on my notebook of names from all the people I had met.
The door opened and Tye walked right in, looking around the office. I sighed when I saw who it was and asked, “Want to make me look like an idiot in private now?”
He focused elsewhere and didn’t immediately answer my question. “So. This where they put you up, eh?”
“Just got this place this morning. Not bad,” I nodded.
He stepped over to the safe and leaned against it and spun the dial, trying to open it but couldn’t and said, “Well. Explains why he wouldn’t sell it to me.” He turned and looked at the guns on the wall and took one down, checking the chamber, then peered down the sights. “You got a few of these, for someone who ain’t a fighter.”
“Can’t help they were set up when I got here,” I shrugged.
“Right,” he set the gun back on the rack, wiping his prints from it with his rag.
I looked from him to the chairs and asked, “Can I help you with somethin’, Tye?”
“Not really,” he said simply.
“You made your point, I need to work on my notes of people more, so that’s what I’m doin’. Obviously it’s a lot more names to learn than I’d anticipated.”
He opened the case, pulling one of the shotguns out, and checked the chamber on it. “Should get me one of these. Ain’t real sure you caught my point, to be frank.”
“Care to enlighten me then? Was it just that ya’ll have worked so much on this case already so I should respect ya with it? ‘Cause I thought I’d proved that I did by giving you full disclosure and comin’ to you first before I even went to the acting sheriff.”
“Close,” he nodded, rummaging through old files in the cabinet.
“Or was it to not trust anyone ‘cause Sirus has worked with Clint before?” I asked as he closed the cabinet and squinted at the map on the wall. “Tye?”
“Yeh?”
“I’m sorry.”
He spun around and asked, “Why the hell are you sorry?”
“Ain’t really sure, just feel like I should be apologizing for somethin’.”
He sighed heavily and walked up to the desk. I leaned back a bit and he crossed his hands behind himself, leaning forward. “Good job, Pinky. Don’t you dare quit. You’re a bit green, but you got heart. You’ll learn. Gettin’ shit from us is how you’ll remember. We start babyin’ you, what then?”
I watched as he stepped out onto the deck and I shook my head, hating when he was right already, but having a feeling it will happen a lot more than I’d like. I got up and walked out to find Tye on the balcony. I looked over at him and asked, “So going to Mexico to see if Clint was seen there would be a useless venture?”
He shook his head and said, “I reckon you could stop at every town from here to Panama and here to New York and hear about Clint. He’s just that sort of bastard. None of it matters right now.”
I nodded and said, “But if he’s still in the states Ansar could still take him down.”
He rubbed his chin a bit and said, “Well, take your time with it. Best you can do for us is help us prepare for his return. Perhaps trips elsewhere could get you some idea of if his crew has grown, or how recently he’s been there. Ya ain’t gotta go all the way to Mexico for that.”
“Yeah good point. Just thought it was somethin’ since we hadn’t had a recent location even since those cases stopped really. But you’re right, all I’ve gotta do is look in our own backyard.”
“There you go. Clint ain’t bright. He’s just a good shot and has no morals. Remember that.”
“I should get to work.”
He nodded and headed out, and I went back to work in my notebook.
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