May 29, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked over to Kate’s and sat down with Ali and Sirus as we drank our morning coffee. We talked about how Ali had put Cole in his place and Sirus seemed proud of her for standing up to Cole. I observed the fact that the town seemed quiet and we talked about how rumours about Sirus had made him pretty much unemployable, though he picked up supplies for Tye occasionally. Jamie came over and she said she was feeling much better. I told Sirus that I had his back and he thanked me. 

Richie joined us and he asked about if I’d gotten to the bottom of the incident yesterday and I told him that it’d been taken care of. Ali said she’d given her statement to Skyla and I said that I was going to let them deal with it. All I had to worry about was information, and I'd passed that on best I could. 

When they started talking about Punk, I went quiet and then we talked about past trials in the courthouse. 

“He sent the whole jury to jail there the other day,” Richie said about Kris. 

“Right that thing where the Natives were upset about somethin’. Didn’t know much about that trial. Saw the bunch of them come into town after it though and thought to myself, ‘This can’t be good.’”

“Me either. Funny thang was… He let their ruling stand. Then sent the jury to jail instead.” 

“I don’t even think I know what that trial was over. Other than that one of the native people were on trial.” 

“Some indian girl breakin’ down a door.” 

“Which door?” 

“Jail I reckon. She thought it was a fire.” 

“She broke the sheriff’s office door I believe," Ali said. 

“That’s what it was about?!” I blinked. 

"Hear tell… Yes ma’am,” Richie nodded. 

“From what I could tell,” Ali nodded. 

“I was there for that! Kris opened the door wide open and she just walked in. Then she came out and pulled a knife on me and Ansar.” 

“That Kris seems useless,” Richie muttered. 

“We got her to calm down and sit. But she kept trying to break the door down.” 

“Why was she locked inside?” Ali asked. 

“She went in ’cause Kris left the door open. Think Ansar closed it not knowin’ she was in there. Or somethin’ like that. Was ridiculous though. She just started cookin’ in the sheriff’s office. Wouldn’t have happened if Kris…” I stopped, knowing I shouldn’t go off on that tangent again. 

“I ain’t seen that Kris doing nothing but run around town,” Ricihe said. 

“And let things happen, but again, it’s bein’ taken care of,” I rolled my eyes. 

“Now that being said I ain’t been in town long. Seems to be more of spectator than peace maker.” 

When I asked Sirus why he was so quiet, he said he was thinking about something and Richie said, “Shoot him in the pinky toe he have plenty say then miss Trin....go ahead fo it.” 

“There are better ways to wake a man up, Rich,” I chuckled. 

“He’s got all propped up fer ya. I mean be fair take a few steps. Let me and Ali get clear.” 

“Pff… Miss Trin would never wanna do that,” Sirus said. 

“You’re too much, Rich,” I chuckled. 

“Sorry Richie, I have to agree with Trin about better ways to wake up a man,” Ali said and I winked at her. 

We continued to joke and talk about how good of shots we were and then Frank walked over. I asked if he got the job at the clinic but he pulled out a bottle and said that it was “Doctor Frank’s Cure All”, said to heal any injury or hurt. We all joked about how we were skeptical of it and then I headed to my office, saying that coffee was a good enough ‘cure all’. 

*** 

This afternoon I talked with some people talking about the sheriff getting shot and I asked what I missed. I walked into the hotel and found out that Bella had opened the casket and saw Sirus in it. I blinked, shocked, as she said that Skyla had been standing right beside him. Starling said that the Apache killed them both, but I didn’t want to believe it as I heard gunshots going off. 

“There any other law around?” I jumped and looked around. 

“My name is Cole Dassin! I am the notorious outlaw, Cole Dassin!” Punk called out then and continued to shoot. 

“I know Cole. I paid for him to leave jail yesterday, he is a good man and you will not take his name in vain!” Chrono shouted back. 

“That is not Cole,” Starling insisted as I drew my gun, walking over to the bank. I knew that if I were to go over there I couldn’t do anything about it and sighed. 

“Dear God, sherriff….someone…help!” Chrono shouted. 

“Ya’ll alright here?” I asked as I saw Punk had run off. I looked around the bank and looked down at Chrono. 

“I will be fine....please get the law…..quickly!” Chrono exclaimed. 

“Looks like I might need to start carrying my shotgun around for protection again,” Jenna commented. 

“Man shoot bank lady!” the girl pointed and I ran after Punk. 

“Punk. Drop any gun on you and let’s talk this out," I insisted. 

“Ohh howdy,” the man turned around. He was disguised as an old man and I rolled my eyes at him. 

“Punk I recognized your voice from the bank. I know it’s you.” 

“Who was ye’ lookin’ for?” 

“What the hell do you think you’re tryin’ to pull?” 

“Punk?” 

“After that time we... spent together... you don’t think I’d sense your presence? Feel when you’re near?” I glared at him. 

“Howdy dear citizens,” Tina said, walking over. 

“Ho ho ho.. I’m sure an old geezer like me would remember if I had spent some time with such a lurvley lady like ya’self, Sheriff,” Punk said to me. 

“I ain’t the sheriff and you know it. Give it a rest. You ain’t foolin’ anyone,” I glared at him. 

“Now now, young lady.. don’t be talkin’ to ya’ elders like that.” She walked towards me and said, “Now be a dear, and walk ya’ old man home, won’t ya?” 

“I ain’t fallin for it. I’m sick of your games,” I backed up. 

“I heard the bank got robbed Tried to make it soon as I can.” He clutched his back and said, “Ohh ohh.. but my back.” 

“Full of lies, Poe…” I looked at him, using the name I’d met him under. 

“Name’s Roy,” Punk smiled under his beard. “Roy Bruissardt. Pleased ta’ meet ya’ maam." 

I rolled my eyes and walked away, knowing I couldn’t do anything without backup anyway. 

“Good luck with that Poe guy, sheruff,” Punk called after me. 

I ran back to the bank and called out for them to let me in and I saw Punk walk back over to the bank. “Get back, I mean it,” I glared at him. 

“Told ya to comply, love,” Punk whispered and I looked around the street for any sign of law. 

“Ya’ll seen Tye?” I asked, keeping an eye on Poe, but no one had seen him. “I’ll be back. You see Tye, let me know,” I insisted and went back, seeing Poe with a sledgehammer in his hand as he started to work on the bank’s back door. 

“Drop the axe,” I said firmly.

“Oh just here to check on ya locks ma’am. I heard there was a break-in. Alright.” 

“Starling is your husband around?” I asked her as she came out of the bank. 

“No,” she shook her head. 

“I think I will be going now,” Poe said then. 

“You! You should get a beard that covers your arms!” Chrono shouted. 

“Kris,” I exhaled when I saw Kris running over. 

“Trin, check the roof! I’ll check the back!” 

“Guy looks like an old man, came at the bank teller. Pretty damn sure it’s Poe," I told him. 

“He has tattoos all over his arms,” Chrono said. 

“Thanks miss,” I said to her and and backed up to look at the roof, looking for a way up. I went back and called, “All clear, Kris. Teller says the man had tattoos on his arms.” When he nodded I said, “I know it was Poe though... Or Punk or whatever the hell he’s callin’ himself.” When Kris walked towards the fort and stopped there I asked, “What’s your plan?” Kris walked away without a word and I muttered, “Damn it, Kris.” 

Starling came over then and said, “He must have gone into the village.” 

“Unless Kris asks for my help I can’t do anything. I have no authority to arrest,” I told her. When she walked off I knocked on the door and then I saw Punk. 

“Open the door, we brought the doctor!” Punk shouted at the fort. 

“Punk. We need to talk. Now.” 

“Someone’s about to die Trin!” Punk turned around to see me. 

“Yeah, you are if ya don’t come talk to me.” 

“Looks like we are too late miss Rubble,” Punk said to Starling. 

“Anyone need a doctor?” the woman shouted. 

“How you plannin on gettin in there if Tina’s too injured to come to the door?” I asked. 

“She is in town. Miss Starling the soldier is in the town’s clinic. Please help her.” 

“I go to the clinic,” she said and she walked off. 

I looked at Punk and said, “You. Don’t move.” 

“Problem here AGENT Paige?” he stopped and looked at me. 

“Yeah, I’ve got a problem. You think you can pull these little games of yours, throw on a mask and no one will recognize you. After the night we spent how the hell do you figure I won’t know it’s you?” 

“After the night?” 

“You don’t even remember do you?” I looked at him. 

“Look, Agent Paige. My friend is in danger of dying. And you stopping me here, does absolutely nothing to help her condition.” 

“The search by the trading post, going back to the hotel… Yeah, and I’m in danger of an idiot going around and impersonating people and threatening people. Starling will get to her, she’s good.” 

“Idiot?” he laughed. 

“You don’t even care that it hurts you never even talked to me after that night, do you?” 

“I was the best at what I do, yes. But what I did ain’t at all pretty Trin, if you remember.. you left me in the street.” 

“You may think you’re smart, Poe,” I blinked, “But don’t think that your actions don’t affect others. Or lack of actions.” 

“While you traipsed along with your new boyfriend.. Ken? was It? or was that Kent? I could never know.” 

“You knifed my..” 

“Knifed who? I ain’t been in town in a looong time. Leave me alone out here in the desert.” 

“Your memory is really that short,” I glared at him. When he started to walk away from me I grabbed his arm and I said, “You may think your smart but I will prove it was you.” 

“Listen.. why don’t ya join me,” he shook his head. 

“Join you?” 

“I’m having some stew. We can eat it together.” 

“You want me to join you for stew?!” 

“That’s where I set up my camp,” he pointed in a distance. 

“Have a good stew, Poe,” I looked in the direction and shook my head. 

“What? No second date?” he asked as I started to walk away. 

“According to you there was no first date.” 

“Aww.. don’t be so harsh love.” 

I rolled my eyes and saw the child coming over. I kept an eye on Punk. “I won’t fall for it,” I said, looking directly at him. “Not again.” 

I asked Twig if she wanted to go with me back to town and the girl said something in Apache. When Ru walked over looking to see if a doctor was still needed, I told her, “Ru, I need to head back to town. Punk can tell you what you need to know.” 

“The soldier is in town clinic now, Miss. I think the healer took care of it,” Punk informed as Twig continued to talk in Apache. “But thanks for caring. Not many people would go out their way out here in the desert. And specially the Fort.” 

“Well I may be late but I will show up. Pffft the other day I healing in the middle of a firefight. Amazing any of us survived that one.” 

I walked away and shuddered as Punk talked in Apache to the girl. All I understood was ‘tomahawk’ and ‘paleface’ but it was enough to make me shudder. I walked over to Kris and told him, “I’ve got no proof it was him yet, but I’ll find some.” 

When Kris continued to ignore me I wondered if I was suddenly invisible and asked, “You guys okay?” 

“Hwdy ma’am, we alright…problem?” Nhil tipped his hat to me. 

“Always,” I sighed. 

“I am fine. Shocked by the news but fine. Thank you for your concern,” Victoria said, clinging to Nhil like he was a lifeline. 

“So what’s everyone so upset about?” Ru asked then. 

“Can’t believe what I’m hearin about Sky and Sirus,” I sighed. 

“Sheriff and her new beau were killed by the apache,” Kris said. 

“Her new beau? They were dating?” I blinked. 

“Her and Sirus, yes.” 

“News to me.” 

“Wow. Well it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Ru said. 

“Why do ya think he went straight?” Kris asked. 

“That’s  true..those savages all need to be round up, and shot like dogs in a ditch,” Nhil shrugged and looked down at Vic, then turned to me. “Yes..Sky and Sirus were dating, but dead now.” 

“It was a matter of time, you live that kind of life and it will catch up to you. Yes they’ve been dating for sometime and KRIS you can not be for sure it was Apache that done it or even how fired first don’t say things if you cant back it up,” Vic said and I heard the bite in her voice and looked at Kris. 

“Them savages is mostly defending themselves.. ya don’t bother them they don’t bother you,” Ru said. 

“They not all bad!” Ella screamed then. 

“But ya bring a war and folks get killed,” Ru said. “Life is tough ya gotta be tougher…” 

“The Apache give all natives a bad name,” Kris said. 

“No offence ma’am, but the bull dung you talking is reaching your eye brows...Blood comes to this town every day, and shoots someone or lights something on fire,” Nhil sighed. 

“Bull dung?” Ru blinked. “Oh hell no.” 

“I’ll be in my office,” I sighed then and headed down the street, slamming the door hard. I fell in my chair, frustration boiling over as I tried to process the rumors surrounding me.