Tombstone.
This morning as I sat on my balcony of the office, working in my notebook. I waved down to Bria and Angel who were riding horses down the street. Walking down the street, I greeted Ali and Richie and the other man sitting there who still didn’t know what his name was.
“So Ali anything exciting happen last night?”
“Heard some shooting. Can’t say I know what happened,” she said.
“Shooting?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Some gunshots last night. Perhaps even one wounded.”
“Wow... Reckon I’ll have to see about that. Here in Tombstone?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Richie chuckled and joked with Jamie that she had been shooting up the town and Jamie laughed at that. The two bantered back and forth andi I just laughed at them.
“Josh, have you seen a court docket this week?” I asked him.
“Not yet,” he shook his head.
“Strange, she doesn’t normally leave it till Thursday...”
“I hear Miss Dee left her position. Have they gotten a new court clerk already?” Ali asked.
I blinked and looked over, “What?!”
“I heard the same thang,” Richie nodded.
“Well that explains why we don’t have a court docket,” I sighed.
“That’s what I hear,” Ali said. “I haven’t had a telegram about it so I don’t know if it’s just a rumor.”
“Just what I hear tell too... rumor,” Richie agreed.
“Ansar did confirm with me about his leaving law,” Ali said.
Jamie went off with Luna and fed her some apples. I went to get some coffee as Richie and Ali continued to banter and then talked with Ali about my horse that had found me. We talked about what happened with Ella and Ace the other day and how she had finally given Steve a report on it. I hoped that justice would be achieved soon for the girl and she could move on with her life.
A man walked over and we greeted him. “Don’t believe we’ve met,” I said to him. “New in town?”
“Yes I am new. I’m a detective here from Frisco.”
“Detective?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Me and my woman divorced. She got the house and kids, I got the dog. He’s around somewhere. And yes’m, Detective.”
“I’m a detective as well, Sir. With the Pinkerton’s. What’s your name?”
“John.”
“Nice to meet you. Detective Trin Paige,” I reached to shake his hand. “Good to have another detective in the area. Been kinda carryin’ the load on my own.”
He kissed the back of my hand and shook it, then said, “I’ll be needin a place to stay. we got a hotel in these parts?”
“There’s rooms for rent in the Russ Hotel down the street. I can show ya if you like?”
“Sure I’d appreciate that.”
“See ya’ll,” I waved to the others.
“Don’t kill him,” Richie joked.
“I won’t if he don’t give me a reason to,” I chuckled and led the way to the Russ Hotel. We walked around and there were no rooms available so I told him about the Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee and he seemed interested in that.
Bisbee.
I walked him into the hotel and showed him around, explaining that all the rooms were free and that donations went towards the town. He asked me if I had a partner and I said that I didn’t. I was caught off guard by the question but let it go and asked him how long he had been a detective. He said he’d been working for five years and I suggested that he become a citizen in the area and then apply to be a detective.
“Trin! Trin! Where are you, Trin?!” I heard Scara shouting outside and told John that I needed to go and ran outside.
“Scara?!” I shouted, looking around.
“Trin, I need you!” she called as she ran over to me.
“Scara! It is so good to see you again! I have incredible news!”
“So do I... this... note... from him...” she said, catching her breath.
“Breathe, sweetie, it’s alright,” I chuckled.
“It’s him... him!” she shook her head.
“What did the note say?”
“Read it and see,” she passed the note to me.
I took the note and read, “Honey, I’m home, I’ve been looking for you in Mexico, I thought the Indians took you there. Detective Trin found me and told me the whole story. YES you are still my wife, WE never divorced, so you are stuck with me until the day I die. I love what you did with the home, miss you , love you my Wife, always, O.”
“Oh Scara!” I threw my arms around her and held her tight.
She hugged me tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I can’t believe it, he is still alive!”
“He was so worried about you... When I said you were in Bisbee he just couldn’t believe it! I asked if he wanted me to show him to a hotel but he said he would wait right there on your doorstep till you returned.”
“You have seen him?” she looked at me in surprise.
I smiled and nodded, “He came to my office asking if I had seen you.... He was going to hire me to locate you and I told him that you had hired me to locate him. He couldn’t believe it so I showed him your house!”
She wiped the tears from her face, smiling. “I cant believe it, he really is alive! Thank the Lord! I thought maybe it was a cruel trick at first but now, he really is alive!”
“He really is, and he loves you so much!”
“Is he well? Does he look healthy? Has anything changed?”
“His hair was a bit longer and he wore a hat... but it was obvious that it was him.”
“Now I can prove to my father that I am still married, and I won’t be marrying some other fool!” she exclaimed and took the note back from me, sliding it into her dress next to her heart.
We talked a bit longer and then I walked back into Tombstone to get ready for court.
***
Tombstone.
I met Tessa and Nim in front of the courthouse after sending a few wires back and forth with Nim about what to do with this trial situation. Nim looked to me and asked, “Trin, what shall I have my client do?” She looked to Tessa and sighed a little, “Sorry Tessa, but it seems that the arrangements that were made earlier are not transpiring.”
“I’ve been in wires with the mayor and a judge. We can’t dismiss the case,” I sighed. “I just have to rewrite an opening and closing statement and work everything around the one statement I do have.”
“Tessa, come inside and chat with me,” Nim looked at her.
“Well if your client wants to just admit to what she did... I’m sure the fine or whatever will be minimal. We could go before a judge right now and this whole thing will be done and over with. I’ll be in my office,” I said and walked into the courthouse, going to my office. I set my gun in the drawer of the desk in case I was needed.
“Trin, can I see you in the courtroom a moment,” Nim knocked on the door.
We walked into the courtroom and Lot was sitting in the judge’s bench. “What the heck is the commotion?” Lot glanced up at us.
Tessa took a seat and Nim looked at him, “Your honor, might Miss Trin and I approach the bench?”
“Make it snappy,” Lot ushered us forward.
We approached the bench and said, “Your honor, this involves the case of the Arizona Territory vs Miss Tessa Black.”
I looked to Nim and said, “If you want to go ahead with court tomorrow, fine. I’ll just read the one statement I have from a guy who’s not even law anymore.”
“Hold up!” Lot held up his hand and said then.
“The defence would like to make a motion of plea bargain. My client will plead guilty to the bank robbery charge, if the charge of shooting law is dismissed. If this is okay with the prosecution of course and the judge,” Nim went on.
“I got two women blabbin’ in my ear, now one at a time please,” Lot said and looked at me, “Now you first, Miss.”
“The defence would like to make a motion of plea bargain. My client will plead guilty to the bank robbery charge, if the charge of shooting law is dismissed. If this is okay with the prosecution of course and the judge,” Nim went on.
Lot glared at her and said, “I didn’t say you first.” He nodded to me, “I said her first.”
I sighed and began, “The court tomorrow involves a bank robbery case, your honor. I have tried to get a statement from the banker for the past two weeks. No avail. I have tried to question him but he’s been busy. The only other witness I have is Ansar, who has since left law or so I’ve been told and probably won’t show up anyway. I have his statement though so if we have to I’ll just re-write everything and base it all on one statement instead of two. All I think is it’s pretty hard to try a bank robbery case when the banker isn’t around to testify.”
“Miss Trin, do you have a copy of this statement?”
“Of Ansar’s? Yes.”
“May you please read out loud the last few lines of the statement.”
“Oh, sure,” I nodded and then took it out. “It’s a pretty short statement, Sir. Can I just read the whole thing? The DA has already seen this I’m sure.”
“I mean the lines at the very end just before the signature.”
I read, “‘She opened fired at me and i feel to the ground. there she demanded to be let in the back to get the cash. the banker draw his guns firing on the lady. she was arrested at the doc office. and taken to jail.’”
“Nope, after that.”
I looked down and read, “‘This document is now a matter of Public Record and the information on this document can be used for any and all legalities.’”
“That’s the one, ma’am,” he smiled and I sighed, knowing I was now looking like an idiot as he continued. “My point is, whether the witness turns up or not, that statement is a legal binding statement.”
“But sir, this isn’t the statement I’m having issues with. It’s the lack of the banker’s. My whole case was based on the fact that Ansar and Chase were victims. Of men just doing their jobs.”
“Let me see what Mis Nim has to say first,” he said and I nodded. “Ma’am, step up and give me yer story.”
Nim stepped forward and said, “Your honor, this case was schedule for last Friday. At this time, the Prosecution did not have the necessary evidence to bring it to court. The judge, The Honorable Miss Dee postponed us to tomorrow. After which time... I went to speak to Chase myself at the bank in person and asked him if he could please get the witness statement to Miss Trin, so we could bring this case to court. A week later, this witness statement still has not been received. Prosecution and I discussed the matter. I am offering to have my client plead guilty to the bank robbery, if the court would dismiss the charges of shooting the law. The defence feels this is fair to the court and the prosecution as well as to my client as to bring this matter to a close and we can go on the other piles of work we have before us. Thank you your honor for your time.”
“Miss, come up here,” he glanced to Tessa. She walked forward and stood nervously between us.
“Now young lady, I want to hear from your mouth what happened. Then I will decide what the courts can do. Miss Black, did you or did you not rob the bank?”
“Yes Sir, but I shot the law when I saw him draw his guns in self defense.”
“Miss, its hardly self defence when a lawman draws his guns in the line of duty,” Lot told her. “Now, where is the money you stole?”
“I was young and scared and have a baby on the way...” she said.
“That’s true,” I nodded.
“Let me get this straight, yer pregnant, and went to rob the bank? I’m asking you Miss Tessa. I don’t have all day. If you try my patience you may find the charges are doubled.”
“Need to buy stuff for my baby.”
“And I suppose you are wanting to be an industrious house wife?”
“A what?”
“I am assuming since you are with child, there is a father, and you are married.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Where is this husband of yours?” Lot asked and I looked over to where her husband sat in the jury bench, watching the proceedings.
“Your honor, I am right here.”
Lot slammed his fist on the bench and Tessa’s husband approached the bench. “Young man, you allowed your pregnant wife to rob the bank?”
He shook his head and said, “We did not find out she was pregnant ‘till after the robbery your honor. That is when we bought the baby stuff,” he said and I chuckled at the lie but stayed quiet.
“I see, well I have come to a decision, but based on one thing... Miss Tessa, are you sure you wish to plead guilty?”
“I am also pleading guilty as I have a warrant for robbing the bank with her Sir,” Mr. Black said.
“Yes Sir,” Tessa answered Lot after looking at Nim.
I raised my eyebrow at that, not remembering the husband robbing the bank, but coming in after and shooting me and Chase. He grinned at me and said, “See your honor, I was upset that my wife was shot, so I returned to the bank and shot the banker and also that lady right there.”
“Yep, he did at that,” I nodded.
“Ok then here is how it will go , I will drop the charges of shooting law, you will be required to pay fines of $90 or 35 minutes jail time,” Lot declared. “Zack, I didn’t ask you to address the court. So shut it.” He looked back at Tessa and Nim and asked, “Does that sound fair so far?”
“Your honor I find it very lenient on the courts behalf.”
“I haven’t finished yet,” Lot said then. “The conditions of me applying leniency are based on the fact that this couple also agree to performing some community work. What do you both say to that?”
Mr. Black looked at his wife with his jaw open and Tessa looked back at him for an answer.
“It’s a simple yes or no answer,” Lot said.
“What kind of work would it be?” Tessa finally asked.
“Young lady, I set the conditions of this case, not you, you have entered your plea, and I have been lenient, so yes or no?” He asked again. When she looked back to her husband and Lot said, “Lets go back to the original charges then.”
“If I pay 90 coins, can we drop the community service?” Tessa asked.
“No ma’am, if you do not wish to do community work, the fines and jail time double.”
“Your honor...” I started but then stayed quiet.
“How many hours of service?” Tessa asked.
“How ever long it takes, I am not sure if you both have notices the state of disrepair of the town clocks,” he said and I raised an eyebrow at that. “I propose that the courts arrange a time with the Mayor, and you both can assist in the repairs of the town clocks.”
“Ok,” Tessa nodded.
“Mr Black, you WILL be helping her, is that understood?”
“You okay with that Tessa?” Nim asked her.
“Yes,” she nodded, but her husband stayed quiet and Tessa reached out to take his hand .
“And as for you, since yer being nothing but a smart ass, you just got a $20 fine for contempt of court,” Lot said to Mr. Black and I blinked.
“Zach, answer the judge, will you help your wife?”
He finally nodded and said, “Yes your honor.”
“Ok, so you are all very clear on this, the fines are $110, as well as assisting in the repairs of the town clock, at a time nominated by Mr Wise... is that clear?”
“Yes Sir,” Tessa nodded. “110 coins all together. And fix clock.”
I watched Nim slip some coins to Tessa to pay for the fines.
Suddenly Kris ran into the court then and said, “Hold it Lot! Trial by jury!”
I sighed, hearing Kris, and looked up to Lot.
“Kris, you are also fined $20 for contempt of court.”
“You’re not a judge anymore,” Kris protested.
“You know where the fine box is,” Lot smiled at him. “Okay $40 Kris. You want me to double it again?”
“How about I place you under arrest then?” Kris asked and took out his cuffs.
“Ok, $80,” Lot said.
“You’re under arrest Lot...” Kris continued.
“$120 now, Mr. Jameson. Any more advances on that?” Lot asked. “You will clear your fines with the court or face jail time. Now where were we? Was I about to bang the gavel or something?” Lot asked us.
“I believe we were accepting that the couple agreed to your terms, Sir,” I said.
“Oh yes, indeed.”
“So yes, banging a gavel sounds about right.”
“Oh, so can you both afford the fines, or are you opting for jail time?” Lot asked.
“My client can pay the fine your honor,” Nim promised.
“Awesome, the courts will arrange a time for the community work,” Lot smiled.
“Would rather do jail time,” Tessa said and I sighed.
“Ya best make yer mind up now missy,” Lot insisted.
“My client will serve the time, your honor,” Nim said after they whispered a bit.
“Then take her to the jail house, community service still stands.”
“Come with me Tessa and I am so sorry.”
“Case closed!” Lot slammed his fist on the bench and I sighed with relief.
“Thanks, your honor,” I looked up to Lot. “They’re gonna hate me for this.”
“Nah, they will love you for it.”
“Will they?” I asked skeptically.
He nodded with a smirk and I headed back to my office to retrieve my gun and then went back outside.
I went into Kate’s and got myself a whiskey to celebrate the somewhat unconventional win, and then headed out to Black Diamond to talk with Richie before going to sleep.
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