Bisbee.
This morning I went to clock in at the sheriff’s office and then began to patrol around town. I got a
coffee from Chezz and sat in front of my office, drinking from the mug to wake myself up. A couple hours later I walked around again and then sat back at my desk, working on case files for the Pinkerton notes. I hoped that shifts would always be this easy now as I smiled and got to work.
An hour later, I looked up when I saw Ken walk into the office. “Can I help you with somethin’?” I asked him.
He inhaled and exhaled from his cigarette, moving his head towards me. “No thanks.”
“Alright then,” I smiled at him, knowing that I could just arrest him but not really feeling like doing so on my own.
He walked off and then I saw him staring me from a distance. I decided it was time to go to higher ground and went back up to the roof where I had watched from last night. Ken followed me and I turned towards him, “There a reason you’re following me Ken?”
He grinned wide and said, “Yes...”
I backed up slightly and he continued to walk towards me, laughing as he walked. “What do you want, Ken?” I asked him, keeping my hand over my gun just in case.
He scratched his chin with his right hand and said, “You.”
I reached for the pocket mirror I carried and held it up to send a sun reflection towards Black Diamond, hoping Nim would see it. I looked back at him and asked, “What do you want me for?”
“I want you as my wife,” Ken grinned wider.
“Oh and is this how you decided to appease me?” I chuckled at that. He nodded and I said, “Afraid you might want to try a different approach.”
“Hmm... Ya want a drink?” he asked and when I rolled my eyes a bit he chuckled and said,
“Please?”
I sighed and started to walk past him, back down to the street. “I don’t think so, sorry.”
“Trin, where you at?” Nim shouted then.
“Cheap dove,” Ken mumbled.
“Getting proposed to, apparently. Where are you?” I called back to Nim and then turned to Ken. “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” he coughed loudly.
“No, I heard you say something about a dove.”
He walked away, ignoring me, and I sighed with relief that no guns were drawn.
“You okay?” Nim walked over to me.
“That was just plain creepy,” I shuddered. “I saw him in town and didn’t like the looks of him so I went to higher ground and called for backup just in case...”
“Hello ladies,” Sadie greeted us, walking over.
“He followed me right up there. Said he wanted me as his wife,” I pointed to the roof I’d been on. “Then when I refused and said he was going to have to try harder he followed me back down and muttered something about a ‘cheap dove’.”
“Morning Miss Sadie,” Nim nodded to her.
“Morning Sadie. Good to have a doctor in the area.”
“Ya’ll expecting trouble?” she asked.
“Always do,” I nodded to her and noticed that Ken was now sitting in a chair in front of Chezz.
“Had a very busy day yesterday,” Sadie nodded.
“I’m aware,” I nodded. “That’s why we’re on extra alert today.”
“Heard the Doves went wild last night,” Nim smiled.
“Oh did they?” I looked at her and heard Ken laughing hard.
“Well, I wasn’t in town when the ruckus started, but sounded more to me like a ranger got trigger happy when he couldn’t handle a little teasing,” Sadie explained.
“Ah yes, Mr Alex Cross,” Nim smiled.
“Libby and I were working two hours straight by the time one of the doves was gunned down,” Sadie continued.
“Geez,” I shook my head.
“Several shot, lost one.”
“Sorry to hear that, Sadie. Who did you lose?” Nim asked.
“DG.. poor thing. Shot in the back straight to her heart. Wasn’t a thing I could do for her.”
Ken got up and walked away then and Nim said, “Well Trin, I am heading back to Diamond, let me know if you need help.”
“Okay Nim, thanks for coming over,” I nodded.
“There’s something familiar about that man. I sure wish I could put my finger on it,” Sadie watched Ken walk away.
“Miss Sadie, always a pleasure to see you, sorry for your loss last eve,” Nim said to her.
“Just felt a little unsure about him,” I agreed with Sadie.
Bree came over as Nim went back home and we talked about what had happened with Ken. He walked slowly towards the bank and I watched him carefully, and he eventually walked away, but I knew he’d be back.
As I predicted, he walked back over to me and stared. I looked back and smiled and he said, “Cheap dove!”
“I ain’t no dove,” I said to him.
“Yes, you are,” he said back.
“How do you figure? You ever seen me in Annie’s?”
“You do look like one.”
“S’pose I should be thanking you for the compliment then.”
“Nim!” Bree shouted again.
“Bree, it’s fine, we’re just talkin’,” I told her. “Right Ken?”
“Ya guys are afraid for me?”
I stepped a bit closer and tried to decide how to play this. “So nice weather we’re havin’, eh?”
He moved his right hand on his holster and spit on the ground. “Yes.”
I moved my hand to my gun and nodded for Bree to call Nim now. “You really don’t wanna do that again, Sir.”
He coughed very hard and said, “Yes I do.” He unholstered his weapon and aimed it at my chest and pulled the trigger. I went down hard, groaning in pain, and Sadie and Bree called for Nim. She ran over and I weakly said, “Nim, he went North...”
“Deputize me,” Nim smiled. With the witnesses here.”
Sadie ran back to me and knelt down. “Say, ‘Nim you’re deputized’ so I have authority.”
I held my side and said, “Consider yourself deputized, Nim.”
Nim ran off towards Tombstone and I looked up to Sadie. “He hit me in the side.”
Sadie grabbed a clean cloth out of her bag and pressed it to my side to stop the blood flow. “”Gotta get this blood to slow, then we’ll get her to the clinic here, Bree.”
“Getting sick of... getting shot by that guy...” I exhaled weakly.
When I was able to stand I leaned against Bree and we moved slowly to the clinic. Bree commented on how weak I was and helped me onto the bed. Sadie told he to keep an eye out and worked on cleaning my wound.
“Funny way to show a lady you want her... as your wife...” I tried to keep the mood light.
“Ain’t that the truth,” she said as she looked around for the equipment tray.
“Well... as long as I can... keep it to one gunshot... a day...” I winked at her.
She moved my blouse up enough for the wound to be seen and shook her head. “That’s far too much. ‘Course you could be like Kris and get shot three or four times a day.”
I chuckled a bit but it hurt too much to laugh as she prepared a syringe with a bit of morphine and gave me a shot in the upper hip just below my waistband.
“Pants a little loose Trin, you been losing weight?”
I looked at her with curiosity and said, “Uh... maybe? I’ve been running around a lot more lately...”
She nodded and picked up a clean cloth, pouring acid over the gunshot wound to clean it. “Well, you make sure you’re not forgetting to eat in the process.”
I nodded but knew that I had neglecting to eat too much lately. She continued to work on the wound and then Nim came back in and told me to put a warrant for him as she lost him in Tombstone. I nodded and said I would write a report for it as Sadie continued to work.
When I was released I went to the bank and got a witness report from Bree. I wrote up a quick report myself and then headed towards the courthouse in Tombstone.
Tombstone.
I walked over to the courthouse and talked to Jimmi and Starling about a warrant for arrest. Jimmi looked over the forms and made sure everything was signed correctly and then approved the warrant. I thanked him and headed outside.
Seeing Bubba sitting in front of the office I handed him the warrant so he could see it.
“Who is it this time?”
“Three guesses. Wanna go arrest someone? I’ve already been shot twice the past two days. Kinda need your help.”
He continued to read the report and then I saw Ken walk past the Crystal Palace. “He’s over there!”
“Let’s go find this fella,” he nodded and stood.
“Take the lead,” I told him and followed him down the streat.
“Howdy Mister,” Bubba greeted Ken.
“Well hello there,” Ken nodded to him.
“I’m afraid you have a warrant on your head,” Bubba told him. “Could you follow me to the sheriffs office please?”
“Oh is that so?” he raised an eyebrow.
“That’s right.”
“And you want me to arrest me now? For?”
“Shooting law without killing.”
I went up onto the balcony and watched carefully, pointing the gun at Phelps in case he tried to pull something. He was quiet for a long time and Bubba insisted that he come with him. Bubba threw the cuffs towards him and said, “Cuff yourself, you don’t want me doing it.”
He threw the cuffs away and spit, walking away as fast as he could.
I swore and Bubba and I ran after him but I lost Bubba along the way. From behind I felt the bullets rip through me again and fell to the ground.
“Any last words?” Ken came over and looked down on the ground at me.
“Bubba!!!” I shouted for help.
“That was it?” he chuckled. He walked away and then I saw Matt coming over.
“Matt! He went into Bisbee! I need a doctor!”
Matt leaned down and helped me stand up, bringing me over to the clinic. I sat on the bed and said, “Matt... He just grazed me this time. He woulda shot me clear in the head...” He helped me onto the cot and nodded and I said, “I...”
“Let me help the deputy,” Matt said, referring to Bubba.
“I...” I fell against him and trembled.
“Stay calm,” he held me and helped me lay down.
“Go find him...” I said to him, shaking more from panic than pain this time.
“Hey... You will be okay...” Matt checked the wound on my head.
“Get me a doc...” I looked at him.
“The doctor is on its way. I sent a pigeon. Do you know who shot you?”
“Ken Phelps. Again.”
“Does he have any hideouts?”
“I don’t know...” I shook my head.
“Last change to turn yourself in Mister, otherwise I’ll have to use force!” Bubba shouted from a distance.
“Let me see if the deputy saw him,” Matt told me and I nodded.
“Deputy... do you know his location?” Matt shouted out.
“He must be somewhere around here!” Bubba shouted back. “Already checked out the town from that hill over there.”
Jess worked on tending to my wound as we talked. It wasn’t long before Matt and Bubba both walked in, wounded. Jess got to work on their wounds and I noticed Jess and Matt flirting back and forth and just shook my head at the exchange. I fell asleep on the bed as they continued to get healed by Jess.
I woke up and saw Matt standing by me. “Hey chief... How are you doing?”
“Well you’re a fine thing to wake up to,” I smiled at him.
He grinned and said, “Hey... Thanks.”
“Think I owe you a drink,” I looked in his eyes.
“This may help you... mixed with the opium the doc gave you... you will feel like floating on the clouds.”
“No... no opium,” I shook my head. “I’ll take the whiskey though...”
“She had opium,” Jess told Matt. “Don’t need anymore.”
“You see?” Matt grinned. “You got the opium.”
I looked over at Bubba and asked, “You gonna be okay Bubba?”
“Don’t get too frisky Trin, that is a head wound, they bleed easily even with stitches,” Jess warned me.
“I’ll behave,” I chuckled a bit, gripping my ribs from the injury that morning.
“You want me to tape those?” she asked.
“They were this morning...” I looked at her and then to Matt. “Help me up? I need to go rest.”
Matt went to lay down and I smiled softly. “I’ll leave you boys in Jess’s hands then. I need to go lay down.”
“Good idea Trin,” Jess nodded.
I slowly walked out of the clinic and looked around the town with a sigh. It was such a relief to be off duty and I smiled more when I saw Raz walking over. “Hey there Raz.”
“I seem to have lost my bearings...” he looked around aimlessly and smiled at me.
“I was just headed home for some much-needed rest. Couldn’t pass by and not say hello though.”
“Well then I’m grateful you thought to say hello first. I shouldn’t keep you though.. I know what rest is worth”
“Especially after a couple of days of being a human shooting target practice.”
“Well I’ll see what I can do about that.”
“How do you mean?”
“If I have to follow you around and be your personal shield, I will.”
I chuckled at him, thinking that he’d enjoy that far too much. “I appreciate the offer. I’ve got a few human shields running around. I really should get some rest though. Maybe we’ll catch up later?”
“Sure, go get some rest then.”
“Alright, see you soon, Raz,” I turned towards home and went to my bed, trying to rest.
***
A few hours later I walked out of my office and smiled at the man in the streets. “Well well, you’re still here,” I said to Raz.
He returned the smile and said, “I...was not standing out here all night waiting for you, in case you’re wondering.”
“Well of course you didn’t... I wouldn’t expect that you had. I feel a bit better after having rested.”
“That’s great. I do hope your evening doesn’t bring more violence your way. I’m more fond of seeing you without the cane.”
“I’m staying off duty tonight but still investigating always. That never stops. Just no need to call in this evening. Been shot enough today,” I winked.
“Why bother? Wouldn’t you much prefer a peaceful life without constantly getting shot at?”
“In the evening, yes. During the day I like the ability to know what’s going on with things and being able to help.”
“Seems pretty quiet to me. Are you sure your wounds are needed?”
“Yeah, ‘cause when I was just a detective I had no idea what was going on. Law wouldn’t tell me anything. Doing both allows me to improve on both jobs. Not to mention it makes me a better lawyer,” I winked at him.
“Ah, the big payoff. You sure you’re not in over your head, playing investigator, pursuer, and prosecutor all at once?”
“I’m a big girl...” I smiled at him. “I’ve been through a lot more than you might imagine.”
He raised an eyebrow and said, “Maybe so. But some of us prefer you still alive... preferably with less holes.”
I chuckled at him and said, “Well I appreciate the concern. I’ll do my best to stay ... holeless from now on. Seems it’s just this one idiot I’ve got to watch for around here. Otherwise the area is pretty quiet.”
“Oh? Well, let’s hope I find him before he finds you again then.”
“So what are you out wandering about for tonight?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Well, was hoping my tour guide would return to show me what there is to do besides drinking and
eating around here. You wouldn’t happen to know where she went, do you?”
“You’re relentless, you know that?” I chuckled at him.
“If I weren’t, I’d find life a bit boring. I’ve never accepted letting fate decide things for me,” he smiled.
“That’s probably a good thing... I’ve had a few suitors claiming their love for me as of late... Fate’s kind of dealt me a bad hand but there’s still a man that holds my torch so to speak...” I said hesitantly.
“Oh? Is he one of the ones you’re meaning to arrest, or pursuing for other reasons?”
“No... he’s busy with his own work during the week so he isn’t around town much... but he did confess his love for me and the connection between us is worth waiting for. Doesn’t stop me from having a drink with another man or dancing and having a good time... Can still have good friends,” I winked.
“In that case, I must implore you to accept my offer as your shield, for the sake of this man who would much rather see you alive when he returns.”
“Well I can accept that offer. I appreciate it greatly,” I smiled.
“Gone a while then? And here I thought you had eyes for the ranger who sat with us last night.”
I heard someone walk up behind me and saw Wedge. I had to chuckle at his timing. “Were your ears burning, Wedge?”
“Evening to you, Wedge was it?” Raz nodded to him.
“Yes sir,” Wedge tipped his hat.
“How’s it going, Lieutenant?” I asked casually.
“Oh... Sorry, no, I just needed to ask you something when you have the time, Trin. It’s great though.”
“Oh?” I looked over to Raz, not wanting to abandon him but sensing Wedge’s importance.
“Just when you have the time. Don’t let me bother you two.”
“Do you mind if I go chat with Wedge in my office, Raz? We can grab a drink after?”
“Oh, by all means. I have nothing else interesting to add to our conversations.”
“Alright. I’ll catch up with you later then,” I turned and looked to Wedge, “My office?”
“Oh... sure.”
“You two have a fine evening.”
“Have a good night Raz,” I waved and lead the way for Wedge.
When we were seated at the table, he said, “Ahh, so this is your office. Dang it, my mind is running all over the place.”
“Wedge. What’s going on?” I looked at him.
“Oh... yeah.”
“Talk to me.”
“Ok... I don’t rightly know how to cut the sort of story down... but it looks like I will have to.”
“Don’t cut it short on my account. Tell me all you need to.”
“It’s about my dad.”
“I’m listening.”
“Well... years ago... I’m thinking eighteen or twenty years ago... My dad was a damn good man. Honorable. I guess you can say... I do my best to be like him. So if you see me, you see him. Well... Zabe came to me a few months ago... thinking my dad was her dad. Get the picture?”
“Zabe? Haven’t heard that name... and yeah, I see..” I nodded.
“She’s my sister, or we... think we’re siblings,” he winced a bit. “Damn, this is harder than I thought to talk about... But... the thing is... Zabe’s mom left her a letter that seemed to describe my dad.” When I raised an eyebrow he said, “Yes. This all happened in Kansas years ago.”
“Kansas, eh?”
“I don’t even know where to begin to look... to clear my dad of this indiscretion.”
“I know some people in Kansas... I could send a telegram for you and see what comes up?”
“I can’t believe that my dad did such a thing.”
“What’s your father’s full name?”
“Baz Zeluco. He’s a small rancher from Texas.”
I nodded and went to type a telegram, sending a message to the mayor of Kansas and describing the father’s occupation and the situation. I sent off the telegram and looked to Wedge. “We should hear from them soon.”
“Wow... Just like that?”
“I lived in Kansas for about a month. As a detective.”
“I guess I don’t know squat, people-wise.”
I smiled and looked at him. “We’ll figure this out, Wedge. I promise.”
“Great... If you can get the other man’s name... If there is one... I’d like to know that too.”
“Sure,” I nodded. “Is what I’m here for.”
I sighed in the silence and then asked, “How come it’s easy to solve other people’s problems and not my own?”
“Okay... I will be out of town, patrolling tonight, but I will come back into town sometime tomorrow. If you have something... great. If not, it won’t be a problem.”
“I’m sure I’ll hear something by tomorrow.”
“You know... it’s cause you are too close to the situation,” he looked at me.
“Maybe...”
“Or... someone doesn’t want you to know...”
“I’ve got suitors coming after me all the time but... My heart belongs to a man who’s so busy with work he’s only here a couple times a week... But he’s worth the wait... I just miss him so much.”
“I can’t even imagine that. I’m sure if that love thing hits me, I won’t see it coming.”
“He loves me, Wedge... He said so last time I saw him...”
“Hey... What’s not to love? Oh... sorry,” he blushed.
“Thanks hon,” I chuckled.
“That was out of line.”
“Raz thought I had eyes for you by the way. Your timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”
“No way... Well good, glad I could help. Even if it was by accident.”
“He’s a good man... Raz... offered to be my human shield so that Ty would see me alive when he comes around,” I sighed.
“Well... just be careful. It’s easy to miss someone so much, you slip up.”
“S’pose I should head upstairs and rest. Got shot in the ribs today... and grazed in the head...”
“Ow. The head?”
“Yeah... by the same idiot too.”
“Dang, Trin.”
“Had stitches put in... There’s a warrant out on him at least. Ken Phelps.”
“We need to teach you to shoot faster.”
“He barely gave me time to.”
“I didn’t see a warrant on him... I guess I better go look again then.”
“I asked Jimmi for one and got it signed, but I didn’t see it get released to the law offices yet,” I handed a copy of the warrant to him. “Alright, well I’m gonna head upstairs and get some sleep. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Sounds good. Thank you. See you soon.”
“See you,” I waved and watched him walk out of the office. I closed the door after him and locked it, then headed upstairs to lay down.
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