Black Diamond.
I sat in the sheriff’s office, working on files from the past couple of days. I wandered over to the mayor’s office to see if there had been any updates. Sitting in the lounge was Krell and Leigh, cuddling by the fire with Pawsie laying close by.
“Sorry to interrupt. Leigh, I’m glad to see you back safe. Are you alright, Leigh?”
“Leigh was just going to lay down after last nights ordeal. Trin, please, sit.”
“Would I be able to speak with you about that while she sleeps, Krell?”
“Hey Trin,” Leigh greeted me and I sat down on the couch. She said that she needed to lay down and went to the room to rest.
“So what happened? Tye and Peta were able to retrieve her?” I asked Krell.
“Well, they found her in the Wild Bunch’s small hideout in the valley. She was in a cage.” “In the valley? Not in Ghenna?”
“There was also a skeleton in the cave. No. Apparently they are making a move to expand their presence.”
“Great,” I rolled my eyes at that.
“How did they get her out of the cage?”
“Leigh muttered something about Jewel, and me, but she was quite shook up, dehydrated, and confused.”
“Of course.”
“I wasn’t there, but the Sheriff is an expert and picking locks.”
“He sure is,” I smiled. “Did he say how many were there with her at the cage?”
“Peta and Bree tended to her after they brought her home. Well, I heard just the some human skeleton remains, and Leigh.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I heard there were rats in the cage.”
“No one was there guarding her?”
“Maybe the rats ate the other person. Not that the Sheriff said, he told me she was alone.”
“Great. No way to tie anyone to the kidnapping then,” I shook my head at that.
“Yes but we have Leigh’s statement. That’s all.”
“We do,” I nodded. “Was she able to write one up for Tye last night?”
“I don’t know if we have any other clues yet. No she was too shook up, she was asking about her pet rat, George. I had to tell her the cat ate him.”
“Krell, can I ask you an honest question?” I looked at him.
“I am drafting an ordinance today for the councils approval,” he said then.”
“The council’s approval of what?”
“Well, I have decided that the kidnapping of a town official, is not a hanging offense, and will draft a law for such.”
“I see. I need to ask you something, Krell. Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Well... um...”
“I thought you were happy I was here... And lately you haven’t been available to talk.”
“Well Trin... With the kidnapping and Leigh’s absence, I have been a bit confused and solitary. Maybe you should question Bree.”
I thought ‘with Bree’ but didn’t say anything. “Sir, I want to be able to trust you. But you’re wandering around wearing women’s clothing, avoiding me left and right, not answering questions unless the sheriff is present.”
“Well, yes Trin, I hope you do, I do have a reputation to uphold.”
“And how do you think it looks when you won’t talk to the detectives that you allowed to have an office here?”
“I think it’s just the confusion of the missing of my fiancee.”
“Well she’s here now. And quite frankly Sir, I’m concerned.”
“Well, I do understand. Interesting thing last night... After they tended to Leigh’s needs, they went to Bree’s cafe, and I heard that Bree let Peta and Tye in her establishment. I overheard Peta say, ‘well she let us in’. And I overheard Tye say ‘I settled with her so we can go in now.’ I have no idea what that meant, but maybe it can help you.”
“Indeed. Sir... I trust him. I’ve known Tye a very long time. We’re currently investigating leads that could be helpful in solving that case.”
“Oh?”
“I hope to hear from my partner in the next couple of days. He is currently out of town working on them.”
“That’s a good thing. It cost me a fortune.”
“I know, Sir. I have a feeling this matter will be cleared up soon.”
“Funny... when Leigh was kidnapped the first time, they barely got any gold from me before the shot me and nearly killed me. This time, before they could get any gold from me, the Sheriff found her. I am surprised I didn’t get a ransom demand.”
“Indeed that is interesting.”
“But you know I never actually saw the kidnapping note until you handed it to me. The sheriff had it.”
“Oh? They gave it to the sheriff?” I leaned forward.
“I don’t know where he found it. I never thought of asking him where he found it.”
“I’ll have to ask him that. I thought he’d received it from you. The note was directed to you after all.”
“Yes it was, but I never read it until you handed it to me.”
“This is all very strange,” I had a glimpse of a thought and shook it away, wanting to still trust Tye.
“Oh, Tye is a fine lawman.”
“I know he is. We go way back. I’m thrilled to be working with him again.”
“Well, you know something, Peta said several times, that Leigh may be dead, or that she would put her out of her misery, that seemed strange. I like Peta, but I think she was not too happy about Tye being sheriff, since its so dangerous. She loves him so much.”
“Doesn’t sound like Peta. I know doctors want business but not to the point of putting someone out of their misery. But then, I’ve never been able to understand that woman.” I looked at Krell and said,
“Krell, anything else you can tell me that might help us figure out what’s going on with Leigh getting kidnapped twice now? Obviously we know it was the Wild Bunch but we still haven’t determined exactly whom.”
“Well, like I said, Leigh did mutter two names. Jewel and mine.”
“This time, you mean.”
“Yes. And last time Jewel and Leigh seemed to have a lot of connection, but I am just saying, I am not sure who actually did it.”
“Sir can I ask a personal question?”
“Yes, anything.”
“I have heard rumors that you have been... friendly with other women. I only ask you this because I have to. Have you been... alone with Jewel at all recently?”
“Well, I remember Jess and I went out once at Leigh’s insistence.”
“When was this? And why did Leigh insist it?”
“And Bree and I, well she’s our secretary, so we are alone quite frequently, and Jewel, well. First time we were alone she nearly shot me, second time we were alone she did shoot me. She was there when I may have been poisoned... but we have never been alone, alone.”
“Poisoned?!!?” I blinked at him.
“Well, Jess was our personal physician at the time. Yes, you didn’t hear about that?” he asked, and I took a deep breath.
“No sir, I certainly did not.”
“I drank some coffee in the saloon. And I was taken to the clinic, they suspected poisoning.”
“I remember because Jewel was very close and I think she pushed my coffee cup closer to me, you need to ask her.”
“When was this?”
“Oh this is a couple weeks back.”
“Great,” I muttered. “Before the first kidnapping or after?”
“I would have to think about who was there... but Jess sat with me and I think Freja even stopped by to see if I was ok, it was another doc, I was spinning. Lil was there, Jess, David, and of course Jewel.”
“Was this before or after the first kidnapping, Krell?” I asked again.
“Was at the saloon. It was before, like the day before. Why, do you think this is important?”
I thought to myself that it couldn’t be a coincidence but didn’t say so. “I need to talk to David and Lil and Freja about that night.”
“Oh, and Bob was there I think.”
“Haven’t seen him in a while.”
“I thought I was going to die. I was almost poisoned, I was nearly killed, kidnapped.... whats wrong with this town? See why we need Tye?”
“Believe me, I know.”
“Sir, I want you to watch your back around Jewel and Mac. And I want to be informed of these things. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Oh did you know that Mac is suspected of leaving me a gift in the Sheriffs office?”
“No?” I shook my head.
“I had a picture taken,” he said and fumbled through his pockets, handing it to me. “See on the chair? And the desk?”
“Yes. When did this happen?”
“Now I can’t confirm it’s his, but it looks like his work.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“We would need a sample from him to compare of course, but the sample I collected seems to have well, rotted away.”
“Of course,” I stood. “I need to see if I can find Lil and David. I will look into these other incidents, Sir. Sir, when did this ‘gift’ happen?”
“Well, it reminded me of when him and Jewel were smacking me around in their hideout when I was kidnapped. Thanks for you time, Trin, let me know if I can help more.”
“Krell? When was the gift left?”
“It was the same day as the party for Jewel, not that you mention it. Was Tuesday 11 Feb, 1899.”
I nodded, not surprised. “Alright. I need to go to find Lil. Stay safe, Sir.”
“Thank you,” Krell nodded.
I headed outside and walked to the saloon. Lil was there and I sat down at the counter. “Morning, Lil.”
“Good morning Trin.”
“How are you doing?”
“I am doing good thank you and yourself?”
“Well, I was hoping you could help me describe something actually.”
“Will do my best.”
“Do you remember the night that the mayor was poisoned?”
“I heard about it, yes.”
“He said that you were there?” I asked and she nodded. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“I wasn’t there I think Bree or Jessica treated him. I helped him when he drank some bad root beer once.”
“This was a couple of weeks ago he said.”
“I myself have never treated the mayor.”
“He said you were there when he was poisoned though. He is lying to me?”
“I wasn’t there Ma’am,” Lil said and I sighed. “I would remember if I treated someone. I always take notes.”
“I know Lil. This was the day before Leigh’s kidnapping the first time.”
“Of who, what, and why I treat someone.”
“He said you, Jess and David were all there. And Freja.”
“Hmm... I wasn’t there, Trin. I think it was Bree.”
“Sorry to have made you come all the way out here then.”
“Have her come here and speak to her.”
“I will. Thank you, Lil, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I wasn’t busy. Well, a little but finished.”
“Just getting sick of him lying to me.”
“Honestly, Trin I don’t trust him.”
“Honestly, Lil? Neither do I. He’s holding back. Been avoiding me for days.”
“I wonder if he did it to himself.”
“I’m beginning to wonder that too,” I sighed.
“Knowing there were a doc, close by.”
“But why?”
“Maybe taking attention away from what ever he is up to.”
“Yes, I thought of that possibility too.”
“I did see Leigh take that girl’s backpack that had her gold she had found.”
“Nellie’s... at the gig in Bisbee.”
“Yes.”
“My partner talked to her alone... Leigh said that Krell took that ore. Blamed it on Leigh.”
“But no one asked me about it. No she did, I saw her.”
“Lil I asked you about it remember? The day after it happened.”
“She complained of not feeling good and asked Krell to help her to the sofa.”
“I remember you said she stayed at the sofa for a couple minutes then ran outside and he followed her. And her arms were tucked close to her stomach.”
“I know, but I didn’t tell all I saw.”
“You said no one else was close to the sofa. You didn’t?”
“Yes they were.”
“What else didn’t you tell me?”
“That she bend down by the sofa and then ran out the door. That is all I saw.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“I was worried that Gramps was gonna be charged.”
“Gramps?”
“Sam.”
“Oh. Sorry you say Gramps, it takes me back to Colorado,” I winked. “What does Sam have to do with it?” I started to wonder why Sam’s name kept coming up with relation to the Wild Bunch and wrote a note.”
“Nothing other than someone said he must have done it.”
“Who said that? He wasn’t even there.”
“He was there standing by the door.”
“He was?”
“And Sam is not a member of the Wild Bunch.”
“He’s related to Jewel though. She’s his granddaughter.”
“She is?? I didn’t know that.”
“I just find this all awfully interesting. Do you think it’s possible he’s involved?”
“Mac is his grandson. I was adopted by Mac’s family when I was but a toddler.”
“He’s related to Mac too?!?” I wrote that note down.
“Yes Mac’s mother was his daughter.”
“Who was Mac’s mother?”
“She died long ago.”
“Ohh...”
“Mac and I just recently found out that Sam was gramps.”
“Lil, back to the gig at the saloon... What do you think really happened?”
“I think personally... that Leigh and Krell planned to take that backpack. That is what I saw. He had to have known what was happening.”
“Would you be willing to write a witness report including that? In case it ever goes to court?”
“I mean I know it happened in Bisbee but...”
“I could, yes.”
“I would appreciate that greatly.”
“But they would hang in Bisbee.”
“You could give it directly to me. For theft?”
“For anything in Bisbee you hang.”
“Unless we get it to be done in Diamond somehow... We’d have to talk about that but we need proof that it was indeed them. Or a confession. Leigh incriminating her man isn’t enough.”
“I don’t lie Trin...”
“I know you don’t, Lil.”
“I tell what I see.”
“That’s why I want your honest report on paper.”
“If I need to.”
“It would go a long way right now. I’d have something physical to show someone.”
“Trin you be careful around them ya hear?”
“Yes ma’am. Tye’s here now. We work well together.”
“I may be a lady now but i know the look of someone who is out for trouble.”
“I know hon. I respect your opinion greatly.”
“I have been there, done it. Thank you.”
“I’ll let you get back to work if you want. Thank you for coming to talk to me. And please do get that statement to me soon.”
“I am not a member of any gang but i was and they won’t let anything happen to me or Sheriff Dij.”
“He won’t either. If that is all you need I think I will try some of Bree’s donuts. Talk to you soon.”
We walked out of the street and parted ways. I walked over to Aly’s and she greeted me with a smile. “Heya Trin, how’s it going?”
“It’s going. How are you?”
“I’m good!” she said happily.
“Glad one of us is. I’m pretty sure the mayor is lying to me.”
“Why would he do such a thing?” she blinked.
I leaned against the post with a sigh. “He just told me a list of witnesses to an incident that happened before the first kidnapping. No one has ever told me about this incident until now. I went to talk to one of those witnesses... She said she wasn’t there.”
“That makes no sense. Someone trying to cover something?”
“I have no idea. Either way, I don’t like it. Leigh was kidnapped again last night but Tye and Peta brought her back. Thing is... the note that indicated she was kidnapped was found by Tye somewhere. The mayor said he hadn’t seen the note before Tye showed it to him. He seemed genuinely surprised when Tye gave him the note. I don’t know what to make of any of it, Aly. They found her at a Wild Bunch hideout. It’s all just... connecting... There’s just a piece of the puzzle I’m not....” I blinked.
“Sam..”
“That makes no sense to me....I’m not a detective, so I’m not as good at figuring these things out as you, and I don’t know much about the first kidnapping, much less the second. She cheating on him? With an outlaw?”
“No... No, he...”
“What if he’s the missing puzzle piece?”
“Yeah maybe she got real close wit one of them bad boys, and ran off,” she shrugged.
“Anything’s possible right now. That’s the problem. And all I get from the mayor are lies.”
“You know any of them wild bunch outlaws?”
“Yes I know quite a few.”
“Well ask around....see if any of them men get a little grin when ya mention her name.”
“Yeah... You have a good point. Maybe it’s not Sam but maybe I could get somethin’ from one of the other gang members.”
“I’m jes sayin’. One of them gits an ache for a woman... They go through drastic means to git what they want.”
“I know, you’re right,” I hugged her. “You’re a genius Aly.”
“Whether she wanted to be or not... Well dunno about that. Well she’s a beautiful woman..”
“Any more um... dreams?” I winked at her.
“Um... maybe,” she blushed.
“I have to admit... I had one last night.”
“Of who?” her eyes widened.
“Well ya jes gonna stand there or tell me?”
“I was trapped in this building and Tye was there... So was Dave. I was trapped with Dave and Tye was tryin’ to get us out. But then it was like a movie where I was suddenly standing outside with Tye looking at the safety locks on the building and realizing we couldn’t bust out. But meanwhile I was alone with Dave inside. There was this dyanmite that was set to go off. But Tye couldn’t set it off ‘cause of the things we were looking at in the wall. I woke up shaking, Aly.”
“Oh my. Very scary and uh... What were you looking at in the wall?”
“The dynamite that was set to go off. And Tye said he couldn’t stop it. In the dream. But meanwhile Dave and I were inside and he was trying to comfort me. Gosh Aly now all I can think about is...”
We continued to talk about the men in town and then Dave walked over. I was embarrassed around him at first and Aly teased me for it. We talked about how Sasha had been arrested finally and we talked about the right approach for handling her.
I asked Dave if he could come help me with some cases and we started to talk while cuddling on the couch. He told me that Dash was back in town and I remembered how he had been in cohorts with other outlaws. We talked about the mayor being poisoned and how that could explain some of his behavior. I asked if he was there when it happened but we got lost in the moment of being together and started to kiss each other more. I told him about the dream that I had and then Aly called for me. I sighed, wondering what was going on and we walked outside.
Aly thought that she had seen something weird by the bank last night and Dave said that he saw Dash around the bank. Bree came over and investigated the doors and the vaults but there was nothing missing and everything seemed to be in tact.
When everything seemed to be fine, Dave and I went to the saloon where we danced together. “Now then... Where were we? You were telling me about the night when the mayor was poisoned?”
“Oh yeah ,well I was here in the saloon, can’t recall which lady I was with, but I know over at the clinic Jessica and Bree were there. I know because I started to pretend to be sick too and get Jessica’s attention.”
“Alright... Was Jewel here?” I chuckled and leaned against his shoulder.
“Can’t seem to recall for sure.”
“Do you remember him being taken to the clinic?”
“Yes, that I do.”
“What happened?”
“All I seem to recall is he wasn’t feeling well.”
“What else?”
“He was in the clinic and Jess was examining him. Then if I remember Bree showed up, I was starting to think maybe the Mayor was horsing around and so I decided to play sick too.”
“Of course you did... Then what happened?”
“Well I laid down on the table and Jessica came over to check on me, then the Mayor started to feel
worse. You know kinda like HE was trying?”
“Soon enough Jessica had figured I was messing around and she kicked me out of the clinic.”
“But she didn’t kick out the mayor...”
“Lucky Mayor. You know Trin, I haven’t seen Jessica in a while.”
“Hmm..”
“In fact I tried looking for her, to apologize for the clinic and I haven’t seen her.”
“Guess I’ll have to go about looking for her,” I took his hand and looked at him. “I need to get some work done.... We’ll continue this later?”
“Um, sure, later,” he nodded but looked disappointed.
“We’ll continue, I promise,” I smiled and kissed his cheek and walked out of the saloon.
I walked down the street and saw Tye. “Heard you had quite the night last night.”
“Always do. You’ve met my wife.”
“I meant with the mayor’s wife.”
“Whatever you heard, I ain’t done it.”
“You saved her life, I heard. You don’t wanna take credit for that?”
“Oh, sure, yeah, you can accuse me of that. Follow me a moment back around to the office.”
“I talked with Krell this morning. He made me aware of a couple of other incidents. Sure,” I nodded and followed him around to the office. On the way there I told him about the incident at the bank earlier and how nothing had been stolen. He didn’t know Dash so I informed him a bit about his history.
Peta was sitting in the office and Tye asked me to look for a few people for a case he was working with TJ shooting without killing. I agreed to find statements from Drij, Lil and Nora.
“Last night Peta and I found Leigh bound and near dead in some abandoned tree house with a makeshift cage in it,” he said.
“Heard it was in the valley somewhere’s.”
“We got her back safe, and then I went and checked the place out before anyone else got to it. I got a few things here,” he opened his desk. “Mostly just the rope she was bound in that I cut off her. I’d like you to take a look at it. I found a few strands of long, blonde hair too. So I think it best you talk to Leigh now that she’s had a chance to rest.”
“I spoke with Krell this morning...” I started.
“Now Trin, I know your concerns. Remember that. But, continue. What’d you speak to him about?”
“Alright well... Leigh was cuddling with him and went to lay down while I came up to the living room area in the courthouse.. He said that you found her in the valley in the Wild Bunch’s small hideout, in a cage, as you said. He said there was also a skeleton in the cave. Anyway...”
“Yeah, sure did,” Tye nodded.
“He mentioned that the Wild Bunch are making a move to expand their presence, apparently. Not sure if that’s just his supposition though. Krell said that Leigh muttered something about Jewel, and Krell, but she was shook up and dehydrated.”
“Well, they ain’t gonna do it here. I remember. She was spoutin’ off at him and about Jewel.”
“He told me about Peta and Bree taking her home and how there was no one there guarding her. Which I found odd. Thing is Tye... I asked him about that note that you gave me to read, that said they had Leigh... Where did you find that note?”
“Side a’ town hall, just next to the doors. I can show you where they stuck the knife in.”
“So you saw it before Krell did,” I nodded. “Here’s the thing, Tye...”
“I did. Was goin’ to see him and found it.”
“He said that when Leigh was kidnapped the first time, they barely got any gold from him before they shot and nearly killed him... This time, before they got any gold from him, you found her. He was surprised he didn’t get a ransom demand this time.”
“Note sure didn’t ask for any ransom.”
“He was also very disturbed about how Peta was acting like Leigh might be dead or that she would put her out of her misery.”
“Nope, no ransom.”
“Don’t you find that odd...?”
“Well, he’ll just have to get used to Peta.”
“That’s what I told him.”
“The part about him being disturbed?”
“No. Them not wanting a ransom. Why take her?”
“It said they’d be in touch soon. Maybe they hadn’t decided on a ransom yet. Or they were waiting on him to slip up, to take him.
“Thing is...”
“I’m tellin’ ya, it sounds like a sex thing ta me,” Peta suggested.
“The night before the first kidnapping, Krell told me he’d been poisoned in the saloon while drinking coffee,” I said. “He’d never told me about that till now. And...”
“I heard about this guy who likes ta tie his lady up, put an apple in her mouth and pretend ta barbeque her,” Peta said.
“He showed me a picture of Mac leaving uh... increments on his desk and chair,” I said and handed him the picture. “Happened the same day as the party he had for Jewel.”
“That’s THIS office, Trin. Agh,” Tye made a face. “Mac did this? He been charged?”
“Here’s the notes I took from the dialogue about this,” I handed Tye my notes. “This can’t be a coincidence, Tye. Think of the timeline,” I said as Peta freaked out about the picture. “Tye,” I got him to focus. “Krell is in the saloon, gets poisoned. Next day, his fiance gets kidnapped. She returns with a noose around her head and is chummy with Jewel and holds a gun to Krell with her. Mac comes in, they drag Krell off. He comes back, everything’s peachie for a week. He ha a party for Jewel. Same day Mac does this in your office. Then Jewel and Mac burn up my office. Then Leigh is kidnapped again and she mutters Jewel’s name. And Krell says that it was at the wild bunch hideout in the valley.”
“I’m seeing it, Trin. I’ll be lookin’ to talk to Jewel tonight, at the very least,” Tye assured.
“A hideout I didn’t even know about.”
“I need a direct statement from Leigh, however.”
“Do you? Because it all just seems to... fit,” I dug in my files and found my notes from my conversation with Leigh on February 7.
“And you seem to already have a theory,” he eyed me.
“I’m just stating facts, Tye. Putting the timeline together. All I know is... This stuff has to be all connected. There’s no way it’s not.”
“I’m askin’ for your theory, detective. And this is your journal from the 7th. We’ll need a statement from the horse’s mouth.”
“You want a theory? I think that Krell knows more than he’s telling you. And he’s been avoiding me. Not to mention Nellie’s ore. Which started this whole thing, in my opinion.”
“Who’s Nellie? Is Nellie a horse?” Peta asked.
“That much is obvious. I want to know what you think... the hell’s going on with ore?” Tye asked.
“The last time I played a gig in Bisbee, some girl told me that her ore was taken. Lil said that she saw Leigh over by the couch alone, then she ran out with something holding to her stomach. Krell had to take her out and they said she’d been sick. Krell said Leigh dug a hole and threw up in it and he couldn’t watch.”
“He ain’t said where this hole was?” Tye asked.
“I’m waiting for a witness statement from Lil about that. Talked with her this morning. And. When Ger talked with Leigh alone apparently Leigh said that the mayor took the ore.”
“And this ore uh... ordeal... happened just before all this other mess started?”
“Yes. Happened on February third. Which was the same day that Leigh was kidnapped the first time.”
“Hope she ain’t pregnant,” Peta put in.
“That’s what I thought to, Peta. But then they both admitted that they never even slept in the same bed together. Leigh said the mayor was firmly against that.”
“Who... Leigh and Krell?” Peta asked. “That’s a lie. I mean, ya don’t have to use a bed. Really any flat surface’ll do.”
“They both seemed shocked at the thought. That I had thought she might have been pregnant.”
“They came here in a tiny little closed off stagecoach. Those stagecoach rides are long too, and if you’re already rockin’...”
“Tye. This timeline is no coincidence. Add on top of that the mayor’s suspicious behavior, wearing women’s clothing, talking about being poisoned and getting this ‘gift’ from Mac. Rumors of him being on meds. From Leigh.”
“Well he did look real nice in that dove’s outfit,” Peta said. “I wish I had legs like those,” Peta said. “I mean I’d prefer ‘em not to be as hairy, but still.”
“I ain’t sure what the timeline means but everything has happened in such rapid succession I can’t help but think something is tying it all together.”
“I’m with Peta on this one, folks say they ain’t been together because they believe it’d look bad to the public,” Tye said.
“Be that as it may. Both of them are lying to me then. And to my partner.”
“Oh, we established that long before now,” Tye agreed.
“Well then I think we need to figure out why. And I have been wracking my brain since this started. They keep blaming the Wild Bunch. Did you know about this hideout in the valley?”
“Sure. That’s a fact. But I’m not too sure we can do much without involving the Wild Bunch,” Tye said. “I think I need to track down Jewel. Sure didn’t.”
“Agreed. And I want to talk to some people I know that are involved with them,” I nodded. “We need to go to the source, if they’re really the source. You agree though, Tye, that this could all be connected?”
“You don’t have a man and woman in love get kidnapped three different times over the course of a week and NOT find connections,” Tye said and I nodded. “I think the first point would be to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“That’s why we’re glad you’re here now.”
“I once handcuffed Tye to the kitchen stove to make me some muffins--boy did that turn out badly,” Peta said. “Tye is not the sorta person who takes well be bein’ forced.”
“Peta can be taught some things,” Tye nodded and I wasn’t surprised by that. “We needed a new stove after that. And a new window.”
“Tye. Let me look through this bag... I’ll create a timeline of events for you. You find Jewel and talk to her. And I’ll try to talk to Leigh though she’ll probably just lie to me like she has been all along.”
“You get me your timeline, you lay it all out for me, then you let me get answers,” Tye nodded.
“Even if Ger was here and she talked to him alone again, she’d lie to him too. Since she did already once. Will do,” I nodded.
“Make notes on it, too. Specifically what was said and when. If you need more office space to draw it out, just let me know.”
“Thanks Tye,” I nodded.
“I think a nice sofa here would be good. And some snacks,” Peta suggested.
“Ain’t puttin’ a sofa in my jail,” Tye shook his head. “Ain’t a coffee house.”
I went to work on my timeline as people started to walk around outside. I noticed Dash and told Tye his name, and Tye went out to greet him with Peta. I continued to work on my timeline and it wasn’t long before I was interrupted by Dave who walked in. He handed me a piece of paper that he’d found on his desk and I read it:
When I see you smile
It makes my heart skip a mile
I know you don’t know me
I know you have another and I don’t want to be a bother
I just can’t get you off my mind
It puts me in such a bind
I want to be with you
I just don’t know what to do
So I write you this poem to let your mind roam
I kept the note and promised we’d look into it. Aly came inside then and told me about a dream catcher that she had received from Mark to help with the dreams she’d been having. She offered me one but I told her that I was alright and didn’t really want to talk about things like that, as it reminded me too much about my tainted past with the Natives. She told me to have a good night and headed out of the office as I continued to work on the timeline.
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