Black Diamond.
This morning I walked over to Ger’s apartment, wondering if he was home yet. I knocked on the door and heard Ger tell Taz to quiet down. Ger told me to come in and I walked inside. “Hey there... Welcome home,” I smiled at him.
“Thanks... Got in last night.”
I leaned forward and hugged him gently. “I missed you....”
“Bah...ya have plenty here to keep ya busy I bet.”
“Still missed you,” I smiled and stepped back. “How did it go?”
“Have a seat.”
“Uh oh,” I said, following him to the table and sitting down.
“Well, I have some good news and some bad news...”
“I’m listening,” I nodded.
“Tye caused the fire, but he wasn’t in control of his actions...”
“What did you find?”
“His flask showed signs of cocaine...a new form, making him vulnerable to suggestion.”
“It was drugged...” I raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t help but sigh with relief.
“Yeah. The bad news is four sets of prints were found on the flask..one multiple times which I am thinking are his. One I figure are yours and one mine from handling it...”
“And the last one?”
“The fourth however... I don’t know,” Ger said.
“So we have to figure out who those fourth prints belong to.... How are we going to manage that?”
“I’m afraid that is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“So we’ll never know... At least we can rest easy knowing that Tye wasn’t himself. I knew something felt off about that.”
“And I guess I owe him an apology...AND I got this flask for him as a peace offering... Calvery Insignia.”
“That’s a really nice gesture, Ger. I am sure he’ll appreciate that.”
“Well, he can’t have the old one back...he’ll keep getting drugged so...”
“Ger... I can’t say thank you enough..”
“Well, like you said, follow the evidence where it goes...now...it will be up to him if he wants to find out who did this to him...or to let it rest.”
“We’ll talk to him tonight when we see him.”
“Also, while there, I ordered some equipment to be delivered to the Tombstone Office...make our own lab so we can do these tests ourselves.”
“Oh good... That will be very useful.”
“And once I get rid of this dang bandage...”
“Mmhmm... When’ll that be? Is it feeling alright?”
“Getting there.. Been taking off the bandage at night to let it breath and keepin it clean. So, any other leads on other cases?”
“Honestly? I made a timeline of events involving Leigh and Krell.... since the first kidnapping...”
“Of course...don’t want you ta lie to me.”
“I think everything’s connected. Krell told me some things yesterday after Leigh was returned the second time...”
“I heard she got kidnapped again...and Sasha was arrested...”
“He told me that he’d been poisoned, possibly by Jewel, and that Mac had left some... increments on the sheriff’s office desk - before Tye was hired. He left these details out until now but I finally got to talk to him alone.”
“I heard bout the ‘gift’ Mac left, but not the poisoning.”
“Ger, everything’s happening in succession. I can’t not think they’re connected. We found the wild bunch flag in a sack where Leigh had been held the second time. Apparently the wild bunch have another hideout in the valley that Tye and I didn’t even know about before that.”
“I saw Miss Leigh last night, she seemed fine, not ‘out of it’ like last time.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah...seemed strange to me too.”
“Hmm.... I don’t trust it, Ger, and I want to know what’s going on. I’m sick of them lying to me. Oh... Dave received a poem. From his um... secret admirer.”
“The problem is figuring out who is lying.” He looked at me and asked, “Another one?”
“Well, the way he was last night at the dance, the suspect pool has gotten bigger.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Interesting...nice form, nice hand writin’.”
“What happened last night?”
“He was flirtin’ up a mile there...”
“Saw a telegram about a dance?”
“Yeah...went there to wet the whistle after gettin’ back and it was in full swing.”
“He was makin eyes at Miss Ally, which is strange since she is spoken for.”
“Oh?”
“While dancin with Miss Paisley.”
“Then went up on stage...in regular clothes mind you, and danced with the Diamond Dolls.”
“What was Krell wearing?”
“The danced with Miss Katie when I left. He is makin this harder...” he said, looking at the poem as I handed it to him.
“Yeah, he is,” I said and he looked like he was thinking about something. “You alright there?”
He grabbed a sheet from the desk and handed it to me, “Here, write your name on this please.”
I took out a paper and wrote out the sentence, Dear Ger, I want to dance with you again, and handed it to him.
He chuckled as he read it and compared it to the poem. “No, it isn’t you....”
“I understand you had to investigate everyone. I respect that. So what’s your answer to my message?” I winked at him.
“See, your letters don’t match up...”
“You can keep that note by the way, since Dave came to you first.”
“Thanks..and I think this is how we will find out who is sending the notes.”
“Mmhmm, good idea. Get women to write something for you.”
“Right. Or find something in their hand writing.”
“I haven’t seen Britt in days... I have the feeling she doesn’t need us as badly as she thought she did.”
“Okay, file that one under pending then.”
“I’d put it in Cold Cases... Until she comes back and really needs us. We have other things to focus on. Speaking of which... I need to get three witness statements for Tye...”
“Concerning what?”
“An incident involving TJ shooting Jack Smith, Drij, and resisting arrest. Should be easy enough, just need to find them and they’re usually over in Tombstone. Need to talk to Lil, Drij, and Nora. I can work on that while you’re getting women’s handwriting,” she winks.
“Ahh... Okay, out of the ones left, what do you want me to handle.”
“Okay well focus on David’s secret admirer... We need to talk with Tye now that he’s had a chance to read over the timeline of the other cases... Until then we can’t do much there. Dang it what was that?”
“Sounds like hammering...see, steady rhythm,” he listened. “Miss Ally must be workin.”
“Mmhmm. Want to go say hi?”
“Gotcha boss,” he said.
I reached for his hand, and he accepted it as I pulled him close. I exhaled against him, not letting go as I rubbed up and down his back. It felt so good to be in his arms and I wanted to explore the connection between us but I knew I had to stay professional, so I stepped back and looked into his eyes. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Good idea. Taz needs the exercise.”
We walked around town and talked with Aly who was working on the church building. We talked with a woman named Tina who was new to the area. Sasha came over while we were walking but then kept going towards Bisbee. Lil came over and looked at Ger’s hands and then said that she would fill out a report for the incident that Tye needed me to get the report for.
***
I walked into town this evening and heard Tye shouting, “Whatever you doin’ better halt immediately! Toss your weapons through the grate now!”
“What did I walk into?” I looked at Ger.
Tye brought TJ and V into his office and I noticed another man go in with them that I didn’t recognize. “Sounds like he’s got his hands full too. How are you, Bree?” I asked.
Leigh walked over and pounded on the door. “Tye you are letting my kidnapper go again?” she called.
“Leigh?” I looked over at her.
“Miss Bree...did you find anything the mayor could have consumed that would drug him like that?” Ger asked.
“You two stop foolin’ around in there!” Leigh called.
“Leigh, let’s talk over here,” I suggested.
“Why hasn’t that blonde woman been arrested and hung?” she asked, walking over.
“Why don’t you bring what you found by the office tomorrow?” Ger suggested.
“Yes I did. I found a teacup in the fireplace. Dash removed it. I do not know how come Leigh was not drugged. I swear to it mayor was.”
“Well..none of us imagined the cage she was in.”
“Damn sheriff is in there fooling around,” Leigh muttered. “Trin can’t you do something?”
“And boom it was gone and how did you get a gun Leigh?” Bree asked.
“We’ve been investigating it, Leigh,” I insisted.
“She said she took it from someone...” Ger said.
“Who? Took from who?” Bree asked.
I looked around, feeling like my mind was spinning as I’d just got to town.
“My God you people what about my kidnapping?”
“Leigh, we’re investigating it. What do you remember? From this time?”
“No idea...I don’t carry, that leaves Krell, the body guard and you... though I never saw you with one,” Ger said.
“You wanna fill me in here, partner?” I looked at him desperately.
“I have appointment to take care of. I performed surgery on Krell he almost died.”
“Krell what? When?” I blinked. “Recently?”
“Let’s go back,” Ger said. “I went to Miss Leigh’s to talk to her about her kidnappin’... Didn’t find her but heard voices upstairs. Went up there and in her and the Mayors room was Miss Leigh locked in a cage with Miss Bree and the Mayors bodyguard trying to get her out.”
“Bodyguard?” I raised my eyebrow.
“The mayor was sitting in a chair talking nonsense,” Ger said.
“You were in a cage IN the mayor’s room?!” I looked at Leigh.
“Uh... maybe he was having a rough day,” Aly suggested.
“He is crazy as a madhouse, Bree,” Leigh said.
“Am I hearing that right?!” I looked from Leigh to Ger.
“Yes, you did.”
“Wow...” I shook my head, thinking about everything going on.
“He was himself, I tell ya. He was nuts!” Leigh cried.
“OR he has flipped his lid like Miss Leigh claims,” Ger said.
“He is not,” Bree said. “He can be tested.”
“Once Miss Leigh was released, she got a gun and shot the Mayor a few times,” Ger said.
“Bree, who do you think I’m going to believe more? The woman that loves him or his secretary?” I looked at her then blinked, looking at Ger. “She shot a gun??”
“Do as you please,” Bree said.
“Where the hell’d you get a gun?” I asked Leigh. “And what’s going on in the sheriff’s office?” I asked, hearing voices from there and not recognizing one of them.
“I took it from Dash I was using the stand your ground law so I shot him,” Leigh said.
“You shot Krell with Dash’s gun?” I clarified.
“Yep. But I was standing my ground. I had to.”
“I’m gone seven hours and I come back to this,” I looked at Ger.
“Wow... Already been seven hours?” Aly looked at me.
“Ger, maybe we should walk to our office?” I suggested.
“Miss Leigh, when you are ready, why don’t you come to the office and fill us in on your latest kidnapping,” Ger requested and I nodded at that.
We walked down the street and headed to the office. When we’d sat down, I looked at Leigh. “Leigh, we need witness statements. In detail, explaining what happened to you both the first time you were kidnapped and this time.”
“The Mayor and Jewel have kidnapped me twice. No one seems to care.”
“The mayor,” I looked at Ger.
“Okay... How did they do this?” Ger asked.
“Oh my gosh, how many times do I have to tell this story?” Leigh cried.
“I haven’t heard it yet Miss Leigh,” Ger said.
“For Ger’s benefit, please. And it would help if I heard it again... as you and I have only talked once.”
“The Mayor is cray as a mad house you both know it.”
“Focus, Leigh. The first kidnapping. Back on the third.”
“First thing ya got to understand is the mayor is crazy!”
“Okay, you established that...let’s prove it now,” Ger nodded and I sat back, trying to avoid a sigh.
“He brought me here from New York against my will.”
“Okay...then what? Take your time, Miss Leigh.”
“Okay. Please tell me you guys realize the Mayor is fruit loops.”
I finally sighed and nodded. “We agree something is definitely wrong with the mayor. We need you to tell us what happened, both times.”
“It started at Bisbee dance. Krell took Nellie gold oar and tried to blame me for it. She found in his wardrobe and she will testify to that.”
“I remember. I was playing piano,” I nodded.
“Yes, you were singing,” Leigh nodded.
“You sing?” Ger looked over me and I smiled at him.
“People saw you walk out of the saloon with your hands to your stomach, after sitting on the couch where the ore had been. Krell had helped you out,” I said.
“He said I buried it in the dirt but I had dropped an earring in the dirt. He put it in his wardrobe. Nellie caught him. Then I was waken out of a dead sleep and drug off by some gang. They had my jewelry and I sure didn’t give it to them.”
“Did they wear anything specific to tell who they were?” Ger asked.
“The Mayor gave it to then. It was some blonde lady named Jewel, and the Mayor was paying her to get rid of me as I think he likes his secretary. He only pretends to love me, you guys.”
“Do you know how the Mayor knows this Jewel lady?”
She shook her head and said, “But I broke away and came running home to him as I was just putting all the pieces of this horrid story together myself.”
“Hold on a second Miss Leigh...you ran home?” Ger asked then.
“Then he says lets go to Bree’s and get some pastries and next thing I know she is back and demanding more money.”
“This is where he said you held a gun at him,” I said.
“She puts a gun in his face and off they go.”
“Off they go... Off who go?” I asked.
“I stayed with David and told him what was happening,” Leigh said then looked at me. “Jewel some big guy and the Mayor.”
“Big guy... Brown hair?” I asked.
“I was so scared I cant t remember.”
“Continue,” I nodded.
“They took him off and David and I went to save him as at this point I thought he was sayin and that he loved me. Well I was sure wrong. Yes he wont even let us near him. You all think just because he is Mayor that his hands are clean and I am telling you that his hands are filthy dirty.”
I nodded, remembering that Krell had told them to stop saving him. “Keep going, Leigh. You and David went to save him...”
“Then this bunch comes and takes me again and puts me in a cage with some dying guy and a rat that I named George. Tye and Peta came and saved me and took me to the doctors I was delirious. Now this morning I have that crazy Mayor put me in a cage in our bedroom and you saw it Gerric. He killed my cat. The mayor killed my cat.”
“Yes, I did...got you out of it with help,” Ger nodded.
“Yes, you and Dash came,” Leigh nodded.
“And Bree,” Ger nodded.
“And Bree was there swearing the Mayor was innocent,” Leigh said and I rolled my yes. “So I admit I cracked up I mean three times in a cell. No one believing me.”
“And Dash is the Body Guard Miss Bree hired to protect the Mayor,” Ger said.
“Woah, woah, woah...” I stopped them. “The mayor hired an outlaw to be his bodyguard?!?!?”
“No, Miss Bree hired him,” Ger said and looked at her. “If we didn’t believe you we wouldn’t be listening Miss Leigh.”
“So I took Dash gun and I shot the Mayor in his knee. My aim ain’t really good. But I tell ya he is an outlaw and is running this town like he is a saint. He and Jewel need to be arrested and both need to be hung. I will sign anything. I don’t understand why you don’t arrest them both.”
“We’ve been transcribing as we listened... Can we make this into a witness statement and have you sign it?” I sighed.
“Of course. I am telling the truth.”
“Because we don’t do the arresting, we recommend it based on what we find,” Ger said. “Okay just give me a moment here,” I said and finished writing up the statement.
“But no one wants to face it that their Mayor is a NUT CASE and an outlaw. Everyone thinks I am the bad one and that isn’t the truth. I know you both know he is crazy. You just wont admit it.”
“Knowin and provin are two different things...and we have ta prove it.”
“My God, man. You were there this morning.”
“Yes I was...saw you in the cage and the mayor disoriented,” Ger nodded.
“Draw up the papers. I will sign them.”
“Let me finish,” I nodded and kept writing.
“David will testify for me and Nellie will also. Trin you were there when he took the gold oar.”
“Leigh I was playing piano and singing. My back was to the entire room. I was focusing on my music.”
“He also told me to go take my half our savings out of the bank in Tombstone. Then he turned around and said I stole it.”
“But we will talk to David about this too...I am sure he will back you up on this,” Ger said.
“He will,” Leigh insisted.
“And he is important here too,” Ger nodded.
“If I was going to steal our money I would have taken it all not just half. And Chase knows I just took a little over half. And the fact that he is dancing around town in a dress. He try to get his feet into my shoes. He has ruined half my dresses and he ate a tube of my lipstick.”
“Please look this over. If it is accurate to what you told us, sign it for us,” I finished the report and handed it to her.
“It is a bit confusing but when we get to court I can explain it better.”
I took back the paper signed from her and said, “Fantastic. Ger, can I bring this to the sheriff? Are you two okay here?”
“Gonna need a copy before you do Trin,” he said and I made another copy for him and handed it to him.
“Please arrest Jewel and the Mayor I don’t know who the other man was,” Leigh begged.
I’m going to rush to the office with this before the sheriff gets caught uup in something else. I’ll be back,” I said and headed for the office.
“Sheriff I got a gift for you!” I called into the sheriff’s office.
“Huh?” Tye looked up as I walked in.
“This is a statement from Leigh accounting both kidnappings and the events with the mayor, including the incident in Bisbee with the ore,” I handed him the statement.
“Huh,” he scratched his head.
“And it’s signed. She believes that the mayor is working with Jewel and Mac, though she doesn’t know Mac’s name. She said some big guy.”
“Huhhh...” he said again, drawing out the word as he looked over the statement and shook his head.
“See? Messed up. But the first time that we’ve had her focus and sit down, telling us the story from the beginning.”
“This is good. I need to add it to my things and get a warrant out,” he nodded finally.
“Indeed. You have things to solidify this case against the mayor?”
“That... that we’ll talk about soon. I need to put this all together.”
“Alright well hopefully that helps,” I nodded and said hello to Suzy as she came in and out of the office. I focused on Tye and said, “Sheriff I’ll be honest with you. Usually I can follow a case from beginning to end. I can make it make sense. This time...”
“Very well,” Tye nodded. “I’ll see you soon, Trin. Once I’m up to speed, I’ll come speak with you.”
“Sounds good. Stay sane, Sheriff,” I winked and headed out of the office. I forgot to close the door and he yelled at me and threw a peanut at me. “Aw come on, Sheriff you missed me,” I joked.
“I’m old! Aim’ ain’t what it used to be!” he called back.
“Uh huh. Get to work,” I said and walked away with a smile.
I walked back to the Pinkerton office where Leigh and Ger were still talking. “How we doin’ in here?” I asked them.
“What did he say Trin?” Ger asked.
“I have the feeling Jewel will turn state’s evidence on Krell,” Leigh said.
“It was the stunned, silent approach. He wants to ponder things over. He did mention the word warrant though. I want a statement from Krell.”
“If ya can catch Jewel I bet she will talk,” Leigh said.
“I just saw her on my way here,” I nodded.
“I sure would like to be here when you question him,” Leigh said.
“I’m not sure that’d be a good idea,” I shoo my head at Leigh.
“I can talk to Jewel,” Ger offered.
“New York was so easy,” Leigh said.
“I’m from the Western part of New York,” Ger chuckled.
“Oh and he has about a hundred warrants out for him in New York for taking peoples money to invest,” Leigh said then. “That is where the money came from to buy this town.”
“I wonder if I should check that out...would help don’t you think?” Ger looked at me.
“Might be good to get some background on him,” I nodded.
“I have some friends I can talk to,” Ger said.
“I need to lay down. This case is giving me a headache,” I said and thanked Leigh for her statement and headed upstairs to lay down.
I heard Leigh leave and Ger came upstairs to make sure I was okay. I told him I needed a vacation and he joined me on the bed, helping me to relax.
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