Black Diamond.
As I was sitting in the gazebo, I saw Krell run into the sheriff’s office. I went in to see if everything was alright and he assured that he was just working on some repairs. I saw Ger walk over and then waved to Bree walking past as well. We decided to head to the bakery and get some breakfast. We talked about the cases we had open right now and he explained that he’d eliminated a few female suspects from the secret admirer case.
“I have a cup Gerric,” Bree said as she walked into the bakery.
“Thanks Miss Bree.”
“Is bagged and safe.”
“Excellent... If you have it here I’ll take it when I leave.”
“I go to bank,” she said then.
I looked over at Ger and asked, “That’s for the thing with the mayor?”
“She and Dash found it in the fireplace...I’m gonna test it to see if anything besides tea was in it.”
“Good idea,” I nodded.
“Hopefully the equipment I ordered shows up.”
“Let’s hope so. I can check when I go over there to find Drij and Nora for the case I’m helping Tye with.”
“Anything else we need to work on today?”
“Need to talk to Tye about the results we found on that flask. Then we can get that case off our shoulders.”
“If it doesn’t start another...” he said hesitantly and I nodded, knowing he could be right.
Lil walked in and joined us at the table. “I saw Sheriff Tye last night and gave him my witness report
on the shooting here in Diamond.”
“Oh great,” I smiled and crossed that off my list of things to do today. “What about the incident in the saloon in Bisbee?”
“I have it ready for you,” she said and handed it to me. I showed it to Ger and he nodded. “I didn’t write all I saw. Would have taken me hours. But if I am called as a witness, I will.”
“If they know to ask you those questions,” I nodded.
“Perhaps someone should prompt the prosecutor,” Lil suggested.
“Interesting idea...”
I sighed, “Lil the point is that statements are everything in court. They need to be as detailed as possible in case by some chance you can’t be there as a witness in person.”
“Oh I will be there, never fear.”
“I know the case inside and out and I would know the right questions to ask, but another prosecutor coming in from off the street might not know all the details.”
“Perhaps we should also talk to David?”
“And what if Dave can’t be there? Lil, my point is that these statements need to have as much detail as possible, even if it takes you a while to write it. It can make or break a case.”
“Ok... I am planning my wedding so I will try to write another one. Am getting married a week from Saturday.”
“I’m not trying to be hard here, Lil... I just know that you saw more than you wrote down.”
“First chance I get I will redo it.”
“Thank you, Lil.”
We talked about the breakfast and then she headed out. Ger asked me to hand him the copy of her report and she said that it wasn’t a match to the poem that Dave had received. Aly walked in and sat down with us. Ger went out to talk with a few people and I told him not to talk to the sheriff without me and he promised he wouldn’t.
When we were alone she told me, “I uh...”
“Another dream?” I looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Told you them dream catchers are useless.”
“Well I wasn’t wearin’ it last night. This one was... more intense. Definitely feeling guilty.”
“Hon it was your subconscious. Remember that. Separate it from reality.”
“Yeah well my subconscious is still part of me.”
“I know it is hon. But it doesn’t have to affect reality. You remember I told you that story about the Mexican jail?”
“Well...I’m hoping it won’t but God I think it is, every time I see that man now I get tongue twisted....and that’s like how it use to be. The insults came so much more easily,” she laughed.
“There was another story I didn’t tell you... one with dreams that took over my reality. I think I need to tell you that one,” I said and she nodded. “Okay. Back when I lived in Colorado... There was this outlaw. He was a mean man, really became my nemesis. I had found out that some of his men were involved in a fire in town and I knew I had to write about it but I was scared of what they would do to me. Well, I was riding around one day and heard my two law friends yelling from inside a cave. I asked a man nearby for help but he pulled me into the cave with them and Bill was there. They wanted me to blame the fire on another lawman and then burn all the warrants against them.”
“Ugh, Trin.”
“Then they would let my friends free. But before I left... He took out his knife and cut a slit in my skin to remind me he meant business,” I rolled up my sleeve and showed her my scar. “Oh wow, I’m so sorry Trin,” she blinked.
“Hon, they let me free and I printed the article but I didn’t blame it on anyone in particular. I just said it was a continuing investigation. Thing is... he kept coming around after that. Taunting me and telling me he missed me and that I was a good dancer and all this stuff... I started to dream about him. Nightmares. About that cave. I couldn’t sleep for weeks. To this day I still hate caves. Then he came into the saloon and threatened me and my friend. The one lawman said that we must be in love because of the way that we acted around each other but my feelings were so conflicted it was more fear.”
“Does part of that still excite you too? With caves, I mean.”
“Listen... The more I dreamed about him, the more I thought about him... The more I let him control me.”
“Oh great, now my situation seems...” Aly grumbled.
“I looked over my shoulder everywhere I went. I couldn’t stop talking about the incident. I couldn’t think. It got so bad Aly... I was in a church once telling the new sheriff all of this...”
“Obsessive?”
“Bill and his gang surrounded the place. The judge and someone else came around and she said that she’d sell me to them to get rid of them. They finally left but then a few days later, Aly, Bill confronted me in the street. He shot me down because I tried to stand up for myself. The law, the court, wouldn’t do anything about it and told me to stop obsessing.”
“Ugh, that’s a mess.”
“I left town. I couldn’t deal anymore. I had to get away. From that point on, Aly, I was a nomad. I was afraid to settle down because I thought that he would come find me, or that someone else that was an outlaw would start harassing me like that. Until I came to Tombstone... I hadn’t lived in a place for more than two months at a time.”
“I’m so sorry, Trin.”
“I’ve been here since May. I finally let myself settle down and face the demons of my past. The point is Aly... You can’t let the subconscious take over like that. Look what it did to me.”
“Well I, for one, am glad you did. I suppose the sheriff is too. And if he ain’t, he should be. You’re valuable around here. You make it safe,” she said. “Yeah well it’s kinda hard when I wake up all breathless and sweaty and VERY much embarrassed...how am I suppose to control it?”
“The only reason I’ve stayed... The ONLY reason... is because people like Tye and Skyla believed in me. They made me realize that I was stronger than my past, that I could defeat the past and finally settle down with confidence.”
“Just... still.... ugh... Trin. I don’t want any of this This dream last night.... Well I was just going about my daily things...fixing the church, you know....and...he showed...with handcuffs. Said he needed to bring me in. and uh... Dang gone dream. Tha hell.”
Tye walked in then and Aly blushed, looking down. “Oh. Uh. Mornin’ sheriff,” Aly cleared her throat. “Uh, rough mornin’?”
“This whole thing’s a damn mess,” Tye said and sat down.
“What think?” Aly blinked.
“That bit with Leigh and the Mayor and whatever number of wild bunch,” Tye said.
“I know it is,” I nodded, looking at Tye.
“Anytime wild bunch are involved it’s always a damn mess,” Aly agreed.
“They’re gonna be a damn mess soon enough.”
“They shoulda learned their lesson by now,” Aly raised a brow. “Weren’t they involved in her first kidnapping?”
“Well, that’s the way it seems. But now she’s done shot the mayor, and apparently expects me to arrest him. Well, here’s the thing. I got a statement of confession to shooting the Mayor.”
“I got a statement from Lil about the incident in Bisbee,” I handed him the report. “Problem is she told me that she didn’t write down everything ‘cause it would take a while. But I told her we need all the detail we can get, so she’s working on it again. I won’t let her lose another case for me.”
Tye looked over at Aly and then read the statement. “Hell, this one’s just as useless as the one she gave me. What backpack? When? Where? See here? Useless.”
He handed me the paper and I read it and nodded, “Barely any detail. That’s the thing Tye. The backpack she mentions... Leigh never said a thing about that in her statement, did she?”
“Trin do you remember my speculation about her kidnapping?”
“Nope, though it’s obvious they’re involved. I don’t think I can do much about the ore. It was in Bisbee, ‘less the mayor asks me to look into it.”
“That’s the problem... We can’t really bring it over to Diamond and make it a case here. It’s just another piece of the puzzle to show that those two are up to something,” I said.
“But it certainly sets new light on everything.”
“Your speculations about the kidnapping...” I looked at Aly. “Let me think back.”
“Yes. The reason behind the kidnapping and how I thought it might be a good idea to talk with them outlaws, judge their facial reactions when her name was brought up,” Aly said.
“Oh right, what you said about her being in kahootz with one of the outlaws,” I nodded.
“Yeah. Well kahootz is one way of puttin’ it,” Aly giggled.
Ger walked in then and I smiled, “Ger, bout time.”
“Didn’t know I was expected back,” he said and took a seat, chucking.
“Always,” I winked.
“When yer Trin’s partner yer always expected back,” Aly smiled.
Tye sighed heavily and sat straight. “Right, mornin’ uh, Ger.”
“Heck, even bein’ Trin’s best friend...I’m always expected back.”
“We need to catch the Sheriff up,” I looked at Ger. “I’ll let you tell the story. Brace yourself, Sheriff.”
“Well, Trin gave me your whiskey flask to test...”
“Yeah, figured she might,” Tye nodded.
“Took it to Tempe to use their labs since we don’t have one here...yet.... Got the results and not sure if you’re gonna like them...”
Tye crossed his arms. “Ain’t much news I heard lately that I do like, but I’m listenin’.”
“It contained a new variant of cocaine...in other words...some one drugged your flask makin you vulnerable to suggestion...” Ger started and Aly fell off her chair then, and Ger looked over concerned.
“What sort of suggestion?” Tye grunted at Aly.
“Any kind...including setting a fire. The good news is..if it was you, you are not responsible for your actions,” Ger explained.
“Uh why would he do that to himself exactly?” Aly asked.
“Well ain’t this just dandy,” Tye exhaled and curled his lip.
“We had to follow the evidence. We were shocked when the possibility came up, at least I was. I knew it didn’t sound like the Tye Durden I’ve known all these months,” I looked at Aly.
“Gonna have ta watch yer drinkin’ now sir,” Aly pointed out.
“You heard of what they are doin with fingerprints now a days?” Ger asked.
“Fingers? Whose fingers?” Aly asked.
“Course, Tombstone’s a bit behind Boston,” Tye said.
“Thats what we were tryin’ to figure out...” Ger started. “Tested the cap...only two on it... Figure one is yours...the other... might be the person who drugged you.”
“Well ya got them results yet?” Aly asked.
“Unfortunately, we are behind like Tye said, and their ain’t any records we can compare to, so, in order to find out who did it, we have to fingerprint everyone in the county,” Ger said.
“So uh, where the glass come from, which saloon? Or ...if not a saloon..?” Aly asked.
“Do you want to pursue this fingerprint thing, or should we just say this case is closed?” I looked at Tye.
“I’ve already paid the town for the bakery.”
“So we let it be?” I nodded.
“I have a feeling about who might have had my flask. If its alright with both of you, I’d prefer to pursue it personally,” Tye said.
I nodded with relief. “That’s fine with me. Will be good to consider this one closed in our books.”
“Fine by me...but if ya want my help..” Ger nodded.
“Your case was for the bakery,” Tye said. “I’m not sure what I’ll do with this information yet, Ger. I’ll keep you informed if something comes up.”
“One more thing though Tye,” Ger nodded.
I nodded, “Thank you Sheriff. That makes it 24 closed cases for the Pinkerton agency in Tombstone since I began in May.”
“Yeah?” Tye shifted in his seat.
“You can’t use your flask anymore...still is contaminated...so...as a peace offering..here,” Ger said and handed him the flask with the Calvary Insignia.
“I’ll need my old one still, was a family thing,” Tye looked at him. “Ain’t bad, for a cavalry one,” he glanced at it.
“Here you go... the cap is sealed so you can’t open it though,” Ger handed him the original flask.
“You know, Tye, I really don’t mind you bein’ sheriff no more either. I do feel safer since ya took it on,” Aly said.
“It was just a shock to us when we had this evidence to investigate against you at the time,” I smiled.
“I admit didn’t like tha idea at first but yer workin’ out jes fine,” Aly smiled.
“Good. I need you both. I apologize for the deception, but I couldn’t believe I’d done it either,” Tye nodded at Ger.
“But it felt wrong that you would do somethin’ like that,” I nodded.
“I been over quite a bit of the cases you’re investigatin’,” Tye nodded.
“Can’t blame ya really,” Ger said.
“I ain’t botherin’ with that froo froo admirer shit goin’ on with the DA, though,” Tye said. “Ya’ll can handle that just fine.”
“That’s Ger’s case,” I chuckled.
“I think he likes it,” Aly laughed. “No need ta investigate it anyhow. Nobody harassin’ him.”
“He hired me to find out who it is,” Ger explained.
“Good. I’ll keep my hands out of that one,” Tye nodded.
“You should tell Tye what happened with Dash and Leigh,” I looked at Ger.
“Oh... yeah....” Ger remembered and Tye pulled out his pad with an exasperated sigh.
“Leigh...really...again?” Aly asked.
“You mean other’n what’s in the statement you gave me?” Tye asked and I nodded.
“Well...I went over to talk to Miss Leigh bout her latest kidnappin’ escapade...walked into the court house, called her name, then heard voices upstairs. Followed the vcoices, which lead to her’s and Krell’s room,, and found Dash, Miss Bree trying to get Miss Leigh out of a cage... Krell was sitting in a chair talking nonsense while this was happening,” Ger explained. Tye stopped writing and sat back, just listening. “Leigh claimed that Krell put her there... Once dash and I got her out, she grabbed one of his guns and started shootin’ at the mayor.”
“So it’s true, David’s concerns,” Aly watched Tye closely.
“So not just a confession, you seen it. She hit his knee, yeah?” Tye sniffed and began to crack his knuckles.
“I was tryin’ to get the gun from her, didn’t see where he was hit.... Miss Bree tended to him, once they came back, Miss Bree expressed her opinion that Krell was drugged.”
“In Leigh’s statement she said that she shot the mayor in his knee,” I nodded.
“She and Dash found a tea cup in the fireplace and will give it to me for testin...” Ger said.
“Miss Bree would eat from Krell’s mouth if he’d been chewin’ on horse shit,” Tye said and I chuckled at that.
“Don’t forget about Leigh’s suspicion with that too, Tye,” I looked at him.
“Miss Leigh feels Krell has flip his top...gone bonkers,” Ger said.
“That somethin’s goin on between Krell and Bree,” I said. “He admitted they spent a lot of time together, but for work.”
“So, I will test the tea cup...see if it was drugged,” Ger explained.
“Seen that in the statement. Its a mess. What was Dash doin’ up there?” Tye asked. “Well, I ain’t worried about the drugs just yet, but I’ll need a warrant for Leigh at the very least.”
“He was hired as a body guard for Krell by Miss Bree,” Ger said.
Tye sat up straight and looked at Ger in disbelief. “He what?!”
“SHE did.. Miss Bree hired him,” Ger clarified. “Then he threw me out while I was lookin for anything to explain it...”
I looked through my files and wrote out a copy of my knowledge of Dash’s past. He set the file aside and said, “Don’t need a file on him to know that ain’t a bright idea.”
“He threw YOU out, from where?” Tye asked.
“Krell’s and Leigh’s place,” Ger said.
“Was this just after gettin’ her out of the cage and seein’ her shoot up the Mayor?” Tye asked.
“Bree also told me he threw out the remainin tea...so I can’t test that now,” Ger said. “No... After everything had calmed down.”
“Did he do that before or after he knew you’d check the cup?” Tye asked.
“I don’t have the cup yet....they found it after I left...didn’t get the chance to look,” Ger sat back and thought for a moment. “I wonder...”
“I need statements from Bree. Official ones. I’ll talk to the mayor myself. And this Dash fella, I need something. Any of you seen him do anythin’ he should be arrested for?” Tye asked and Ger shook his head.
“I saw him creeping around the other night near the bank,” Aly said then. “Mentioned it to Trin.”
“I’ll draw up a warrant for Leigh, at least separate them. It’ll get Krell to come to the jail, where I can take his keys and sit him down too,” Tye said.
“Remember Tye, I told you about that too.”
“Wait... yes...” Ger said then.
“That’s two? Three things I need you to get statements from Bree about, Trin,” Tye looked at me.
“I always see him just...standing still, usually near a building...like he didn’t want people noticing him, it’s creepy,” Aly said.
“If she won’t listen to you, tell me,” Tye told me. “Gerric, I need two official statements from you, then. The first regarding what you saw when Leigh was in the cage. The second bein’ about Dash and him throwin’ you out.”
“One for Leigh and one for Dash,” Ger nodded.
“We’ll get to the bottom of this. I’ll have to go to county to get warrants signed, but we will,” Tye promised.
“I will also test the cup and give you that report, and if I may, I’d like to get their teapot to test too,” Ger suggested.
“Good.”
“And I’ll get statements from Bree about Leigh shooting Krell in the knee. Or try to,” I muttered, knowing how hard it was to talk with Bree.
“Okay, don’t mention the teapot to anyone,” Tye instructed. “Bree needs to tell you about that, about Dash tossing the tea out, and about who the fourth man was the other night when Sniper and TJ tried to take me down.”
“Oh, and Miss Ally...” Ger looked at her. “None of this gets out to the public.”
“Dun worry Ger I ain’t tha kind ta kiss an tell...” she blinked, “Or something as tha cliche goes.”
“They find out we want that teapot, they’ll dump it,” Tye said.
“They already did...you must not have heard me...Dash did after I left,” Ger said.
“I meant the teapot itself,” Tye clarified.
“But if they didn’t clean it yet, there might still be evidence there,” Ger said.
“Trash it, get rid of it,” Tye said.
“Ahh yeah.”
Tye looked at me and asked, “Trin, did you go over with Gerric our discussion last night?”
“About the case I’m getting witness statements for?” I clarified, looking from my notes.
“Yeah, that one. And if you can find out who that fourth man is.”
“Yes, Tye. The report I received via telegram. I’m with you. I need to brief Ger about that.”
Peta came in then for breakfast and I suggested that Ger and I go to discuss the case from the night before. We headed to our office and took a seat at our desk. “Okay so... Last night I received a telegram from Tye on a case he wants our assistance on,” I said and handed him the report. He read it and I smiled, “Quite the report, huh?”
“Sounds as if Tye had his hands full.”
“We need to identify that fourth person. Who was with TJ, Lisa and Sniper.”
“Okay... Ideas?”
“Everybody’s been changing who they work with it’s hard to keep them straight, but let me take a look at something.”
Aly walked in then and I said it wasn’t a good time, but Ger told her to stay. “Was gonna offer a name,” she said.
“You were?” I looked up from my list of accomplices and leaned forward.
“When four is a crowd... and it’s trouble related... I usually hear heavy steps. Mac. Not sure what y’all were talkin about but when I hear three names and two of them are usually TJ and Lisa....” Aly explained.
“I think you may have something...” Ger nodded. “I remember him leaving the dance, then coming back bloody...”
“I agree. You have a point,” I nodded. “And sure,” I looked at Ger. “This was the night of the dance?”
“There is a dance nearly every night,” Aly said as Dave walked in. “It’s hard to pinpoint a certain one.”
“David,” Ger smiled at him. “I have some news for you.”
“Good day all,” Dave greeted.
“On the 18th, Aly. That’s when this happened. Tuesday.”
“Yes, Tuesday, the night of the dance,” Ger nodded.
“At Black Diamond. Yeah I think Mac was there. I watched TJ and Lisa...they left suddenly,” Aly explained.
“And only Mac came back,” ger said.
“Hmm...” I looked between them. “You think he’s the fourth?”
“David was there too. David you seen Mac at that dance?” Aly asked.
Ger pulled out the last writing sample and the poem and compared the two writings.
“Yeah I believe so, as a matter fact yes ,he sung a rather horrible song,” Dave nodded.
“Well glad you could be so direct to share what many of us were thinking,” Aly laughed. “I couldn’t hear him very well.”
“I speak my mind,” Dave said.
“So I’ve noticed about you,” Aly nodded.
“Wait a minute here...” Ger said, looking closer at the writing.
“That my case Gerric?” Dave asked.
“Yes...I think we have a winner here,” Ger nodded.
“Was coming over to check on things,” Dave looked at him. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” Ger sat up. “I just matched handwriting from this person with the poem left for you.”
“Yeah? Who is it?”
“Miss Katie Silverfox,” Ger slid the signature over to him.
“Uh this ain’t none of my business, y’all want me to leave?” Aly asked.
“Katie? I just had coffee with her yesterday morning.....no that’s ok Aly wow I’d of never guessed her,” Dave shook his head.
“What do you want me to do now...with this information?” Ger asked.
“Well she owes me for the damage to my damn door thats for sure.......ain’t gonna get my deposit back if I don’t fix that hole the nail made, I got half a mind to have her arrested for destruction of property,” Dave said.
“You certainly could,” I nodded.
“True...” Ger nodded. “But it was done out of romance.”
“I just seen her outside too,” Dave said.
“If it was done out of romance, she coulda just gone up to him,” I argued.
“Romance shit, she obviously was able to talk with me. We had coffee.”
“Well..knowing her past....she might have thought you would be sacred off,” Ger put in.
“I agree with Trin on that but... not all women got courage ta tell tha person they like of their feelings, ugh. huh,” Aly said.
“But obviously Katie did have the courage. They had coffee together and danced together,” I said.
“Right, so that really doesn’t make sense,” Aly agreed. “Were these things done before the coffee and dance, or after?”
“Well the rose was before the dance cause I got it on valentines day, the poem before coffee,” Dave answered.
“Ok, so it sounds like she wants your attention,” Aly said, “And did those things to get it.”
“Hmm, after all she seemed pretty nervous to talk about her past,” Dave said.
“If you want to make it official, I’ll write up a report...” Ger suggested.
“A witness report from you would go a long way, David,” I smiled. “You know that.”
“If you want it to be private and handled yourself, I’ll give you back everything,” Ger said.
“Yes, and some people have a hard time communicating verbally as it is,” Aly added.
“Well Im pretty fumed about my door, despite the romance part, like the poem she could of set it on my desk.”
“Then you should write a report and file charges.”
“Talk with her, David... Give her a chance to pay for it,” Ger said.
“Keep in mind if you do that though..” Aly looked at him. “And you actually have an interest in her, she ain’t gonna like you for it probably.”
“And the whole town will find out if ya press charges,” Ger added.
“That too,” Aly nodded.
“God damn, I trust you folks opinions,” Dave looked at me then. “Trin, your thoughts?”
I blushed a bit and looked down, then looked at Dave. “I think you should get justice for the damage she did on your door. And I also think I need a nap. Not to mention, her invasion of your privacy. And not to mention her invasion of your, uh, sense of security,” I looked at him and stood. “I really do need to lay down. I’ll let you gentlemen close this one down.”
“Hmm... Okay,” Dave smiled. “How about you, Gerric?” he asked.
“I think you should cut her a break...have her pay for tha damages...she is shy yet wanted you to know she cared for you...think of your reputation if you do go after her,” Ger said. “Prosecutor Sends His Admirer To Court.”
I chuckled about that and head upstairs for a nap.
***
This afternoon I walked through town and waved to Tye and Peta standing in front of the office. I walked to the lawyer’s office and sat down, needing to catch up on reports. I saw Peta looking around for something and then she came into the office with Tye close behind.
“Well what ya hidin’ in there for? Ya got another desk?” Tye asked.
“This is my lawyer’s office desk... Just figured it’d be more central in case I see someone ride by I need to talk to. I rode around Tombstone, no one on the list was around. So I came back here.”
“Oh. Just noticed a Pinks sign up too.” He plopped down in front of me and asked, “Ya think we got enough to charge Jewel?”
“For which charge?” I looked at him.
“For whatever dozenth time Leigh’s been taken.”
“Honestly if I were trying her case, I’d be thrilled with the witness report she gave me, and a report from you about what you found when you saved her at that cage. I’d consider that enough.”
“Yeh, but she just ain’t been real consistent. Leigh, I mean. I’ll write it up.”
“Well ain’t that what trials are for?” Peta asked.
“I know...” I nodded. “But what else are you looking for, Tye? You’ve got a statement from the victim. You want a statement from one of the outlaws? ‘Cause they won’t tell us anything honestly.”
“I’d like to think so, Peta, but if we try her and I don’t have all the information, she gets off, we can’t try her again,” Tye said.
“Well I reckon that’s true. I used to be a lawyer ya know. Real famous trial of... somebody... I forget who... I was great at it,” Peta went on.
“Look Tye the problem is...” I said, trying to focus the conversation again. “The only people I have gotten anything out of about this whole thing are Krell, Leigh and you. I spoke with Krell about things the other morning but it wasn’t in the form of a statement. I could go over my journals and write it up but the lawyers will point out the inconsistencies.”
“I mean, on the one hand, I want Jewel to know she can’t do that - her actions have consequences. But if we try her and lose, trying to get her for one of the other kidnappings will make us look foolish,” Tye said.
“I know, Tye,” I nodded.
“Well, you and Ger both have seen Leigh with Jewel. But there are quite a few blondes around. And is she the only blonde in wild bunch?”
“Sure, and anything Ger and I say is hearsay ‘cause we didn’t witness anything.” I pulled out my list and ran my finger down to the Wild Bunch gang. We went through each female name and realized that the only one who would have done it was Jewel. “I’ll add Jewel to that list though since we know she’s in that gang now,” I summarized.
“Victim’s testimony, blonde long hair, wild bunch flag,” Tye said. “But we don’t have enough for Mac.”
“Here’s the problem with Mac. From what I’ve witnessed... He’s beside Jewel all the time, yes. But which of them initiates it nine times out of ten?”
“Mac - I got a feeling he’s been part of a few crimes, but nothing we can pin on him,” Tye said. “Settin’ fire to my desk, defecating on it, kidnapping, shooting at me.”
“Not to mention standing there when Jewel set fire to this office.”
“I got him on that one, Trin.”
“Other than the brown hair we found in that bag, Tye... I’m not sure how we can get him for the kidnapping. I’ve never seen him interacting with Leigh.”
“Just the one time recently.”
I sighed, looking at him. “What do you make of what Ger told you this morning about the cage?”
“Okay. Leaving Mac out of it, until we get Jewel behind bars.”
“Might be best,” I nodded.
“Then I’ll question her. If I can get a statement from her.. we might be able to make better sense of this.”
“Good luck with that. Jewel’s got reason to lie.”
“But I’ll be questioning her about the Mayor’s involvement, too. Yep. I’m sure there’ll be plenty to doubt.”
“She was in the saloon when I was wanderin’ around.”
“I seen her just now. Nothing I can do without a warrant.”
“You think she’d tell me anything?”
I saw Bree walk past outside and then Tye and Peta’s daughter Agnes came into the office. Peta told her that we solved crimes like Sherlock Holmes and we explained to her the premise for the books.
After a while I walked outside and found Bree. I asked if we could talk and went into my office where she gave me her account of what happened at the bank. She couldn’t identify the fourth person, though. When I asked her about the case with Leigh being in a cage, Bree said that as she was trying to get Krell to the clinic, she heard Leigh say that she hoped he would bleed out after she had shot him in the knee with her gun. She said that Miss Pet had gotten the gun away from Dash and Leigh had somehow gotten it from her. I wasn’t sure which Pet she meant but my mind instantly went to Peta since I hadn’t seen the preacher Pet in a while. I went to talk to Tye and he told me to clarify the name for him. I found Bree taking Suzy to the clinic and though she told me to go after Tye who’d been running from a man shooting at him, I wanted to clarify the statement before I lost Bree again. Suzy glared at me but I finally got out of Bree that it was Preacher Pet, so I felt a lot better about that.
When I went back outside, Peta said that Tye was getting healed in Tombstone. Seeing there was nothing more for me to do, I headed home for the night.
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