Black Diamond.
I walked into the cafe this morning and saw Ger and Aly sitting together. “Hey there, you two!” I greeted them.
“Howdy partner.”
“That why you don’t do medical stuff no more?” Aly blinked at Ger and turned when she saw me.
“Hiya Trin. Pull a seat.”
“Got some good news,” I looked at Ger, taking aseat.
“Tye single?” Aly raised an eyebrow, teasing.
“No, but... he did make an arrest last night,” I chuckled and nudged Aly. “Got a wire from him this morning.”
“Who got arrested?”
“Excuse me ladies....I need to go...sorry,” Ger said and walked out.
“Did I say something?” Aly blinked and I watched him go with concern. “He just found out Katie is engaged. Don’t think it went over so well. Maybe he had a thing for her.”
“Oh... I was shocked about that myself. Dave doesn’t seem like the family-man type.”
“Yeah especially when children are concerned.”
“Children?!” I blinked.
“Yeah... Katie has a daughter. At least I realize I’m not ready for marriage.... David...I sure hope he takes them vows serious. She’s a great girl and dI don’t want to see her or that little one hurt.”
“Why do you think I moved out of that house? I don’t need a big empty house reminding me I’m alone.”
“That’s what a pup is for Trin,” Aly grinned.
“I really should get myself a dog...” I nodded and she laughed. “You think I’m kidding? I used to have a dog... Long time ago...”
“No I’m laughing because we said the same thing at the same time.”
“You want to help me pick one out? Or are you not able to go out that far yet?”
“I’m not suppose to leave Black Diamond... but ughh I’m bored here...see...”
“You feeling any better?”
“You tell me I am not suppose to do something, that I can’t have someone...and I rebel. So you gonna tell me who got arrested?”
“Leigh got arrested finally,” I winked at her.
“Ahh...”
“Mmhmm.”
“That’s bittersweet.”
“Ridiculously long case... kind of wanted to tell Ger the news. Tye left me a wire this morning so I wouldn’t have to wait for it..”
“Speaking of law stuff, Sasha’s case was last night. Trin, she kept farting in the courtroom. Made Jewel leave, which I was....distraught over.”
“Oh was it? What verdict?”
“Guilty.”
“So who were the lawyers and witnesses and stuff?”
“Prosecutor... David, Defense Krell. Three jury.. Sommer, Bri, and some really filthy morbid guy.”
“Filthy morbid guy? What the heck was the charge?”
“It was a very strange hearing.”
“How was it strange?” I asked, going to make myself some coffee.
“Well Krell kept saying that she stole the boots off my porch which wasn’t accurate... They were ON me.”
“Mmhmm.”
“And she pointed a gun and I was forced to take them off.”
“Mmhmm.”
“And as I said... he kept...passing gas. I’m glad I was in the back row!”
“I’m glad I wasn’t there,” I chuckled. “Had to do some stuff out of town... Still looking for that darned sheriff from Tombstone but he’s not replying to our wires we’re sending him.”
“With all that running around he does...he can’t pause to respond? Oh and Ger says he wants to accompany me to the Criss Ranch when I’m better. I think he believes someone caused the fire. but I’m pretty sure it was an accident.”
Alex walked into the cafe and I greeted him, “Hey there! Look who got out of the house again,” I nodded to Aly.
“Hi ladies. Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all,” Aly shook her head.
“Join us, hon,” I smiled and he went to get a cup of coffee, then came to sit down. “How’s it going?” I asked him.
“So far so good today. How are you two?”
“Doing great! I think one of our cases is finally closed and they got a guilty verdict against Sasha for theft last night.”
“Very nice!”
“Day’s starting out quite well,” I chuckled.
“That’s always a help.”
“And now I get to have coffee with two of my favourite people. How are you, Alex?” I asked.
“I’m good. Nothing exciting to report, but that’s not a bad thing.”
“I’m good, but woke up this morning realizing I hadn’t had my bandages changed yesterday. There were too many bodies in the clinic and not enough medics,” Aly told him.
“I can do that if you need it. How’s it feeling? You seem to be up and about more.”
“Well I have pants on today!” Aly said, “So it’s definitely more comfortable.”
“Always a good thing,” I chuckled.
“Still need the cane though. Ok that’s not what I meant sir,” she blushed. “But yeah... I need to be changed.”
“I’d be more than happy to do that,” Alex smiled.
“I can let you to do that at the clinic... I should get some work done at the office,” I sighed a bit, knowing I needed to talk to Ger. “I need to find that partner of mine.”
“That would be good. I’m sure he’s out roaming around,” Aly nodded.
“You take care of her, alright?” I looked at Alex.
“Good luck, Trin. Sounds like you’ve got some interesting things to tell him,” Alex nodded. “I certainly will!”
I saw Ger walk back in and smiled, “Hey again, partner.”
“Who take care of who?” Ger asked as he walked in.
“Howdy sir,” Alex nodded to him.
“Need to talk with you in our office, Ger,” I said.
“Didn’t answer my question,” he nodded to Alex.
“Ger, this is Alex Torii... He’s a doctor in the area,” I introduced.
“Aly. I’m going to change her bandages,” Alex said.
“You are... are you?” Ger looked a bit upset.
“Alex... this is my partner, Ger,” I looked at him. “Ger? Maybe we should go to our office?”
Ger glared at me for a moment and then looked at Aly. “You okay with this Miss Aly?”
“I’ll be in the clinic if you need me,” Alex drained his cup and stood.
“Alex...” I started but he walked out of the cafe.
“Okay with what, Ger?” Aly asked as she stood.
“Never mind.”
I looked between them and sighed, “Ger... our office. Aly, go get those bandages looked at.”
“Yes ma’am,” Aly nodded.
Ger followed me to our office and kicked the door open, then began to work on his paperwork.
“Listen, Ger,” I started as I sat down, “I don’t know what’s up with you but Alex is a certified doctor in this area. If he wants to change bandages he has that job to do. You did it as a favor to a friend but it’s his job. You can’t get mad at him for wanting to do it.”
“So, he can come barging in...take over...you know what...never mind. I wouldn’t have done that when I was a doctor. And who do you think you are ordering me around? ‘Ger... our office...’”
“I’m the one who hired you, Gerric. I’m the one trying to help you become a better detective and giving you cases to focus on and help me with. I’m the one who tried to tell you that a huge case we’ve both been working on was finally closed last night and you walked out on me before hearing it. And yes, our office. I could have said my office.”
“Yes boss...”
“What has gotten into you this morning? Or the last few days, for that matter. You’ve been out doing who knows what, I’m still waiting for a statement about the case with the fourth person at the bank...”
“I know nothing about a fourth person...”
“Would you rather be a doctor? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
“You know why I can’t be a doctor any more,” he glared at me. “I couldn’t save her Trin....with all my knowledge in this brain, I couldn’t save her.”
“Glare at me all you want. I’d like a little more respect than you’ve shown me in the past few days. I’m trying to include you and use your skills to solve cases...”
“You have gotten my best...everyday...”
“Then what the hell’s going on this morning?”
“Just a bad morning I guess...”
“I’ll say,” I shook my head.
“I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to Aly.. We’ve worked so hard in saving that leg of hers.”
“I get that, but Alex is a good doctor. He’s a trained doctor. You’ve got to let him do his job.”
“I don’t know that...I haven’t seen him work.”
I leaned forward and tried to focus on my professional relationship with Alex rather than my personal one. “Listen Ger... You’ve gotta show me the respect that I deserve here. If I trust Aly with him as a doctor, you have to trust me.”
“You two are friends..good friends, aren’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter. The point is that I trust him to be a good doctor. And that should be enough for you.”
“You asking for respect...how about some heading my way??? You call me partner, but treat me as a sidekick.”
“Excuse me?” I blinked at him. “I’ve been doing everything I can to include you on cases, to get your opinions, to fill you in on things. And you walk out of the cafe not wanting to hear it.”
“Yet you don’t invite me to meetings with others...”
“Not true. I haven’t had any meetings with anyone since the one with you and Tye about Leigh’s case.”
“I...I..had my reasons for leaving. Personal ones....”
“Give me an example.”
“You talking to Tye and then decide to include me...he’s always asking for you...alone...so does David...”
“Anything that Tye and Dave tell me I report back to you. And I mean anything. Besides... lately there hasn’t been anything else to talk about since that meeting about Leigh’s case. So don’t give me that. I get wires from Tye, I fill you in.”
“Yet they come to you Trin...not me when they see me, but you....”
“That’s not my fault, Ger. They know me. You have to understand that. Tye has been like my mentor... Since May of last year. That’s almost a whole year I’ve known him. Bree and Leigh and them go to you first, don’t they? Heck, even Aly goes to you first.”
Alex opened the door then and looked in, “Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let you now Aly’s resting now.”
I looked over, grateful for the distraction, and nodded. “Thanks, Alex.”
“And the infection?” Ger looked at him.
“It’s healing nicely. The infection is gone but the area is still pretty tender. You did a good job with those stitches. Much better than the last time I had to check someone else’s work. I had to redo the whole thing.”
“I didn’t stitch her, Dr. Myst did...I just treated the infection,” Ger said and I listened to them talk back and forth.
“Oh okay, well you took good care of her. She’ll be okay.”
“Good, it was touch and go there a day or so ago... Thought she would lose it.”
“That’s always the trickiest time with a wound like that. She’s lucky.”
“By the way....sorry I treated you like that....just kinda protective...you know.”
“I understand. It’s okay, and I’m glad she’s got good friends looking after her.”
“Thanks Doc..” Ger smiled.
Alex looked between us and said, “I’ll let you two get back to work. Just thought I’d let you know how she is.” I half nodded to Alex, pulling out my notebook to focus on something else as he said, “You’re welcome. Have a good morning.”
Ger walked over to my desk and sat down in the chair. I barely looked up but I heard him sigh. “Trin...I’m sorry.... I’ve had a bad morning, then felt threatened with someone else takin over her care...and I took it out on you.”
“Yeah, you did,” I nodded. “I’ve done nothing but try to include you and make you feel like a partner, Ger.”
“But there are times that I feel like I’m not...just shuffled off to go to something to get me out of the way.”
“That’s not true. That’s called delegation. I ask you to do things because I know you’d be better at them than I would. You should take it as a compliment. And I always try to include you with conversations with Tye but that doesn’t mean you’re always around to be involved in them. So that’s not my fault.”
“But sometimes it sounds like go do this while I go do somethin’ important.”
“I let you solve the whole case with Dave’s admirer, didn’t I? I barely got involved there.”
“You let me?”
“Wrong choice of words,” I sighed and he nodded. “You have to understand something, Ger. I’ve been on my own for most of the time that I’ve been in Tombstone. I’ve worked alone since May. The only time I ever had a partner was when Alex worked with me for two months. And he mostly stayed quiet and observed and was more like a sounding board who gave suggestions when we were alone again. Since that ended in November I’ve been alone again. You have to understand that for me... I’m still learning how this partnership thing works. I didn’t ask for one, you came to me, remember? And I’m so glad that you did because you have skills that you can attribute to a case that I never could.” I looked over to the lab and asked, “You think I could have figured any of that stuff out on my own?”
“It’s just...I feel like a footnote sometimes...” he shrugged. “Can’t help it.”
“Yeah, you can. You could hear what I’m trying to tell you and realize that you’re valuable and I’m trying to include you.”
“Well...sometimes, could you let me take lead?”
I blinked at that. “That’s what I was just telling you I did! I let you take the lead on that case with Dave. I let you take the lead on the stuff with Aly. I let you take the lead when we needed statements from Leigh and Bree. I let you take the lead on the home investigations case.”
“Not really...once we found out they were connected...you took over.”
“Because you weren’t here,” I shook my head. “Someone had to. I can’t be here all the time either. I ride around the other towns looking for cases too, not that there’s been any. And that’s when you step in and get statements from people when I can’t. We work together, Ger. We can’t let things sit for too long so when one of us is here, that person takes the lead. And always fills the other person in. Like we have been doing. Or trying to do,” I muttered. “But apparently my efforts haven’t been enough. They never are.” I looked over at him, “Look... I get that you had a bad morning, I understand that and I’m sorry for it. I have bad times too. But that doesn’t mean you can come in here and accuse me of not doing everything I can to include you and give you the lead on cases which is exactly what I’ve been doing.”
“One case...”
“And the statements...” I sighed as he went back to his own desk. “Were you even listening to what I said?”
“Yes...we just see things differently I guess....”
“You need to be a bit more sympathetic too... Like I said... I’m not used to having a partner like this. So ease up on me and let me have time to try to figure out how to make this work for both of us, if you really want it to work. I’ve been doing this for ten months. It’s my passion. I give my whole life to this job. Give me some credit that I’m trying to give you the lead on some things, and show me more respect for the fact that people around here know me a lot better than they know you... and I’ll be able to trust you more and give you more lead.”
He nodded and I raised an eyebrow, “That’s it?”
“Fine with me....boss...” Ger winked. “What’s going on with the break in cases?”
“Leigh was arrested last night by force. She refused to turn herself in. Ended up running and got shot down by the jailer. She denied everything, of course, and was trying to say she turned herself in peacefully while she was in jail. Krell tried to call that Mayor Wise couldn’t sign for a Diamond warrant, though he has every right to.”
“Okay...thats strange...guess that’s what you wanted to tell me?”
“Yes. Seeing as we both worked damn hard on this case since the beginning of the month. I want to leave this case open until we get a guilty verdict in trial. We might need these notes if lawyers come talk to us.”
“Well, I know the Prosecutor definitely will want to.”
“So if you can work on that statement from Bree we can get it to Tye and then consider it closed so he can hand in the paperwork to the court.”
“That’s what I am doing over here... Besides...I asked about the break-in cases...”
“Oh...”
“I fixed Miss Myst’s door lock...have the old one here with me.”
“Fantastic. Maybe you can bring that to the sheriff’s office and he can compare prints somehow... He’d have to get a warrant for Sasha’s gun but it could be done.”
“Well...I was thinking of doing the print comparison...but if you want Tye to do it...fine.”
“That’s what I said, Ger. You can bring it to him and work with him on it. But you need something to compare the prints on the handle to... and if he can get a warrant to get that gun for you then you can do that.”
“No...you said so he could compare....”
“Sorry... I meant you can compare.”
“That’s what I’m talking about Trin....”
“Give me a break, it’s been a long morning,” I sighed.
“Tell me about it...”
“I meant that you could do the prints and you can give them to Tye and you can talk to him about the results.”
“Well, at least I can compare them to the vase you got from Aly. That would prove that it is the same person.”
“There’s another suggestion,” I nodded.
“Here is the revised statement from Bree...” he handed the statement to me. “Now it only covers the shootin’ and the collecting of evidence, which I tested.”
“That’s good, that’s the main part,” I nodded and handed it back to him. “You can drop that off in Tye’s mailbox.”
“You can give that to Tye if you see him before I do.”
“That works,” I stood. “Going to go across and drop this in the mailbox. I don’t want to miss him and he’ll be sure to get it this way. “We can consider our job done Ger.”
“Good idea...seeing I don’t know where his box is. Not yet...we don’t have that guilty verdict yet.”
“I’ll be back,” I said and went to the sheriff’s office to leave the report on his desk. I walked back into the office and said, “Come on, let’s go get a drink.”
“Sounds good, but I’m buying.”
“Deal,” I smiled and stopped him. “Ger.”
“Yeah boss?”
I pulled him close into a tight hug and whispered, “I’m sorry, partner.”
“Me too...”
“You know I’m here to talk if you’re upset about stuff... I want to be your friend too.”
“I know, and you are...just some things a man has to take care of himself.”
“I know, Ger,” I nodded. “Lead the way to that drink.”
***
This afternoon I walked around the corner and saw Mysti and Ger talking with Dave in front of the clinic. “Yes sir you should of seen the Mayor,” Dave was saying. “He tried to pull the 5th amendment from the United States, every fool knows that ain’t got any jurisdiction here.”
“Hey everyone,” I said as I stepped over to them.
“Howdy Boss,” Ger said and I gave him a look, but he winked back as the others greeted me.
“Everything goin’ alright?” I asked.
“Um, yeah fine,” Dave looked nervous. “You heard the news about the trial?”
“Going good Trin, “Msti smiled wide. “Hope it is for you.”
“Yeah Aly told me a bit about what happened,” I nodded to Dave.
“Just filling in MIss Myst on Aly..and congratulating david on winning,” Ger said.
“Sasha was found guilty,” Dave said proudly.
“I heard that,” I smiled.
“Yeah and that Mayor of ours tried to use the 5th amendment from the United States,” Dave laughed. “Can you believe that?”
“Oh?” I looked at him.
“I have no use for the justice I have seen around here,” Mysti frowned.
“Well, if you all excuse me, I have work to do in the office...” Ger said.
“Yeah everyone knows that ain’t any meaning here,” Dave nodded.
“You have a good day Miss Myst,” Ger winked at her.
I chuckled a bit, looking over at him. “Don’t work too hard.”
“Aren’t you coming partner?” Ger looked at me.
“S’pose I am,” I nodded and waved to the others.
We walked into the office and I hugged him, then he said, “I got some news for you.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I matched the fingerprints on the lock and vase...there is a match there...”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah... these two...”
“You should write up an incident report about the results for Tye.”
“So, someone has been in both places....” Ger circled one on each.
“Mmhmm. So it would seem. The footprints and fingerprints both prove that now.”
“Now if we could find Myst’s brush...we can match that too...”
“Mmhmm.”
A man walked in looking for the citizenship class, and he introduced himself as Chase. When he left I looked at Ger and asked, “So you were gonna write up an incident report for Tye? About the footprints and the fingerprints matching at both houses?”
“So... we need to find the brush...and something of the person to compare them to.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice,” I nodded.
“Be a slam dunk if we did.”
“What about that green fabric?”
“Fabric doesn’t hold prints.”
“Okay... See this is what I don’t know about this stuff yet.”
“She might have left skin particles behind, but there isn’t any way we can test those...let alone know what to look for if we did.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky...” I nodded, remembering we already determined it was a woman. “Feel like taking a walk, Ger?”
“Sure...fresh air will do us good.”
We walked outside and noticed Sasha walking down the street with a box. We asked where she was going and she told u that she was going to Tombstone to get some pie so we decided to join her. On the way, she stopped in the outhouse and took a long time, so when she came out I went in to look around. I noticed a loose floorboard and lifted it to find the choker and brush underneath. I used my gloves and put the items in my pocket, then bagged them and placed them on Sheriff Tye's desk.
***
While working in the office on reports, Aly came in to say hello. I told her that I was working on reports and she said, “Well report away...long as you don’t mind me sittin’ here. Feels good to get out after...uh....earlier.”
“Nah, the company helps,” I nodded and looked over, “After what?”
“A drink,” she cleared her throat.
“With?”
“Ger. and uh..I don’t remember much. I hoped I didn’t behave too badly. I did wake up in bed though,” he said and I raised an eyebrow. “Hey I woke up in what I was wearin’ it weren’t like that now, TRIN!”
“Figures he can be an angel to you...” I shrugged.
“Well I ain’t workin’ wit him neither. And no, he’s got his harsh times too. Threatened ta spank me the other day if I got outta bed!” she said and I leaned forward, shaking my head. “Trin, Ger thinks when I’m better he should go with me to the Criss farm. He seems to think it might have been started, the fire, and wants to look into it. But me, I think it was jes an accident.”
“Tell me more about that fire... we keep getting interrupted when we talk about it.”
“Well, it was night, everyone was startin’ to git ready for bed. Inside was me, Ada, Ma, Pa, and Calvin. Bret was away travelin’ like he always does. Pa and I had a fight about who would sleep where since Cal was over. I got mad when it was made very clear I couldn’t share a room with him. But lookin’ back Trin I was really a brat. Pa was right. So me bein’ the brat ran out and away from the house. Dunno really how long I was gone. 2 hours, maybe? I fell asleep, but woke when I heard noises: specifically my sister screaming, and then smell burnin. So of course, I ran....toward the house. But it was too late. Home was buried in fire. I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t look at it. So I ran into the Barn, up in the loft...slept there for two days. I don’t remember much else.”
“Oh hon...”
“Lots of tears, dragged myself 5 miles, somehow, until I ended in Black Diamond. When I got here, it was hard. The mayor and his wife were kind enough to let me stay in the hotel...it was relatively unoccupied. So I just started working....building a wagon so I could chop wood. Then sell that wood to places that needed it. And eventually, chopped enough so I could start doing my own projects. I really kept to myself. Didn’t want to be around nobody. Didn’t even look at nobody. First person I met was Tye. I hated him. Like...really did, Trin,” he laughed.
“I remember,” I chuckled.
“Je reinforced my reasons for wanting to be alone. So... eventually I sold enough wood and tinkered things to be able to get myself some decent clothes... and the normal stuff we use everyday... and I’m still content to be alone. Though a few would disagree with that I think.”
“I think I’m done looking, to be honest. I can barely hold together a relationship with a business parter let alone a romantic one. I feel so much better now that I’m out of that house. What the heck do I need a house for anyway?”
“Thing is when ya spend all that mushy time wit someone nothin’ ever gits done.”
“Alex and I figured out how to balance it though. It can be done.”
“Well I miss you bein’ right across the street...now I have to hollar louder.”
“Makes you get more exercise,” I winked. “Besides... This office is so much better.”
“I don’t need exercise right now. I do like it. What I need...is to get rid of this cane, so I can fix David’s desk... and all the other things I promised to do for people.”
“You’re making progress every day. Remember that.”
“It don’t feel like it sometimes. I still sleep alot. Like an old lady. Bah. And Ger feedin’ and bathing me... That is never going to happen again. Jes wish my brother wouldn’t travel so much. He’s all over the place. And lately have friends he never talks about. Strange people.”
“My brother Josh works a lot too... I don’t get to see him unless I go up north to visit him and my Ma. He works with the government in Canada so he’s pretty busy.”
“Oh I bet that keeps him pretty occupied.”
“We’ve been through a lot together... When Dad died... Then the guy that killed him came after me and tried to kill me because I had dad’s medal... I went up north after that all happened... Talked to him there about everything. I just.. miss him.”
“It sounds like you two were very close. Bret and I were too. He taught me how to build things, and how to fight....up close. I have a mean punch, Trin.”
“Yeah same with Josh...”
“He learned things from them eastern folk,” she smiled.
“Well sounds like yer brother has a good work ethic. I always admire that in people.”
“We are a very close family. Losing Dad hit us all hard. Then we moved away from the ranch because Ma and Josh were getting threatening letters there. So we lost our childhood home.”
“Oh I’m sorry Trin. Musta been hard.”
“Sure was,” I nodded.
“Oh Lordie I really hope Ger can forgive me if I did anything stupid earlier. There is a reason I don’t drink often. Oh wait I said that already.”
I sighed, telling myself not to think about this morning.
“You a’ight?” she looked at me.
“We had a rough morning. Hopefully worked through it but it wasn’t fun.”
“I won’t ask them details... but... I’m really glad ya worked it out. We all on the same side, Trin, not like them outlaws. So important to stick together, ya know?”
“I know. He just needs to respect the fact that I’ve been around here a lot longer than he has so people are gonna come to me first.”
“Well that’s a man for ya. Tryin’ to take charge.”
“I’m tryin’ to get him to see that we’re in this equally, but I’m still the one who gave him that badge.”
“Yeah he does need to understand that. Would if help if ya had a talk with Tye about it an had him talk to Ger, or would that make things worse?”
“I’m letting that be for now. I think we figured out how to make it work with each other, he’s just gotta not take things out on me.”
We said goodnight and I headed home for the evening to relax.
No comments:
Post a Comment