February 4, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked out of my apartment and saw Lil walking over. “Good morning, Lil. How are you?” I greeted her. 

“Am fine this morning, thank you.” 

“I’m really hopin’ we can make some progress on this case... Sounds awfully fishy.”

“Trin, I was at the dance yesterday when Nellies back pack came up missing.” 

“What do you remember?” I asked with interest. 

“I saw something funny happen.” 

“I’m listening.” 

“Miss Leigh said she was feeling faint and Krell took her to the sofa. She stayed there a couple of minutes then ran outside he followed her.” 

“Was she holding anything?”

“Her arms were tucked close to her stomach.” 

“Hmm...” 

“Shortly after Nellie discover her back pack was gone.” 

“You think she could have been hiding the pack against her?”

“N no one else was close to the sofa. Honestly she could have been.” 

“Seems awfully cut and dry, don’t it?” I asked and she nodded. “Krell said that she had to bury a hole and was sick in it, and he couldn’t watch. I think somethin’ else is goin’ on.”

“I agree. Makes ya wonder.” 

“And when he first talked about her being ill and holding her stomach I thought she might be pregnant, but then he said that she never even let him lay with her.. So that ruled out that option pretty quick.”

“I thought that also when she said she was faint,” Lil said. 

“And then Desi just assumed that the Wild Bunch had taken her. Gave no reason for her hunch, just an assumption. So we looked into the possibility of her bein’ kidnapped but there was nothing unusual at their hideout in Ghenna. Thing is... There’s a Wild Bunch flag in Diamond... Ain’t sure who’s house it is.”

“Yes... Only Wild Bunch member I saw about that time was Smurf and Brooke. And they were on Allen Street visiting with people.” 

“I have the feeling they’re using them as a scapegoat,” I nodded. 

“Ya know, Wild Bunch ain’t so bad. I don’t think they would do that.” 

“I know. They’re the least of our worries,” I nodded again. “It’s the young guns that are frustrating.”

“Absolutely,” Lil agreed. 

“Kidnap the mayor’s fiancé? Yeah, that ain’t their speed.”

“Unless there was money in it for them.” 

“That was another possibility that Daryl suggested.”

“Or the mayor had done something to make them mad.” 

“Who knows at this point. Either way I’d like some answers.”

“If ya need my help in anyway give me a holler.” 

“Sure will. Thanks for your help in describing the scene at the saloon. I was kinda preoccupied,” I chuckled. “I couldn’t even see who was all there to ask for witnesses.”

“Yeah, ya was. Well I wasn’t preoccupied at the dance.” 

“I’m going to wander around and see what else I can find out. Have a good day, Lil.”

“Well let me know if ya need my help.” 

I nodded and walked up to my office where I sent Krell a wire. I felt like there was more that he wasn’t telling me. He came to the office and sat down at the desk. “Krell, thanks for coming so quickly.”

“Well, yes ma’am, I am anxious to find out any news you have.” 

“Actually I had a few more questions for you,” I looked at him. 

“Well anything, I want her back fast.” 

I nodded and asked, “Is there any reason why the Wild Bunch would want to hurt you or your fiance?” 

“Oh my darling Leigh is so wonderful everyone loves her. Why everywhere we go men seem to act like they know her, she has a wonderful personality. Who would want to hurt, HER?” 

“Have you had any interaction with the Wild Bunch?”

“I just don’t get it... and it all seemed to start at the dance hall.” 

“When I was singing.” 

“Yes.” 

“Care to elaborate?” 

“Why I was standing alone by the gallows watching my dear Leigh rest, and this lady named Jewel came up to me. Well I introduced myself as the new Mayor, and she pulled her guns out and said she’s shot many mayors. And I asked why she wanted to shoot me, but she just gave me dirty looks and she raised her arm, with the gun, and bang.” 

“So Jewel shot you because you were the new mayor. When was this?”

“She was so kind, you know we have a lot of pesky birds in Diamond. I been trying to get rid of some. And well it was dinner time too, so Miss Jewel raise her arm with the gun and shot me a bird for dinner. She’s so sweet. I was hungry too.” 

“So she shot a bird, not you.”

“Was good, served it medium well, I like it that way. Anyway, sorry...” 

“Does she live in Diamond?”

“Yes, so my and my darling leigh were sitting on our front porch. At night when we heard this commotion, turns out Ripley was running for his life.” 

“Why?” 

“And we see Jewel chasing him down. Well, if you know anything about Jewel, well, she can’t cook. So she was trying to force Ripley to eat the cake. He wanted no part of it. The poor man had to shoot her to save himself.” 

“So you haven’t had any negative interactions personally with them?” I asked, trying to get back on topic. 

“Anyway, they got that horrible cake all over the street and some of Jewels blood. Ripley got mad, and said something to me, so I told Jewel if she paid for the bullet and cooking lessons, then we could forget the incident. She refused. So I had my DA draw up warrant papers.” 

“For unholstered weapons,” I nodded. 

“No ma’am. She littered the cake, the rats ate it and died, well, I charged her with Assault with a dangerous weapon, Attempted murder, Disturbing the peace, Littering, Cruelty to animals, Destruction of Personal Property...” 

“That’s a good reason for her not to like you...” I chuckled. 

“She stomped on Ripley’s boot and put a hole in it. That was the personal property. The cake was the weapon. She killed the rat.” 

“That would be an awfully interesting trial. So you think maybe she kidnapped Leigh out of revenge for that incident?”

“The next day I am at the sheriff’s office just sitting alone. She comes banging in the door, drunk, and shot me. Nearly killed me. I thought I saw Jesus in the light.” 

“Sounds like she has it out for you, Krell.”

“I was unarmed and minding my own business. and David, My District Attorney came in, drew on her, and she nearly killed him. Anyway, then strange thing...” 

“The strange thing what?” 

“My wallet turns up missing. I asked my darling Leigh if she saw it and she said no, I must have left it at the saloon. I had a lot of money in it. Well anyway, that day my beautiful Leigh decides to go shopping and as I was sitting on the porch that night I noticed she went by Jewel’s house. The front window was open, and it looked like she may have tossed something into there. I didn’t think anything of it, but since you asked. Anyway Leigh had the most beautiful dresses.” 

“Wait... Leigh threw something into the front window of Jewel’s house?” I stopped him. 

“I think so, it was hard to tell, I assumed it was a flower, to brighten Jewels day. My leigh is so sweet. Well funny the next dat I was collecting Jewel stuff, since she got herself shot in a bank robbery and I find my wallet, empty.” 

I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him seriously. “Krell... Sounds like Leigh and Jewel are workin’ together.”

“Working together... Oh, I forgot...” 

“Why would she be throwing something in Jewel’s window? What was it?” I asked. 

“The first conversation with Jewel I told you about. Well, we were talking and I asked her if she had a job, if she was a working girl That’s when she whipped out her guns.” 

“So you offended her and now she wants revenge...” I summarized.

“Offended... She said the same thing,” Krell looked confused. “Anyway... I like Jewel.” 

“She don’t seem to like you,” I shook my head and leaned back. 

“I told her about our deposit at the bank.” 

“Why on earth would you do that?” I blinked. 

“Me and dear Leigh went there to deposit 50,000 dollars. Anyway a few days later I went to make a withdraw and I wanted only 30,000. Chase told me I didn’t have enough money.” 

“Krell, why would you tell an outlaw about a deposit at a bank?” I looked at him. 

“I screamed for the law, but no one came. Anyway, he produced a withdraw slip that he said my Leigh signed for 25,000 I think.” 

“Krell,” I said seriously, trying to get him to focus. 

“And I asked my darling Leigh and she told me that she didn’t do it. So I tried to take her to the bank to clear it up, but she got sick and I was telling miss Jewel about that. So there. Does that help?” 

I shook my head and he just smiled, puffing on his cigar. “Guess that’s all I need to know then...” 

“Any word yet?” 

“Nope,” I shook my head. 

“I hope something I told you helps you. I hope she is ok, do you think they will kill her?” 

“So do I... I just ain’t really understanding the relationship between Leigh and Jewel but... I ain’t sure why they would take her. Doesn’t sound like the Wild Bunch.”

“I don’t really know, Jewel seemed like a nice girl... Except for shooting me and all.” 

“Uh huh...” I shook my head. 

“What do you want me to do?” 

“Lay low.... Let me know if anything happens. I’ll keep you posted, alright?”

“Yes Trin, thank you. I am at your service should you require anything else.” 

“Thank you, Krell.” 

“Is that all?” 

“I think that’s good for now. I have a few people I need to talk to.”

“Good day Detective,” he tipped his hat and headed out of the office.