January 3, 1899

Tombstone. 

I walked over to the clinic this morning seeing a woman I recognized from when Mysti’s wagon had gotten stuck. “Good morning, Miss.” 

“Good morning.” 

“Don’t believe we’ve officially met.”

“I think so too. I’m Teela Thompson. Nice to meet you.” 

“I’m detective Trin Paige,” I smiled. “Are you new to the area?”

“Good morning Trin. Good morning miss,” Alex said as he rode over and I smiled, waving at him. 

“No, I came here after my hometown was abandoned. I guess about two months ago,” Teela answered and then looked at Alex. “Greetings.” 

“Oh I see... Well it’s good to have you here,” I smiled. “This here’s Doctor Alex Torii. How are things, Alex?” I asked him. 

“How’s it going, detective?” he asked me at the same time. 

I looked over and saw David leaning against the post with a sigh and remembered seeing the telegram about his arrest. I looked back to Alex and said, “A little concerned about David there... But I’m also wondering Teela, you haven’t met the kissing bandit have ya?”

“It’s been quiet around here. I don’t want to wish ill on anyone, but I hope someone gets shot,” Alex chuckled in response to my question. 

“Met whom?” Teela raised an eyebrow at me. 

“Maybe I’ll just shoot someone myself,” Alex stated. 

I looked over at him with a stern expression and said, “Don’t you dare.” I then looked at Teela and explained, “He’s a man who comes around and robs people and then leaves the woman with a kiss before departing.” 

“No, haven’t seen someone like that. are you looking for him, detective?” Teela shrugged. 

“Yeah,” I nodded, “We’d like to know who he is. If he does try something on you... Please let me know?” I looked over and saw David crying and sighed, anxious to finish the conversation but also anxious to talk to him about what had happened. 

“I’ll let you know,” Teela nodded. 

I watched David walk down the street towards the Oriental and said, “I’m sorry you two... I need to go talk with him. Be safe,” I smiled and headed down the street as they said goodbye. 

Walking into the Oriental I looked at David with concern and asked, “What on earth is going on with you? I read the telegram about you getting arrested...”

“Oh Trin, I didn’t hear you,” David sniffed. “Yeah, I got arressss....” he trailed off and bursted into tears.

I sighed and went over to get a bottle of whiskey, then poured him a glass and handed it to him. “Drink this. Sit down and tell me what happened.”

“No! I ain’t drinking that shit no flipping more!” David knocked the drink angrily from my hand. He then looked at me and said, “I’m sorry, Trin.” 

I watched the drink fly away and jumped, “David, calm down... Sit, please.” I got a rag to clean up the spill and then gathered the broken pieces of glass. 

“It’s just...” he trailed off again, crying.

“Yes ma’am,” he walked over slowly and sat down with a thud and a deep sigh. 

I threw the pieces of glass in the garbage and made myself a cup of coffee, adding some whiskey as I 

went to join him. “Start from the beginning.” 

“Well you seen the reports where I need to fill in... I is obviously guilty...” he looked out the window.

“I saw that you had been arrested for unwanted harassment and unholstered weapon. You want to tell me what happened?”

“Okay,” he sniffed. “Well started out to be a really happy day.” 

“I’m listening...” 

“I had just come from Miss Sera’s house...” he looked at me. “You see we kinda sweet on each other and I went to one of the saloons to celebrate. Wild Bunch was there and I had a run in with them the other day but I had apologized for that incident and we were ok as long as I didn’t mouth off again.” 

“Uh huh...” I nodded, knowing where this was going. “Specifically which Wild Bunch? Which members, rather?” 

“Jewel and Big Mac were dancing.” 

“Go on...” 

“They just dancing Trin, minding their own business. Dash had joined me for a few drinks, we were having a swell time,” he paused, choking back a new set of tears. “I was so happy about how things were going with me and Sera I and ordered a shot of whiskey. Now I ain’t a big drinker my no means but I can handle a few drinks... but I don’t ever get mean I just stagger about and hit the floor sudden,” he smiled sadly. “Well I think I had two maybe three shots ‘o whisky and then I guess I got stupid with Wild Bunch.” 

“Bad group to get stupid with, David,” I shook my head a bit. 

“I knows better after the other day....” he sighed. 

“So what happened next?”

“That’s when it gets real loopy and fuzzy. Ya ever only remember bits of your dreams when you wake?”

“Rarely but yeah,” I nodded. 

“I got flashes of things I see like I’m looking outside myself....” he stopped then and said, “Just stupid talk I know.” 

“David please... Tell me.”

“Miss Trin I guess we was drinking more and Miss Jewel went for a shot sitting on the bar...” he paused as a look of horror came across his face. “Trin I pulled my gun and pointed it at Jewels head for trying to take my shot of whiskey.” 

“David...” I raised an eyebrow. 

“I know,” he slammed his fist onto the table and then collapsed onto the table, balling again. “Trin, that ain’t me...” he shook his head. “That was me but I barely know why that was me.” 

“I know David,” I nodded. 

“I don’t hates her. Jewel who was the one who introduced me and Sera. Fact is for being an outlaw she kinda nice once you see past the bad ass parts. But I tried to kill her. Thank God Mac shot at me when he did.” 

“David... You’re going to have to go to court.”

“After I think I was shot...” he rubbed the top of his shoulder. “I woke up in my room at the Russ with sheriff Dave I think his name is and he took me to jail... I went peacefully. I mean I wasn’t with Sheriff Dave he came there and knock on my door. My head hurt so bad Trin I just sat in that jail cell and prayed. I need to talk to Miss Pet maybe she help me make it right with God to...but worst all I don’t got any way to apologize well enough to Jewel.” 

“Well maybe by going through the trial process you can show that you really are apologetic for what you did and you can make it right.”

“I just flipping mess up this whole thing....” he looked to where the glass hit the floor “That’s why I ain’t drinking no more. Yeah, I need to pay for what I did... but damn it, I don’t know WHY I done it!” 

“What can I do, David?” 

“I need help Trin I know I ain’t been in my right mind... I don’t think... sure I gets upset at times even had to shoot a guy once but pointing a gun at a lady even an outlaw ain’t right. If anything she been able to shoot me faster then I can say shoot.” 

“I think you should talk to Pet then, because that will help you feel better... but also going through trial will help give you closure. No matter which way it goes.”

“Trin can you help me figure out what happen? I know it look like I did it and well theres witnesses but it wasn’t me... I mean the REAL me. I just dont know how?”

“Sounds like the whiskey overtook you but I’ll talk to Mac and Jewel and get their perspective.”

“Can you tell her something for me? Unless you think I shouldn’t ‘cause I trust your thoughts.” 

“Tell her what?” 

“Just tell Miss Jewel I’m sorry for what it looks like I did.” 

“I can do that but it would mean more coming from you,” I nodded. 

“I can’t I just cant Trin. I’m so embarrassed by the whole thing,” he cried. “After the trial and they find me guilty, they surely will, I’m thinking I should leave town... but I love this place so and then theres Sera...” he sobbed. 

I shook my head and said, “For goodness sakes, David. Be a man and snap out of it. Face up to what you did and then move on. Don’t let this control you. Just learn from it and carry on. If we all left after every stupid thing we did because of alcohol, this place would be a ghost town.”

“I know. I just feeling terrible,” he stood up straighter. 

“Let me look into this and see what really happened, from someone who was sober. I’ll keep you posted if I find out anything, okay?”

“Okay Trin, I appreciate it,” he cleared his throat. “I just don’t want no trouble with Wild Bunch.” 

“Then we’ll sort it out. Leave them to me.”

“Okay Trin,” he nodded. “What should I do now?”

“I’m going to see who I can find to talk about this. You go home and get some rest, alright? You look like you need it.”

We said goodbye and I walked out of the saloon, trying to decide what to do next.