Tombstone.
This morning I woke up and realized that the assayer’s office must be in Black Diamond since there’s none in Tombstone. I decided to wander over and investigate.
Black Diamond.
I met Ali in front of her house and greeted her. When she asked me how I was doing I said, “So I realized after making myself look like a moron in front of Mr. Wise, that the assayer’s office must have been in Black Diamond.”
“There was an office here until just a couple of days ago when we tore it down.”
“Feel like tellin’ me why I wasted my time?”
“And just how are you waiting your time? The sheriff was murdered.”
“You told me to talk to Mr. Wise about who had access to the assayer’s office. I went to him and he practically laughed in my face.”
She put her hands on her hips and said, “I don’t recall telling you to speak with the mayor.”
I looked back in my notes from the conversation and read, “‘There was only a vault in the building. But from my understanding from Mayor Wise the assayer’s office was moved to the bank and there is where all the business was being done now.’”
“That is correct the Assayer’s office was moved to the bank. There was a vault in the assayers office!”
“In Black Diamond,” I nodded.
“Yes, Black Diamond. How many times do I have to tell you? In the building that we tore down. not the bank.”
“Alright then,” I sighed. “Just don’t know why Mr. Wise was mentioned.”
“Perhaps it was some scoundrels who put a vault there thinking they could!”
“I’m sorry for the confusion then.”
“Apology accepted.”
“So the assayer’s building has been torn down and everything’s at the bank? Guess that means the evidence is gone too? Unless I can get access to the files in the bank and find out who would have stored gold in that vault.”
“There was no evidence but an empty vault in the assayers office. Everything else had already been removed.”
“Of course. So we’re back at square one.”
“You’d have to speak with the Assayer regarding what might have been in there.”
“Who’s the assayer?”
“If I’m not mistaken Mr. Hellman is an assayer.”
“Thanks. I’ll try to find him. When is he usually around?”
She got even more agitated and said, “I don’t care if anything was stolen from the assayer’s office. I want justice for who murdered my sheriff!”
“Ali, something was going on in that vault because of that gold. Then a fight broke out. Then the sheriff got killed. You have to see why I would be interested in the chain of events here. If I can figure out who would have gold stored in the vault, and who would have access to said vault in order to steal it, and if I can find out how the fight started in the first place, then I’ll find out who was involved and who would have shot Paty.”
“Lots of ‘if’s’ there.”
“Is there perhaps a record for the theft? One of your deputies might per chance know about it?”
“Just the report I gave law about the door being open.”
“Any chance I could have a copy? Oh, you mean the witness report you filed that I already have. Forget I asked that one.”
“Yes ma’am, that one.”
“Guess I’ll try to find a deputy to give me a bit more insight hopefully,” I sighed slightly.
“As far as I know, everything had been moved to the bank. When TJ mentioned gold I was a little surprised myself.”
“I recall. Wonder what I could get out of him...”
“I reckon not much.”
“I’m good friends with his wife. Might have more luck there.”
“Perhaps. If he’s told her anything about the event.”
“Alright well thanks for this. Guess I have more work to do. Stay safe.”
“You as well,” she said and I turned back towards Tombstone.
Tombstone.
I walked up to the fort and knocked on the heavy door. I didn’t know if I’d get much information out of them but I needed to do something. “Anyone there? It’s Detective Paige!”
Suzy opened the door for me and I walked in, greeting them. Suzy didn’t know anything about Paty’s murder, so I walked over to Daryl Winston, the soldier I had met at my office a while back.
“Well, well, well... Daryl Winston,” I walked over to him.
“Howdy Trin.”
“Got a sec to talk somewhere in private?”
“Well give me a sec,” he smiled and I nodded as he went over to the stables to check on his horse. I walked over and said, “Well she’s gorgeous.”
“When she wants to be,” he laughed.
“I kinda need your help with somethin’...”
“Where you want to talk?”
“Anywhere with a door’ll work.”
He led the way to the kitchen and I closed the door behind us. “So how ya been?”
“Busy,” he said shortly. .
I nodded at the shortness and said, “I’ll make this fast then. I’m investigating the murder of the sheriff in Black Diamond. It seems I’ve hit a dead end and I can’t get much further without the proper badge, as par usual.”
“Black Diamond, huh? Rough area.”
“Exactly. Thing is... right before the sheriff was murdered there was a robbery of some gold at the vault of the assayer’s office. The assayer’s office whose contents have now been moved to the bank and which was torn down since.”
“Now were there any witnesses? I’d say he was killed tryin’ to stop the robbery.”
“That’s the thing. After the gold was stolen there was a fight broke out and the sheriff was murdered amidst it.”
“Maybe he found who did it, and the outlaw went into the middle of the fight.”
“The sheriff was a woman,” I winked at him.
“That’s sad. Hate to see a woman bein’ shot.”
“Anyway... I’m tryin’ to figure out who had gold there and who woulda stole it. Cause obviously that led to the fight which led to the murder, right?”
“Well any outlaw would know who stole it, and would be able to figure that out a lot sooner.”
“True. I just need to find someone on the inside I guess. Well thanks for this, Winston. Gives me some direction.”
“Well we both know a few.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I nodded.
“Well I best get back to my post.”
“I’ll let ya get back to work. I know it’s a busy day.”
I said goodbye to him and found the group of soldiers at the gate, ready to go out for payroll. I asked if they knew anything about it but they said nothing had been told to them about it.
“Well Clint was trying to shoot the Bisbee deputy last night,” Suzy said then.
“Clint’s... alive?!?!” I blinked. “I knew it... I knew it was too easy,” I muttered.
“Yup him and two kids were shot last night in town,” Suzy said.
“Here we go again,” I shook my head with a sigh.
“I think the kids went back to the herd with their mothers.”
“And Clint?”
“Hard to say, maybe he be with the herd too. If you ask the Injuns if they seen him with the buffalo they might know. Clint do like those buffalo gals...”
“Yeah, cause I get far when I try to talk to them,” I sighed. “Thanks ya’ll, I’ll let ya get to work.”
I saluted before heading out of the gate and making my way back to town. I found Jac and Ace standing in front of Kate’s and smiled, thinking this was just who I needed to talk to.
“How ya’ll doin’ today?” I looked at Jac curiously.
Jac looked to Ace then back to me and smiled, “I was gonna take a look at where the soldier boys were headed, but I decided not to.”
“Wouldn’t you rather have a drink with me?”
“Might as well,” he grinned. “Where would you like a drink at?”
“Follow me,” I smiled and led the way to the Oriental Saloon.
“So how long have you been in town?” he asked as we walked.
“Me? Oh about... three months.”
I opened the door and led the way inside where we sat at the bar. “Three damn months, seen anything out of the ordinary yet?” he asked as he sat beside me.
“Like the kids of the orphanage draggin’ a cow above the roof of the sheriff’s office to rebel against the new matron?” I chuckled and took out my flask, pouring a couple of whiskey shots.
He grabbed the glass and took the shot. “Do you have a match?”
“I don’t smoke,” I shook my head.
“I was just asking if you had a match,” he laughed.
“Uh huh.”
He pulled out a match and smiled at me, putting a cigar in his mouth and lighting it.
“So darlin’ how bout you? How long you been in town?”
“Two years.”
“Not married off huh?”
“Married off aye? Hell no. I have a beautiful horse though.”
“Well that’s good,” I smiled. I started to trace my finger around the bar counter idly and asked, “So I guess you hear a lot of things, huh?”
“You ever seen the calvary fort?” he laughed.
“Mmhmm,” I smirked as I had just been there.
“Imagine this if you will... Four Wild Bunch posse members... firing at soldier boys in the fort. Me and Lot decide to steal a cannon from them. We ride there in a wagon get men to lift the cannon. Then we ride out and they lock the large doors to the fort. The next payroll, we killed four men with their own cannon.”
As he spoke, I shook my head slightly, wondering if this was really a good idea to talk to him for information. “Outside there was a clock tower. Can you imagine making a large enough ladder to steal that clock?”
“YOU stole the clock?!” I blinked at him. There was no way...
“I’ve seen just about everything... Done just about everything stolen the golden cross for the Apaches, been in a gunfight with over seven men just by myself... I can promise you I can get information.”
“But would you is the question... If it meant incriminating someone from another gang...”
“I do that every day.”
“Do you know who killed Sheriff Paty?”
“Nope but I can find out,” he laughed.
“Do you know who robbed the gold from the vault at the assayer’s office before Paty was killed? The one in Black Diamond?”
Jac hit his cigar and put it out in front of me. “No I don’t lets talk about what you’re going to do for me,” he smiled. “I can get the information easily.”
I swallowed, suddenly somewhat nervous, but tried not to show it. “What do you want?” I asked as I poured back another shot of whiskey.
He smiled and leaned against the table, looking into my eyes. “What do I want... Well there’s a lot that I want.” I felt my heart start to pound as I looked back in his eyes. He continued to stare into mine and poured himself another shot. “We worry about that after. You’re going to owe me though.”
I shook my head and said, “Terms first.”
“I’m attracted to you. Always have been,” he admitted and I blinked. “You got the mayor yelling at me yesterday.”
“If it helps I made myself look like an idiot right after that.”
“Yea I guess it helps. So who do you need information on again?”
“Forgotten already, huh?” I chuckled.
“You’re the only one on my mind. Lady named Paty, right?”
“Sherif that was murdered. The assayer’s office being robbed... The gunfight...”
“Aye. What’s her last name?”
I tried to remember and said, “I think it was Dalton... if I remember correctly.”
“I’m not so sure about what my payment is... So i guess it’s up to you. I’ll get right onto this investigation. Too many people around shouldn’t tell you what I really want.”
“One condition,” I smiled at him.
Mikk looked in the window then and asked, “Drinking?”
“Just havin’ some drinks to wake myself up,” I nodded to Mikk.
“Yea, I’m getting her drunk,” Jac said.
“He wishes,” I chuckled.
“I do?” he asked.
“May I join you and your friend?” Mikk asked.
“Come on in, bud,” Jac nodded and Mikk walked into the saloon.
I leaned over and whispered to Jac, “No one knows I’m investigating this. Deal?”
“Hello Trin, nice to see you,” Mikk smiled as he sat down at the bar.
“Good to see you too, Mikk,” I smiled at him.
“Hello Mister,” he said to Jac.
Jac nodded then looked down at his waist and smiled.
“I’m Mikk Graves, town doc.”
“Town doc, aye?” Jac laughed.
“Indeed. And you might be?” Mikk asked.
“Jacobitch.”
“Uh, really,” he laughed. “Interesting name.”
“Thanks cowboy.”
“Well... Jac to those of us who don’t want to call him the full name,” I winked.
“I can see why,” Mikk laughed.
“Yea, they just call me Jac.”
“Will do, Jac,” Mikk nodded.
“So Mikk I thought you were a preacher or somethin’. When did you become a doc?”
“Well, um, that was in another life,” Mikk grinned.
“Like when I was a saloon dancer, eh?” I winked.
Jac said it was time to head out and he said goodbye to Mikk. I told him to keep in touch and winked at him. I chuckled and told Mikk, “The things I do for information...”
“He was in a hurry... hmm.. did I interrupt something?” Mikk smirked.
“Nope,” I chuckled and shook my head. “You were a welcome interruption.”
Mikk said that he couldn’t stay and headed out of the saloon, so I headed back to my office.
***
This afternoon I saw a crowd in the streets and Stinky was talking with Skyla and Cole and Frost about the pigs that were still stolen. Jac said he’d seen a fella with pigs and I listened as they talked and told me what had happened. I remembered the case from before though, and wasn’t surprised that they hadn’t been found as of yet. It became evident that TJ had the pigs and I just chuckled and told him I’d do what I could, though I didn’t want to get caught up in anything that TJ was involved in.
As I walked over to the sheriff’s office I heard about Ella getting held up at gunpoint by Ace and being told to rob the bank. Deputy Frost handed her a report to fill out and she did so. I saw Cole and Jac running around and knew that I needed to run after them. Knowing Ella was in good hands I ran off to Black Diamond to find them.
Black Diamond.
I found Cole running wounded to the clinic. “Weren’t you running around with Jac? Where is he?” I asked Cole. I helped him to the clinic and asked, “What happened?”
“Alex. He shot me.”
“Alex... Cross?”
“Yep, that the fellow.”
“What happened?”
“He had his guns out and running around the bank.”
“Here in Black Diamond?” I asked and he nodded. “And Jac?”
“So I drew my guns and told him to go away and he shot me down. Jac... I not sure about...?”
“Last I saw he was running off with you.”
“I lost him .. he got on horse and got way ahead of me .. had words with Punk. You can ask Punk.”
I thought to myself that I wouldn’t be asking Punk since it got me nowhere. Cole promised it was just a flesh wound and I told him to rest up, heading back to Tombstone.
Tombstone.
I found Jac in jail in Tombstone, and Frost told me he’d just been arrested. I shook my head and asked him what was going on. Jac paid his bail and was set free, so he told me to follow him. I walked after him and asked him if we could talk somewhere private. I led him back to the Oriental and upstairs to one of the bedrooms and closed the door.
“We’re just talkin,” I assured him.
“Definitely. Did you see what happened?”
“Which case? I’ve got three I want to ask you about now.”
“Cole walked into the bank... was talking about robbing it. So I ran in with him. Cole did some talking, I did some talking, Cole kept saying ‘Where’s the money?’ They’re saying there is no money so Cole backs out then they close the door and lock me in. I told the ranger to open the door. Counted down from three. She wouldn’t do it. Bang, she’s down.”
“She thought you robbed it,” I surmised.
“Yea before. She said there’s no money, ‘you’ve already robbed it.’ Either talking to me or Cole. Killed my mood.”
“No kidding,” I nodded.
“No kidding, Mrs. Pinkerton.”
“I found Cole in Black Diamond when I went out there to look to the two of you about this whole pig business... And it’s Miss Pinkerton,” I winked.
“Oh trust me I’ll remember that next time.”
“He had a bullet wound but just a flesh wound as the bullet didn’t go in him. So I showed him where the clinic was thinking you’d be there too.”
“Nah, I went to Tombstone.”
“Well that’s where I went next to find you arrested. Been wanting to talk to you all night...”
“Everything’s fine. Oh really, huh?” he smiled and I nodded. “You’re too cute. So what’s going to happen from all this? I probably got a court date.”
We heard three lawmen shouting for Cole to stop running or they would shoot. Jac ran out of the saloon then and I kicked the door, knowing if I ran after him I’d be seen as working with him.
Before long Jac came into the room and said, “Damn.”
“What?” I asked.
“Can’t leave you,” he laughed.
“You can’t huh? Why’s that?” I shook my head.
“Because, you’re too precious...” he smiled and I sighed.
“So the pigs?” I asked, going back to asking him about the investigations.
“Not much to know. My thought got shot down. Apparently it was his brother.”
“That took ‘em?”
“I don’t know. All I know is you can talk to Eye.”
“But you said... You knew something.”
“I know I seen some man with a cart of pigs this morning, talking to Eye.”
“Where?”
“In Two Guns.”
“Where’s that?”
“East.”
I leaned forward and kissed his lips softly. “Where exactly?”
“Broken Arrow, near the calvary fort.”
“That’s better,” I smiled and caressed his cheek.
“Followed me to the bunch hideout. Almost shot them. Were in this person’s home.”
“Did you know the man in the cart?”
“No.”
“Whose home?”
“Torn Pexington. Old time Benson sheriff. Had fun back in Benson too... That was wild.”
“Anything more on Sheriff Paty?”
“Couldn’t find anything on her. Oh wait, apparently she was seen in Benson this morning. All I know.”
“Wait... Paty was seen? This morning?” I almost fell over.
“Yea. Look, I’ve given you a lot of information... Only because I like you. I’m not this friendly with ladies all that often.”
“You like me, huh?”
“Yea, seems so.”
“Well... I’m not really the commitment type...”
“Funny thing is... Either am I.”
“I live in the moment... Cos you never know when you’ll get another.”
“Sounds like a blast.”
He ran out of the saloon again when there was shouting outside. I sighed and walked back into the streets.
A man came up to me and said, “Pardon me, miss? I need all your money.”
I blinked and Castion said, “Hey...”
“Are you robbing me, Sir?” I asked, then looked over at Cas.
“You got all the money you could ever need, ya sidewinder,” Cas told him.
“Nah, I just said I needed it, not that I was taking it.”
“No he is not, Miss,” Cas insisted and I rolled my eyes.
“He better not be,” I said, recognizing Cas but knowing we hadn’t really met officially I had just heard him being called by name.
“He likes to make me nervous is all,” Cas sighed.
We introduced each other and then the man who had pretended to rob me introduced himself as Eye. I asked him about the pigs but he didn’t really have much information for me other than that Lot had one of the pigs on his cart this morning, but he wasn’t sure if they were really Stinky’s pigs.
I decided to head back to my office and sat outside on my balcony with my notebook. I heard a knock at the door and went inside to see who was there. The man at the door tipped his hat and said, “Hello ma’am.” I blinked, recognizing the man as Omega Doobie, the man that Scara had hired me to find.
I backed up slightly, having been warned to be careful around him. “Hello... Sir... Can I help you?” I asked, pretending to not know who he was.
“I was hoping you could help me. My name is Omega, and I’m looking for someone.”
“And who are you looking for?”
“My wife, Scara, I fear is has been taken by the indians, but Im not sure.”
“She... Wha’?” I blinked. “When did this happen?”
“She has been missing for over a year now, I went to Mexico looking for her, but no luck. Now I’m back where I started.
I smiled with relief and finally said, “You’ve been looking for her while she’s been looking for you... “Detective Trin Paige,” I held out my hand. “Your wife hired me to find you.”
“So, you know her?” he looked at me with awe.
“Yes, I spoke with her... let’s see...” I ruffled through some notes and said, “July 10th I suppose. She told me of how you had disappeared and she wanted to know if you two were still married.”
“Please tell me more, how can this be? Why yes, we are still married. We have always been, I thought her gone forever. I know i should have never left to look in Mexico.”
“She’s living in a house in Bisbee. Oh she’ll be thrilled to know you’ve been looking for her!”
“In Bisbee, are you kidding me, you must take me to her. She is my wife.”
“I haven’t seen her in a few days...” I looked at him. “I keep going to her house to talk but she’s never there...”
“Oh God, in Bisbee... Well, detective, I’m so glad I stopped by then, what great news...” I could tell that his heart was racing as he looked around the room anxiously and I smiled, seeing he was genuinely still in love with Scara. I was relieved that his reputation hadn’t followed him.
“Why don’t we go over there... We can check on the house and if she’s not there you can get a room in the hotel there. How does that sound?”
“Sounds great. I’ll follow you.”
I lead the way out of the office and he followed me.
Bisbee.
In Bisbee, we went up to the house but Scara wasn’t home. I asked him if he wanted to stay at the hotel down the street but he insisted on sitting in the porch chair until Scara came home. He thanked me and I smiled, walking back down the hill towards home.
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