March 19, 1900

Black Diamond. 

This morning I walked over to Aly’s and saw her talking with Alex on the front porch. We decided to go to the saloon and Alex took the place behind the counter, making us drinks. “You are the one with the job,” I winked at Alex. 

“Well I bartend at Kate’s you know,” Aly said. “But I haven’t done that in a long while.” 

“Oh do you, Aly?” I looked at her as Alex took our drink orders and made the drinks for us. 

“Yup, Cas gave me the job there. Said I was real...friendly, or something,” she chuckled. “Think he meant flirty.” 

“You’d be good at that.”

“Speaking of flirty, Trin, I’ve been real bad lately,” she giggled. 

“Been having fun with the boys, huh Aly?” I winked. 

“Boys, mostly,” she coughed. “And no I’m not planning on working at Annie’s!” 

“Alyssa Criss,” I blinked. 

“What?!” 

“You’re not going both ways are you?”

“No! Just get flirted with by both is all.” 

“Nothing wrong with that,” Alex winked. 

“Way to hop on board on my side,” I nudged Alex under the table. 

“What?” Alex looked at me .

“Hey now,” Aly chuckled. “I have a preference for men, you just keep that in mind!” “Honestly the two of you...” I shook my head at them. 

“Love is love, don’t matter to me where it comes from,” Alex shrugged. 

“Hey now. I never said anything about love.” 

“Why hasn’t there been news,” I muttered. 

“What news now?” Aly looked at me. 

“It’s been three days since we went to Cripple Creek.”

“You’re worrying,” she nodded. 

“Wouldn’t you? Where’s Gaide? I’m sure there’s another body by now at the rate that’s going... And I still have no idea why my name’s on that note.”

“Yeah I would, but remember. He’s going through a lot and it’s hard to deal.” 

“I know...” 

I looked over at Alex and asked, “Alex... What’s new with you?”

“Nothing.” 

“Said that a bit too quickly hon...” I reached over for his hand and he shrugged. 

“Oh come on! there is always something! with me, it’s usually the shamless way I’ve been acting, in one manner or another,” Aly chuckled. 

Alex told us about the new shelf he put up and then asked if we read French books. Aly told us about how a man traded a hair bow for an Apache feather and he tickled her with it. Alex started to shuffle some cards and we talked about playing Poker but then Alex lay out a hand to show how he dealt himself a royal flush. I suggested that as a way to alleviate our boredom I could put on a saloon girl dress so Aly and I decided to change into our dresses. We walked over and Alex gave us a low whistle. 

“How’s this?” I smiled at him. 

“It’s... um... Wow! Legs.”

I started to dance in the middle of the saloon and asked, “You know how long it’s been since I’ve worn one of these things?”

“Out of my element,” Aly said as she danced beside me. “If Tye walks in...” Aly blushed. 

“Wow, you two...” Alex shook his head. 

“This making you feel better, hon?” I asked and he grinned. “Okay question is.. Do I get to sit on your lap?” 

“You know there are probably consequences to that, right?” Aly laughed. 

“You forget he and I lived together...” I looked at her. 

“I think Trin knows the consequences,” Alex smiled. 

“Oh I didn’t forget,” Aly shook her head. 

We danced for a couple more minutes but then I stopped suddenly. “Think I’m gonna change...” 

“Hey now! Now I’m here all alone doing this!” Aly chuckled. 

I walked back behind the counter as they tried to figure out what was wrong. I took a few minutes behind the curtain to gather myself as I recalled that the last time I wore a saloon outfit was when Dutch was still alive. I remembered how much chemistry was still between me and Alex and we couldn’t do anything about it. I leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath as I felt the anxiety wave over me. I told myself to get a grip and let the past go and then walk out hesitantly. I knew they would ask what was wrong and I wasn’t sure if I could answer them. 

“You two both look... warmer,” Alex observed and I saw that Aly had changed too. 

“I’m sorry...” I said and reached out to hold Alex’s hand. He squezed mine too and smiled. “Just.... realizing how long ago it was that I left that saloon life behind.”

“Ok you didn’t take enough time to think about that, I was having fun,” Aly laughed. 

“You can keep dancing all ya want... Sorry to bring the fun down,” I shook my head at myself. 

“No it’s ok I’m changed now and I’d feel funny doing it alone,” Aly laughed and I wanted to pick up a poker chip and throw it across the room but told myself to relax. 

“Want a drink, Trin?” Aly asked. 

“Yeah.. drink would be good.”

“I do too,” Alex looked at her. 

Aly got us some whiskey and we talked about how much more comfortable around Apaches. 

“So I still have six cases open...” I said after a while. 

“Six??! how does this happen?!” Aly blinked. 

“Well let’s see.... The danged cake that we still haven’t figured out yet... The bank robbery which we can’t solve ‘till Tye gets something to compare the second set of prints to...”

“I don’t know how you do it, Trin. I could never keep all that stuff straight,” Alex said. 

“The fire at the bank which we also have a set of prints to compare to... Kat... If she is around.” 

“How is cake such an issue?” Aly rolled her eyes. 

“Someone put arsenic in a cake and poisoned the mayor and the sheriff’s wife.”

“She got a lot more patience than me, I woulda burned half of those reports by now,” Aly said. 

“Krell’s kidnapping is still a mystery ‘cause I still need him to give me the rest of his damn statement...” I continued. “Bree’s kidnapping is still a mystery because all we have is a statement from you and Bree won’t even give me one.”

“And this is killing you because the work is piling up and there ain’t nothin’ you can do about it?” Aly asked. 

“And then Bree had mentioned something about Leigh selling Krell to the Apache’s for a feather and I still have no idea what the hell’s going on with that. I think that sums it up. Meanwhile I’ve got these dam nnotes and I can’t make sense of them to figure out who wants me dead.”

“I remember that frustration. Working on a case and waiting around for the right people to show up.”

“If that’s even a reality. It’s not an official case though... Just a personal mystery. I’m not filing it under Pinkerton work,” I said. I took out the notes from Gaide and looked over them to see if I could make sense of any of them. “‘Those who know such wrong will take their final bow’.. Something happened that the Reaper is now getting revenge for...”

“The Reaper?” Alex looked at me. 

“‘One that you hold so close, for his wrongs he has to go’... So Dutch did something wrong according to the Reaper....” I went on as Lawrence came in and sat down. I introduced him to everyone and they continued to talk as I continued to read. 

“‘They have all been evil people with skeletons in the closet’... ‘I’m cleaning up the mess that few are willing to clean’... So he’s getting rid of people with skeletons in their past that need to be brought to light,” I said as they kept talking. “Okay this one doesn’t really have anything helpful,” I read the shorter poem. “‘You best run to keep up, you’re lost in your funk’...”

“What was that last work you said?” Aly blinked. 

“Funk. Like being down or something,” I said. “The Reaper is taunting Gaide... That’s what it feels like. This one’s just creepy... Listen to this...” I read the longest poem out loud, “No matter how far I run or just what it is I do. There will always be people around intending to do harm to you. Some may call me the reaper though I’m not one at all. I want you to know how far this will go. And I will be there for the call. Don’t look over your shoulder for I just may be there. Those that fear the reaper then my wrath they will bear. Those that have fallen have no clue at all. For the reaper will fill you with fear. How far you’ve sinned the reaper is calling

the pain that you’ve caused will be near.’” 

Alex looked at me and said, “A guy who kills people and writes poetry about it? that’s just... just... funked up,” he said. 

“I’m not sure what I can pull from that other than that it’s a warning. I’d love to know the order he received these in...” I said and then filled in Lawrence with what was going on.

“Anything connect the victims?” 

“Other than that he’s targeting people with skeletons in their closets and that something happened that the Reaper is getting revenge for... Dutch being one of the people that did something wrong to him... Just the notes... I don’t know much about who the victims are yet. But that’s a good thought. Anyway...” I shook my head, lost in thought over the notes. 

“It’s okay, you got a lot goin’ on hun. Vent,” Aly chuckled. 

Alex said that he had to head out and I asked, “Alex, can we talk outside a bit before you go?”

“Sure, Trin,” he nodded and we walked out of the saloon.

I pulled Alex close and asked, “Are you okay? Seriously?”

“I’m okay.”

“You’ll tell me if you’re not, right?”

He nodded and then looked at me seriously. “Be careful, Trin. I don’t want to lose you to some crazy nutcase.”

“I’m trying to keep my head on straight but it ain’t easy. Not when so many things don’t make sense. No more trips to Cripple Creek, I promise.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Of course. I’ll keep you posted.”

“I’ll see you later. Thanks for this morning.” 

“Anytime,” I smiled and headed to the office. 

*** 

This afternoon I walked down the street and saw Dave and Katie standing in front of their house. Dave walked over to Aly’s door and knocked on it, waking her up. I looked over at him and asked, “You write that statement for me, yet? That’ll give you something to do.”

He continued to talk with Aly so I looked over at Katie and asked, “He have a middle name?”

“Paul,” she whispered back to me. 

“David Paul Norwood,” I said and Dave stopped smiling. 

“Yes mom?” 

“Paul?” Aly laughed at that. 

I looked at him sternly and asked, “Did you write that statement for me yet? About how you DIDN’T shoot Jack?”

“I was wondering if I should even bother, haven’t seen a sheriff in a while. No sheriff, no arrest.” 

“Of course you should bother,” Katie looked at him. 

“He’ll be around. I just talked to him yesterday.”

“Oh brother,” Dave sighed. “Fine. Let me go in the house and jot something down. Excuse me I need to write *MOM* Trin a statement,” Dave said and walked inside. 

“Bout time he got that done,” I chuckled. 

Alex rode over and we talked about the dance coming up in Bisbee in a few minutes. Leonidas found some sugar cubes in my pocket and then we rode off to the saloon. 

Bisbee. 

We went to the dance at the Stock Exchange where Lil Toe was playing some music on the turntable I updated Sugar on how things were going with the murder investigation with Dutch, though I didn’t tell them about our trip to Cripple Creek. I let myself drink a few more whiskies than I normally would and eventually I stood, shaking a bit, ready to go home. 

“Trin, you okay?” Alex looked at me with concern. 

“I’m sure that happened to her after drinkin that frog juice,” Pet guessed. 

“She’s been hitting the whiskey,” Alex said and I leaned against the counter to collect myself. 

“You gonna be alright Trin?” Pet asked. 

“Maybe sit back down for a moment?” Aly suggested. 

“Trin, let me get you something to drink. Nonalcoholic,” Alex suggested and poured me a glass of water as I got dizzy from the crowd and sat down. I took the water, my hand shaking. I looked at him with concern and he put his hand on my shoulder. “Trin, what is it? You’re not going to throw up are you?”

“I... I should go,” I said, not wanting to bring the party down. Alex looked at me with concern and I said, “I’m just... I’ll be fine,” I lied and slowly made my way out of the saloon. 

“You needin’ some prayer, Trin?” Pet asked as I walked out, shaking my head.