Black Diamond.
“Hey Trin,” Alex greeted me as I walked into the cafe.
“Morning guys.”
“That blonde gets me every time. If I didn’t know you so well, I’d never think it was you,” Alex shook his head.
“That’s a god thing,” I nodded.
“I keep thinking she’s Jewel,” Aly chuckled.
“How are you doing, Trin?” Alex asked.
“Bored,” I shrugged.
“Bored’s better than dead. No signs of that serial killer?” Alex said.
“True. Nope, no sign yet. And nothing from Gaide either,” I nodded.
“So, Trin, you have a hangover from yesterday? You drank a good amount of whiskey at the Stock Exchange,” Alex looked at me.
“A bit of a headache,” I nodded. “I just wanted to.. forget.”
“I know what you mean. I drank a little too much of the frog juice yesterday,” Alex grinned.
“It felt wrong to be having fun there when I kept having that image of Dutch’s body in my head... Especially when I had to tell Sugar what had been happening since we last talked.”
“It’s never wrong to have fun. You need to let off steam too, even if things are bad,” Alex said.
“I guess you’re right...” I nodded.
“Well, I guess it’s wrong to have fun if it’s at someone else’s expense, but just laughing with your friends? That’s important,” Alex said.
“I know what you mean,” I nodded.
“Trin I’m going to tell you something about fun,” Aly said.
“Guys, I’m fine, really... I just... I hate when nothing’s happening. I’d rather be solving something or figuring something out,” I said.
“When you go to a place, especially a dance, you’re there to dance and have FUN. no moping, no fuss! It brings other people down and most importantly yourself. At those places, you’re suppose to laugh, flirt, and have a good time. So take your mind, get out of that funk, and let go!” Aly folded her arms.
“I know what you mean about boredom,” Alex nodded. “It’s my worst enemy too. When I get really bored, I have a tendency to do things I shouldn’t. And you’re in a situation where you’re waiting. That’s hard. But we can entertain you while you wait.”
“Someone say something about coffee?” I nodded.
“There is always something to say about coffee,” Aly chuckled.
“Thanks, hon. Aly... What’s been goin’ on with you? Been tickled by any other feathers lately?” I asked her.
“Sheesh I had Alex asking me the same thing earlier, haha. no, no more feathers to speak of, at the moment,” Aly laughed and we chuckled along with him.
“I don’t have anything exciting like that in my life. I have to hear your details,” Alex chuckled.
“Exactly. We’re living vicariously through you, Aly,” I said.
“Well I don’t mind sharing,” Aly laughed. “Last night was really boring though....even the dance. Nobody was really talking, there were a few couples, but you know how they get in their own little worlds.”
“Which dance was that? You mean the Bisbee one or a different one last night?” I asked.
“Different one....shucks or something, with Doll as the hostess,” Aly said and then headed out to get some work done.
“Ah, I see,” I said and Ger walked into the cafe. “Morning Ger. Have a seat.”
“Hey Ger!” Alex looked up at him.
“Morning Trin, thanks...Hi Alex,” Ger sat down.
“How are you today?” Alex asked.
“Okay I guess...not feeling the best but we must move on,” Ger said.
“Something wrong?” Alex asked.
“Ger?” I looked at him in the silence, concerned.
“I think he fell asleep,” Alex shrugged.
“Just feeling rather blah today...kinda like the life as seeped pout of the area,” Ger said.
“I know what yo mean,” Alex nodded.
“You’re not the only one, trust me. Things with Myst going okay?” I asked.
“Very well, thanks,” Ger said. “In fact... thinking about asking her to marry me...but don’t tell her, okay?”
“Congrats! And my lips are sealed,” Alex smiled. “I’m really happy for you. You seem like a great couple.”
“Congratulations indeed,” I smiled and then stood to go get some rest.
***
Tombstone.
I rode down Allen Street and saw Aly standing in the middle of town. I suggested she join me for a ride and we rode around together through the area. When we reached Goldfield, we talked with Chase Kemp and he told us that things were slowing down after the bank seemed to be robbed every day. We continued to ride around and then headed back home.
This afternoon I talked with Jack, Bree and Sommer about how things had been quiet around town. Jack joked about running for mayor and I wondered if he was being serious.
Tonight I walked out of my office and saw a woman I hadn’t met yet. I introduced myself to her and found out her name was Tallie. I directed her to the hotels in Bisbee and then headed for the saloon to get a drink.
Ger was sitting at a table looking over some nots and I smiled, “Hey there.”
“Hey there, boss,” Ger winked.
“Ain’t your boss no more. Mind if I join you?” I chuckled.
“Have a seat. Was hoping to meet up with you.”
“What didn’t I do?” I winked as I sat down across from him.
“Wasn’t you this time, think it was Tye...” he handed me a report.
“What’d Tye do?” I read the paper over.
“Here, this is for Jewel’s extortion case.”
“The kidnapping and the revenge shooting cases are combined here. They just trying them together? It does make life easier... better than going over the incident twice when they’re both connected, right?”
“No. Jewel has nothing to do with the revenge shooting, that’s Leigh’s revenge shooting.”
“Oh... Right, sorry... mind’s been all over the place this week.”
“Right, for murdered friend.”
“Okay so... you’re prosecuting Jewel for the kidnapping case only then? I.e. extortion?”
“Correct. That takes out my statement, Bree’s...”
“Because she was working with Leigh to stage the kidnappings to extort money from the mayor,
which we have in a statement from Jewel.”
“No, yours is still in. The two revenge shootings out.”
“Okay so... You need me to be a witness for the prosecution and you’ll be asking me about my
conversation with Krell, that incident report...”
“Yes. Won’t use Leigh’s statement...goes into the revenge shooting.”
“Right. So just the one with Krell that talks about the relationship between Jewel and Leigh...”
“And Jewel’s statement/confession.”
“Well... That’s Tye’s department. You’d have to have him as a witness for that. Or just read it if he can’t be there. Right? Only thing you can use me for is that conversation with Krell.”
“Didn’t you rescue Leigh from the last kidnapping?”
“Nope,” I shook my head. “All I was involved with in all of that was our conversation with Leigh that went over what happened from her perspective and my conversation with Krell. Tye did the rest.”
“Then you will be my main case.”
“But you can still read the statement and confession from Jewel, that Tye provided. If he isn’t there. That should hold enough ground too. You’ve got law reports from Tye and a conversation with a Detective and the mayor.”
“Well, you will go over the mayors statement since you took it. Correct...if Tye is there, he will be a good witness.”
“Indeed. Otherwise his reports should suffice.”
“So, here is how I will do it.... I will ask you to tell the court about the conversations you had with Krell.... Then with Leigh.”
“I thought you said we weren’t going to use the one with Leigh because it goes into the revenge shooting?” I pulled it out to read it again.
“But, didn’t you talk to her about the kidnapping?”
“Yes, we did. But maybe it would be more of an affect if you either read it in Leigh’s perspective, or questioned Leigh if she can be there. As a witness against Jewel, she talked about what happened with her here. Though it doesn’t really show that she was working with Jewel...”
“Correct...”
“So Leigh’s statement doesn’t really help us, Ger.”
“I have to read the whole statement, not just what I want to read,” Ger said as Aly walked in and we greeted her. Ger sat back and said, “Now, they are going to try and probably say the confession was forced from her. Who was there when she confessed?”
“I’m gonna get dressed for the dance in a little bit, but I wanted ta let you both know I saw Jewel in Tombstone today. Rikki too. I know we ain’t seen neither in a while,” Aly said.
“Oh yeah? She’s still around? Bet she moved to Ghenna or somethin’,” I wondered.
“I knew about Jewel, I’m prosecuting her case.”
“Oh. Well ok, then I’ll let you two be!” Aly said and started to walk out of the saloon.
“Peta, Ray, Jewel and Tye went to the safehouse. That’s where Tye showed Jewel the warrant for Leigh and her confession that Jewel was involved in the kidnappings. Then Jewel gave the full confession,” I said. “You could use Leigh’s confession as proof of Jewel’s involvement...”
“Where is Leigh’s confession?” Ger asked and we searched through the reports to try and find it.
“He mentions at the end of the report from the 19th about Leigh’s own confession..” I said and started to read, “‘By Leigh’s statement, Jewel has been involved in three kidnappings, with another male she could not identify. Twice kidnapping Leigh and another time kidnapping Mayor Krell.’”
“That might help,” I looked at him.
“Dammit Tye,” Ger swore. “Can I kill him now please? He screwed this all up.”
I leaned forward against the table and took out my flask, sipping the whiskey. “It’s just this thing about Leigh’s statement. Would be nice if we had that in writing instead of just hearsay from him in a report. Defense is gonna jump all over that.”
“Yes... And why did he include the damn revenge shooting for Leigh?”
“You’d have to ask him,” I shrugged.
“That is a totally different case... and you wonder why I don’t.....”
“I know it is,” I took a deep breath and reached over to put a hand on his knee. “Calm down, Ger.”
“If he ruins this case for me, so help me... and he got MY statement wrong.”
Aly walked into the saloon again and said, “Sorry for the interruption again! Do I look decent? Nothin popping out anywhere?”
“Wow, you look gorgeous!” Ger smiled.
“I guess that’s a yes! and it’s a fairy theme, spring thing dance, I love to dress up. Thanks, brother.”
“Most welcome, sis,” Ger smiled.
I shook my head, standing. Aly started to turn to walk out and Ger shouted, “Hey, you get back here little lady! You going somewhere without hugging your big bro?”
Aly walked back over to him and giggled, “Oh sorry I get distracted easy!”
I bit back the emotion and looked over at them, drinking more whiskey. Ger turned and gave me a hug as well and then I headed out of the saloon, needing a break from thinking about the case.
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