Black Diamond.
This morning I greeted Bill and Jules in front of the bank. Bill and I talked about how good it was that Matt and I were working together well. Matt walked over and I asked him if he wanted to have coffee and get to work but he reminded me that payroll was going to be happening soon. I greeted Abby as she came by and told her that I still wanted to meet their new boys.
I went to the saloon to get some coffee and then went to sit in front of the sheriff’s office to drink it, watching for the payroll soldiers to come. Matt came over and asked if I wanted to come help with something so we headed over to the bank where Bill was standing behind the counter.
“Mayor and I were wondering about the bank managers of the other town banks,” Matt started.
“Bree, Chase, if he’s still around...” I pulled out my notebook and started to read names, “Thad for here... Let’s see, who else...”
“It seems that our bank have been at least diligent in reporting break-ins as well as robberies.”
“Well that’s good... You read over my report then?”
“But the banks of the other towns seem to be quiet based on your report that you left at my office.”
“Oh, Chrono was a banker over in Tombstone as well.”
“Hold on, Detective.. let me finish.”
“Well, Tombstone was quieter than I was expecting, yes. Sorry, go on.”
“It is strange that other banks are not as diligent in reporting break-ins. either they do not happen, or.. they are robbed blind and the bank managers are involved somehow. If they have been robbed.. then the banks do not have any money and the citizens are broke without knowing it. So.. I think.. we think.. that this could be an investigation with possible charges against the other bank managers.” Matt looked at Bill, “Am I way off base, Mayor?”
“The other bank managers? As in, they’re not reporting the crimes so that makes them criminals themselves?”
“Come to think of it...” Bill started. “I don’t know who was here before me.”
“Yes, Detective.. they are lying to their customers.”
“Sheriff... Perhaps other bank managers just need to learn more how to prevent robberies, or how to report them. It could just be ignorance, not apathy.”
Abby looked over to Matt and said, “Love, I have money in the Tombstone bank, should we go over when its open and check it out?”
“Detective.. if they have been robbed, there is no money in their vaults.. if you had an account in their banks, your money is gone,” Matt said.
“Please don’t start a battle when there isn’t one... My aim was to improve education for bankers, not to accuse them of anything.”
Matt looked to Abby and said, “I think that would be a good idea, love.”
“Information is what we need,” Bill said. “Accusations will come later.”
“And information is what I gave you. The cases that have been reported, most of them showed that the banker was present. And there wasn’t enough law.”
Abby smiled and said, “If the bank has not been robbed then the money will still be there.”
“Your problem is not the bankers... It’s the fact that law are willing to allow themselves to be tied to a pole and gagged with a sock while the outlaw is able to rob the bank.”
“Up to you, detective.. but if my wife takes the money out of the bank from Tombstone.. and it is a substantial I may add.. either they will give it to her after trying to save some funds for loans.. or they will give her an IOU.. and IOU are as good as cactus leaves to use in the outhouse.”
“Even if it goes all the way to the top,” Bill said and I looked between them, wondering if they were hearing me.
“Trin.. this is an investigation.. basically, we want to know.. are the numbers in the bank’s ledgers match with the money in the vaults?” Matt asked.
“And identify just who the managers are,” Bill put in.
“Fine, we’ll follow the facts and discover if the bank numbers are accurate with the money in the vaults. But please let’s follow the facts before we start tarring and feathering folks when the problem is that there isn’t enough law?” I asked. “And I just told you who the bankers are as far as I know, Bill. Chrono, Chase, Bree, Thad.”
“They are accountable ultimately,” Bill said. “Bree is a manager?”
“Detective... regardless of the number of laws.. if the bank managers do not report a robbery, they are lying to their customers unless they are part of the robbery.”
“Fine, Matt, then educate them in how to do that. Maybe they just don’t know.”
“Yes Sir, Bree is a teller,” Matt said. “A bank manager responsibility is to have accurate numbers of their books each day. Some day, they may call this a white collar crime.”
I leaned against the counter and sighed, thinking it over.
“Those numbers should coincide with the break-ins.”
“Then we’ll look that up.”
“You know I have not seen the Tombstone bank open in a while,” Abby commented.
“I haven’t even been over that way in a while. I don’t even know if Chase or Chrono are even around much. If that’s the case the only managers around are Bree and Thad.”
“Well, I don’t think I have seen Chase since I opened my account over there,” Abby thought out loud.
“Maybe we just need to get more bank managers and train them better, hmm? After we discover if the money in the bank is lining up,” I said.
“Thad was stripped of the title,” Bill informed us.
“Thad was what?!”
“He just doesn’t have what it takes... bless his heart.”
“Then we need more bank managers. That would appear to be our solution here. Bank managers who could actually tell us the information we need to know.”
“Are you telling me that the banks from Bisbee, Goldfield, and Pearce are bankrupt?” Matt asked.
“Otherwise I’m not sure how I’m going to procure the information,” I said. “Matt, I’m telling you that Bree is the only banker in Bisbee that I know of. I don’t know about Goldfield or Pierce.”
“Or one Bank Manager over all the Banks in Cochise county,” Bill suggested.
We heard horses drawing near and looked out to see the soldiers arrive. I walked outside and nodded to Wedge, though I was still frustrated at the conversation I’d just had. I asked him if he knew who the bank managers were but he had no idea. I walked up to my office and waited until payroll was finished before I headed back outside.
Walking over to the group in front of the bank I looked over at Matt and said, “Sheriff, I apologize for my reaction earlier. I will try to discover the bank managers in other towns and get bank records as much as I can. It’s just that I didn’t know how to proceed so was asking for your assistance.”
“Very well, Detective,” he tipped his hat.
“I’ll speak with the mayors I suppose... Don’t even know who the mayors of Goldfield or Pierce are,” I said. Bill walked towards his house but I stopped him and asked, “You said Thad is no longer a banker here, right? So it’s just Bree?”
“Bree isn’t a manager. Although she should be.”
“Detective, Miss Bree is a Bank Teller,” Matt told me.
“She is a teller here, in Bisbee, and in Tombstone,” Abby put in.
“Yes, I know she is a teller, I’m just trying to discover who the managers are that would have the information we need.”
“Thad is no longer a banker?!” Lil gasped.
“Well, Miss Lil.. after a couple of attempts to rob the bank.. the Mayor thought that the bank needed a stronger manager to keep the money of our citizens safe,” Matt explained.
“There probably should be only one for all the banks in Cochise County... but at present ... each bank is supposed to have their own,” Bill said.
“Then maybe that is our solution to the problem, Bill? Do you have the records of what is in the bank right now?” I suggested.
“I don’t have the records from my predecessor,” Bill admitted.
“Then how am I going to acquire the records for the Diamond bank. Bill, only managers have records of what is in the vaults, correct? Tellers do not? Or do they?”
“Detective... there’s been only one break-in and no robberies during my watch,” Bill informed me. Bill, the sheriff wants to have a record of the amount of money in each vault to make sure that the amount is accurate.”
“And I was the one that pointed out the broken doors to you... remember?” Bill asked.
“Yes, I remember. I am just trying to conduct this investigation and gather the information the sheriff is requesting.”
“I don’t even know who the previous manager was.”
“So what am I going to tell him?” I sighed a bit.
“The only deposit since I’ve been here is Miss Meg’s. And yes, that is safe.”
“I have deposited money in there, Mr. Mayor,” Lil informed.
I looked over at her and said, “See? We need to have records of this somewhere..”
“Does Miss Bree have any records?” April asked.
“I have my receipt,” Lil said.
“It wasn’t there since I arrived,” Bill said. “And as far as I know you haven’t made a deposit.”
“Then there’s nothing I can really report to the sheriff, other than that the bank isn’t keeping records of its deposits,” I said.
“I have money and a safe box in this bank Bill, but my deposits were before you arrived,” Abby said.
“Then maybe a record can be made,” Abby suggested.
“Miss Bree gave you a receipt?” Bill asked her.
“You see my point?” I asked, looking at Matt.
“Yes, I have a receipt Bill,” Abby nodded.
“This should be brought up at the meeting records for the bank,” April suggested then.
“I f the bank is not keeping records of deposits, why would we put money in them and what assurance do I have that the money that I deposited is still there?” Matt asked.
“Yes, indeed,” Bill nodded.
“Absolutely right,” April agreed. “Something to be looked into.”
“Then my work here is done... Guess I’ll focus on other towns and see if they are actually recording deposits in the bank,” I looked at Matt for clarification.
“If I remember correctly, Ansar tried to get his money out of the bank claiming that he had a lot of money there, but the ledger said that he only had one dollar,” Matt said. “He was arrested for attempted robbery.”
“I recall,” I nodded.
“Nice can o’ worms, huh Matt?” Bill looked over at Matt.
“Exactly, Mayor,” Matt nodded.
“The bank needs some book kept,” April said. “I think they call it a spread-sheet. I know you keep an account of the money in and the money out.”
“Then as Detective investigating this case... I can officially report to you, sheriff, that the results would indicate that records should be created, and a bank manager instated in the town of Diamond.”
“Well... We’re not going to settle things here. Let’s save it for the nooner, shall we?” Bill suggested.
“Yes, good idea,” April nodded.
“Detective, you are giving me solutions.. we need to find out if the money that the banks claim to have in their vaults matches their ledgers.. but that is fine. As long as the bank in Diamonds provide that assurance, it will mean that citizens from other towns will trust their savings with our Bank,” Matt said then.
“You know Trin, Suzy has been doing payroll for some time and may know of the managers and tellers in the county,” Abby suggested.
“That helps,” I nodded to Abby and then looked over to Matt, “Sheriff, I understand... but as we’ve discovered here, no one is clear on if the bank is recording amounts so we can’t possibly know if the amounts match the vaults. That’s my main concern.”
“Then Detective Trin.. we may need to inform the Arizona Rangers that soon we may have riots in the towns when the good citizens try to get their monies from the bank and the banker will come out empty handed,” Matt said.
“I’m not sure why you’re blaming me, Sheriff... I’m merely informing you what I’ve discovered. As requested.”
“Nobody is blaming you,” he said.
“A bank manager hasn’t been instated in the bank in Diamond. Ergo, there are no records, ergo, there needs to be some,” I told him.
“What I am saying if the banks do not have records, then the citizens will think that their money is safe when it isn not.”
“Until there’s records, I can’t inform you whether or not the vault amount is accurate. That’s all I’m saying too... If they don’t have records, I don’t have anything to report. However should someone
create them, then I’ll be able to investigate the amounts.”
“Mayor Bill.. perhaps we shall start attracting citizens from other towns to make deposits at the Bank in Diamond because ‘here in Diamond, they can trust their friendly Banker’,” Matt suggested.
“If there is a bank manager instated, Sheriff,” I smiled. “That’s the next step. Bank manager, then records.”
“Mayor Bill.. I think that we have a business opportunity to increase revenue and business in Cochise County,” Matt winked at him.
“Well Sheriff... I’ll start investigating this in other towns. I’ll write notes for Diamond when the bank manager has been instated, yes?” I clarified.
“Good Detective,” Matt nodded.
“Sounds like a plan,” I smiled. I waved to the group and headed home to find my horse and go for a ride.
***
Tombstone.
After receiving a telegram that they needed a prosecutor for the case against Valk for robbery, I went to the courthouse on Allen Street and took my seat at the prosecutor’s table. As I looked over my notes for the case, which really consisted of a law report from TJ that stated Nim had also been a witness, I felt ready enough and waited for the court participants to arrive. I talked with Kris who was the defense lawyer and we waited for trial to begin.
Jimmi informed us that Sera’s trial would be first, since Valkner hadn’t appeared yet. I gave the case over to Nim, as I hadn’t been prepared for that one, and took my spot on the jury instead. I greeted Serenity who was sitting beside me and we waited for the trial to begin.
“This court is now in session,” Jimmi rapped the gavel on the desktop and I felt the excitement as I always did at the beginning of a trial. I pulled out my notebook and got ready to watch the proceedings. “Will the accused stand?”
Sera stood and I tried to think if I recognized her or not. I flipped through my notes and remembered that Thad had mentioned she was one of the ones he suspected to be involved in the saloon hold-up on October 20th but that had never been proven. I listened carefully as Jimmi read the charges.
“Miss Sera Nightshade, you have been charged with attempted bank robbery, how do you plead? guilty or not guilty?”
“Not guilty, your honor,” Sera said.
“Very well, you may be seated with your lawyer,” Jimmi instructed. “Prosecution to open to jury.”
Nim walked forward and looked at those of us on the jury and pointed to Sera. “Good day ladies and gentlemen, this is an easy case for you, as the lady in question already admitted guilt to this crime and paid the charge without and resistance to Tombstone Law, please listen carefully to the evidence and bring back the rightful verdict. Thank you.”
“Thank you prosecution,” Jimmi said as Nim took her seat. “Defense, your turn.”
Kris sighed and walked over to the jury. “Ladies, gentlemen... You’ll be hearing today a lot about the confession from my esteemed opponent... But keep these two facts in mind. Deputy Toocool’s reputation in town and the fact that confessions can be falsified under duress.”
I raised an eyebrow at that and looked over at TJ, catching the deputies’ glare towards the attorney from his position as bailiff. Serenity leaned over to me and said, “Sounds like an internal law feud.”
“Sure does, don’t it?” I nodded and whispered to Serenity.
“Prosecution, your first witness please,” Jimmi instructed.
“I will call Deputy Toocool to the stand your honor,” Nim stood.
TJ walked over to the witness stand and was sworn in by the judge. When ready, Nim began her questioning. “Deputy, in your own words, please tell us what happened on the day in question that led to Miss Sera being arrested on these charges.”
“Well, a few folks had said they saw Sera in the bank when it was closed, so I asked her to step in my office and asked her if she tried to rob the bank. She said no at first and then said she lied. She was guilty.”
“I object!” Sera stood.
“Control your client, lawyer,” Jimmi looked at Kris.
“Sit down,” Kris instructed her and she did so.
“That’s the only warning I will give,” Jimmi gave Kris a stern look.
“I said, ‘Guilty of what?’ and she said she was gonna rob the bank. Broke in and got scared and decided not to,” TJ continued and I thought to myself that that pretty much summed it up. “So I arrested her without incident. She paid the fine.”
“Deputy, do you remember who was standing around when you approached her?” Nim asked.
“No ma’am.”
“Thank you, no further questions your honor,” Nim said and sat back down as I wrote down the words ‘without incident’ in my notebook. “No further witnesses,” she said then.
“Defense, your witness,” Jimmi said and nodded to Nim as she blushed for getting ahead of herself.
Kris took a while to stand and then came over to question TJ. “Tell me, deputy... Who told you my client was in the bank?”
“Um, well, Sky.”
“Uh huh... An Alvord’s wife,” Kris said.
“Seems so,” TJ nodded and I raised an eyebrow at that information. I shifted in my seat and wrote down the words “Alvord’s gang” beside Carl’s name to be added to my files later.
“When my client made this alleged confession, why did you not write down her statement along with Miss Skyla’s?” Kris asked.
“Didn’t think sky’s comment was relevant,” TJ answered. “She said she saw her in the bank alone so I asked Sera and she confessed.”
“And as for the confession itself? Why wasn’t it written down?”
“I wrote it down,” TJ answered.
“Objection!” Nim stood. “It’s in the law report, your honor.”
“Objection raised,” Jimmi nodded.
“She paid her fine,” TJ said.
“Grounds?” Jimmi asked.
“Untrue statement,” Nim replied.
“I see the confession is written in a sworn report by the arresting officer here, objection sustained,” Jimmi announced. “Defense do you have further questions?”
“Your honor,” Kris said, “My whole case is based on the fact that the deputy could have intimidated and bullied my client into a false confession. Which is what he put down in his report.”
I thought to myself, Pot, kettle, but stayed quiet. Jimmi looked at him and said, “Then it is your client’s word against this arresting officer. Do you have another question Defense?”
“Bullied?” TJ raised an eyebrow.
“No, your honor,” Kris shook his head.
“Very well, the witness may step down and return to Bailiff duty,” Jimmi said and TJ went to stand at the front of the court again. “The prosecution has already mentioned they rest. Defense, you may call your first witness.”
“Defense calls Sera Nightshade.”
Sera walked forward and was sworn in, and then took a seat in the witness bench.
When she was ready Kris began, “Miss Nightshade, please tell the court what happened in the events leading up to your arrest in the bank and the alleged confession.” Sera glanced at the jury and was quiet. Jimmi suggested he repeat the question and Kris said, “Probably Skyla and her beau showing off the Alvord idea of foreplay.”
I raised an eyebrow at that and there were gasps around the courthouse. “Defense, curb your tongue and stick to your task,” Jimmi warned.
“The deputy came up to me and asked me to come with him to his office,” Sera explained. “I went peacefully. Once inside, he questioned me and I told him I didn’t rob the bank, but he kept staring me down. I got nervous and said I did it.”
TJ sighed at that and Jimmi asked, “Defense, any more questions?”
“No sir.”
“Very good, Prosecution, your witness.”
Nim jumped right up to cross-examine and I chuckled at her anxiousness. “Miss Sera, if you were not guilty, why didn’t you resist arrest?” she asked.
“Honest, I wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk to me about,” Sera answered.
“In the sworn statement before the court, he said he told you outside of Kate’s and you went willingly, that isn’t the truth?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Yea, I suppose you don’t. No further questions your honor.”
“Prosecution?” Jimmi asked. “Perhaps the jury would like to hear this sworn statement?”
“In my closing statement your honor,” Nim looked at him.
“Very well. The witness may return to her lawyer.” Sera walked back to join Kris and Jimmi asked, “Defense, any more witness?”
“Defense rests,” Kris said.
“Thank you Defense,” Jimmi nodded. “Prosecutor, you may close to Jury now.”
Nim walked over to the jury and I couldn’t wait to hear her closing statements. “First let me read you the sworn statement as it is before the court,” she smiled. “‘I had heard rumors Sera had broke in the bank. I approached her outside of Kate’s and questioned her about it. she told me she was guilty. We proceeded to the sheriffs office where she confessed to breaking in the bank and her intensions were to rob the bank and changed her mind. She was arrested and paid a fine.’ No ladies and gentleman, this woman, who spends the greater part of her day hanging around the notorious outlaw, Dash Daggerd, got so nervous from the Deputy asking her what happened, she plead guilty, give me a break. I am sure you all will see it the same. Thank you.”
I raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name ‘Dash’ and wrote it down beside Sera’s name in my notebook.
“Defense, you may close to Jury now.”
Kris walked over and said, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury... My client is not guilty. We have no real proof of a confession outside of a deputies’ report, so this is a case of he said, she said. I ask you all to consider the facts and find that my client is not guilty. Thank you.”
Jimmi invited the jury to head towards the back room and we made our way there to discuss our verdict. Serenity looked around and said, “I’ll happily be forewoman if’n ya all can agree to that.”
“Sure, Serenity,” I nodded.
“If they any objects to me bein forewoman, just say so. Otherwise, D, if’n you wanna start with yer verdict?” Serenity looked around.
“Well I say guilty because why would you tell them your guilty,” D started.
“Agreed,” I smiled.
Serenity nodded and looked to the other man I didn’t know. “Yer verdict?”
“Sorry, not guilty.”
“No self-respecting outlaw would say, ‘Hey, I’m guilty. Arrest me,’ if they didn’t do it,” I said then.
“That yer verdit then Trin?” Serenity asked me.
“Sorry, yeah. Guilty,” I nodded.
“Sounded to me she was scared and just said what she thought the deputy wanted to hear,” the man said.
“Then Zatar, guilty or not guilty?” Serenity asked and I wrote down the man’s name.
“Not guilty. She said she saw the door open too.”
“Well, she was seen in the bank, and peeked in,” D said.
“Well, I’m goin’ with guilty. I agree with Trin, no self respectin’ outlaw is gonna just be scared and say they guilty without knowing what they is doin’. That’s just dumb,” Serenity said.
“Wow Serenity, you and I agree on something,” I winked at her.
“Place if I seen it open, I be going in,” D said.
“Maybe to see if someone was in there,” Zatar suggested.
“Seems we have a verdict then,” Serenity laughed at me. “Let’s head on out and give the court the answer.”
“Seems so,” I smiled and we walked out to give our verdict to the court.
We declared that Sera was guilty for attempted bank robbery and TJ took Sera to the jail. Jimmi declared a ten minute recess and that the next case would be the one for Valk. I walked over to the prosecutor’s table and got out my notes, ready to start the trial. It had been since July that I’d been on a case as Prosecutor and it felt great to be back.
“Gotta love jury manipulation,” Kris smiled at me.
“That was fun,” I chuckled. “Serenity and I actually agreed on something.”
“Hey, I got a verdict, didn’t I?” Kris asked. “Outlaws get punished.”
“Ain’t the point of defendin’ someone though gettin’ them found innocent?” Serenity asked. “You wanna find someone guilty, prosecute them.”
“If I believed the accused was actually innocent, yes,” Kris nodded.
“Then why you waste yer time?” Serenity asked.
“I counted on your hatred of me to make you bias,” Kris said to her.
“Hatred of you? I ain’t got no issues with you Kris,” Serenity said.
“Yes, but I figured you’d vote against me no matter where I sat,” Kris smiled.
“I’d shoot you every day if that were the case,” Serenity smirked.
“Most of the outlaws would,” Kris nodded and I just shook my head, listening to the two.
“Ya be surprised,” she said.
“I’m a lawyer. I’m not above manipulating people if it causes me to get my way. Especially in here.”
“We already know what you’re capable of Kris,” Serenity said.
“Do what’s necessary to do what’s write,” he shrugged.
Jimmi walked back into the courthouse then and announced that Cora would be the judge. We barely got through the introduction of the case and Cora read the charges against Valk.
“Defense, how does he plea?” Cora looked over at Kris.
“My client pleads guilty...”
There was a collective gasp in the courthouse as we all looked over at Kris to make sure we’d heard that correctly. Cora thanked the jury for coming anyway and court was adjourned. “Most easiest win ever,” I smirked, looking over at Kris and then heading outside. I thanked Nim and TJ for being available as witnesses and then road towards home. I was disappointed, as I’d worked hard on preparing a good case, but at least I knew that when the next week came I would be ready and able to accept assignment as prosecutor again and get back into the game.
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