Tombstone.
This morning I walked into the Crystal Palace and saw James sitting at a table. I went to get a coffee and joined him over on the couches that looked more comfortable. “So you been finding your way around here okay?”
“Seem to be getting easier. Can’t vouch for my dang horse.”
“Yeah, they can be temperamental. Watson still hates bridges.”
“Bridges can be a challenge, can’t let them win though.”
“Nope,” I sipped my coffee. “Sorry about yesterday... Wasn’t in the best of spirits.”
“Or the other day I suppose. Can’t even get my days straight.”
“Oh that’s okay, we all have our days,” James sipped his coffee.
“Just ended a rather lengthy relationship... Kinda has hit me hard.”
“I knew it had t’ be something big, but didn’t want to pry.”
“Thanks, James. I just... Didn’t see this coming.”
“I never see them,” he chuckled.
“Life goes on I guess... What kind of work is it that you do?”
“Oh I’m kind of with the government, do some land surveying, etc...”
“Oh really?” I looked at him. “What brought you to Tombstone?”
“The love of desert heat and tumble weeds?”
“With the occasional snowfall apparently. I didn’t think it snowed in Arizona... Guess it does on rare occasion.”
“Yes, specially up northern parts.”
“I’m from Canada so I’m used to it. Was just up north this weekend and there’s a lot more there.” I looked down, remembering the events of the weekend.
“Ahh yes, the great white north,” he laughed.
“Sure is.”
“Well this ought to be a nice change in the desert.”
I nodded and he sipped his coffee. “Guess I should wander and see if there’s any investigating needs to be done. Was a shootout last night over a snowball fight,” I chuckled.
“Oh children with their toys..”
“Grown men and women,” I winked. “Well it’s been good chatting with you, James. Hope you have a good day,” I stood.
“Well I need to ride out and get some work done too I guess. See ya soon.”
“See ya,” I nodded and waved.
I headed out to the office and looked at the apartment below the office. I saw that there was no name on the mailbox and filled out the necessary papers and sent them to the mayor, claiming the place as my new home.
After I’d put up some Christmas decorations and set out my chair with the whiskey barrel to relax in, I sat down and looked over the town while I gathered my thoughts. It felt good to start fresh and the location and price was perfect, but I still couldn’t help but miss Alex. I wondered if we could still continue to work together in spite of what happened but figured I would give it a few days before trying to contact him.
As I sat there, I saw Jack walking over to Aleaya and Bree. Aleaya was on a horse and there was a horse beside her. I saw Jack running away towards Bisbee and saw him stand casually by the building at the end of the street. I walked down out of the office and walked over to the girls, curious. Aleaya had a pony standing beside her horse and I looked between them after they’d greeted me.
“Everything alright, Bree?”
“I am fine Trin, I think,” she nodded.
“Alright then.”
“This man follow me,” Aleaya was watching Jack carefully.
“Anyways I relieved to see Pony back,” Bree said then.
I looked at her and said, “I can go talk to him if ya like.”
“Chief will kill him he take and follow me. He want to take pony.”
“I’ll go talk to him,” I said and walked down the street. Jack was lighting a cigarette and I smiled, “Morning, Jack. How you doin’?”
“Hello there. I’m doing good. How are you, Detective?”
“I’m better than I was. Every day a bit easier to get up.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Moved to a new place, some major life changes... Nothing big.”
“Oh. Well you will settle in.”
“You mean Jack up there?” I heard Nim’s voice and looked over.
“Yeah, I’ve got to,” I answered Jack. I looked back at him and asked, “You up to something?”
“Got to run,” Jack said and ran east.
“Jack, can I see you up here a moment?” Nim shouted and I headed over to her.
“He’s running East if he’s done something.”
“I need you to write me up a witness statement Aleaya.”
“What’d he do?” I asked.
“Apache not write,” Aleaya shook her head.
“Tried to steal her pony.”
“Apache clobber with tomahawk.”
“I was trying to distract him so she could ride off safely,” I said, nodding to her. “Guess she didn’t get the hint.”
“He will follow,” Aleaya shook her head. “He runs faster than the wind.”
“Well Nim, if ya need me you know where to find me. I’m living under the Pinkerton office here now so I’m more central to everything.”
“Okay Trin,” she nodded.
“Take me up on it. I’m bored as heck,” I winked.
“We all are,” Nim said and I nodded as she looked to Aleaya. “Aleaya, I will question Jack the next time I see him.”
“If I not kill him first.”
“Well if he is out in Apache lands, just make sure no one finds the body,” Nim grinned.
“By the way Nim... Someone set the sheriff’s office on fire last night. I was in the saloon talking with Jack when it happened and then there was a huge group of Wild Bunch outside talking about it when I put the fire out. Coulda been any one of ‘em.”
“Yea, we have such dedicated lawmen in Tombstone now.”
“No one else was around when it happened. No law, nothing. If I’d actually seen something I woulda written something up. But I got out there after the fire was going already. So I put it out.”
“Which Wild Bunch guys were out front?”
“Let’s see... Lot, Sniper, Josey... Jewels was out there too. Lot came over long after the fact though. Was busy shooting up Loreh after she threw a snowball at him. Or so she told me when I found her at the clinic in Diamond.”
“Any of them try to help you put out the fire?”
“Nope.”
Paisley came over then and she greeted everyone, and I decided to ride over to Pearce and see if anything was going on.
Pearce.
As I rode into Pearce I saw Jack standing in the street. “Well hey again. You’re just everywhere this morning.”
“Yeah. Town got a little crowded.”
“You mean a bit law infested?” I winked.
“Well the Marshal is the only one got the balls to come after me. They rest wait for help.”
“Uh huh... But you haven’t done anything, right?”
“Of course not. Pure as driven snow.”
“They thing you’ve done somethin’.”
“Wanna see my home?”
“Your home?” I rode closer.
“Yes. It’s close.”
“What would we do at your home?” I looked him up and down.
“Just show you around. Come with me.”
Benson.
I followed him into Benson and dismounted my horse when we arrived at his house. It was huge and he showed me around the place. It included a shooting target poster in the long hallway where I could guess he’d spent a lot of time.
As we walked back into the living room he showed me a pegboard with badges on it. “This is my badge collection,” he said proudly.
“Badges?” I walked over.
“Yes. Of dead law. Shh,” he winked and I shook my head a bit.
“I’m getting the new captain’s badge polished and it will go up here too.”
I sipped my drink that he’d given me, acting casual and trying not to show that I was uneasy around him suddenly. He showed me the bathroom and mentioned that the bath was a good place for a long soak, alone or with someone. I couldn’t picture such an outlaw in a bath but just smiled and continued to follow him around.
“So how do you like to be a Pinkerton? Nice badge by the way,” he smiled when we’d sat back down on the couches.
“It has it’s moments...” I looked at him suspiciously. “You’re not getting that.”
“Pfft, I already got one. Silver and gold.”
“I see that look...”
“Yes, I have a great respect for the Pinkertons.”
“You do?”
“Yes, tough job.”
“Sure is. Especially when no one tells us anything. Law don’t exactly seem to want our help these days...”
“Yeah. Law is always law.”
“And we’re not technically law...” I nodded.
“You start doing bullet analysis and they will want your help.”
“And how do you propose we start getting those bullets? No one tells us when things are happening.”
“You have to hang around the medical office and take them from the doc.”
“I guess so,” I nodded.
“When they arrest someone have the Law fire off a shot and compare. Make them bring it to you. You have the power to clear Jack, or hang Jack. All up to you. Or whomever the outlaw is,” he winked.
“That’s good advice,” I nodded and then winked, “Hmm... Jack invited someone into his house that has that much power... Curious.”
“Well information works both ways.”
“Who said anything about information?” I smirked.
“For instance. Two rangers shot in Bisbee...”
“Oh? When?” I perked.
“A few days ago.”
“Really...”
“Well, Jack does like to soak in the tub. It’s more fun with someone.”
“Jack likes to talk in third person,” I smiled and he laughed hard.
“Jack does what Jack wants. Third person, fourth,” he laughed again. “How’s your beer?”
I blinked then, suddenly remembering a warrant I’d seen go by through the telegram machine about the incident in Bisbee and looked at him. I shook my head and leaned forward. “Beer was good...”
He looked at his badge collection and said, “Them is ranger badges. I had a marshal one but was wounded and Kris got it back.”
I squirmed in my seat and then followed his gaze. “I think it’s time I head back to Tombstone...”
“Well it was nice of you to visit stop by for a beer any time detective,” he smiled and we headed for the door.
I followed him, suddenly speechless and confused at the nature of his invitation. “I uh, yeah, thanks for the drink”
“Again, nice badge,” Jack smiled.
I took a deep breath and then called for my horse. I rode back to Tombstone, wondering what to do with the information I had gathered and how much I could believe of what Jack had told me.
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