Tombstone.
I walked outside this morning and saw Alex talking with Jy and Victoria. I took a deep breath and walked over to them, asking if Alex could come with me so we could talk. We said goodbye to the others and headed back upstairs and we sat down in the chairs.
Looking over I took a deep breath and asked, “Hell of a week, huh?” He looked down at his hands, staying quiet. “I have a proposition for you... I’m hoping it’ll make things less hard and we can move forward... Just hear me out? We went to fast, everyone else was pressuring us to go faster, so we decided to slow down... I propose we focus on working together and doing what we do best. I don’t want to lose you as a partner... or as a friend,” I leaned forward. “If it’s meant to be more than that, then we’ll figure it out... But I don’t wanna lose you while we do.”
“I don’t really know what to say. I’m not willing to lose you as a friend.”
“Then we’re in agreement about something,” I smiled slightly. “You know, we didn’t take much time to get to know each other before we started acting... like a couple...”
He shook his head, “I’m not sure what is ‘meant to be’ but I do know that you’re a good person and a good detective. I’m not.”
“Are you kidding? Do you think I could have handled Max or Dani by myself? Or even Moretti, for that matter?”
“I became a detective for you. It’s not in my nature to ask questions or approach people.”
“I understand that... If you want to figure out what you really want to do you can... I just think we work well together. Truth is, I need you. I never would have discovered how strong I was without you.” When he was silent I looked down, “It’s up to you... I just...”
“We just need to give it time. I’m embarrassed in front of you. I don’t know how to react and it often doesn’t come out very nice.”
“Then we’ll give it time,” I nodded. I stood then and looked over at him. “I guess I should get to work... There’s this thing that happened in Bisbee and I’d love to get to the bottom of it.”
He nodded and got up. “I’m going to head out into the desert. I need to clear my head.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “I live downstairs now so you know where to find me.”
“Well, that’s convenient.”
“Mmhmm. Cheap too. And central to everything going on.”
“Good luck on your investigation. I’m living in Pearce now.”
“Oh good... I’ll be out that way plenty, I’m sure. Still have the office there. Want to see it quick before you go?”
“Okay.”
We walked downstairs and I showed him the place and he looked around. “It’s very nice.”
“Thanks... Put out some Christmas decorations too and found that gramophone buried in my boxes.”
“I’m sure you’ll make lots of new memories here,” he gave me a sad smile.
“More for convenience sake than memories. I’ll probably be out in the streets more,” I sighed a bit.
“I should get going,” he nodded toward the door.
“Okay... I’ll see you soon then?”
“I’ll be around.”
He walked out the door and gave me one more look before heading outside. I sat down in the chair, sighing and leaning back, trying to relax.
After a while I headed outside and saw Jeffery looking at the Christmas tree in front of the Crystal Palace. We talked about Christmas for a bit and then I decided to ride around to see what was going on in other towns.
Bisbee.
As I rode into Bisbee, I saw Suzy walking down the street. “Morning, Suzy.”
“Hi Trin.”
“Just the person I was looking for. I need your help with somethin’.”
“What’s up?”
“You remember the shooting that hapened here in Bisbee? There’s a warrant out for three guys?”
“What three guys?”
“Oh maybe just two... Jack and some Indian named Red.”
“Yes?”
“Were you there for that?”
“I put out a warrant I think for them robbing the bank and shooting me in Tombstone.”
“Oh... but something happened here in Bisbee, didn’t it?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
“No reason I guess. Being fed misinformation it seems.”
“Okay well if we find ‘em we need to arrest ‘em. Okay.”
“Yeah... Good luck, General.”
“See ya.”
***
Tombstone.
As I rode down Allen Street I saw Max, Jamie and Millard wandering down the other way. We talked about how Max had followed the cavalry for payroll but nothing exciting happened. I met a child named Anne and kept riding.
Pearce.
I rode into Pearce and saw Matty talking with Ansar. Finding that confusing as Ansar had been talked about in relation to outlaw activity, I greeted them both. “Ansar, long time no see.”
“I don’t know nothing, I swear,” he waved at me and looked at Matty. “Ain’t that right? We don’t know nothing,” he laughed.
“Don’t worry Ansar, I don’t know anything either. Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt anything. Just riding around looking for something to do.”
“Matty, go hide in Diamond. She never find ya there!” Ansar joked.
“Good one, Ansar,” he smiled. “Diamond? What’s that?” he laughed. I chuckled a bit, knowing Matty’s history with the town and how reluctant he was to talk about it now.
When we were alone I asked, “So Ansar... What’s new?”
“Nothing, just came to scare the cavalry.”
“Uh huh. Did it work?”
“They took off faster then a heard of rabbits after the last carrot.”
“Well... they know how things go.”
“Hey they’re the ones that assume I’m up to no good,” he chuckled. “Nine outta ten times they’re right though. So that may have something to do with it.”
“Bored as heck lately. The number of law who actually told me anything going on is very few,” I sighed a bit.
“Get back into law,” he chuckled.
“Nah,” I shook my head. “I’d rather just investigate. Much less stressful.”
“I hear ya. No more paperwork for me, so that’s one thing I’m happy about.”
“Been hearing a lot about you though,” I said.
“Me?”
“Yup.”
“Dang, I still being talked about?”
“In hushed, not so much reverent terms,” I winked.
“My reputation proceeds me.”
“Mmhmm. Guess so. Guess I should ride around. Maybe something will happen.”
“I go rob a bank and leave a trail,” he laughed. “But I’ll claim it was your idea if I am arrested.”
“You’re relentless,” I shook my head, getting back on my horse. I waved and rode off.
Black Diamond.
Remembering the telegram I’d seen that morning from Suzy about the Diamond bank being broken into Thursday night, I headed for Diamond to find local law to talk to and see if they needed my help in the investigation.
Riding into Diamond, I saw a man standing in the street and dismounted my horse. “Hi Sir. Don’t think we’ve met.”
“Nope.”
“Detective Trin Paige,” I held out my hand.
“Devin. Devin Audurburgh,” he shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you, Devin. New around here?”
“Pretty much. Was here but life took me away for a while.”
“Life can get that way.”
“Hope to stay this time.”
“Wondering if there’s any local law around. You seen any?”
“I saw Johnny a while back not sure now. I think he around somewheres.”
“So what do you do for a living, Devin?”
“Since arriving I been panning fer gold. Make some money here and there. Enough to live on.”
“Well, seems like this is a good place for it.”
“There some spots in tombstone with some waters that is well hopeful,” he placed a finger to his lips and said, “Shh..”
“Your secret is safe with me. I’m a detective, we ask more questions than we answer.”
“Some folk think I ought to get a gun.”
“Probably is a good thing to get,” I nodded. “I tried for a while without it too but...”
“What happens if ya don’t?”
“People tend to take advantage of you, let’s just put it that way.”
“I had me a look an they expensive,” he nodded.
“They can be but what’s worth more? Your money or your life?”
“I think on it,” he nodded.
“Right. Well I’m going to keep wandering around and looking for those lawmen then. Nice talking with you, Devin.”
“Nice ta meet ya detective Trin tip my hat.”
I waved and headed back to Tombstone.
Tombstone.
As I rode back into town, I saw James Vest sitting in front of Annie’s. He was talking with a girl named Kefira who was on the roof, putting up garlands for Christmas. I talked with them for a bit and then headed back home.
No comments:
Post a Comment