November 5, 1899

Black Diamond. 

As I sat at my desk and continued to work on case notes from yesterday, along with updating cards for names that I had heard about from Skyla, I heard footsteps on the stairs and looked over to see Alex walking upstairs. 

“Hey babe. You look tired today. Everything okay?” 

I reached up and hugged him tightly, shaking my head. “I’ve got so much journaling and reports to do from yesterday still... Just feeling a bit stressed. It’s good to see you.” 

He walked around behind the desk and stood behind me, rubbing my shoulders gently as I leaned back into the massage. “So, that was interesting last night.” 

“Indeed it was... Seemed like you and Max had met before?” 

“We had,” Alex chuckled, “Just the day before in fact. He’s a funny little kid.”

“Oh yeah?” I smiled. “You were great with him.”

“I was out riding around, going over to the other office to check the mail, when he came running around the corner and practically ran into me. He liked Leonidas.”

“We talked for a few minutes about horses then he showed me a cactus splinter in his foot and I told him he should take care of it of it’d get infected and fall off. ‘Like a pirate?’ he asked and I said yes. Then Lil came over and took it out for him. Brave kid for 7, barely screamed. Last night I went down to Allen Street to poke around and ran into him. He looked a little scared so I asked him what was happening and he told me about Dash.”

“When I was with Loreh and Mary...”

“Yes, while you were talking to them,” he nodded. 

“Was starting to get worried that you were taking so long... Didn’t want to go anywhere alone but figured you were up to something and had the sense that you might have been out that way. The Apache in me coming through, I guess,” I winked. 

He chuckled and said, “When I first met Max he asked if I was a cowboy and I said I was a detective. He decided he wanted to be a detective too - I think that’s why he was so good at getting us information.”

I smiled and said, “He’ll make a great detective. He can be your protege.” 

“He’d be good at it,” Alex chuckled. “Did you get much out of Mary and Loreh while you were 

there? Seemed you knew who Max was when you found us.”

“Yeah.... Loreh told me more than Mary did... But Loreh said that she and Mary witnessed Dash kill a guy. Right in front of them. The man was murdered at the table with them and the blood splattered onto Loreh. Mary was the one who tried to keep the guy alive long enough but then failed in the end. She said it was Dash who did it, and ever since he’s been terrorizing them. If Dash hangs for that murder, Alex, they won’t leave Loreh alone. She’s been warned not to prosecute...”

“Did she say who the man was?”

“No, she didn’t,” I shook my head. “I was more in a listening mood than an asking one at that point because I figured anything I got out of them would be a blessing. Thing is... Loreh said that Dash has been teaching Gina things... His woman, I guess. Then Mary realized that Max was gone and started to worry about him. Loreh was afraid Dash would do something to him. Mary said that they’d seen Max with her... That’s when Mary ran out of the house towards Tombstone looking for Max. Loreh ran after her, and then I rode out behind them to come look for you.”

“Max also told me Lot was watching when Dash shot Daryl. He sounded like Lot was up to something too, but not sure what.”

“Oh?” 

“Max shot out the windows of the saloon - I think Lot put him up to it.”

“We need to look into this, Alex... The sheriff wants answers and I don’t like the idea of them being in danger. I remembered something then and blinked. “Alex...” 

“What?” he looked at me. 

“When I was on jury for Sera’s trial on the weekend... I remember hearing this kid talking with Lot from the balcony. They were interacting for most of the trial, it was hard to miss. It must have been Max..” When Alex raised an eyebrow I said, “Max is in deep into something, I’m sure of it.”

“I think so too. Worries me - an orphan kid like that can be manipulated by the wrong people.”

“I think that’s exactly what’s going on.”

“Lil seemed to know Max pretty well. Maybe we could talk to her, see if she knows any 

background.”

“That’s a good idea. She may be over at the saloon now. I’ll let you lead that conversation.”

We headed out of the office and walked down to the saloon where Lil stood in the street. “You’re just the person I was hoping to see,” Alex said when we’d greeted each other. “Do you have a minute? It’s about Max... How well do you know him?”

“Aw, he is so sweet,” Lil smiled. 

“Seems like a good kid. But he might be in a bit of trouble. You ever seen him with Lot or Dash?”

“No, I haven’t,” she shook her head. 

“Well, that’s good at least,” Alex nodded. 

“Any other outlaws maybe?” I asked. 

“He would maybe talk to them but not really hang around with them.” 

“He helped us out last night, was witness to something Dash did. Real good kid. But I’m a bit worried Lot may have influenced him. Do you think he’d talk to you if he were in trouble?” Alex asked. 

“I will try,” Lil nodded. 

“Very discrete though, I don’t want him thinking we’re spying on him.”

“If you hear anything you can drop it in our mailbox,” I smiled. 

“Okay. I got him a pony.” 

“Yeah?” I smiled. 

“I’m sure he’s super excited about that,” Alex grinned. 

“And told him he gets in trouble, I take it back.” 

“That’s good,” I nodded. 

“Well, he did a good job last night helping us,” Alex told her. 

“We’re just worried trouble might find him, not the other way around,” I added. 

“Exactly. Thank you very much for your help, Lil. Really appreciate that.”

“I will try to get him to spend time over here.” 

“That’s a good idea... He’ll be more safe here.”

“I will do what I can to help always,” Lil said. 

“Thank you,” Alex smiled. 

We went into the saloon then and had coffee with whiskey and tried to wake up. Lil told us that she’d been made owner of the saloon and after we sat a while we headed back to the office and got back to work. 

***

I went to the saloon tonight for the meet and greet, figuring it would be a good place to gather some intel. I smiled when I saw Max with Loreh and Mary and greeted him. “Hey there, Detective,” I winked at him. 

“Evenin’ Misses,” Max grinned and tipped his hat, then giggled. 

I walked into the saloon and greeted Jy, who I hadn’t seen in a while. I talked with Max a bit and then met a man named Krono. He said his name was K, but I had heard Loreh call him Krono from outside. 

A woman walked into the saloon then and looked around. I could see she was nervous and she said, “If anyone sees a man named Jack Smith would you tell Zannza is looking for him..though he probably will not have any notion who I am.” She added quietly “I will um.. be back shortly.” 

She walked out of the saloon and I went out after her, curious at the mention of Jack Smith. “Miss Zannza, was it?” 

“Yes ma’am,” she nodded. 

“Everything alright, Miss?”

“I only was given a message to give to Mister Smith. I was just lookin’ to see if I could find him.” 

“Okay... I’m a detective and I can help ya if you’re in danger.”

“Oh no, not at all...” she looked around. “At least that I know of. Very happy to know such able folks are about though,” she smiled. 

“Alright then. If you ever need me though... Our office is right over there,” I pointed to the office. “In fact I should head over there and see if there are any recent warrants that have been telegramed in.”

“Thank you kindly Miss.. I am much obliged for that. If you do not mind I will stroll that way with you and then carry on from there.” 

“Sure thing,” I nodded. “You can leave us a note in the mailbox if you need to as well.  Hope you have a good evening.”

“You take care.. and thank you again for asking.” 

“Any time,” I smiled and headed up to the office. 

I checked the telegram machine and found a warrant for Carl, Sam and Serenity for the murder of Johnny Rotton in Ghenna. I sighed heavily when I saw that the murder happened on November 3rd, two days ago. “They lied...” I shook my head and kicked a chair over. I read through the witness statement from Alice Rotton and shook my head, swearing as I read: 

I was separated from my husband Johnny in town on November the third and was looking for him. While I was looking for him I heard there was wounded in the clinic on Allen Street, so I went to see if Johnny was there. When I arrived I found Marshal Nimbrel was wounded and she was accusing my husband and someone called Jack Smith of shooting her. There were a lot of people in the clinic and they were all talking about hunting my husband and Jack down. 

Nim wanted all Law to arrest Jack and my Johnny but Serinity Graves, Sammy Oldford and Carl Alvard went to look for Jack and Johnny in Ghenna. The Marshal did not ask them to do this and did not deputize them either. I followed them a little way back and I heard shooting so I ran down the canyon under the Ranger's post and saw Serinity, Carl and Sammy shooting at a gap in the canyon wall. When they left I crept in to take a closer look at what they were shooting at and I found my husband Johnny shot many times in his belly and he was dead before I could get to him. I was unclipping my guns looking for revenge on the three murderers when I was stopped by Skyla Alvord. She delayed me long enough to lose sight of the killers and they got away. I want justice for my husband Johnny. He never wasn't a bad man but he didn't deserve to be murdered like an animal and left to rot just days after we were married.

Frustrated at the revelation, I walked outside and went to the saloon again. I got a drink from Thad and sat at the bar, talking with the others there. 

I smiled when Max walked over to me. “Missus would you like to dance wif me?”

“Guess Alex won’t mind me dancing with ya a bit...” I smiled and stood, putting my flask of whiskey back in my vest. 

“Well if he gets too mad guess me and him hafta duke it out,” Max chuckled. 

I laughed and we started to waltz around the room while everyone else danced around us. A man at the bar watched me dance with Max and I could see he was jealous, but he hadn’t even bothered to introduce me so I wasn’t sure what he was so upset about. Besides that, I wouldn’t have danced with anyone but Alex or Max, since Max was just a kid. 

As we danced, Max and I talked about his new pony. “Where’d you learn to dance, Max?” I asked him. 

“Me Ma, I guess maybe. Or dem girls in the city...I don’t remember.” 

“Tell me more about your ma...”

“She had red hair like Miss Mary...and she smelled real nice...like cakes. And she singed to me, in Irish talking. She used to sing to our baby too and den we would all go to sleep together.” 

“That’s real nice. What happened to your parents, Max?”

“Dey got sick and never came back. I got sick but I got better. First our baby died, den my Ma and den Da.” 

“Sorry to hear that, Max.” 

“Hey Max, did you name your pony?” Lil asked him then. 

“Mr Lot helped me name him. His name is Captain Starlight!”

“That’s a great name!”

“Fanks,” he beamed. 

“T’is a great name,” Lil smiled. 

“Yes Ma’am and fanks again for him.” 

“Your very welcome and you remember the rule,” Lil smiled. 

“Yes Ma’am.” 

“You’re gettin’ better at this, Max,” I said as we continued to waltz. 

“Maybe I beeter teach Mr. Alex...” he said solemnly as he focused and I just chuckled. 

“So Max... you gonna be a detective like me and Alex?”

“I can’t decide. A detective or maybe a scout. Or maybe a lawyer like Mr. Tully or a Sheriff like Mr. Matty. Or maybe a bad guy like Mr Lot....”

“Just don’t do that last option, alright?”

“I like him, he’s funny,” Max squinted up at me. 

“Just... be careful, okay?”

“Ever body tells me dat, Ma’am.” 

“Must be true then, Max,” I nodded. 

I told Max that I needed to head out and talk to Loreh about something then and thanked him for the dances. I said goodbye to everyone else and hugged Max. “Be careful, alright? You need anything, come find me or Alex.”

“Alright, alright,” he nodded. 

I waved to everyone and headed over to the law office. I saw Mary and Max standing in front of the door and asked her if she could tell me who the name of the person Dash killed was. She said it was some guy named Nick and that the two of them were arguing. She said that Nick drew, so Dash drew and shot him back. She didn’t know what they were arguing about though. I thanked her for the information and greeted Nim as she came over. She was busy doing her own work though, so I headed to the office. Instead of going upstairs, I decided to head home instead and decided to call it a day. As I worked on my journal and case notes, I realized that in order to get out of trouble, the girls could claim that Dash was working in self defense if he was protecting himself against Nick shooting him. I closed my journal, deciding to follow that story in the morning.