Pearce.
This morning I walked into town and went to Abby’s store. I talked with her and Jamie about how Alex and I had purchased a gorgeous house in Coronado and how I would have them over sometime. I walked around a bit and found Max with his new pony, Captain Starlight. Cora joined us and we talked about how we were doing with settling into the new town. We talked about court coming up and how it would be an interesting weekend. I was hoping to catch some court work and Max rode off, anxious to keep moving.
When Max rode back, Jamie came out and shouted at him for pulling his hair. She said she kissed her cheek and that was all and they argued back at first. Timmie came over and went to stand with Cora, as the other two continued to banter back and forth. Max took his lizzard and dropped it down Jamie’s dress. She giggled at that and saw the lizard run down her leg and run away. Max ran around chasing the lizard and then Jamie caught it for him.
Valkner came over with his little sister Minny and the girl went over to show Jamie her bunny. As the kids played, we talked about the reaction of people in the courtroom when he plead guilty for bank robbery. Max complained when Timmie went off with Cora to the mines that it was just him and a bunch of girls now, so I headed to the saloon, winking at him and letting him and Valk chat.
***
This evening I sat in front of the saloon writing in my notebook when Loreh walked over and greeted me. We talked about settling in and I told her there were some things we need to talk about. We went into the saloon and up to the balcony where we could talk in private.
“So what did you want to know?” she asked as I leaned back against the railing of the balcony.
“We talked with Dash yesterday...”
“How did that go for you?” Loreh lifted a brow.
“He was in an... informative mood.”
“What sort of information did he have?”
“Well for one thing he said he didn’t have guns out in front of Mary’s the other night when Alex and I were there and that crowd was forming... He said he and Black had tried to apologize to Mary about the comment he made about her being pregnant or whatever...”
“You saw them yourself, didn’t you?”
“Was too far away,” I shook my head. “And Alex told me he didn’t have his guns out.”
“Interesting, I saw them.”
“Dash also said he didn’t have a gun to you... He was just pretending and using his finger in your back. He also said.... that Nick drew on him first and he shot Nick out of self defense. And then ya’ll took forever on finding doctors and by the time Dash got one, Nick was gone.”
“Well, that I couldn’t know. The moment I got into my office he had blindfolded and tied me.”
“Yeah, he admitted as much to doin’ that, though he said it was just to scare you not to harm you.”
“Dash brought a whore.. she was wearing one of those dove outfits you see.. no skirt or nothing. Mary can tell ya that.”
“Yeah, and Mary also agreed that Nick drew on Dash first. So I ain’t sure who to believe. I’m merely informin’ ya on what he told me.”
“Yes, she changed her mind only a couple days ago Trin.. after all the threats.” She looked at me a moment and then said, “Something happened last night that led me to believe Mary might be an outlaw herself.”
“Loreh... I need to ask you something.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Did you hire Dash to find information for you and he rejected the job?”
“Remember the other day we spoke and I said I had an informant?” she asked and I nodded, putting the pieces together. “It was Dash.. I hired him to find out who beat that woman up.”
“What happened with Mary last night? Why didn’t you hire me?”
“Well, let me finish here. Why? you were already on it Trin.. and who better to get information that someone who’s right inside it.”
“Fair enough...” I nodded. “Go on.”
“As for last night... I was at home sewing.. I’m not quite sure where Mary was but after a few hours, she came to me and she asked about our friendship. She asked if I cherished it.. I told her she knows I do.. She said to me then that I will testify that Dash is not guilty or she will withdraw her friendship.. and she said she’d do something else.”
“What else?”
“She said she’d testify that I’m crazy and convince everyone in the courtroom that I should lose my position as lawyer.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
“She slammed her fist on my desk and demanded I do it. I could tell something was up, and I looked at her and asked what brought it on.. I could see she was getting more and more agitated, so I told her I won’t testify just to calm her down. After I told her she said I will follow her to see Blackfoot and tell him myself. I told her no, nor is he welcomed in my home.. but she ran out looking for him anyways.”
“Wow...”
“And before I know it, she’s got Dash and Blackfoot right around my house. I didn’t answer the door afterwards, Trin.”
“No kidding,” I raised an eyebrow.
“She led them both right to me.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” I sighed. “I’m shocked.”
“I can’t help but think with her helping them and demanding me to follow her rules, that she’s.. well, an outlaw too.”
“Yeah, I’d be drawin’ that conclusion too. Loreh, you need to tell a sheriff or...”
“You know Trin.. I can really understand why she changed her statement.. it’s daunting to have that gang on your tail all the time.. and she has a little boy she’s starting to like. She wants him safe and all.”
“I’m worried about your and Max’s safety.”
“Anyways... I can understand the changing of her mind on things... but to come to me and demand like Blackfoot would.. threaten me to have me lose my job? Something’s going on.”
“You’re darn right something’s going on,” I nodded.
“I even asked her if she went to them... this was before she led them to my door.. and she wouldn’t answer.”
“I don’t think you can trust her anymore, Loreh. And I don’t think Max can either.”
“I certainly don’t right now, Trin... But there’s got to be a reason behind it all.”
“But... investigating that reason could get you and Max killed.”
“Well yes.. I’m not going to look for any information there. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Let me talk to Dash again... He trusts me I think... He is willing to tell me anything. I can decipher if it’s lies or not.”
“Do what you need to, Trin,” she nodded.
I saw Max riding past in the street and called for him to come into the saloon. As we walked downstairs we saw he was wearing an Apache outfit. “Max, we need to talk to you about something,” I told him. “Max... you see lots around town, right?”
“All right but you got to talk Pache, I don’t speak your langwitch,” he nodded to me.
“You ever see Mary with Lot or Black?”
“She hates Lot,” he shook his head. “She tells me he is a bery bad man. He ain’t bad, he’s funny.”
“What about Dash?” Loreh and I asked at the same time.
“Dash! Dash wants to hurt her, but I broked his windows and now he won’t bcuz he’s ascairt.”
“Max... Why did you do that?” I looked at him seriously.
“Cuz Mr Lot telled me to and he sad I can have a dollar but I done it for free. On accout of I seen hi rob dat lady and he scares Miss Mary.”
“Max, were you around last night?” Loreh asked.
“I was around somewhere last night,” he nodded.
“What are you thinking, Loreh?” I looked at Loreh, frowning at the fact that Lot was making Max do
his dirty work.
“If they got together before this, it certainly wasn’t in town,” Loreh looked at me.
“Mr Lot is in my army, Sheriff Matty telled me,” Max said proudly.
“Isn’t Lot an outlaw? I don’t know him well enough,” Loreh said.
“Yeah, and an outlaw defense lawyer.”
“And obviously friends with the Sheriff,” Loreh pointed out. “Isn’t that interesting?”
“So it would seem... Going to have to talk with the Sheriff. That’s gonna be a fun conversation,” I sighed.
“Let me know what you come up with.. I’m staying to myself awhile.. you will probably find me sewing at home or in my shop,” Loreh said.
“Probably a good idea,” I nodded.
“Tomorrow is the big day.. I don’t need to be hanging anywhere.”
“Am I in trouble?” Max narrowed his eyes.
“No Max,” Loreh shook her head.
I looked at him and said, “No, I just want you to be extremely careful. Though I’m not really happy that you broke Dash’s window. And I bet you Alex wouldn’t be either.”
“He deserved it,” Max wrinkle his nose. “He’s bad.”
“Not the point.”
“Don’t tell Mr Alex ok?” Max hanged his head at that.
“I don’t like you hanging around Lot... I like even less that you’re doing things he tells you to.”
“I won’t tell him if you make me a promise,” Loreh looked at him.
“Mr Lot is my friend and he is nice to Jeff and me. He is an outlaw, dat sheriff telled me but he wont let bad guys hurt kids,” Max gave a stubborn look.
“But he’s not against making kids do bad things.”
“Max,” Loreh put in, “I want you to make me a promise.. and you have to cross your heart and hope your new horny toad dies if you break it.”
“I telled him what happened wif dat lady and the shooting,” Max eyed Loreh suspiciously. “Nope. Not til I know what it is.”
“Max you have to promise to stay away from Dash at least till tomorrow night,” Loreh told him.
“But he said to Soapy he is gonna be a good guy now,” Max nodded.
“I’ve heard that line before,” I muttered, thinking about Carl and Sam.
“I listened, Ima scout,” Max grinned at me.
“Bad guys are prone to lies Max,” Loreh reminded him.
“Max... Listen to me...” I knelt down to his level and looked in his eyes. “I know you wanted to do something bad against Dash for how he treated Mary... But someone once told me something a long time ago that I want to tell you.”
When he’d met my gaze with a solemn face, I continued. “You know what my boss told me when I first became a Detective? He told me that the information I gain is more valuable than the battles I fight with my gun. A dead detective is a useless one.”
Max widened his eyes in understanding. “Ohhh. Dat’s pretty smart.”
“Information is power, Max. But it’s only good power if you don’t try to take matters into your own hands and do things just because someone told you to. We have Sheriffs and Deputies and Marshals and Rangers for a reason... They’re trained men and women to deal with people like Dash. Understand?”
He frowned and said, “Mister Lot ain’t bad. Only mean but in dat funny way. I’m a pache now, and a scout. But I won’t go near Dash and anyways, I’m in disguise.”
“Max... Throwing things to break someone’s window ain’t a good thing. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s taking the sheriff and deputy’s job away from ‘em.”
“Thank ya Max.. if you can do that till tomorrow.. I’ll give ya ice cream,” Loreh promised.
“Yes Ma’am. I’ll stay away from him. Honest injun.”
I reached out and hugged him and said, “I just don’t wanna see you get hurt,” I whispered and then let him go.
“No, I ain’t,” Max blinked and patted me on the shoulder. “I’m okay. I’m tough. Can I go play Pache now?”
“Okay. Just remember what I said. Information, not fights.”
“Yes Ma’am! Bye Miss Loreh. Bye Miss Trin. I sure wisht Mr Alex comed here,” he grinned and ran away.
“I know... I do too,” I nodded in agreement as he headed off.
I told Loreh that I wanted to talk to a ranger friend of mine who would be able to at least give some perspective as a lawman that I trusted. I said goodnight to her and rode off towards the fort.
Tombstone.
I rode up to the gate and thought about how long it’d been since I had been at the fort. I knocked on the door and Wedge called out, “Who goes there?!”
“It’s Detective Trin Paige,” I called back.
He opened the door and greeted me with a smile. I asked if we could talk inside.
“It’s a little late, no?”
“Yeah it’s getting later. This is a time sensitive issue I need to talk to you about though.”
“Okay.”
“As you know... Court is tomorrow again.”
“It is? I didn’t know.”
“Well, it’s most likely tomorrow... Usually is Friday and Saturday. Anyway... Here’s the problem. There’s one particular case that’s proving to be rather serious for the safety of a couple individuals... They’ve been talking to me about it because they trust me, but they’re afraid to go to law. I don’t know if you heard but Dash is up for murder of a man named Nick. Thing is... Loreh and Mary both witnessed the murder and Mary has been scared into changing her statement, saying Nick drew first.”
“It’s not true?”
“Problem is... Mary’s now trying to convince Loreh to not testify or prosecute. And they’ve been coming around the girls’ houses threatening them. The other thing is... This boy Max has been following Lot around and Lot told him to do some stuff against Dash. I’m worried about the kid’s safety.”
“Damn it, I know the kid.”
“He promised he’d stay away from Dash until at least the trial tomorrow. But I’m worried. He’s a good kid... just a little... curious and over-zealous at times I guess.”
“Agreed.”
“He loves Alex... Looks up to him and everything. We’re trying to keep him on the right track...”
“I hope you can... I like the boy.”
“I’m worried about this trial tomorrow, Wedge. I just... I don’t know what to do with this all other than to come talk to you. They won’t go to law ‘cause they’re scared out of their minds.”
“So wait... Why are they afraid? Are they tellin’ the truth?”
“Loreh is... but Mary has been, well, misguided I guess,” I shrugged. “And told to withdraw/change her statement.”
“We talked to Dash, Wedge. Alex and I did.”
“She can’t... If she tries to... It will discredit her testimony.”
“His story is a reasonable one and any defense lawyer will win hands down. If I prosecute...” I looked at him. “To save Loreh... They’ve already threatened her not to prosecute or testify or their gang will make her life a living hell.”
“But they already do that.”
“Someone’s gotta do it though. I’m not saying it’s gotta be me, and in fact it probably shouldn’t be...” I said and he nodded. “I just... I’m worried. And there’s not a lot of lawmen I trust right now and Sheriff Matty is out of town and we left Diamond and...”
“And...?”
“Well, that’s the problem. There ain’t many ‘and’s’ left.”
“True,” he nodded. “Same with good lawmen.”
“Exactly my point. I just... I guess I wanted to know if you had any info, or advice... or.... anything that could help them.”
“I don’t know what to say Trin, I’m a hardass...I don’t let gangs scare me any.”
“I’m not scared, really... Just trying to figure out what to do to keep them safe. They’re the ones who are scared.”
“Just don’t let them know what you’re going to do.”
“What do you mean? I don’t even know what I’m gonna do.”
“Yes, it’s easy to scare most females,” he winked and I folded my arms across my chest, giving him a look. “Well... you’ll know when it’s time to. Hey, no offense... Some women scare easy.”
“Uh huh, sure.”
“It’s not a dig towards women.”
“Breathe, Colonel. Just messing with you,” I winked.
“Ha, ha.”
“See, I feel better already,” I smiled.
He smiled and shook his head. “At least you still have your humor. Just make sure they stay hid ‘till the trial though...”
“That is Loreh’s plan,” I nodded.
We said goodnight then and I headed back to Pearce where I worked on my journal from today and case files. When I’d finished, I headed back home to Coronado for the evening.
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