October 12, 1899

Black Diamond. 

I walked into Diamond tonight and waved to the women standing in front of the sheriff’s office. I asked if the sheriff was in and they said he was in his office so I walked around, waiting a bit before talking to Matt. I knew I needed to talk to him about the poster and maybe if he was in his office, he would be able to be more focused than last night. I walked around and then came back to see Twist was still there but Lil and Bella had left. 

“Twist?” I looked at her. “Do you remember Jake Despres?”

“Yes, very much so.” 

“He was hanged. Somewhat recently.”

“What...?” 

“Just found out last night.”

“For what?” 

“Who the heck knows. Was by this gang guy and I don’t know why. Connected to some pretty dangerous stuff I guess... Begs into question all that stuff about him being a rogue marshal though, remember?”

“Yes indeed I remember he seemed like a very stand up fella I am so darn confused about all this,” she nodded. 

“So was I. Was quite the shock... Something’s going on, Twist. I kinda... I need you to look out for me.”

“Oh?” 

“Maybe we should go talk inside somewhere...”

“Ya know me I sure like to make sure my guns still work properly,” she nodded. “After you.” 

I led the way to the courthouse and once we were inside I closed the doors behind us. “Okay here’s the deal. Despres got messed up in some stuff with this Regulators gang. Which is a gang tied up in an investigation I’ve been doing about Kaly...”

“Despres was one of the leaders of this Regulators gang. Lot, Kaly’s brother, hanged him. I don’t know why.”

“Oh...” 

“If they find out Despres and I were friends while he was a marshal and that we worked together as law back in Colorado... Twist, I trust you. I’ve known you for years. I need all the eyes on my back that I can get. And... we need to figure this out. Fast. Do you remember Despres mentioning ANYTHING about this gang?”

“Well I’ll be there for sure hun anytime ya need me.” She shook her head then said, “I don’t believe so.” 

“Remember when we suggested he could be behind all that stuff that was happening in Colorado... But we didn’t think it possible... This explains a whole lot. The Regulators gang are kinda acting like law but without the restrictions of legalities. They’re helping track down warrants and whatnot. And now Despres is hanged and Kaly’s been killed or at the very least disappeared, and I’m so confused.” 

She shook her head in like manner and I said, “Yeah... that was how I reacted too... Just can’t seem to... process it all. Twist, I’m scared.”

“It will be alright... Let’s stay strong and show no fear they feed of that.” 

“Yeah you’re right. I need to go talk to the sheriff. Thanks for being here, Twist,” I said and led the way outside. 

I blinked when I saw Serenity over by the sheriff’s office but focused on Matt and asked, “Can we talk inside, Sheriff? When you’ve got a moment?”

“Howdy Trin... of course.. come in.” He led the way inside and closed the door behind us., and I was grateful he was so willing to talk now. 

“The wanted poster outside the saloon... Johnny Ringo?” I started. 

“Yes, that’s him.” 

“Looks an awful lot like Adrian, don’t it?”

He looked at me with a blank expression. “Do not know... have met the gentleman briefly during my wedding.” 

“Bill told me that Ringo disappeared about the time that Adrian blew into Tombstone.”

“Do not know... heard that he was hung.. hanging trial..” 

“He told me this whole thing is way bigger than what I could have imagined. He said it all starts with Cym being killed by that dynamite explosion.”

“Many loose lips around town...” he shrugged. 

“He said everything’s tied together somehow... and it has to do with that poster you and Abby found in Old Diamond. What happened with that?”

Matt leaned back against the desk and said, “Nothing. Just an old wanted poster of someone that died.. or was killed... coincidences only.” 

“If you say so. Look, Sheriff... I don’t expect you to tell me about everything that happens but I want you to be apprised of something. The fact that Lot hanged Despres... He and I worked as law together back in Colorado. We were good friends.”

“I do know know anything about that person Despres, Trin. And I am sorry for your loss.” 

“I appreciate that, and I know you don’t know much about him... but I am afraid that if they discover I was close with the leader of this gang... Even if it was at different times... My life could be in danger.”

He took out his cigar and shook his head. “Trin.. why is that every case that you get involved you end up in danger of losing your life? It is as if you are a magnet for bullets.” 

“Guess that’s just how things go,” I shrugged. “I didn’t ask to investigate this case with Kaly. How was I supposed to know it would end up connecting with something from my past? Even if it’s not... I don’t want to be ignorant and pretend the threat isn’t there.”

“Well.. I wish you luck with that and hope that you keep yourself safe,” he paused then. “One thing that I learned when I was a scout with the Cavalry is that you never engage the enemy, you keep your wits, and you return safe.. a dead scout is of no use to the battle.” 

“That’s why we went to the informant that we did. He was someone I trusted, and someone who knew Lot well enough to get information out of him without me going directly to him.”

“And yet, here you are afraid of danger,” he sighed. “I have many folks to take care off and I am training them to be discrete. Long talks with them about the meaning...” 

“Not afraid as much as I am being practical and getting my ducks in the row. And I wanted to keep you apprised of all angles so that you knew I wasn’t holding anything from you.”

“Very well,” he nodded. “I appreciate that.” 

“I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks for the time, Sheriff. I appreciate that as well. And... I’m sorry about last night. Guess I just need to pick my moments better.”

“You’re welcome, Deputy,” he smiled. “In that case, I think you do. That’s part of being... discrete,” he winked at me. 

“By the way... What do you know about this Jo person? She seemed kind of... Suspicious last night at the dance I guess.”

He looked at me closely and said, “Miss Josie is the niece of Mayor Bill.. and she is under my protection.... her mom was Cym, she was Mayor of the town and the one that helped develop the mine. She may seem a bit loose in the head, but she was raised in England.” 

“Oh? Her mother was Cym? That’s interesting... Bill thinks that what happened to Cym is somehow related with what may have happened to Kaly.”

“Trin.. this is another case that you need to be discrete and tactful... she will bite you if you come straight at her.. I would not recommend that at all.” 

“Wise advice. I’ll be discrete about it. Perhaps use Bill as a go-between from me to her without talking to her directly. But I do think these are connected somehow.”

“Perhaps,” he nodded. “Just need hard evidence.” 

“Always the problem, eh Sheriff?” I winked. “We best head outside... I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks for the chat.”

“You’re very welcome,” he tipped his hat and led the way back outside. 

I walked over to the memorial garden and sat down, looking between the two monuments. I tried to piece things together as I thought about all of my interactions with Despres and what it would mean now. I felt like I was being told to let others do my investigating, but maybe that would be safer in the long run. Gathering myself together, I stood and headed home.