Black Diamond.
Neighing came from outside the open window and I sat up in bed, wondering what on earth was making so much noise. Putting on some clothes, I went downstairs and found Alex sitting on his horse.
“Hey babe! Look who is back! I can’t believe Leonidas found me here! I thought he was gone,” Alex said excitedly.
“You’re up early,” I stretched, trying to wake up.
Alex leaned down and gave me a good morning kiss. “Yeah, I’m up and out already today.”
I kissed him, allowing the kiss to wake me up. “So your horse found you again, huh?”
“He did! He’s a good horse.”
I called for my horse and asked, “Feel like riding to the cafe in Diamond? You can think of a name for my horse over coffee.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Lead the way, boys,” I smiled at him as I got up on my horse. We rode into Diamond and dismounted in front of the saloon, hearing voices inside. “Shall we head in, darling?” I asked him.
“It’s good to have my horse back,” Alex pet Leonidas’ neck.
I smiled and hugged him. “It’s good to see you so happy.” We walked into the saloon and greeted Ryker and Sommer. “Good morning you two. Redesigning after the ball?” The bar had been moved and the place was empty except a few chairs in the corners and the stage was in the same place.
“Yeah, making a few changes,” Ryker nodded.
“Can’t wait to see it all finished. We’re just heading over to the cafe, but Ryker, we do need to talk to you sometime today,” I said to him.
“Okay, is everything alright?”
I looked from Alex to Ryker and hesitated, “Uh... I’d brace yourself.”
“Brace myself for what?” Ryker asked.
I took a deep breath and said, “Okay... We can talk about this now I guess... Bill thinks he knows the leader of the group who held up the saloon Saturday night. And Thad thinks he knows who the others were.”
“Ok, who?” he nodded.
“The leader...” I took a deep breath, is EYE, the last remaining Regulator from the original gang. Bill recognized his voice but no one else was around back then...”
“I had a feeling you were gonna say that,” Ryker nodded. “What about the others involved?”
“The others.... Thad recognized from old wanted posters in the marshal’s office. Jack Smith, Sela, and...” I leaned against Alex, swallowing hard, “And Serenity.”
Alex wrapped his arms around me and Ryker asked, “Serenity? She’s runnin’ with those guys?”
“This is bad, Ryker. It means that EYE is not against using random outlaws to promote his causes. Just like the Regulators did.”
“Well, he is an outlaw, Trin and if he is trying to rebuild these so called Regulators, he will be using anyone he can.”
“However from what we researched of the Regulators... They fought justice without limits... By using outlaws to do the dirty work, sure... but... What justice could he have gained by holding up the saloon? It doesn’t make sense.”
“None, only letting everyone know he was still around and still up to no good.”
“Most outlaws don’t makes sense,” Alex shook his head.
“I guess so,” I nodded to both of them.
“Now are either one of you going to give me coffee? Someone here was up early playing with his new horse outside our bedroom window,” I looked at Alex with a playful glare. He chuckled and went to make me a coffee.
“You take cream and sugar, babe?”
“Just sugar, hon,” I looked at him.
“Well, we did get EYE that night. Went after him after he took Nora’s necklace.”
“You did?”
“Yes, we did.”
“Did he... say anything useful?” I asked as Alex handed me a cup of coffee and I smiled my thanks to him.
“No, just claimed he didn’t have the necklace, but we found a way to get it back. Then he took off to Tombstone.”
“Did he confirm that name?”
“Not exactly, but we all know it was him. We dealt with that man before.”
“Bill seemed to recognize him pretty convincingly, I just wanted to hear it from you too.”
“Funny though... he was in here one night acting all respectable like, then a few days later, this happens.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Almost like he was scoping the place out.”
“Probably exactly what he was doing,” Alex nodded.
“Sounds about logical,” I agreed. “So what now, Ryker?”
“So it doesn’t surprise me at all that he is involved. We have to prove it. No physical proof yet.”
“Right... That’s always the kicker it seems,” I nodded.
“And if we go around askin’ questions, it’s liable to start something.”
“We’ll have to do it discretely then,” I nodded to Lil as she walked into the saloon and looked back to Ryker.
“We all know outlaws only have one thing in mind when they pull a job like this. You know who you might talk to? Kris, the Marshall in Tombstone. He recovered some of the stuff that was taken.”
“Oh did he?” I asked and caught Alex’s grin.
“Brought a bag back here with some of the stuff in it,” he nodded. “Don’t know where he got it and didn’t ask. Too much going on at the time. But yeah, talk to Kris.”
“Good luck getting him to talk though... Talking to him is like talking to a wall sometimes.”
“Yeah, probably why he gets his ass shot so much,” Ryker nodded and Alex and I chuckled, knowing it was true. “If he ain’t sleepin’ out front of the office in Tombstone.”
“Well thanks, Ryker. It’s good to be able to talk with you about this finally.”
“Anytime,” Ryker nodded and chuckled a bit.
“Shall we let these two get back to work?” I set my coffee on the counter and looked at Alex.
“You know it’s funny. Kris don’t say much then when he does, he tried throwin’ his weight around. Probably why Ace shot his ass right there on Allen Street.”
“Mmhmm... Not surprised at that at all. I’ve worked with him a long time and I think he’s said all of four words to me.”
“But yeah, talk to Kris. See what you can dig up.”
“Maybe he’ll talk to Alex more.”
“I can give it a try,” Alex nodded.
“Maybe. Doubt it, but maybe,” Ryker nodded.
We said goodbye and avoided the wolf sitting on the porch, though Alex let it sniff him and found out that it was in fact friendly. I walked over to the gardens, trying to process what I’d heard as Alex headed home to work on some paperwork.
***
After the meeting today, Bill gave me a badge to be a deputy in Black Diamond. We agreed that it was a need that was growing and this way I could focus on the area and not have to miss so much that happens in town. Adrian agreed that I could still work as a Detective so finally, a desire that I had had for months to be law in Diamond was fulfilled.
I walked to the courthouse and clocked in and then did the rounds. A man walked over to me and I greeted him. “Good morning Sir. Tony was it?”
“It is. How you doing, Deputy?”
“Doing just great actually. And yourself?”
“Doing great, thanks for asking.”
“Out and about for a walk?”
“Well actually I was looking for the Pinkerton Agency.”
“Ah, well the main office is in Tombstone actually but you could talk to me about it as well. So what can I help you with? You’re interested in joining the agency?”
“Well, I need to talk to somebody about it.”
“We can chat. What would you like to know?” I smiled.
“Pay, duties, promotion potential, things like that.”
“Well, there’s no pay I can tell you that...”
“Well if com-pt worked I be fine.”
“However... Should clients decide to pay you for your efforts you don’t need to turn them down. That has happened on occasion.”
“Well that would work for me.”
“As far as duties... I fill out cards about everything and everyone I meet... Known gangs/affiliations, Notes about criminal involvements with dates...”
“Ok, I could do that.”
“These records are intensely important for court cases, law reports... I compile a master list at the end of each day. However if you were to fill some out throughout the day or evening, you could just pass them on to me and I’ll add them in as we go. Or add information to those that already exist.”
“Well it sounds like something I could do.”
“How about we try it for a while, before we make it official... See what you can dig up and if it feels like something you could do. Don’t tell people you’re a detective, just write down what you hear and such. The best information comes when people don’t know we want it.”
“That might work well. I can see how I like it and you can see how well or badly I do. Works for both of us.”
“Let me give you a blank sheet that I’ve had printed, of the information we gather on people...” I handed him the blank version of our case notes.
He took the sheet and looked it over. “I will give it my best, and do I report to you?”
“You can usually find me in Diamond, yes.”
“Okay sounds good. Then I’ll be talking to you.”
“Fantastic, stay safe Tony.”
I waved to him and headed around town, doing the rounds. I walked into the saloon, seeing Ryker, and smiled. “Hey there partner!”
“Hey Trin.”
“Guess what,” I smiled widely.
“What?”
“Bill approved for me to be deputy in Diamond and still work as a detective!”
“Oh, nice!”
“Mmhmm. I can finally focus on Diamond like I’ve always wanted. It’s been months, Ryker...”
“Just remember... There’s more than one of you here, Trin,” Ryker smiled.
“That’s why I came to tell you first. Just hope Matty ain’t gonna be weird about it.”
“Thats great , I’m happy for ya,” he smiled and said, Well, I guess you would have to talk to Matty.”
“We hardly cross paths anyway.”
“After all, we will be working together. So I, you and Matt need to put differences aside for the sake of law.”
“I was going to ask you actually...” I nodded. These events they have here at the saloon... Maybe we should have someone standing outside who’s armed, in case something else happens like Saturday night. I know you were both in here but you had to run for your weapons...”
“No, I don’t want a guard at the door. Gives people the wrong impression of the place.”
“That’s a good point... You understand my point though?”
“Posted inside somewhere is fine, not outside.”
“Agreed.”
“Oh yeah, I understand your point fully.”
“Heck, I could hide the weapon under a long skirt... Lil will never know.”
“Just don’t want people thinking they ain’t safe coming here.”
“Now, if ya wanted to post at the bar... I have no problem with that.”
“And hide a knife under my skirt or somethin’?” I smiled, seeing that we were on the same page.
“Make it less obvious but still safe. I like that.”
“Long as its used when needed.”
“Of course,” I smiled.
“Then I see no problem with it.”
“You’re making some furniture changes ‘round here?”
“I’m tryin’ to,” he nodded. “Built this bar the other night.”
“I like it there,” I agreed.
“More changes coming soon.”
Abby walked in and we greeted her, asking her how the babies are doing.”What did I miss today, Trin? Anything new?”
“Actually... I became a deputy here in Diamond. Allows me to focus on this area only and dedicate my time fully to the town. While still acting as detective as well.”
“Oh... Won’t that pull you a little thin though?”
“I just hired another detective who’ll be wandering the area, and Cora’s still workin’ for me out and about as well. I’m around here most of the time anyway.”
“Trin, just do me a favor,” Ryker started. “Remember that you have help in town and ya don’t have to try and do it all yourself.”
“Of course not, Ryker. Is one of the other reasons this was a good decision. In Bisbee... And most of the time in Tombstone.. I was alone.”
“Perfect.”
“In fact... I should do the rounds... I’ll holler if I need ya, Ryker?”
“That’s all I meant. I know you were alone over there.”
“Frustratingly so,” I nodded.
“Yep, I’ll be here. Just holler.”
“Wait, aren’t you a deputy in Bisbee too?” Abby asked.
“Just in Diamond now,” I shook my head. “I have been in talks with Bill and Adrian and Ryker here..”
“And the sheriff was left out of the decision?” she asked and I cringed, but knew that the decision had been the mayor’s to make and that Matt would have been well aware of the need for more deputies.
“I need to do the rounds,” I said then, and Abby and Ryker went on to talk about things in the saloon.
I walked around town and talked with Jules, James and Bree, and then found Ryker again and asked him if we could check out the mines at some point, as I didn’t want to go patrol there on my own. He said we could another time because he needed to head to Tombstone for a bit.
Going back to the saloon, I asked, “James, you mind if we chat about something? If ya ain’t busy.”
“Sure Trin, what you need?” he asked as the woman I didn’t recognize left and Abby stayed behind. “Actually, ya’ll might have been there too... Wanted to talk about the ball Saturday night.”
“Oh Abby was for sure,” James laughed.
“Heard it was a scary night, Abby,” I looked to her.
“Yes it was Trin, I almost went into early labor over the whole incident.”
“I’ll bet... What can you tell me that you remember?”
“I have submitted my witness statement already.”
“Alright then. I s’pose I can just read that. James, you weren’t there?”
“All I can tell you Trin was there were three of them and they stole from the kids, which set Abby off something fierce. I did not pay too much attention though. Law was there but all guns had been checked in.”
“Yes,” Abby nodded. “Libby came and looked me over and told me not to get stressed anymore and to do my statement then to drop it so I didn’t get any more upset. So Matty has given me strict orders to avoid the topic.”
“I can understand that. No problem, Abby. Thank you both,” I smiled.
“I have something to take care of, but the guy who did this has been arrested already and the case has been made, Trin,” Abby told me and headed out of the saloon.
When we were alone I looked to James and said, “Just that this guy... he’ll be back, I’m sure.”
“Well we got EYE I gave the case to Loreh. She been trying to track down the other two.”
“Perfect.”
“She got this idea that Jack may know something and was gonna try and work a plea deal but I told her to check with Angeles before she did.”
“Just need to keep our.. eyes open, pardon the pun.”
“Of course,” I nodded. “Thanks, James.”
“You’re welcome. You may want to talk with Loreh. She may have some info.”
“I just know this isn’t the end of him, or them. Stay safe, James.”
I walked over to the courthouse to clock out and ran into Bill. “Hello, Mr. Mayor. Was just clocking out for the afternoon. Going to rest so I can work hard again tomorrow.”
“A good deputy takes care of themselves first,” he grinned. “Can’t do the job well if you don’t.”
“Indeed. Thank you again. I will see you soon. Stay safe.”
I waved and headed out of the courthouse and rode towards home. Going upstairs, I lay down on the bed and tried to relax and get some rest.
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