October 26, 1899

Black Diamond. 

I walked into the records office in the courthouse this morning and found Cora working hard. We talked about how Alex and I had opened up a Pinkerton office in town and she suggested that I writeup a bit of a description of what we do for the records. I went to the office and worked on the paragraph or two about the agency’s history and then brought it back for Cora to put in the cabinets. 

As I walked outside I wondered if Jules had talked with Jo yet about her mother. Guessing he might be around the church, I headed that way. Jo was just walking past as I entered the church and I waved to her as I walked inside. Jules was standing there in the aisle, lost in thought. 

“Jules, I was hoping to find you here,” I said as I closed the door behind me. 

“Oh?” 

“I was wondering if there was any progress on our uh... covert investigation?”

“I have not had a moment to discuss things with Jo. I was just coming here to gather myself.” 

“Alright then. Don’t let me stop you... Just wanted to keep in touch,” I smiled. 

“Just a moment.” 

“I’ll head back outside,” I started to turn towards the door. 

“I will talk with her but tell me again...” 

“Tell you what?” I turned to face him. 

“Very briefly, what it is you would like to know about her mother? Being new here, details are not my strong suit.” 

“What happened to her mother. Anything Jo could remember... But don’t let her know that it’s me who’s asking. Ask her as a friend offering to give her closure by talking about it.”

“Right,” he winked and I smiled. “Got it.” 

“I’ll leave you to it. God bless, Jules.”

“The Lord bless you, Trin.” 

“He already has, Jules... He already has,” I smiled as I headed outside. 

***

After working in the office on some profile sheets for the agency I walked back outside and found a group of people standing in the entrance on the way into town. Wedge, Bill, Angeles and Thad all 

greeted me as I said hello. 

“How did things go last night? Alex and I had some business to attend to.”

“Naw, you and busy? Hardly!” Wedge joked. 

“We almost got robbed again last night,” Thad said. 

“Cym made an appearance,” Bill said. 

“Ah, Cym. I thought that was her,” Wedge nodded. 

“Cym? But she’s... Cym?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“Yes... she said some things to her daughter. Then vanished,” Bill informed. 

“It’s been forever since I have seen her,” Wedge commented. 

I kept my gaze on Bill and asked, “Said some things.. audible things...? But she’s...” 

“Everyone was in awe,” Bill said and the others nodded. 

“What did she say?” I asked. 

“I don’t know... It was too strange for me to make heads or tales out of anything,” Wedge replied. 

“Who tried to rob yesterday?” Angeles asked. 

“Found myself picking myself up from the ground and didn’t know where I was,” Bill said. 

“What did she say?” I asked him. 

“I think it was Eye again with some help,” Thad said. “And they kidnapped Lil.” 

“What?!” I exclaimed. “Eye kidnapped Lil?” 

“Yes, but didn’t see where they went,” Thad nodded. 

“I lost Matt and them... Near Tombstone,” Wedge said. 

“Let me get this straight...” I looked around the circle. “Cym appeared to her daughter, as a ghost... or something... Then Eye comes in and kidnaps Lil? All at the dance?”

“No, Eye was before the dance,” Wedge answered. “Cym was during the dance.” 

“We were all at the Diamond saloon,” Thad said. 

I shook my head in awe and sighed. “Theses dances need to start sooner...”

“Good luck with that,” Wedge chuckled. 

“The outlaws thought the dance took place at the saloon,” Thad said. 

“Of course they did.... We weren’t going to advertise to them the change of location,” I nodded, knowing that the dance had been moved to be beside the waterfalls after the Apache dance. It had been the topic of discussion at the town meeting for the past few days. 

“I wondering Eye have a gang, him normally moved alone,” Angeles pointed out and I nodded, knowing the answer but unable to say any details. 

“Might have friends though,” Wedge said. 

“I need to find the Sheriff. Excuse me folks,” I said and looked at Wedge knowingly and he nodded. 

Going over to the sheriff’s office, I knocked on the door but saw that Matt was busy at the desk writing something. I got out my notebook and wrote him a note, informing him of my knowledge of Eye kidnapping Lil and of Cym appearing to her daughter at the saloon, and how we needed to talk soon about it. 

A shout came through the town that court was in session and I walked into the courtroom, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to stay long. I had gotten a telegram this morning from Joshua and Mother that they wanted to come and visit for a couple of days and would be arriving on the train this afternoon. I stood in the back of the courthouse and watched as Angeles asked Cora if she would be the defendant for Eye and James. I sighed, wishing I didn’t have to miss this trial but I knew they would be arriving at any moment. 

Wedge was sitting in the back row so I went over to him and leaned down to whisper, “My brother and mother are expected to arrive into town any minute... If I have to leave suddenly, can you update me on the proceedings on Monday?”

“Sure. What I can, I will,” Wedge nodded. 

“Thanks Wedge,” I squeezed his shoulder in thanks. 

I walked back to the door of the room and watched as Matt took the guns from Eye. The man had guns on his belt as well as hidden guns under his hat and from his coat and from his boot. I counted four guns in all and then Eye wondered if he needed to hand over his knives as well. I shook my head and then heard Joshua calling from outside. I quietly excused myself from the court and went out to greet my family.