October 4, 1899

Bisbee. 

As I sat in front of my office this evening watching for any activity while on duty, Suzy Honi walked over and greeted me. 

“Just started a shift,” I smiled. “And yourself?”

“Doing good just checking things out.” 

“Anything going on that I should know about?”

“Well nothing at the moment. Got the big counterfeiting trial tomorrow.” 

“Counterfeiting trial?”

“Yup arrest most the ladies’ society sneaking big bags of money out of the Ghenna tunnels. The bags were full of counterfeit money.” 

“Wow sounds like fun... Wish some excitement would happen around here but I guess I should enjoy the quiet...”

“Ya never know they kidnapped your priest here a few weeks ago.” 

“Hey, you’ve been around a while. Do you remember Kaly? The old mayor of Diamond?”

“Yes,” she nodded. 

“Do you know what happened to her? I’m investigating her uh.. disappearance, as it were.”

“Not really. Her husband Mur was sheriff. They broke up and he moved to Utah.” 

“Hm... Any idea why she retired from being mayor? Was it just time to move on or was there something else going on?”

“I think she was just tired of being mayor. Lots of work in that.” 

“There sure is,” I nodded. “Just wish I knew what happened to her... You know there’s a monument for her over in Diamond. That only happens when a person’s been dead...”

“Yup, saw her in Diamond a few weeks ago but not since.” 

“A few weeks ago?” I looked at her. 

“Yep.” 

“Interesting indeed... Something must have happened.”

“Could have.” 

“I aim to find out what.”

“Okay. Let me know what ya find out.” 

“Also... this business with the bridges in Diamond... and this crate that magically reconstructs... Bill says that it’s Cym’s ghost. Is awfully curious.”

“Sure is.” 

“Alex shot at the crate ‘cause Bill told him to and then it just ... put itself back together. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Wow.” 

“Bill says that the legend is it’s Cym’s ghost.”

“Could well be.” 

“But there has to be some sort of explanation... Ghosts aren’t real, Suzy.”

“I got some in my yard now. Some kids and a bride. Just appeared.” 

I looked at her with suspicion and said, “There’s a reasonable explanation, Suzy. There has to be.”

“Oh well, could be. Might be the talking bear brought em.” 

I looked at her with a blank stare. “Suzy, have you been drinking?”

“Nope. Well let me go get some dinner. See ya later.” 

“Sure. Stay safe, Suzi. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Sure,” she waved and headed down the street. 

I finished writing case files from yesterday and then made my way to Black Diamond. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into the saloon and smiled when I saw the man spinning music on the turntable on stage. Lil was dancing beside him and I found out that his name was Kenny and he was going to be coming once a month for these dances at the saloon. I talked with Jenna and met a couple of others while we danced, including a man named Bruce and a man named Austin. 

We danced to the music and Kenny got TJ and Bella up on stage while we sang happy birthday to TJ and we continued to dance and enjoy the festive atmosphere. It was nice to just relax and have a good time, but I wished that Alex was there dancing with me. There was quite a huge crowd and the music was great and Kenny was entertaining in his interactions with the crowd. 

Bill came into the saloon and came over to where I was dancing. “You find out anything for me Deputy?” he asked. 

“Uh... Maybe. Not really sure if it’ll add up to anything but it’s curious anyway...” I looked at him and stopped dancing. “Maybe we should talk outside? I’ve heard some things from uh... a source... Think it might have to do with Kaly’s ... disappearance, at the very least.”

“Her things were untouched,” Bill said. “Food... clothing... everything except maybe a change of clothes. Like she vanished.” 

“I don’t think she vanished,” I shook my head. 

“Trin?” Bruce asked then, and I looked from him to Bill. 

“You check Miss Cym’s family?” Bill asked. 

“Not yet... but I think something happened to Kaly and I think it was dangerous. Just ain’t sure exactly what yet...

“I hope she chocked on her own soap,” Lot said then. 

“Good job, deputy... Getting a cold case warm again,” Matt smiled at me. 

“You bet, Sheriff. Something happened, I’m sure of it,” I smiled at him. 

“Missing for too long to be alive,” Bill said. “That’s why I had that monument erected.” 

“Lot your just upset because you got caught cursing and then a mouthful full of soap,” Ivy told Lot as they danced near where we were talking. 

“You bet,” Lot nodded. 

“Bill... the list of folks against her was apparently extensive,” I said and looked over at the couple. “Lot? How’d you know Kaly?”

“She is my sister,” he said simply. 

“Your...” I stammered and looked from Bill to Matt back to Lot. “And you hope she choked on her own soap? Your own sister?”

“It’s called brotherly love,” he shrugged. 

“You seen her Lot?” Bill asked. 

“Not for a few weeks,” he shook his head. 

“What was she into recently, Lot?”

“That’s what bothers me,” Bill agreed. 

“Um... lemme think. I can’t rightly recal.” 

“T’aint seen hide nor hair,” Bill shook her head. 

“I’ve had a source that said she had lots of enemies...” I started. “Makes me think one of ‘em got to her.”

“Naw, all rumors,” Lot countered. 

“Lot... you remember the Regulators? You should,” Bill grinned. 

I blinked, looking from Bill back to Matt, wondering if there’s a connection I hadn’t known about until now. 

“How couldn’t I? Was me that hung their bosses,” Lot said somewhat proudly. 

“Okay, someone want to fill me in here?” I blinked harder. “What does this gang have to do with something Kaly was into...?”

“Notice how he couldn’t care less... that’s suspicious,” Bill looked at me. 

“Yeah, I do notice that, Bill,” I nodded. “I want to know more about this bloody gang though. If these guys...” I started but then wonders if we really should be talking about this in public. “Bill, maybe we should talk outside?”

“Lot knows more about them anyone I know,” Bill said. 

“What’s there to know, they were a bunch of two bit law dawg shooters.” 

Bill agreed that we should walk outside so we went to stand in front of the saloon. We could still hear the conversation going on inside as people walked past us to join the party in the saloon. 

“So no physical evidence?” Bill asked me. 

“Well no, but Bill... This Regulators gang... Lot was involved with hanging their leader. What if... Bill... Something isn’t adding up. Lot don’t seem all that... concerned. He hanged their leader? Why? Who was their leader?” 

“But... as far as the Regulators go....” 

“Guess I have to talk to Lot about the leader...” I realized. “Gonna head back in there.” 

I walked over to Lot and Ivy and said, “Hey Lot.... I know you’re busy but...”

“Yes I am busy how very observant of a Pinky.” 

“Don’t suppose you could tell me a bit more about this gang...?” I blushed a bit. 

“I think she wants to dance, Lot.” 

I shook my head at Ivy, “I don’t need to steal him away from ya, Ivy.”

Ivy graciously stepped from Lot’s arms and said, “Go on, Trin, two step him.” 

Lot snatched Ivy back into his arms and shot me a glare and I said, “He’s all yours, Ivy.” 

“Um... thanks?” she chuckled. 

“I just want to know who the leader is, Lot,” I said to him. 

“Why does it matter? The gang ain’t around these parts no more.” 

“It matters because there’s some guys trying to copy them and I wanna know what we’re getting into.”

“Good luck to them,” he laughed hard. “They a bunch of knuckleheads. They all got skulls that Charles Darwin would be happy to examine.” 

“Mr Lot.. what Trin says is right.. but so do you... hot heads if I say so,” Matt put in. 

“All I want is a name. What does it matter?” I sighed a bit. 

“Hot heads?” he laughed again. 

“If you’ve already killed the leader, why hold back the name?”

“Each time they try bein’ hot heads with me they wind up shot.” 

“Quick on the trigger... seem to want to start a gang war..” Matt said to Lot. 

I nodded to him and thanked him for his support in the conversation as Lot said, “They ain’t no gang.” 

“A bunch of folks out causin’ trouble together? Sounds like a gang to me,” I said. 

“I heard they tangled with Punk and Jade the other night.. one against those two.. and now they are resting in peace,” Matt said. 

“No gang? Just a bunch of ‘regulars’?” Ivy asked. 

“Gang war now, Sheriff?” I looked to Matt, hearing the new information. 

“Then I suppose you can call folks wearin’ badges a gang as well,” Lot said. 

“They come here doing what they did yesterday , they gonna leave town in a shiny new box!” Ryker put in from where he was dancing on the stage. 

“Folks wearin’ badges don’t try to cause trouble,” I shot a look at Lot. 

“Oh yes they do, seems the fella tryin to start this gang up is a deputy sheriff,” Lot nodded. 

I blinked and looked from Matt to Ryker. “A deputy Sheriff?” 

“Not from this town, he ain’t,” Matt shook his head. 

“He ain’t no deputy. He wants to be!” Ryker said. 

“Yer wrong, Bubba is a deputy in tombstone,” Lot said. 

“Bubba?!?” I exclaimed, shocked, and reached for the table to lean against for support. 

“And he the one trying to start this all up again,” Lot said. “Seems all you law dogs are a lil thick. You gotta ask outlaws for all the right information.” 

“Pft, easy there, Uncle Lot,” TJ put in and Lot smirked at him. 

“Trin, if you want information about their whereabouts... You need to talk to Miss Victoria. She claims that the leader is her beau,” Matt grinned. 

“I remember... Just haven’t seen her yet,” I nodded to him. 

“See, yer wrong again,” Lot said. “Their leader is Bubba.” 

“He is right, Trin,” James put in then. “Bubba and then the two clown we have here all talking about joining up.” 

“No, no, ya wrong,” TJ shook his head. 

“Not Carl,” Lot said. 

“Carl and Sam, last I heard,” James said. 

“Nope, not Carl, but the other one. Right, Sam,” Matt nodded. 

“Nope, Bubba,” Lot said. 

I shook my head, not believing him. “It can’t be.” 

“Bubba? As in Ella’s Bubba?” Abby asked. 

“Sam and Carl are wanting to join up with Bubba. Yep,” Lot nodded to Abby. 

“As in Ella’s Ex,” James said. 

“Nope. You’re wrong,” I said defiantly to Lot. 

“Last time I seen Sam, was him layin’ in a pool of his own blood,” Lot said. 

“Ohh, she broke it off with him?” Abby asked James about Ella. 

“How do you know so much?” I asked James. 

“The way Carl was mouthin’ off , they already have joined them,” Ryker said. 

“No I ain’t,” Lot shook his head. “But, if lil miss fancy pants pinky wants to always be right, don’t bother asking me questions.” 

“Information makes good defense the more you know the better your armed,” James said. 

I shook my head listening to them all and gave Matt another look. “You don’t think Bubba...” 

“Now that is the best way to put things, James,” Abby laughed. 

“Well... both cousins were claiming that they want to be Regular... So I gave them vials of caster oil...” Matt said and then paused. “Oh, dang. Regulators as in the gang...” 

“Oh ohh that was sweet of you love, helping those constipated gentlemen with their issue,” Abby laughed at that. 

“They was about to get an enima, Sheriff!” Ryker declared. 

“I officially need a drink,” I said then, walking over to the bar. I looked over at Ryker hopefully and he came over to poor me a whiskey. 

Bruce came over to sit at the bar too and then started to shudder and act afraid, saying that some woman named Pan was near. I told him he should lay off the alcohol but he kept saying that someone had just walked over his grave. 

“Reckon it’s almost my bedtime,” I said as the night went on. 

When I said goodnight to everyone, Lot said, “Don’t forget to keep yer eyes open.” 

I turned and looked at Lot. “That a threat, Lot?” I asked, looking between Matt and Ryker to make sure they heard that. 

“No Ma’am, just don’t want you to not be able to see.” 

“Uh huh,” I nodded and waved, walking outside and back towards Bisbee.