Tombstone.
This morning I walked into Tombstone, hoping to find Bubba and get down to the bottom of what Lot had said on Friday. It didn’t make sense that someone as good at law as Bubba would just throw it all away to be apart of such a violent gang.
I found him standing in front of the sheriff’s office with a horse nearby. After we’d exchanged pleasantries I asked if we could talk.
“I’ve been hearing a few things over and Diamond and I want to set the record straight. Figure the only way to do it is come to the source.”
“Alright.”
“Have you been talkin’ with a couple guys named Sam and Carl?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Amicably or as law?”
“Good friends of mine,” he said and I swallowed hard, wondering if it might be true after all. “I guess as law since I’m still wearing the badge.”
“You’re not.... Leaving law, are you?”
“I’m afraid I probably will... I’ve seen some corrupt people around here. Those need to disappear. And that’s something I can’t do as a member of the law.”
“So it’s true then,” I sighed.
“I guess so. And besides, there’s not enough law to fight all the outlaws around here, so that will probably change to soon.”
“How will that change soon?” I shook my head.
“Well, let’s say that I try to convince some citizens to fight them instead of just watch when the bank gets robbed.”
“To fight who, Bubba?”
“Outlaws, corrupt people, people with warrants. Bad people actually.”
“Then why not just stay deputy and deputize people to help?”
“A deputy can’t burn down a house.”
“You don’t have to go off and join some gang that...” I started and then stopped myself.
“A deputy can’t kill his colleagues. A deputy has limits, an outlaw doesn’t.”
“Bubba...” I shook my head, hating that Lot was right. “Tell me about the Regulators.”
“It will be a bit to much to tell... Read this,” he handed me a note from his pocket.
I took the paper from him and read, shaking my head with a slight swear under my breath as I read the history of the Regulators and their purpose:
The Tombstone Regulators are a like minded group of individuals who believe that the streets are not safe for honest citizens and have decided to begin bounty hunting both as a means of cleaning the streets and making a living. The Tombstone regulators main focus is to protect and help the citizens of Tombstone, and is willing to break the law doing this. We protect the citizens of Tombstone from outlaws, we hunt bounties when they are available, and we will take care of corrupt bankers and lawman with violence if needed.
Slipping the paper in my pocket I looked at him. “So they’re back... It’s true then...”
“It’s not done yet, but most of it is covered,” he nodded.
“You want me to still trust you in spite of this, Bubba?”
“Well... Why not? I’m still going to be law supportive, and so will this posse be.”
“Sure they will,” I mumbled, remembering hearing that from the Scorpion gang in Kingsley.
“If possible we will even go down a list with warrants and ask no reward for return.”
I sighed a bit and asked, “Can you give me names?”
“Names of who?”
“Well for starters... Who was the leader that Lot hanged?”
“Lot hanged who?”
“Their leader. A while back. Who’s replacing him as the leader now?”
“The leader of the Regulators?”
“Yes.”
“No one of us got hanged as far as I know...”
“I mean before the gang started up again...”
“Me, Carl and Tony lead this posse.”
“Tony?” I blinked.
“Yeah.. You know him?”
“Yeah I do,” I sighed, remembering dancing with Tony Nelson at Kate’s so many months ago.
“He’s a real gentleman.”
“Who’s gonna use evil to promote justice. And violence.”
“Well... It’s known that bounty hunters use a bit more violence.”
“It doesn’t sound like bounty hunters, Bubba. It sounds like a gang.”
“I don’t know any gangs that catch outlaws and help citizens. And I’m hoping to be the first one.”
I tried to resist rolling my eyes and said, “I gotta get out of here. Just tell me one thing... What happened between the Regulators and Punk?”
“Between the regulators and Punk..? I don’t know where you are talking about. Our posse is not official yet, but it is possible that some of us made ‘friends’ with them. And that will probably be Sam and Carl.”
“Didn’t sound like it was a friendly interaction... Interactions with Punk usually aren’t.”
“Who’s the woman that’s involved?” I asked pointedly.
“I was being sarcastic. I know that Carl or Sam shot Serenity a while back.”
“Yeah I know that too. She came to my clinic to be healed.”
“But I guess that’s just personal, since I didn’t give any orders to do so. Whatever they did, it was not in the name of the Regulators since it doesn’t exist yet.”
“Oh? So then Punk went after Sam because he shot down Serenity?” I asked.
“I guess so.”
I shook my head and said, “That’s how gang wars are started, Bubba.”
“Oh well. Someone has to take care of them sooner or later.”
“Oh well?!” I blinked. I couldn’t believe how complacent he was being. “I gotta go. Just... be safe? I wouldn’t want you to get in the middle of somethin’ bad.”
“I won’t get myself in trouble Miss,” he promised. “No one hates me around here.”
“You better not,” I shook my head and turned back towards home.
Black Diamond.
I walked into Diamond, taking a deep breath. There was a group sitting by the tree in front of the sheriff’s office and as I got closer I recognized Libby, Thad, Tony, and another man I didn’t know. Tony groaned as he looked over at me and I wondered what that was all about. I asked if Bill was around but Thad said he must be sleeping in.
Looking at Tony, I tried to decide if it was really true what Bubba had said about Tony. “You’re somewhat learned on the history of stuff around here, right...?” I asked him finally.
“I know some stuff, sure... I’ve been trading here for over twenty years.”
“Don’t suppose you’re familiar with any names?” I asked hesitantly.
“Names of who, Trin?”
“Members of the gang, Tony.”
“Keepin’ in mind I just had a nasty fall and I’m not thinkin’ straight. Gang? I suppose theres been some gangs of outlaws in these parts from time to time, some say the Clantons were the first...”
I shook my head and relaxed a bit. “Never mind... Guess I was told the wrong Tony... Reckon I should get some coffee after all. I’ll be back,” I said and headed for the cafe.
Walking into the courthouse, I headed upstairs to Bill’s office. I pulled out my notebook and wrote a note to Bill saying, “We need to talk as soon as humanly possible. There’s been some developments in the investigation and you’re not gonna like where this is going. I’m feeling betrayed and need to talk to you. Soon. Find me in Bisbee or Diamond, though probably more Diamond.” I put the note in his mailbox and headed back downstairs.
I walked back out to the street and talked with the group. Alex came over and hugged me, and I leaned into him, trying to relax. “Babe can we... take a walk?” I asked eventually.
“Sure,” he held out his hand and we said goodbye to the others as we headed to the cafe. We sat down at a table and he held my hand and squeezed it. “You okay babe?”
I shook my head and said, “Remember how I was telling you what Lot said... about Bubba being involved in this whole... gang?” He nodded so I continued, “I talked to him this morning...”
“To Bubba?” he asked and I nodded grimly. He gave a worried look and asked, “What happened?”
“It’s true, Alex... It’s all true. He’s one of the leaders of this... posse, he calls it... They’re gonna help knock down warrants and get the outlaws and corrupt law without the limitations of the law.”
The door opened and I looked up to see Bill walk into the cafe. “Bill, you got my note...” I greeted him hesitantly.
“Good idea to get Bill in here,” Alex nodded after taking a deep breath. “Mornin’ Bill.”
“I went to the courthouse and left him a note after my conversation with Bubba...” I told Alex and then looked over to Bill. “You might want to sit down...’
Bill went to the counter and poured himself a coffee. “Coffee’s been around a while,” he complained, sitting down at the table.
“Bill... Remember when Lot was sayin’ that Bubba was apart of this whole Regulators thing back at the dance? And how we all thought he was crazy and makin’ up stories?”
“Yeah... and we... I thought Lot didn’t make sense. Didn’t respond rightly.”
“He wasn’t lying, Bill... I talked with Bubba this morning. He told me everything... They’re creating a sort of posse... to fight the outlaws and warrants and corrupt law without the limitations of the... law. He doesn’t call it a gang but that’s what it sounds like.”
“It does,” Alex nodded.
“Sounds like Marshal law to me. And that’s... well...”
“Corrupt,” I said, closing the curtain so no one would see us talking.
“Need to alert the military,” Bill decided.
“Back in Amiville... The marshals got out of control. They’d do just about anything to get their man,” I remembered.
“This sounds very serious,” Alex nodded again.
“Only the military can declare marshal law... and that a last ditch effort to...” Bill started and then broke off.
“So the fact that they’re declaring it means... It ain’t a worthy operation.”
Alex looked at me and asked, “Do you know who belongs to this ‘posse’?”
“I sure do,” I nodded. “Bubba, Sam, Carl, and this guy named Tony... I’m sure there are others..”
“This could set fire to the whole territory... might as well not have no law,” Bill went on. “And as far as statehood... Forget it!”
“I still want to know the names of people involved when Lot hanged their leader,” I said and looked over at Bill. “Any ideas on that? If this is a recreation... It could be about revenge...”
“You know the saying ‘Keep your friends and loved ons close... your enemies closer’?” Bill asked.
“Yeah...” Alex and I nodded together.
“I’m thinking an putting a bounty on Lot’s head... anonymously of course,” Bill stated.
“A bounty for what? For hanging their leader?” I blinked.
“Just see if that will make him make his move. A bounty to see him dead or wounded.”
“You sure that won’t cause more problems than it’ll solve?” I looked over at Bill.
“I’m thinking it will force him to make a move that we can nail him to the cross on.”
“Wouldn’t mind seeing that....” I nodded and said, “But Bill... he’s the only one who can tell us what we need to know.”
“There a couple a hungry bounty hunters blew in into town yesterday.”
“Oh? Bill, somehow... I have to talk to Lot.”
“I think they’d go after anybody or anything if there’s money in it for them. And you’re law. The person to talk to if someone is trying to kill you.”
“Yeah, I am I guess...” I said hesitantly, hearing the door open and looking up to see Thad walking in. “Lot doesn’t really... like to talk to me though if you hadn’t noticed...”
“Would Lot talk to you, Trin?” Alex asked me.
“I tried to talk to him at the dance, remember? Ya’ll saw how that turned out. He told me to keep my eyes open.”
“Yeah, and he wasn’t too friendly,” Alex said.
“Let him come to you.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
“You were here for our whole conversation... were you not?”
I nodded and said, “Put a bounty on his head so he has to come to me... So when he’s already ticked about being caught, he’s supposed to give me information? Or do you think he’ll talk to gain his freedom? Lot’s smarter than that.”
“I think he’ll want to know who put out the bounty on him,” Bill said, inviting his brother to take a seat.
“Maybe so...”
“Why every 2-bit bounty hunter in the territory is sniffing his tail...” Bill continued and grinned.
“Well you can put wanted posters all over town,” Thad suggested.
“That’ll turn some heads...” I nodded.
“Then everyone can see then and they can help us find them varmints.”
“Or it’ll scare Lot and whoever else further into their own rabbit holes and we’ll keep chasing our tail,” I suggested grimly.
“It’s a try,” Thad said.
“They will only hide for so long,” Bill said.
“Alex...?” I looked to him.
“Exactly what kind of information do we want from him?” Alex asked.
“I want to know who the leader was that he hanged. If they’re recreating this gang out of revenge over that... Maybe it’ll lead us closer to finding it out. And ultimately, maybe to what happened to Kaly.”
“Brother... we think Lot is involved with something and we want to expose him before it turns ugly,” Bill explained to Thad.
“Bill, I think Kaly started looking around her family history and maybe discovered Lot’s involvement with this gang...” I suggested. “If we figure out all this gang stuff... Maybe... Maybe someone killed Kaly because of her relation to Lot.”
“Ok, I’m listenin’,” Thad nodded.
“Or because she knew too much,” Bill suggested.
“That too,” I nodded. “Also... I think I know what started the gang war. “Remember how Punk had a run-in with the Regulators and we didn’t know why?”
“At any rate... Lot’s alive for the time being and he’s not willing to tell us anything,” Bill said as if he was ignoring my comments about the gang war.
“Actually...” I looked at Alex. “Serenity was shot by Sam last week or so, remember Alex? Serenity and Punk are both Blackbirds. I bet you Punk shot Sam for what he did to Serenity.” When he nodded I said, “Bubba said he didn’t give Sam any orders to go after Punk. So that had to be it.”
“You want some kind of bait to lure them out into the open,” Thad suggested.
“Yes, brother. To get the truth about Kaly’s disappearance,” Bill nodded.
“Well I’ll be the bait,” Thad said and I looked from him to Bill, wondering if he’d been listening to what I’d said about Punk. “I’ll tell them we’re sending out money to another town, and you all can ambush them.”
“This is going to be big...” I hesitated.
“Just an idea,” Thad said.
“Brother, drink your coffee,” Bill chuckled.
“I finished it.”
“If the Regulators and the Blackbirds keep going at it over small petty things... what happens when that escalates?” I asked and Bill looked at his pocket watch, standing. “I wanted you to be apprised, Bill. I’ll keep you posted if anything happens.”
Bill walked over to the counter and paid for the coffees and then turned to me. “Please keep me informed, Deputy.”
“Thanks for coming, Bill. We’ll see what happens I guess,” I said and watched Bill walk out of the cafe. I turned to Thad and said, “I’ll let you know if we decide to go that route, Thad... It’s a last resort kind of thing in my mind... I don’t want more people hurt than needs to be.”
“Okay, that’ll work. I know...”
“I’ll keep you posted too,” I smiled at him. “Thanks for your help.”
“Okay, I just want them dealt with,” he said.
“I know, so do I. But I also want answers.”
“Oh, I’m a U.S. Texas Ranger and I come from Texas,” Thad added as we headed out of the cafe.
“That could come in handy,” I smiled.
“Good to hear, Thad. That is handy,” Alex smiled and nodded in agreement.
“I just misplaced my badge, that’s all,” he said and I laughed.
“We should head home too, darling,” I said to Alex.
“Good idea, hon,” he nodded.
We said goodbye to Thad and headed home for Bisbee.
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