September 17, 1899

Bisbee. 

As I sat in front of my office this morning with my coffee, I thought back over everything that Alex and I had discovered yesterday. I looked up and smiled when I saw him walking over. 

“Good morning,” he smiled and reached out to give me a hug. 

“Good morning, darling!” I smiled, hugging him and kissing him softly. 

“It’s nice to see you,” he said, kissing me back. 

“Likewise. I smiled. “Let me go off duty and then join me for a coffee?”

“Sounds wonderful.” 

I walked into the office and wrote the finishing time down, then walked back out and smiled. “Shall we?” 

“Coffee is just what I need right now.” 

I walked into Chezz and went around the counter, reaching for the coffee pot. “How was your night, darling?”

“Chilly. How was yours?”

“We need to work on that,” I chuckled, pouring the coffee in two mugs. I slid him the cup and walked around to join him.

He wrapped his hands around the cup and took a sip. “Mmm, you make good coffee.” 

“Only the best for my man...” I smiled and sipped my coffee. I reached over and held his hand, feeling how cold it is. 

He squeezed my hand and said, “Feels nice holding your hand.”

“Been looking forward to it all morning. I’ve been trying to piece together what we learned yesterday about the Dead Rabbits... You know, how they’re responsible for the clock tower case?”

“You figured it out? The connection?”

“Remember... I told you how dead rabbits were showing up around that time... and how dead rabbits were the reminder that the gang was close... And how my friend told me about his father being apart of the Dead Rabbits gang?”

“Yes,” he nodded. 

“Remember those notes they were dropping off at my office... The ones telling me that I had to back off...”

“Yes, the threatening ones...”

“Alex... the last letter I got... I found a copy of it last night because I had a hunch... Listen to this,” I pulled out the note and read, “TO PINKERTON: You quit worrying about the TIME PIECE or it will soon be your TIME to go so we can have PEACE!!! It’s time to......LET MY PEOPLE GO!!! SIGNED XX.” 

He raised his eyebrows and I said, “The one before that...” I looked for the previous note and read, TO PINKERTON:  WE EAR YOO BEEN LOOKIN WEAR YA SA’POSE NOT TO. ‘MEMBER TIS A WORNING!! THERE NO TIME EAR!!! THERE BE VERY “BOOMIN’” CONS’ICKENS IF’N YA’ STICK YA’ KNOWS WEAR NOT SA’POSE TOO! WE WATCHIN’ YOO!! WE LET YOO NO DEMUNDS SOON!! YOO BEEN WORNED!! It’s time to.. LET MY PEOPLE GO!!! SIGNED XX.” 

“That’s when I went over to Ghenna and found the clocks there... And they threatened to kidnap me so I ran out of the town,” I said and looked at him. 

“Wow, they seem to mean business.” 

“I got those notes back in June... Alex, I haven’t investigated the clock tower case since. It scared the hell out of me.”

“I don’t blame you. They sounded serious,” he took my hand. “I don’t want you to go there alone. I will go with you if you want to investigate more.”

I shook my head and said, “I’m not going back to Ghenna. I told the sheriff at the time where the clocks were. We tried to create a posse to go over there but we didn’t have enough men so the case went cold.”

“Do you think they’ll reopen the case?”

“Who knows. I guess I have on my own being the lead detective on it... Now that I know the Dead Rabbits were responsible for.... Oh my gosh....” I looked at him then, my whole body going still. 

Alex sat up alertly. “What’s wrong?” 

“In Kate’s... they... then in Bisbee... Punk and Serenity... Ali... Gabe...” I shook my head. 

“You think they might be the ones?” he asked, taking a sip of coffee. 

“I’ve always suspected them of some sort of gang... I remember now... They shouted that phrase whenever they were in jail... I remember hearing Ali’s voice... Then when the clocks were stolen the phrase was... Oh my gosh...” I shook my head, starting to panic. 

Alex took my hand. “What?” 

“The rabbit... on the sheriff’s office... Skyla told me that it was a gift from Punk and...” I shook my head. “No... No, they couldn’t...”

He narrowed his eyes and said, “This sounds like something to look into, in the very least.” 

“Alex... They... Last month or so... I was in Kate’s. They were all there, Serenity, Gabe, Ali... The only one missing was Punk. Kris and this other girl he deputized came in to arrest someone for something, though he didn’t specify who. A shootout pursued. The only ones who didn’t get shot down were me and Serenity, because I was hiding under the table so I could watch... After they all got taken to the clinic, I went out to Bisbee and at the sign... Serenity was standing there so I talked to her and she wanted to know how her friends were doing in the clinic. Punk came over and stood between us.. He stole my gun, ‘cause I had unholstered it in case I would need to shoot someone in Kate’s but I hadn’t had to... He wanted to kidnap me as a hostage but I told him there would be no point and he realized that I’d just be a burden so they left together towards town.”

“Hmmmm, that’s very suspicious.”

“Alex...” I looked in his eyes seriously. “They’re the Dead Rabbits.” 

“I think you’re right,” he nodded. 

“They have to be. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. It’s why they were always together. It’s why those rabbits started showing up. It’s why the letters and the clocks and...”

Alex finished his coffee and put the cup on the bar. “I think it’s time they pay for what they’ve done. They’ve gotten away with it long enough.” I set my mug beside his and turned to face him. I was too afraid to even think straight and he said, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I shuddered against him, feeling safer in his arms but still shocked that those who pretended to be my friend had been against me the whole time. I remembered those first few weeks in Tombstone where Punk and I had... I shook away the thoughts, not wanting to think about it. 

Alex held me tight, stroking my hair and I looked in his eyes. “Alex, what if...” 

He looked back and said, “Don’t think about anything bad.”

“These people were my friends. They talked to me about things. Remember, Serenity was the one you met the other day in the street and told me about that Vito guy. I trusted them... to a point...”

“She had me fooled too,” he shook his head. 

My fear turned into anger, as was the usual progression for my reaction and said, “We need to figure this out. Let’s go to Diamond. I want to know what Ali and Gabe have to say for themselves.”

“I will be right there next to you.”

I stood and reached for his hand and fell into his arms, letting my body relax against him. I tried to let the emotions wash over me while I was there alone with him and he held me close, kissing me lightly. 

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I pulled him closer, desperate to feel safe against him. “I missed you,” I whispered. 

I missed you too. I couldn’t wait to see you this morning,” he touched my cheek. 

“That feeling is entirely mutual...” 

He grinned and leaned in to whisper, “Trin... I really enjoy every moment with you.”

I held him close, knowing that if we didn’t go to Diamond now, I would never have the confidence to do it alone. “We should...” 

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said, taking my hand and interlacing his fingers with mine as we headed outside. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into Diamond and sighed. “I used to feel a happiness when coming here.”

He squeezed my hand and said, “You will again. We’ll clean up this mess.”

“Howdy Trin!” Richie’s voice came from a distance. 

“Richie! Where are you?” I blinked. 

“Find me!” he shouted back. 

I sighed, remembering how hurt I felt when he left without telling me goodbye. I looked at Alex, not sure what to do. He gave me a quizzical look and I shook my head, walking over to Ali and Gabe’s. “This is Ali and Gabe’s house... They have a baby boy named Caleb.”

I knocked on the door and heard nothing. Alex looked into the window and said, “I can’t see that well, it’s dark in there, but looks empty.”

I tried the door and found it easily openable. We walked inside and looked around and I said, “It’s completely empty.” 

We walked upstairs and he said, “That’s odd.” 

“This can’t be a coincidence,” I shook my head.

“No, it can’t be. They know you’re too smart and would connect them with it sooner or later.”

“What now?” 

“Should we ask around to find out where they went?”

“I guess... Richie has some explaining to do anyway.”

We walked back downstairs and found Richie in front of the sheriff’s office. He was sitting in the chair with his feet up on a whiskey barrel, looking far too comfortable. “I have been found.” 

“So what, you leave town without saying goodbye and now you’re just making yourself comfortable in front of the Sheriff’s office?” I asked with some bitterness. 

“Ghost townish over here,” he said. 

“Where’s Ali and Gabe?” 

“Well lil miss sass, if I take notion to go on Poker trip, I surely can.” 

“Poker trip,” I said more as a statement than a question. 

“Yeah, when out a town a while.” 

“Good morning everyone,” Libby greeted us then as she walked over. 

“Hey Libby. Lookin’ for Ali and Gabe. You seen ‘em around?” I asked her. 

“I hear congrats are in order, doctor Libby,” Richie said. 

“I ain’t seen em yet this morning.... congrats for what, Richie?” Libby asked. 

“Becoming a doctor of course.” 

“Oh, why, thank you...” 

“You’re very welcome.” 

“Libby... Ali and Gabe’s place. It’s empty. Cleared out,” I told her. 

“What? Like you mean robbed?” she asked. 

“Like I mean empty. I don’t know what it means,” I looked between Richie and Libby. 

“Don’t look at me,” Richie shrugged. “Been outta town.” 

“Without sayin’ goodbye,” I said to him. 

“Seems awfully rude not to say goodbye,” Alex said then. 

“Weren’t gone forever. Been around since.” 

“Sounded like ya were from how they all were talkin’ about it,” I said. 

“Seems none of your business, stranger,” Richie looked at Alex. 

“Maybe something happened.... made ‘em have to leave in a hurry,” Libby looked around. 

“None of my business?” Alex narrowed his eyes at Richie. 

“Maybe it did,” I nodded to Libby. 

“Well ya can hear,” Richie said. 

I looked at Alex, recognizing the look in his eyes. He put his hands on his hips and said, “I think I just might make it my business.”

“They were doin’ such a great job in Black Diamond. I wonder what’ll happen now,” Libby frowned. 

“You and me both...” I nodded. 

“Be a hero son, do what you feel like doing,” Richie said. 

I walked back to Alex and put a hand on his lower back, leaning in. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

Alex slid his arm around my waist and gave me a long, slow kiss. “I think I’d rather give you a kiss than trade insults with a coward.”

I smiled and kissed him back, then turned to wink at Libby as Richie snickered and started to whistle a tune smugly. “Libby, if you hear what happened to Ali and Gabe, let me know, please?”

“I’ll let ya know if I hear anything.... Take care folks,” Libby smiled. 

“Let’s go home,” I looked at Alex. 

“After you, my lady,” he smiled and we headed down the street without saying goodbye to Richie. 

Bisbee. 

I was quiet on the way home and led the way back to the living room upstairs. Alex followed me quietly and we sat on the couch together. I leaned back into his arms and he wrapped them around me, holding me close. 

“I’m sorry if I got a little testy with your friend,” he said. 

“Clearly he’s not much of a friend anymore.”

“No, that he is not.”

“I wouldn’t have objected if you shot him. Or, at least near him.”

“I was really itching to.” 

“I could tell.”

“I don’t like someone being rude to you,” he chuckled. 

“Something ain’t right over there, Alex. I can feel it.”

“It did feel strange over there, Richie aside,” he nodded and played with my hair, winding it around my fingers. 

“Something’s shifted. First Matt blew me off the other day, the sheriff deputy over there who also was a friend... then this whole thing with the Dead Rabbits... Now Richie...”

“Hmmm, definitely odd.”

“The timing of it all is no coincidence, I assure you,” I nodded. He kissed me deeply and then leaned up to stand. “You’re going out into the desert again?” I asked him. 

“Got some business to take care of out there,” he nodded. 

I turned around and held him tightly. “Stay safe, dear... Thank you for being here for me today.”

“Have a wonderful day!” Alex squeezed me tightly and I smiled as I watched him head downstairs.