Black Diamond.
I walked over to Gerric’s apartment and knocked on the door. When he invited me in I hugged him and looked around. “Thought I’d come see your new place.”
“Hey there... How’s the arm?”
“Still sore. Need to get the bandage replaced I think. Will do it later after coffee.”
“Sit on the couch, let me take a look,” he said.
“Looks great in here,” I said as I took a seat on the couch and undid my jacket and took it off so he could look at the right arm.
Ger reached for his supplies and undid the bandage. “Not bad...nice small stitches...”
“Just glad the bullet didn’t stay in the arm,” I winced at how bad the wound looked. “That woulda hurt more.”
“Yeah...but tell me...how strong is the arm?”
“Pretty strong I guess.”
“Good...” he put a paste on both incisions before putting a clean gauze and wrapping it. “Looks good....no infection setting in as far as I can see...skin feels cool enough.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I smiled and he handed me my jacket back so I put it on. “Still hurts to use it.... Looking forward to being able to write again.”
“I bet...you and your notes,” Ger chuckled.
“Pretty much all I do for my work aside from the occasional interrogation.”
“Were you able to catch up with Bree yet?”
“Nope.. haven’t seen Bree at all.”
Aly started to sing loudly and off key and we joked about how bad it sounded, then went to join her in the cafe. We sat down at the table and asked her how she was feeling. We had some coffee and talked about how Ger and Myst called off the wedding. I had had the feeling something was wrong but didn’t want to push until he brought it up.
Lil walked in then and took a seat. We talked about how I’d been at the ranch the night before and about the single rancher men there.
“Still can’t believe Jack yesterday,” I shook my head after some silence. “I thought you said he was getting better, Ger.”
“Thought so too,” Ger nodded.
“What did he do this time, Trin?” Lil asked.
“Robbed Bree and tied her up then threatened to do the same to me. But I drew my gun and chased him out of the bank to get him away from her. But I drew my gun and chased him out of the bank to get him away from her.”
“You don’t know he robbed them...until you talk to Bree, Trin,” Ger said.
“Well you can’t change a leopards spot,” Lil added.
“She said the safe had been robbed and he was busy tying her up.”
“After you went in, he came in and tied her up after you went in..according to you,” Ger said.
“Right. Then threatened to tie me up with her.”
“Still don’t know if it was him that robbed it...” Ger said and Lil nodded in agreement.
“Well then let me talk to Bree before assuming they didn’t. I just haven’t been able to find her.”
“If he came in after you,” Lil said.
“There you go. Only one we have anything on is Sommer, for shooting Aly.”
“And Jack for shooting me, Ger,” I looked at him.
“He was defending himself.”
“Don’t forget the reason you had to check my bandages this morning. Defending himself against me who was defending myself after he threatened me,” I said.
“Okay I have a question,” Lil said.
“You said you pulled your guns first...” Ger said.
“Did you want me to let him tie me up? Or take Bree off somewhere? What’s your question, Lil?” I looked at her.
“Is shooting law a hanging offense in Diamond?” Lil asked.
“Yes,” Ger nodded.
“Which would only be for Sommer since I’m not technically law,” I said.
“That might be the way to get Jack... if you go after Sommer,” Lil suggested and I nodded.
“Been thinking that. Right now, Sommer should have been the only one arrested last night... Sommer and you Trin,” he looked at me.
“I was defending myself and protecting Bree. And helping Aly,” I blinked at him.
“You said your self he didn’t have his weapons out...” Ger said.
“He told me to drop my gun and to get down on the ground beside her. What the hell was I supposed to do?”
“Drop your gun and get on the ground,” Lil grinned.
“And let myself be victimized?” I looked around in surprise. “Aly, help me out here, would you?”
“Wait until he draws and warns ya again...as it was, you left an injured civilian to chase after, and shoot at Jack,” Ger stated.
“To get him away from her so that he couldn’t hurt her more. Like it was clear he was doing.”
“Not sure if anyone answered Lil...” Aly put in then. “Shooting law is not a hanging offense in Diamond.”
“It isn’t? T’is everywhere else,” Lil looked at her.
“You sure? I thought it was, sis,” Ger agreed.
“Bisbee it is,” Aly nodded.
“Anything is in Bisbee,” Lil muttered.
“Trin, all I’m doing is what a defense lawyer would do to you....” Ger said.
“Great, and get me arrested. Thanks, Ger,” I rolled my eyes.
“Trin was trying to protect the citizens of Black Diamond and she did what she felt was necessary. Law is suppose to do that,” Aly defended me.
“Thank you, Aly,” I smiled at my best friend.
“No, but would but a doubt in the jury’s mind,” Lil said.
“She isn’t Law, not technically Aly,” Ger said.
“And at times she does get a little over zealous,” Lil added and I rolled my eyes.
“Trin, you think Prosecution twenty-four seven...there is your weakness,” Ger said.
“I never said she was. I said she was trying to defend the citizens. I would have done the same, maybe if I weren’t law,” Aly said.
“You would have left Bree alone injured?” Ger asked.
“I couldn’t tell if she was injured, Ger. All I knew was that I had to get Jack away from her.”
“You would have pulled a gun on someone that didn’t have theirs drawn?”
“He tied her up and threatened to do the same to me!! I will NOT let myself be kidnapped. Or someone else that I care about. Besides, I doubt I even got a shot on Jack,” I said.
“If someone threatened to tie me up, I would have warned, then shot,” Aly said. “So yes.”
“I did warn too. He had plenty of time to leave,” I said.
“How am I going to protect everyone else if some bad guy is running rampant while I’m helpless on a pole?” Aly asked.
“When did he draw his weapon?” Ger asked.
“Forget it, Ger,” I shook my head. “You’re obviously set on getting me behind bars so what’s the point in discussing this further? Even if you’re trying to play devil’s advocate... It’d be nice to have a little support from a friend.”
“No, I am not...I am showing that any other lawyer would do that,” Ger said. “I want convictions... and I am trying to help get them.”
“Ok if your not law Trin... do you have the power to arrest people,” Lil said.
“I have seen both sides of the fence here,” Ger said.
“We don’t want that right now Ger, we want to enjoy our morning coffee with friends,” Aly said and I shook my head. “She doesn’t arrest. Then she should not chase them unless she is a bounty hunter...as a detective she should turn all she has found over to the law.”
“Okay let’s back off with this,” Aly suggested. “She did what she felt was right at the time. Was trying to be helpful. Let’s leave it at that for now. Please.”
“And was trying to defend myself. But that’s fine. I can go back to being the pushover Trin who lets everyone walk all over her and her friends if you want me to.”
“Let it go, Trin,” Aly looked at me and I shook my head, sipping my coffee quietly as Ger and Lil started talking about the horses she had brought to the ranch. They started talking about the election and who should be the deputy mayor.
“Trin, I didn’t mean to upset you at all,” Lil said at length.
“She is most likely upset with me,” Ger said.
“Just would be nice to have a bit of support since I was the one threatened and shot,” I sighed.
“It was just a very tense situation last night. People want to do what they can. Trin. Eat your damn donut,” Aly looked at me.
“No Aly, I get it... they’re just working the other side. Just don’t like hearing a friend saying I should have been arrested is all.”
“Would you like someone else say to arrest you?” Ger asked and I shook my head, sipping my coffee.
“That’s why I said it...you ‘could’ have been arrested last night, you need to be more careful hun.”
“It was either pull my gun on him or get kidnapped. That’s all it came down to,” I looked at Ger as Aly and Lil started talking about wearing dresses.
“You don’t know that...he could have left you two so he could get the money and leave,” Ger said.
“Well you’re both safe now,” Lil agreed.
“He seemed pretty determine to tie us both up.”
“Or pull the gun and NOT shoot,” Ger said.
“I shot around him, didn’t even shoot right at him.”
“That’s true,” Lil said. “But I was just giving Trin a bit of advice is all.”
“Whatever, Ger. Not a big deal ‘till you’re defending them against me in court and I get arrested,” I shook my head.
“Ger remember she’s not law. She doesn’t have to wait to draw like we do. If she was trying to defend herself, it’s different. And I’d really like to stop talking about this now. ok?” Aly asked. “I don’t wanna get upset before your thingy.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s just drop this. We don’t even know if Jack’s charges will go to court,” I said.
“Bree will determine that,” Ger nodded and then shut up when Aly gave him the look.
We talked about the swearing in ceremony and how well Aly was doing as a new deputy. I remembered how outlaws had tested me as soon as I was deputy in Bisbee and she agreed that it was a difficult job at first.
Ger walked out to get ready for the ceremony and I stood to leave as well. I told him I would still be court clerk and he whispered, “I was hoping for more than just being a clear from you in the court house.”
“Let’s talk outside. Not sure I get what you mean,” I whispered back and we walked outside to the street.
“I’m going to have to rely on you heavily to get the court house up and running...getting more attorneys here, there is just you and me now,” he told me.
“I’ll help.. Just... Try not to get me arrested, alright? I really was just trying to protect myself and Bree. I’ll drop the shooting charges on Jack if I have to.”
“I’m just saying you could have done it differently,” he said and hugged me before heading over to the courthouse.
We met the group over there and then Suzy came to swear Ger in as mayor in front of a big group of people. Alex came over to watch the ceremony and I congratulated him as we stood next to each other, watching.
When the ceremony was over, Aly told Alex that she and I had been shot and he looked back and forth between us. “Are you okay? Where did you get hit?” he asked with concern.
“Tummy again, but the other side. Trin got the arm,” Aly told him.
“Depends on how you mean by okay,” I shook my head.
“She’s just upset cause that’s the arm she uses to write her reports with,” Aly said. “Which...I’ve been helping with.”
“Not the only reason I’m upset,” I shook my head and looked at Alex. “Need your logical thinking advice, Alex. Whenever you guys wanna go and talk somewhere.”
Aly leaned over and hugged and kissed Alex and I looked at her hesitantly. “Hey Aly... do you mind if Alex and I go to my place and talk for a bit?”
“Go ahead. I got my hug and kiss, so I’m good!” she giggled.
“Won’t take him for too long,” I promised and led the way to my office.
When we were alone in the Pinkerton office and sitting across from each other he asked, “What’s up?”
“So I can say congratulations alone first....” I smiled. “I knew it wouldn’t take long before you gave her a ring.”
“Thank you,” he smiled back.
“I need your... professional advice on something that happened yesterday.”
“Ok, what happened?”
“Alright well... Aly and I were sitting in the tree talking about the engagement when we saw Sommer running through town. Knowing that she and Jack usually are robbing something if they’re running... I said we should check the bank. We get to the bank and it’s wide open. Bree was nowhere to be found but Aly ran after Sommer to ask her what was going on. I went in to check on the safe and found Bree on the ground, shaken. I bent down to look at her and that’s when Jack came in. He started to tie her up and told me not to help her. He told me to get down on the ground beside her but I wasn’t going to let him do that to me..”
“Good for you!” Alex smiled at me.
“I pulled my gun to defend us and shot at the wall just to get rid of him, right... but it ended up into this big shootout around town. I got shot in the arm and he walked away fine. Aly got shot by Sommer. Thing is... talking with Ger this morning, and Lil... They said that I should have been the one arrested, not Jack.”
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
“They said I could have handled the situation better and that the jury and defense lawyer are gonna say that I drew my weapon first. Which is true... but I only did that to protect myself against Jack. They said I shouldn’t have acted so... violently because I’m not technically law. But what was I supposed to do? Let him tie up Bree and tie me up too? Then what?”
“I think self-defense is a good reason.”
“All I could think of was getting Jack away from Bree. I know I should have looked after Bree more but... I was trying to protect her. Alex... what if Ger defends them and tries to get me arrested? Should I just drop the charges on Jack for shooting me? I mean we don’t even know which of them robbed the safe, though Bree said it was indeed robbed. See... I just don’t know what to do. And it wasn’t even like Ger was trying to be nice about it either, or Lil.”
“He didn’t have his gun out when he told you to get down?”
“I figured that was coming next. I don’t want to get arrested, Alex.”
“No I don’t blame you.”
“But I’m scared that’s what Ger’s gonna be doing. If I drop the charges on Jack do you think he’d lay off me?”
“I think he would.”
“This sucks,” I sighed and rubbed my shoulder.
“I’m afraid if you press charges, Jack does have a point that he could say it was self-defense. It does suck. Completely.”
“So I should just let it go,” I nodded. “Ignore the fact that he threatened me and tore my arm up.”
“No, I didn’t say that either. Trin, I don’t know what to think.”
“I know... sorry just trying to put this all together,” I sighed.
“I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know exactly what the law says on this.”
“I need to talk to Ger and Aly I think. I’ll retract my statement.”
“My concern right now is your arm. Are you okay physically.”
“It hurts to use it and to write... but it could be worse. Ger changed the bandages this morning ‘cause I wasn’t sure when you’d be around and he was there and concerned.”
“Okay, that’s good. He knows what he’s doing. But right now is probably not the best moment to bring this up with him as it’s his swearing in ceremony.”
“Right, not with Ger. That’s why I wanted to pull you aside from all that. I needed your perspective. But I didn’t want to talk about it there. Want to head back over there?”
“Sure,” he nodded and we headed back to the courthouse where everyone was still standing around. We went to the saloon for some whiskey and a congratulatory party for Gerric becoming mayor. He danced with Mysti first and then offered me a dance and we danced, then I headed back to the office.
This afternoon I walked out and Talked with Stormy about her finding a dog and a horse, with the horse possibly being one from the cavalry.
Goldfield.
I rode through the towns and blinked when I saw Sasha. “Good gosh, here we go again,” I muttered.
“Trin!! So nice to see you again!!” she grinned.
“Last time I saw you my gun was pointed at you,” I recalled. “Decided to come back and play nice?”
“No not really,” she drew her gun.
“Trin, she being nasty,” Ella said.
“Just looking for a friend,” Sasha told me and I blinked, reaching for my gun. “These nice ladies here gave her location up pretty quick. If you’ll excuse me, I’m off looking for my friend now.”
I looked from Ella and Victoria back to Sasha and asked, “Would you mind putting that thing away?” When she left with her gun drawn, I sighed and looked back at the others. “You girls alright?”
“We will be. I was concerned for John,” Ella said, talking about her baby.
“Who was she looking for?”
“Yes, I want the marshal to know about her. She is on her way to get Aly Criss,” Vic answered.
“Damn it,” I muttered and rode off towards Diamond.
Black Diamond.
I ran over to town and saw Sasha by the bank with Stormy and I looked at Stormy. “Stormy, don’t trust her.”
“Hey Trin, you know this woman?” she asked.
“Jesus, Trin. Don’t you know when to go away?” Sasha glared at me.
“Sasha, you bring trouble? You gonna find plenty,” Bree told her.
“Was thinking the same about you. Was finally nice and peaceful around here.”
“I ain’t done anything wrong.”
“Except for threaten a deputy.”
“Ya damn well better not,” Bree glared.
“Just wanted to congratulate her,” Sasha said.
“Uh huh. Do you always congratulate people with a drawn gun?”
“No one resting hand on a gun is wanting to be kind,” Bree stated.
“Not all, just my BEST friends,” Sasha said and I rolled my eyes. “Listen I just got back from California. Can’t we get a drink or something instead?”
“Promise to keep it in its holster?” I smirked.
Stormy put her hands on her pistol and Sasha said, “Um deputy you got a bit grabby there with yer gun? A girl might think you ready to whip it out or something, and I don’t swing that way hun.”
“How rude,” Bree said and I rolled my eyes.
“Well if you’re not going to promise to keep your gun away...” I started.
“Listen either way this goes we all gonna end up shot. So let’s say we just get a beer instead?” Sasha suggested.
“Guess I”m getting a drink on my own,” I said.
“And if you ain’t blind honey,” she looked at me. “I ain’t got my gun out. Not et anyway.”
“Funny you did back when you held it on those two girls.”
“Which two girls?” she asked but I rolled my eyes, saying nothing.
“I think you need to hand your weapon over till your ready to leave,” Stormy suggested.
“Um, how about I don’t?” Sasha laughed.
“Then how about you leave?”
“Well aren’t you just the welcome wagon. Now can we just get a drink?”
Stormy gripped her pistol then and Sasha drew her gun. I stepped back, not wanting to get involved in another confrontation like the past couple of days. Stormy asked me to get her to the clinic so I brought her over there and Bree went in to heal her and Stormy up. They argued back and forth about who shot whom first and I went out to find another doctor.
Seth Hammerthall rode over then, and I smiled seeing him. “Sir, hello.”
“Everything okay?”
“Not exactly. Sasha is back.... was comin’ over here to find Aly, to ‘congratulate’ her, she said She comes to town and starts to put her hands on her guns for no reason and Stormy saw that as a threat. Sasha pulled her gun, Stormy shot her, she shot back. They’re both in there now.”
“She shot me first!!!” Sasha shouted.
“Well seeing I’m calvary, I could only assist.”
“Yeah... I’m not real sure on the protocol for Detectives here either,” I looked at him. “Stormy told me I’m active law until Sasha can get up ad move to the jail.”
“I used to be the Chief detective before I came back to only being calvary.”
“I need to ask you some questions then.”
“You need to question me?”
“Been a few instances lately that I could use some advice on and Cas and Adrian seem rather preoccupied... See, most things that happen have been dealt with by the time they get to me and I just have to gather statements. I haven’t been in the middle of a gunfight since I was deputy back in August. So Seth... my questions... The other night. Suzy and Aly went after Lot for a warrant, right.”
“Okay... Go on.”
“We were within Diamond town lines. He wasn’t coming peacefuly, so Aly drew her gun and Lot shot her and Suzy down. I was standing nearby but... as Detective I didn’t know if I was able to draw my gun and shoot Lot. By the time I had, he’d crossed over into Bisbee. Would I have been able to shoot him down if he’d shot two lawmen? Or would I be charged as a citizen in that situation?”
“Well, that dilemma does sound familiar.”
“I figured it might. What should I have done?”
“Detectives work well with law and if they asked for your help. You are in good hands. But in other way’s your doing a citizen’s arrest.”
“That’s the thing though; they didn’t ask me for help that time.”
“If they didn’t ask for your help in that situation. Your hands would be tied.”
“Alright so how about this other situation then... I was with Aly and we saw Sommer run through town so we thought we should check the bank, right? We go in there and Bree was on the floor but Aly went after Sommer to ask questions. I went in and bent down to Bree, but Jack came in. He tied her up and told me to get down on the floor beside her... But I wouldn’t do it and drew my gun, firing near him to get him away from Bree. Chased him out of the bank and got shot in the process. Now...” I looked at him, “Jack didn’t draw first, he just threatened. And Bree had said the bank had been robbed but not by whom.”
“Then it’s a citizen arrest then detective.”
“So I wasn’t in the wrong for drawing my gun on Jack? My main goal was to protect Bree and get Jack as far away from the bank as possible.”
“If he didn’t draw his gun I think he would have asked you to be arrested.. it’s part of being a detective to not be on the wrong side of law.”
“But now Ger and Lil are saying that I should have been arrested because Jack didn’t draw first. But he tied her up and threatened me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Well the threatening part...”
“He said get down beside her,” I nodded. “And don’t help her. Was I supposed to just let him? Or fight back in self defense and in protection of a fellow citizen? I really don’t want to go to jail over this, Seth. If I have to I’ll retract my statement against Jack. I mean in reality none of my bullets even hit Jack.”
“If you have a good report and lawyer, I don’t see much problems.”
“You know how courts work in this town,” I looked at him. “I don’t want anything to do with it anymore. With the whole situation. If I retract my statement against Jack, then I’m fine, right?”
“Stand firm in what you know. I trust you’re not at fault.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know anything right now. And I don’t want to put it in the hands of a jury.”
“One of the laws in a town is harassment and it sounds like that is what Jack was doing just to get you to shoot.”
‘Exactly,” I nodded.
“So make a report and send it to law.”
“I did... but the defense will tear it up.”
“When it’s court time it’s a good idea to stand by the truth.”
“And I’ll get arrested for drawing my gun first. Then I’ll be the only Pinkerton to get arrested and I’ll lose my job, right?” I sighed.
“No, there was one before you.”
“Seth...” I looked at him.
Stormy walked out and asked if I had any handcuffs but I told her I didn’t. Seth went in and cuffed Sasha and we brought her to the cell. I searched her, though she wasn’t too happy about it, and then I worked on the total of charges since Stormy needed my help. Strider walked in and then Ger, and I sat back, letting them all work since my job was done. Aly came in and shook her head, seeing Sasha in the cell. I explained to them what had happened and Ger told me that we should make this charge stick and not let her get away with it.
I walked over to Aly’s place and she handed me Bree’s statement about the incident in the bank. I smiled at the fact that she said Jack did indeed have his guns out and we talked about the list of statements I needed to gather for each open case. After we went over the list, I said goodnight and headed home.
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