Black Diamond.
I walked over and waved to Aly sitting in her tree. “Good morning. So Trin....Mark is a deputy here now.”
“Wow... did we need another deputy with Stormy and you around?” I chuckled. “Was that awkward for you?”
“Nah, not really, he’s got a sense of humor about some things and is easy to work with. I spent about an hour and a half with him last night in the sheriff’s office, explaining reports, and I let him do that warrant for Lot. Even let him handcuff me..for practice,” she giggled.
“I’ll bet he liked that,” I chuckled. “Glad you got that warrant for Lot done. I actually investigated that safe and got some prints lifted. I need something of Jack or Sommer’s to compare prints.. Anything in your possession?”
“He did he kept asking me if I was good at house chores?” she laughed.
“Stormy said she hasn’t emptied the trash in the sheriff’s office, so there should still be the chocolate bunny wrapper in there. I know that’s strange and gross a little, but it should have at least Sommer’s on it. As for Jack, well he gave me my guns back the other night, and I’m sure his prints are all over them,” Aly smiled.
“This might be the only time I like the Easter bunny,” I winked at her.
“You’re silly,” she shook her head. “Are you gonna just stand there all morning or hop up?”
“I’m gonna go solve this case for you,” I winked. “Then I’ll relax. I’m not even gonna get coffee yet.”
“You’re the best. I like that I’m getting things done. Ok that you’re getting things done,” she chuckled. “I’m a bit lazy this morning, but I worked my ass off last night. uhm. BEFORE I went dancing.”
“Hey you got the warrant for Lot done. And you trained your ex-fiance to be a deputy.”
“Yeah that’s really strange isn’t it? I actually think we’re gonna work well together.”
“You know what I think will happen?”
“No, what?”
“I bet you that your relationship journey with Mark, even though it was the wrong timing... now that you’ve had time to heal I bet you’ll be good friends. Like what happened with me and Alex,” I smiled. “It’s always just about figuring out how your supposed to interact with the opposite gender. And sometimes it takes time, and mistakes, to figure that out.”
“I have a feeling you’re right.”
“Even the fact that you’re going to work with him, like Alex and I did, it’ll bring you closer as friends,” I smiled.
“We’ve had enough time between our relationship for that to happen.”
“Better prepare for an ‘i Told you so’ from me,” I winked.
“It took me two months before I moved on,” she grinned. “I’ll prepare for that.”
“Took us a long time too,” I chuckled.
“I wonder though... how Alex will feel about Mark becoming a deputy here. This just happened last night and I haven’t seen him since to tell him.”
“That’s a good question. Alright I’m off to get some work done. I’ll write a report right away and bring it to you, then coffee.”
“Ok, you do those things and I’ll be here.”
“Yes ma’am,” I waved and headed to the sheriff’s office.
I walked in and headed for the garbage can, finding the Easter bunny rapper in question. I lay it out on the table and took out the prints I found at the safe and lay it out beside it. I smiled when I saw the match which confirmed that Sommer did indeed rob the bank. I sat down at the desk and worked on my report, then headed back to the tree.
“Alright you, going to get coffee then I’ll come up to the branch with this here report,” I announced to Aly and then headed to the cafe. I gathered a couple of coffees and headed back over to the tree where I carefully balanced the coffee and climbed up the tree, handing her one of the cups.
“How in the hell do you drink coffee in a tree?” Aly giggled. “I tried it once and uhm...I was just glad it was only me in the tree at the time.”
“Oh, you wanted this instead?” I chuckled and handed her the incident report.
“Oh yay! Ok so this is all by itself, yes? No other witnesses or reports or anything to go with it? I can drop it later?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Yes m’am there are other things or yes ma’am I can drop it?” Aly grinned and took the paper.
“The two that I gave you from me and Bree are paper-clipped to it.”
“Okay. So this looks like a Jack/Sommer together trial. How romantic.”
“They’re different charges though. I hope they’re separate actually.’
“Well..I can separate them for you if you think, or we can keep them together.”
“Different witnesses too other than Bree.”
“Or I can let the court do whatever.”
“I think we should keep it separate but you know how Jimmi is.”
“Who else was a witness?”
“That was it.”
“No I really don’t know Jimmi.”
“Jimmi does what Jimmi thinks is best no matter if someone has a better or more logical suggestion.”
“Ok well I’m not going to put in time separating it if he’s only gonna put it together as one trial anyhow. If he wants to separate it, he can.”
“And usually does it without communicating to those that need to be informed ahead of the docket. Sorry, talking to him was like talking to a wall. DId I tell you about that conversation?”
“I don’t think so. But I’ve heard a lot of things with people getting upset with him for.”
“Ugh... I went in there about being court clerk right... Cause Ger wanted me to talk to him about suggestions for who could be lawyers or judges in Diamond... So he goes into this whole speeche about how being the court administrator for Arizona was a big undertaking and how I already do so much and if I’ve really thought this through... “Which, he’s right. It is a lot of work. But when there’s no cases like it was for a few months there... it would give me something to do. And I would have help if it did get busy. But then... He goes on to say how excited he is to still one day see me in the defense attorney seat. I couldn’t believe we were having this discussion again. We had this whole discussion about conflict of interest and he was like Trin, what if the wrong person was being put on trial? What if they were really innocent?”
“That is ridiculous. It sounds like he got WAY off subject.”
“So I told him about the case with that Native chief where I got that report from the chief’s wife to show the true side of the story and how I gave that statement to Lot and then sat on the jury. If the prosecution had presented a... sane case, I would have still maybe said guilty but she didn’t. She tried to use the wife’s report against the chief which wasn’t what it was intended for and everyone got pissed. Then we were talking about it doesn’t matter about how good your case is, it matters who’s on the jury, but sometimes you can’t even depend on that... And I told him about that case I won against Ger where all I had was a report from Suzy who didn’t even show up. Ger had three witnesses there, as well as several supporters on the jury and I still won. And throughout the trial they looked very against me. I tried to get Jimmi to explain it but he wouldn’t and changed the subject. So I guess I proved my point.”
“Really you just never know,” Aly chuckled. “People know that I don’t lie. Even if I tell the truth about some things, you’re going to have others twist them. It’s just how it is.”
“Seriously Aly... it’s like the man won’t admit how unpredictable court is. Even though he’s been here for so long.”
“Like Jack and Sommer...they are notorious liars. And Rikki..she makes things sound so nice and sweet that aren’t really true.”
“Yup.”
“Well that’s ridiculous. Some people are just stubborn like that.”
“He still never gave any suggestions. So I just asked when he’d be available to meet with Ger and left. I guess they met but he didn’t tell me details of how it went. Other than that court wasn’t ready yet ‘cause we didn’t have enough people and then Suzy says ‘oh by the way court is Satuday’ and Ger was really upset about it. So was I actually. Ger told her that it wasn’t what he and Jimmi had discussed and she said that people could come from anywhere in the territory.”
“Wow. Okay. Some serious lack of communication.”
“Indeed.”
“We’re got a lot of stuff going through and we need court and that would explain why I haven’t seen Ger lately. I often wonder if he’s reconsidering his position with mayor because of the frustrations.”
“He hasn’t been around? I’ve been laying low lately.”
“I haven’t seen him for 2 days.”
“Wow... That worries me.”
“Yeah. He’s usually around a lot.”
“We had such a good discussion that day in the courthouse.. Even got an apology out of him and everything,” I chuckled. “So Aly... let’s recap. Warrant is going out for Lot. So that case is closed fofr me.”
“Right, I did that one with Mark last night. He wrote up the warrant, I checked it, and it’s posted on the warrant board now. So yeah, you’re done with it. Now we just gotta arrest the bastard,” he chuckled.
“The shoot out and robbery with Jack and Sommer.... I’m done with that one now too?”
“Yes, I’ll separate this report, make one for each, and drop them in the court box.”
“Rikki stealing your guns in Bisbee... You think Brother D’s statement is going to be helpful still?”
“No. Because he wasn’t an actual witness. We already have sam grey who saw the guns.”
“Yeah I don’t think so either. I think we’re good enough with statements for that one.”
“Unless you think we should just hold off until tomorrow, but I really wanna get this one done. I’ve got the warrant, and just need a signature.”
“I think we can be safely done with it. Okay so that just made my work load ten million times lighter. All I have to focus on now is that medics and horse case. Haven’t seen Zeth around yet though.”
“I haven’t seen him either. He might be patrolling another city since he’s a ranger. Gonna go find my brother and see if I can get him to sign this thing for Rikki.”
“Alright I’m going to walk around.”
I climbed down the tree and took Phoenix for a ride. I went to the Epitath office and read the latest edition of the paper and then came back to Diamond. I noticed Mark standing in front of the office and smiled.
“Hey there Deputy.”
“Whaaah!” he jumped back.
“Walked over from my apartment right over there,” I chuckled and pointed at m apartment.
“Do you always make it a habit to jump out at people like that, woman?”
“I walked over from my apartment and said hi. Would you rather I snuck up behind you?”
“No. No.... No... Not smart to sneak up on a person. Well it so far has been rather empty in town except for you now showing up.”
“Empty is good. Maybe I’ll catch up on some reports then.”
“Well let’s hope it stays that way. I know we will have our hands full with Jack’s trial later on.”
“Yeah... that’ll be a fun one.”
“Let’s see if they can this time find him guilty.”
“Well the last time he was on trial, I was prosecuting and he was found guilty. Him and Sommer both. So it does happen, though don’t ask me how I won that one.”
“Shear luck?” he grinned.
“Must have been. I had one statement of a ranger who didn’t show up. Ger had three present witnesses and half the jury on his side, or so I that.”
“I’ll take it,” I chuckled.
“Yeah any win is good.”
“Mmhmm. So getting used to being a deputy? Did your wife and child move here too/”
“Yes they did.”
“Nice to have their support.”
“Well she still is worried for my Safety and that is understandable.”
“Of course... Can’t blame her for that.”
“We have a baby on the way and all. Then Hayden.”
“Busy parents,” I smiled.
“Very. Hayden we adopted and she is almost 13. She is a sweet spirited child and very independent.”
“That’s great.”
“She knows what she wants and is not afraid to tell you things straight off. She is a handful,” he laughed.
“But you love her. That’s all that matters.”
“Yes we do. She hates shoes and makes it a habit to find anyway to not wear them. Oh and if she could she would run around in deer skins if she could a she can’t stand having to be in a dress.”
“I hate dresses too,” I smirked.
“So does Sis. She won’t hesitate to put one one to impress a feller.”
“Oh sure I’ll do that too.... and I’ll wear it for playing piano and to church. But that’s about it. Maybe to a wedding but I’ll get to wear a tux for Alex and Aly’s.”
“A tux?”
“Mmhmmm. I’m Alex’s best man.”
“Well that is good news.”
“We’ve been best friends for a long time. Aly and I have been too since the day we met.”
“Well I hope the best for them.”
“So do I. They both deserve to be happy and I’ve never seen either of them happier.”
“I am glad for that.”
“I guess something started out with me and James, the undertaker, but he’s hardly around enough to figure out if it’s something serious. He comes around once in a blue moon and stays for a short while then goes to work at his office.”
“I know Aly and I where two but we where taking things to fast and well certain communications between us got misunderstood.”
“I know Aly and I where two but we where taking things to fast and well certain communications between us got misunderstood.”
“You know we are still friends and I am happy for her.”
“And Alex and I were together for a bit but we realized we were better off as best friends and not romantically. He needed someone like Aly who was ready to settle down.”
“Well I am curious have you at least told him how you feel and that you would like to see more of him.”
“Once they took the time to get o know each other of course. Well I thought we had that talk....” I sighed. “And he said he was gonna save a spot above the fireplace for a picture of us. So I thought that was a good sign but I didn’t think I’d see him this little.”
“Ahhhhhhh I see. Kinda a disappointment then.”
“I really miss him, Mark.”
“I am sure you do Trin. All I can say is tell him this. I miss her a lot when she is not here.”
“Howdy hay,” Aly smiled and waved.
“Hey Aly,” I turned.
“I almost said howdy ho but didn’t want Trin to get offended,” Aly giggled.
“See, she didn’t sneak up on you, did she?” I winked at Mark.
“Afternoon Aly,” Mark nodded to her.
“I’m not very sneaky,” Aly blinked.
“That wouldn’t offend me... that would worry me,” I chuckled. “I’d ask who the hell are you and what did you do with my best friend.”
“Hey Mark, how’s it going?” Aly smiled.
“And then I’d tell you to get her back.”
“Aww.... you’d miss me!” Aly said and I rolled my eyes with a smirk.
“Going rather well. It has been peaceful today,” Mark replied to Aly.
“Good! not sure if ya saw but I got a new warrant on the board earlier today.”
“Yes, Mark did she tell you about the deputy hazing?” I laughed.
“Another Warrant,” Mark noted.
“Uhm...it wasn’t peaceful earlier. We had Jack come in and shoot people, killed someone, and then...uh...shot Colonel Wedge,” Aly explained.
“Oh, a different warrant.”
“Lot already got me last night,” Mark said.
“Well the warrant I did wasn’t the one for that, but it’s from the incident when Rikki stole my guns.”
“Lot shot you?” Aly blinked at him. “Where?”
“No Blamed me for the fire Jack started in Tombstone. David witnessed it so I took his statement and gave it to Kristoff.”
“Fire in Tombstone? Jack shot Wedge and killed people?” I looked between them. “I love having deputies who know what they’re doing.”
“Jack is making a real nuisance of himself,” Mark said.
“No Jack shot wedge and killed people here,” Aly said.
“Well killing a man is a hanging offense, so now we have Jack up on murder charges.”
“Sure is, I got two reports I just did on him, and Wedge did a warrant here today,” Aly said.
“I do love Saturday’s when things get processed through fast,” I smirked at that.
“Well we have to keep a eye out on him and arrest him on sight if he sets foot in town.”
“Good news though...” Aly put in. “I’ve got us all caught up here...so we only have one thing outstanding. Besides the warrants on the board, that is.”
“You’re welcome,” I winked.
“Make sure other towns have a warrant issue up on him now that he is wanted for murder. We’ll get this Aly. Seems we have been having issues with sabotage regarding this whole garden contest,” Mark informed.
“OH wait...about that....does it have anything to do with....” Aly held up a note.
“Sabotage?” I perked.
“Seems though most of it is happening down towards Allen Street and Tombstone,” Mark said.
“I was suspect of it because...people just aren’t this nice,” Aly said.
“Freja’s never this outspoken of herself,” I said.
“I don’t know her that well, but it just seemed off. That and....Ivy was passing these notes out to everyone at the dance. It seemed strange,” Aly said.
“I’ll take this case if you want my help, since it’s happening in Tombstone mainly,” I offered.
“Yeah it’s not our problem unless someone comes here and starts messing with my flowers and stuff. then I’m gonna get real pissy-like. It’s not our case to handle,” Aly said.
“Oh well she openly admitted to putting Goats in Ivy and Lot’s garden last night in front of the Clinic in Tombstone,” Mark said.
“It’s mine now.”
“But you can keep the note, I want nothing to do with it,” Aly said.
“Guess copying it to Freja’s writing isn’t going to help,” I put the note in my pocket.
“Then the fire to the jail destroying the flower display there,” Mark said.
“We should be discussing these things inside,” Aly suggested.
“I’ll look into that too and confirm it’s connected.”
“Kids at the Orphanage saying their garden had rats in it,” Mark said.
“Going back to hanging incidents for a second, if I may?” Aly asked as we walked into the office.
“Yes Aly you are very right even though it is just us never know who might walk up and eve’s drop on us,” Mark said. “Yes go ahead Aly fire away.”
“Just... not literally,” I winked and Mark laughed.
“So I know Trin knows, but not sure if you do Mark. Haha very funny, smart butt....anywho... And I have Suzy telling me this...”
“So what is it then?” Mark asked.
“The incident with Rikki....the warrant I posted today. Since she shot law in Bisbee, that’s a handing offense there.”
“It is for just shooting Law,” Mark said.
“She also stole my guns, but if you glance at the chart near the door, Mark, you can see that robbing a person is not ..a...hanging offense,” Aly said.”
“The shooting happened where, exactly again? In Bisbee?”
“Since we have a warrant, we arrest her on sight, and bring her to a judge for a hanging. I suppose keep her locked up in the meantime. Though..I’m really not sure how all that would work. Yes.”
“I can’t remember now. Well then... It stays in Bisbee. Tombstone Law can do things there too. They have jurisdiction in Bisbee.”
“That’s what I thought too. Hell I just wanna arrest her hear for the shooting cans thing and let it be. But remember the original incident happened here. I chased her into Bisbee FROM that shooting incident. With the cans.”
“Doesn’t matter. She shot you in Bisbee.”
“Well dang.”
“I didn’t make the laws. I hated it when I was a deputy there too. Was too many hanging charges.”
“So in that case as it sounds for now We are dealing with criminal cases in Bisbee as well so it is in our jurisdiction to arrest anyone committing a crime there,” Mark put in.
“Yeah but I still got the warrant here for having her weapons unholstered here and she can get locked up for that here. After it I’m just gonna turn the report in,” Aly said.
“No as for Rikki,” Mark said.
“Right, separate cases hon,” I looked at Aly.
“We arrest her and put her in our jail as Bisbbe is under our jurisdiction for now,” Mark said.
“Not everything can be combined. Even though it happened on the same day,” I said.
“Mark, the only reason this is even an issue is because the whole thing started here, in Black Diamond,” Ay pointed out. “They aren’t separate cases though, Trin, it was one incident with multiple parts.”
“Bisbee isn’t our jurisdiction.”
“That happened in two different towns.”
“Hear me out..” I started and Aly nodded with a frustrated sigh.
“Okay. So then we arrest her and put her in our jail here.”
“The way the system works here is weird, I’ll agree. But at the end of the day the only thing that matters is where the crime happened,” I said. “Doesn’t matter if it happened in succession with another crime somewhere else. If Cas wants you to keep this thing in Black Diamond... then he is the head of the law in Arizona.. It’s his call. Suzy’s just a ranger. Who, let’s face it, has been confusing at best.”
“Mark that’s what I’m thinking. I want to keep this here...and I think we should,” Aly agreed.
“I say you listen to Cas. He’s the one who’s been training you and advising you and standing by your side,” I said.
“He is well in charge,” Mark nodded.
“Granted you might have a direct boss in Tye here...” I said. “But the head of the pole is still Cas.”
“Well he is my boss and Stormy’s as well,” Mark nodded. “Yes but Tye for now is out sick. Ok.”
“And the head of the head of the pole is Adrian,” I chuckled.
“I miss Tye,” Aly said.
“You and me both, hon,” I sighed.
“So then we go with those odors so it seems,” Mark said.
“Never thought I’d say that, but I do!” Aly laughed.
“That’s what I would do. Don’t complicate this, though on paper that’s what it looks like is the answer,” I suggested.
“Ok so then..we all agree we’re gonna keep this in Black Diamond. I have the warrant posted. So you can arrest on sight...Mark... and if she resists and/or pulls a gun on you...you can shoot her.”
“Yes,” Mark grinned.
“And gosh I hope you do,” I smiled.
“Sam with Lot though...I really hope all three of us are around next time he’s in town,” Aly said.
“Now then she is part of Lot’s gang,” Mark said.
“Mark when you get a chance, I’d suggest you take a look at the warrant on Rikki. It’s on the top row...” Aly said.
“When we manage to get her in jail we will have to be on our toes that he will try to rescue her even during the hanging,” Mark said.
“I stuck it kinda sorta in the middle, not sure why... but meh,” Aly said.
“I’m sure her friends will try,” I nodded.
“Yes. Same with Jack,” Mark agreed.
“I need to head to Tombstone and look into this garden thing. Keep me posted with this, alright?” I asked.
“Ok but if we’re keeping it here there is no hanging...because Black Diamond doesn’t do that for this crime,” Aly said.
“Glad to have you on our team, Mark,” I reached out to shake Mark’s hand “See you two later. Going to head out before this one gives me a headache. Since I’ve done my part,” I chuckled.
“Yeah you have, Detective,” Aly giggled.
“See you both, have fun,” I winked and headed out of the office.
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