July 29, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked into town this evening and heard gunshots throughout the main street. I went to my office with a sigh and heard Aly, Garth and Mac shouting to each other. When it seemed like things had quieted down, I headed outside and looked around for my best friend. I found her around the corner from the Oriental Saloon with a man who I didn’t know. He ran away when I came over and I walked over to her. 

“You okay?”

“Um... I’m alive?” 

“Who was that? Can I help you to the clinic hon? Where’d you get shot, hon?

“Right shoulder,” she winced. “And yes clinic... please...” 

I nodded and helped her over to the clinic, holding the door open for her. I helped her over to the empty bed and then sat down in one of the seats in the waiting area while Jess was treating Mac. When she was finished with Mac, Adrian came in to give assistance and he took care of another man on the bed I didn’t recognize while Jess went to heal Aly. She complained that they always refused to settle things peacefully and I just shook my head at Mac. Adrian enlisted Garth’s help while he dug for the bullets in the man on the bed and I tried to figure out who the patient was. 

“Trin!” Aly called in the middle of everything and I jumped at the shout. 

“What’s up, Aly?” I walked over to her. 

“See if you can find me Kris.” 

“Sure,” I nodded and ran outside. Kris was wandering down the street and I was relieved to see him. “Kris, Aly needs you. In the clinic.” We walked back to the clinic and I looked at Aly as Kris walked over to her. “Ask and you shall receive.” 

“What’s up?” Kris asked her. 

“Kris, I need to have that man on the table over there arrested for having his weapons un-holstered and shooting at me.” 

Kris went to work arresting the man and Aly said, “And Mac too but uh...” she looked around, “Seems to have snuck off.” 

“In front of Kate’s last I saw him,” I said. 

“Trin... Water?” Aly requested and I was relieved she wasn’t deputizing me. I went to get her some water. 

“Kris if he sits nice and quiet in the cell, I have pie. Apple. Give him a nice big piece when he’s done,” Aly said to Kris. 

I told Aly that I had a report to give her as well but promised to put it in her mailbox. I came back to the clinic to check on Aly and then headed back out to the Epitath office where Kinney was sitting. “Mind if I join you?” I asked. 

“What’s going’ on over there?” a woman standing near us asked. 

“All I wanted to do tonight was some damn paperwork,” I sighed as I took a seat. “Then found my best friend shot in the shoulder by a bunch of hooligans.” 

“Screamin’ for pie,” Kinney said. 

“Seems silly,” the woman giggled. 

A man walked over to us then and handed Kinney a bag of money. “Here ya go.” 

“Likely a distraction. Heard someone else say the bank was robbed. Wonder if they got both dollars,” Kinney said and I saw that the bag was actually stuffed with pie. 

“Didn’t catch your name, sir,” I looked at him. 

“My bad partner, this ones bad, I’ll go get you a new one,” he said. 

“Kinney is my name,” Kin said, thinking I was talking to him. 

“Yeah, I know your name. I meant mr money bags pie man over here,” I smiled at him. 

“Name’s Kritstoff Jameson. Now I must go,” The man said and I laughed at that as he walked away. 

“That’s funny. I know Kristoff and he don’t look nothin’ like you,” I called after him. 

“We are twins!” he shouted back. 

“Hell, even I know the marshall,” Kinney said. 

“Is it a full moon tonight or somethin’?” I looked over at Kinney. 

“Actin’ like it.” 

“Mmhmm. How’s things with you, Kinney?”

“Dang I left my hanky in the bank!” the man yelled loudly and I shook my head. 

“So far so good, no bullets to remove,” Kin said to me. 

“More than most in this town can say tonight.”

“Did he seriously just say that?” Kin asked. 

“Don’t think we’ve met yet,” I looked over at the woman who was shaking her head in awe at the proceedings. 

“No ma’m. Sorry, my name is Marjorie. Pleased to meet ya!” 

“Hi Marjorie! Sorry I’m a bit all over the place tonight. Detective Trin Paige.”

“No worries! Just gettin’ a feel for town.” 

“Best get yourself a gun then. Especially if you’re gonna be out and about at this time of night.”

“Detective...that’s where I met you. Was in the infirmary,” Kinney said. 

“Yes sir,” I nodded to him. 

“I am not one to have guns,” she said. 

“Not sure why I bother comin’ to Allen street this time of night. Safer over in Pearce. Think I’m going to head home,” I stood then. 

“I have seen some lovely displays of pie lovin’ over here,” Marj said. 

I looked across the road and saw Mac and Garth setting a fire in front of the sheriff’s office. I ran over when they’d run off and swore as I got buckets and filled them with water before throwing the water on the fire. I heard Aly shout ‘Fire” and worked harder to get out the flames with Trent, Kinney and Marjorie. 

We heard yelling and heard Garth say, “Anyone touches that fire, I shoot!” 

In spite of the shouting I continued to help the others put out the fire and then coughed from the smoke. “I think we got it,” I coughed when the flames went out. 

“We told you not to touch the fire!” the man with the bag of pie from earlier shouted. 

Kinney carefully pushed the door open and looked around, then came back out. “No one inside.” 

“Come on out then,” I sighed with relief. 

I saw Kris coming over then with weapon drawn and I said, “Kris! Thank God!” 

As bullets flew, I pulled Marjorie away from the shooting since she was unarmed and got her into the courthouse to keep her safe. 

“This is scary ma’am,” Marj said when we were behind closed doors. 

“I know hon. It’s alright. Come on, I’ve got a place we can go. Where do you live, hon?”

“I live with my brother, but I am afraid it is not the best moment for that right now..” 

“Come on with me then.” 

Bisbee. 

I led the way through the back door of the courthouse and we ran to Bisbee where we took refuge in the hotel. “You’ll be safe in here.” 

“Thank you ma’m....I am new here.” 

“A rough first night, ma’am.” 

“I will get used to it. I saw the Marshall get hit.” 

“And I saw them set the fire.”

“I did too.” 

“Could you write a statement for me hon?” I asked and handed her the paper. 

I sat down at the table and we worked on the reports until there was a bang on the door and Jimmy yelled, “Help! Help!” 

I went to open the door and said, “Jimmy, come on in, kiddo!” 

“Miss TRIN! HELP PLEASE!” 

“What’s up, Jimmy?” 

“Lawman he shot, need Doc bad. He outside walkin roun tryin fine help.” 

“He’ll probably find someone in Tombstone. There’s lots of people over there.” 

“He come from Tombstone.” 

I peaked outside and saw no one there. I closed the door and looked back at the two. “We need to stay here, Jimmy. It’s dangerous out there right now. Lots of shooting.” 

“Huh? Wha ya mean? He need help!” 

“I know hon but right now it ain’t safe out there for a young boy or a woman without a gun to be.. I want to keep you both safe.” 

“I got my slingshot, I safe, an I run if trouble.” 

I looked outside again and saw Angeles walking by. “Ang! Kris needs a doc. He’s probably back over in Tombstone.” 

“Oh okay I will go!” she promised. 

“Can you make sure he gets one? It’s not a safe place for either of these two to be,” I told her. 

“Sure.” 

“Yes he hurt bad.. No help him there,” Jimmy said. 

“Be careful. Wild Bunch around,” I warned her and then sighed, leaning back against the door feeling utterly exhausted. My head was spinning and I took a few deep breaths. 

“Miss Trin you ok?” Jimmy looked up at me. 

“You ok Detective?” Marj looked at me with worry. 

“I uh...” I blinked, my eyes still adjusting from the smoke and the fire. I looked around, dazed, and took a deep breath. 

“Miss Trin?” Jimmy asked. 

“Please stay with her, I want you to stay safe, I will look for help!” Marj looked at Jimmy. 

“Miss! Help me get er inside!” Jimmy cried. 

“I’ll be okay. I’m sorry it’s just.... tonight... A lot.... I need to sit.” 

“Let’s get her inside, I will look for help!” Marj shook her head. 

Jimmy grabbed my hand and said, “Please come inside, Miss Trin.” I went inside with him and sat on the couch and leaned forward as he went to get some water. 

“I will go tot town, and look fer a doctor,” Marj said then. 

“No doctor. I just... need water.” 

Jimmy ran to get a glass of water and came over to give it to me. “Here Miss Trin.” 

“I need to see if my brother is alright, I saw him in the mist of people,” Marj said. 

“Stay safe,” I nodded to her. 

“I will try,” she promised. 

“I stay Miss Trin,” Jimmy said. 

“Please do, Jimmy,” I sipped the water as Marj left. 

“You be ok Miss Trin?” 

I looked at him, not sure how to explain. “My best friend... I don’t know if she’s okay. I could use a hug... I haven’t had one in a while,” I looked down. 

He gave me a big hug and I hugged him tight, trying not to cry though the smoke was still in my eyes. 

“Miss Trin, I got somtin I wan giv ya and Natalie..it no good fer me.” He took out a small piece of 

paper and handed it to me. “It ain much, but Miss Joan say it a lot.” I took the paper from him, wiping away my tears as I listened. “I sho Natalie it earlier today...It gold Miss Trin, sparkly gold dus I fine in mine.” 

“Gold dust?” My eyes grew wide and I was grateful for the distraction. 

“I fine it near lif in dat mine in Pearce..I had mor, but Indians ask me throw in river.” 

“You really shouldn’t be over in those mines, Jimmy. It’s dangerous there,” I examined the gold. “Though it’s dangerous everywhere so then in that case no one should go anywhere,” I sighed. 

“But Miss Trin, thers mor...that jus wha I cud carry in my poket.” 

The door opened and I looked over to see Ang walking into the hotel. “Hello Trin, is everything alright?” she asked. 

I blinked back the tears and looked at her. “I don’t know, is it?”

“Miss Angel! Miss Trin no feel good,” Jimmy told her. 

“Where’s Aly? Just tell me Aly’s okay.” 

“Trin what happends?” Ang asked. 

“Tell me she wasn’t in that office.” 

“She leave early today,” Ang said. 

“Tonight,” I shook my head. “She was in the sheriff’s office with Kris. They were bringing some outlaw to jail. Then the others... They set fire to the office.” 

“I see her leaving early.” 

“When?” 

“Kris is fine now resting and i no see any body at the Sheriff office Trin,” Ang said. “But she could still be... You’re sure she’s okay?” 

“I inspect inside Trin,” she promised. 

“Miss Trin I go fine out if Miss Aly Sheriff ok,” Jimmy said. 

I pulled Jimmy closer and said, “No... Stay here... Please...” 

“Okay, I stay,” he sat down beside me. 

“Did Kris say anything about Aly?” I looked at Ang. 

“When Jess stay healed a Kris I goes to sheriff office for see if there some other dead and no one stay there Trin,” Ang said. 

“That’s good,” I sighed and leaned back on the couch. “I just... I was so focused on putting out that fire... My eyes... caught some of the smoke.” 

“So, Aly is safe. If no trust me Kris sure said something.” 

“Miss Trin, why people hurt uther people, it no fair,” Jimmy said. 

“I don’t know, Jimmy....” I rubbed his back. “At least we know Aly is okay.” 

“She is ok, I no see any body inside Trin,” Ang promised. 

“Ang.... my vision is blurry a bit... From the smoke... What can I do for that?” 

“Put for sleep some wet clothes on your eyes. I used doing that every night, even help for headache. “

“Good idea,” I nodded. “Maybe I should head home...” 

“Maybe you stay here Miss Trin. You no nee walk home right now,” Jimmy suggested. 

“True... I could stay here at the hotel..” I stood shakily. 

“Sure, that is one good idea,” Ang agreed. 

“Thank you both....” I looked between them and hugged Jimmy before saying goodnight to them and wandering to a room downstairs.