July 6, 1900

Black Diamond.

This morning I sent a telegram to Strider and asked if he could come to give me a statement about the kidnapping incident. While waiting for him to arrive, Daryl shouted from outside, “Miss Trin, ya in town?”

“Yes Sir! Pinkerton Office!” I called out. Strider and Daryl arrived at my office and I smiled at them. “Hello Strider. Gang’s all here huh?”

“Hi there,” Strider greeted. 

“Hi gentlemen. Have a seat.”

“Hey there, Strider,” Daryl greeted him and they sat down across from me. 

“Let me get to Strider first, Daryl.”

“Okay, Miss Trin.” 

“Strider, I was wondering if you could write me a statement about the kidnapping incident... Where Ben Cravens kidnapped Pet and you and that preacher guy saved her?”

“That’s the man I am here about,” Daryl said. 

“Oh?” 

“He was going around town saying law couldn’t get him.” 

“That’s cause there was no law there when we had him at the clinic,” I rolled my eyes. 

“But need a warrant to just up and arrest a man,” Daryl said. 

“I know. Well with this statement from Strider, we’ll be able to hand in a report and get on that warrant,” I assured and looked at Strider. “Then they can write up a warrant, since we’ll have three witness.” 

“When you’re ready,” he nodded. 

I pulled out a piece of paper and smiled, “Alright, start telling me a story.” 

“Me?” 

I nodded, “If you want to tell me what happened with this kidnapping, I can write it out then just give to you to sign.”

“Ok. This feller come find me, he say he hear Pet was kidnapped by the Ben feller. I went with him and I hear Pet screaming. I say, ‘I’m coming in with guns drawn’. I go up the stairs and see the feller ask me for help and Ben guns out and yellin’. Ms Pet come out too, just as I shoot the Ben feller. Bullets go through him an shoot Pet too. They both wounded go to Doc office. That it.” 

“That’s perfect,” I smiled and handed him the statement to sign that I’d been writing. 

“No one around to watch the man?” Daryl asked. 

“Nope. Just me and John and not much we can do about it. Ali was there but she’s from Benson law. So we decided we’d get statements written up and then bring it to a deputy to do the warrant/arrest. Since we have the statements from all three people who were there including the person kidnapped, and I witnessed a confession from Ben himself,” I explained. 

“No law there that day,” Strider said. 

“You guys can’t do warrants or arrests right?” I asked. 

“I’ve made out warrants before,” Daryl said. 

“I thought it was just a judge or a mayor that could do it. Sign it that is.” 

“Not for town things,” Strider said. 

“Well they still have to sign it,” Daryl said. 

“We cannot sign,” Strider said. 

“You’d think I’d know this, bein’ here more than a year,” I shook my head. 

“We will just have to get a judge, then we can hunt that man down,” Daryl said. “Let’s hope he is in the hills.” 

“So Strider gives this back to me signed, I attach it with the others to my incident report... I give my incident report to..... a deputy from Tombstone?” 

“Ya did good,” Strider smiled. 

“Great, thanks,” I nodded. 

“See ya soon!” Strider said and headed out of the office. 

“So now I gotta find a deputy, yeah?” I looked at Daryl. 

“So Miss Trin how have you been?” 

“Been alright I suppose... Have a new partner here now with Pinkertons. John Davis. Great head on his shoulders.” 

“Good to hear. Keepin’ you safe I am guessin’.” 

“Yes, it was getting quiet and lonely for me for a while there... Now with him keepin’ me safe, I’m much happier. And how have you been, Daryl? It’s been a while.” 

“Been a busy man.” 

“We need to work on that then...” I nodded. 

“Was helping out over in another county.” 

“Want to wander to Tombstone with me?”

“Didn’t see any deputies over in the town, but I will join you.” 

“Alright. At least I could drop it in the mailbox.”

Tombstone. 

We rode to Allen Street and knocked on the sheriff’s office door but there was no answer. I dropped the incident report with the statements into the mailbox and turned to Daryl. “How long do you think it’ll take for that to get read?”

“A month or two.” 

“I need a drink,” I sighed. 

“Me too.” 

“Kate’s?” I suggested. 

“Good as any,” he nodded. 

We walked across to Kate’s and I ordered a whiskey and he poured me a glass. “So now what?” I asked. 

“Drink till we get our fill?” 

“And then?” I chuckled and he smirked. “Tell me.” 

“Well I am...” 

I slid a hand down his arm and smiled. “You um...?” I asked and he blushed. “You’re awfully cute when you’re nervous. Are you askin’ me to dance, Mr. Winston?”

“Well we could.” 

“If I was asked properly,” I winked. 

“Care to dance?” he smirked. 

“I would love to,” I smiled, taking his hand. 

“Been a while since I’ve danced.” 

“Same here, actually. So..... feel good to be back?” I asked, dancing slowly with him. 

“Always good to be back.” 

“Mmhmm.... Always good havin’ ya back. I’ve still got a lot of work to do on my other four cases... but don’t wanna interrupt the festivities.”

“Four cases?” 

“Mmhmm.” 

“That’s a bit.” 

“Indeed. Well it was five until a few seconds ago,” I winked at him. “Actually maybe you could help me with one,” I said as I slid my hands down around his waist. 

“And that would be?” 

“I was asked to look into the ladies society fire from a week or so back... Ain’t been able to get ahold of anyone to talk to ‘em.”

“If I hear anything or find them I could ask.” 

“So you don’t know ‘bout that?”

“Not till now.” 

“Hmm..” 

“They must of given up at the local law office.” 

“How about.... a bank robbery that happened last Tuesday night? During the dance?”

“Nope,” he grinned. 

“Hum... Some mysterious money that showed up in the orphanage yard?”

“Probably from the bank be my guess.” 

“Yeah that’s what I’m starting to think,” I nodded. “The last one is my partner’s case... Think it’s mostly done he’s just gotta get the paperwork done.”

“Probably Wild Bunch.” 

“I heard they took over the fort and then acted like lawmen on Tuesday at that dance... Have the feeling they robbed the bank but I need proof. Mighta been Jack too.”

“Sounds about right. Could be Jack.” 

“Some proof would be nice... Or witnesses that actually saw something.”

“There are a few new outlaws around, it seems.” 

“Indeed,” I sighed and leaned my head on his shoulder. “I find it hard to turn off my brain and relax.”

“Well one day at a time,” he smiled. 

“Mmhmm.” 

“Law seems to be scattered today.” 

“They’re scattered often...” I nodded and we danced for a couple of minutes in silence. “You’re quiet all of a sudden.”

“Just in though I guess.” 

“Bout what?” 

“Been an eventful week.” 

“Yeah?” 

“And where to start with the warrants... Seems to not be a lot of them and yet I hear about a lot going on.” 

“Warrants are better than just reports... Wish folks were around enough to make reports turn into warrants and then arrests. I can only do so much then hand in my incident report and hope it turns into a warrant.”

“Seems there is a lot to do.” 

“Tell me about it,” I sighed. “Think I’m going to head back to the office darlin’,” I stepped back. “Thank you for the dance.” 

“Anytime,” he tipped his hat and I smiled as I headed out of the saloon.