July 7, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked over to the courthouse and saw Amara standing in front of the entrance. “Morning Amara. I’m looking around for Ben Cravens.. Have you seen him?”

“Hi Trin. We need your help,” she said. 

“What’s up?” 

“Got a man in there locked up. Says he kidnapped Pet. Want you to write it down.” 

“Don’t ya’ll need a warrant?” 

“Not when he insulted us.” 

I sighed and walked in after her and looked at Pet, standing in front of the jail. “Pet, last I checked.... Only deputies could arrest, no?”

“Hey detective,”Mick nodded to me. 

“Howdy lady Pinky,” Ben greeted. 

“This man just confessed to killing a man,” Mick said. 

“Great. Find a deputy,” I told him. “They’re the only ones allowed to arrest.”

“Know anything about a dead man?” Mick asked. 

“Depends where he was caught, Trin,” Pet said. 

“He was in our jurisdiction,” Amara said. 

“Find a deputy...” Mick laughed at the craziness of that suggestion. 

“I will talk to him,” Mick said. 

“Are you questioning us?” Amara asked. 

“I was returning from the reservation and was by the big balloons when they stopped me,” Ben said. 

“If in their jurisdiction, they can arrest and detain,” Pet answered. 

“Alright then. Have fun,” I said and turned out, since there was nothing I needed to do. I had already filled out the reports on my end and didn’t know what they needed my help with. 

“Thank you,” Amara said. 

“Guess the detective don’t know about a murder,” Mick said. “You’re lucky Ben.” 

“No, no one told me about a murder,” I turned to look at him. 

“Well let me add your charges,” Mick said to Ben. 

“The Outlaw with Nine Lives is what I’m called at home,” Ben said and I rolled my eyes. 

“Well you can be a witness to his confession Trin,” Amara said. 

“Pet is this the man that kidnapped you he claims he is?” Mick asked. 

“Except that I didn’t hear the confession, Amara,” I looked at her. 

“Please stay,” Amara pleaded. “Listen.” 

Pet fidgeted and asked, “Are those bars... strong? He’s a master escape artist. Busted outta more prisons then they can count.” 

“I already included his confession in my report about the kidnapping,” I told them. 

“Yes they are locked and his boots are off,” Mick promised. 

“I handed my report to the Tombstone law. I have the whole thing finished. They just need to get here and arrest him for the kidnapping,” I sighed. 

“That’s the varmit,” Pet nodded, looking at Ben. 

“Told you we should have used the ranger station love,” Mick said. 

“Did, did, did someone say murder?” Pet asked. 

“I’ve already served 20 years at the pen at Lansing, Kansas so this hick town will be a breeze,” Ben boasted. 

“How does it feel to see him behind bars Preacher?” Amara asked Ben. 

“I’m not sure what more you need me for,” I looked around. 

“Nothing Trin,” Mick nodded. 

“I’m wondering if the bricks and steal will hold him,” Pet said. “You sure he can’t get out?” 

“I handed in a signed report including my witness to his confession of kidnapping Pet. I included the three witness statements from each person there for the kidnapping charge. It’s in the Tombstone office mailbox,” I explained. 

“We wondered if you heard about a dead man,” Mick said. 

“No, Mick, I hadn’t. What dead man?”

“Ok Ben,” Mick looked back at him. “$80 in bail or 40 minutes in the cell.” 

“When you actually want my help for something, come find me,” I sighed, since they weren’t going to tell me about the murder. 

I saw Anthony standing in front of the hotel and sighed, muttering, “The hits just keep on coming.” I greeted Jess and Poppy who was sitting on a bench talking with a woman I hadn’t met yet. 

“Hi ladies,” I greeted them and they said hello to me. “Don’t think we’ve met ma’am,” she looks at the older woman.” 

“My name is Angel Cisse,” the woman replied. 

“Ohhh you’re Angel Crisse... My partner has told me about what happened with you and your sister.”

“Yes. She is till up in the air over it. Like a nervous cat.” 

“Rightly so. I was wondering... could you write me up a quick statement about it? We have one from Prudence but one from you would help.”

“It’s real easy, Miss Angel. I even filled one out one time,” Poppy looked between us. 

“Ladies,” Ben tipped his hat as he walked over. 

I handed Angel the form for her statement and she wrote while I looked over at Poppy. “Hey Poppy..... You remember Sabi talked about that money she found?”

“Yes Ma’am.” 

“Any guess as to where that came from?”

“Is it from the big bag she found buried behind the orphanage?” 

“Thank you so much, Angel,” I took the statement from her when she was finished. 

“Any way I can help,” she assured. 

“Yeah Poppy... but do you know who might’ve buried it there?” I asked the girl. 

“Well at the time I was thinkin’ it was the fellow that was robbing all the shops and saloons. It was a court day I’m trying to think what one and while everyone was in court he was robbing stuff.” 

“Oh yeah? Did you see the fellow?”

“Yeah but I ain’t seen him since.” 

“You don’t know his name huh?”

“No cause no one ever talked to him, but he was dressed real nice like Mr. Jimmi but with a jacket on and hat.” 

“Well I haven’t worn a hat for over a year now,” Jimmi said. 

“Well it wasn’t Mr. Jimmy I’d remember his name,” she giggled. 

“No, I don’t think I go about robbing places when I am serving in court. But I know a few people who do that sort of thing, or did rather.” 

“I think it was almost two weeks ago,” Poppy nodded. 

“It does sound like Mr. Rubble has a good alibi,” Angel smiled. 

“I tell ya I just don’t know why anyone would put there money in that bank,” Poppy said. 

“From what I hear sweet breads are not safe too,” Angel said. 

“They will steal anything around here some days,” Poppy said. 

“If they go steal sweetbread, let them have it,” Jimmi put in. 

“The sweet breads would be very tempting,” Angel admitted. 

“You tried sweetbread Agent Trin?” Jimmi asked. 

“Not yet,” I shook my head. 

“I will have to leave a pie to cool once in a while,” Angel winked. 

“Strawberry pie, yes. Sweetbreads, no,” Starling said. 

“I remember thinken that fellow weren’t to smart cause most to the saloons is owned by outlaw and they’d shoot ya before calling the law,” Poppy said. “Maybe thats what happened to him MIss Trin.” 

“Maybe... I just don’t know yet,” I nodded to her. 

“Cause I’m thinken if Mr. Lot caught him he’s out in the desert somewhere feeding the bussards,” she chuckled. 

“Miss Poppy, you calling the honerable Lawyer Lot Balbozar a crook? He owns the Crystal,” Jimmi told her. 

“Oh, my mistake,” she giggled. 

I coughed at that and said, “I need to head to my office. Thank you, Angel, for your statement.”

Sabi walked over then and I gave her a hug before heading out.