Tombstone.
I walked down the street and waved to the group in front of the hotel. I asked Seth if he would be able to talk to me about the robbery that happened during the dance at the clock tower and we walked into the kitchen and he began to tell me his side but then he had to take care of some business and left.
This afternoon, I walked back over to Tombstone and headed to Kate’s. Seth was there having a drink so I went up to him and smiled, “Seth, good to see you. Was worried about you disappearing earlier.”
“Yeah I had a bit of a problem but seems it’s okay now,” he nodded.
“Glad to hear it. Maybe we could continue talking about that dance and robbery?”
“Of course. Where did I leave off?”
“Last thing you said was, ‘On that day I think there was something that needed a sheriff and none were around except for a dance’.”
“Yeah. Went dancing on that day then went to look for a sheriff or any law and came back to Tombstone. When I did one person assumed to be a Marshal and was holding what seemed to be bags with the wells fargo insignia on them.”
“Did you know the person?”
“I’ve seen him before, but I couldn’t say.”
“Continue,” I nodded.
“They told my son it was candy or something when he was there and I didn’t believe it.”
“Didn’t know wells fargo sold candy,” I winked.
“Or something like that.”
“Anything else happen?”
“I looked around for any stars on the chest and found none. I had my son in the doctors office to hide while I was outside. When I was there not a shot was fired that day.”
“I see.”
“Being a former Bisbee lawman I soo wanted to help the town.. but... All I am is a man.”
“Of course... You just had a bad feeling about this ‘marshal’?”
“That marshal looked like a wild bunch then a actual marshal.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I recognized him.”
“But you don’t know who he is.”
“Just the name escapes me.”
“Alright, can you read this over and sign it for me?” I asked, handing him a blank statement.
“Sure can,” he nodded and read the statement over before signing it. “Yeah... doesn’t sound too good when I said it.”
“It’s a statement. Helps us look into the Wild Bunch more.”
“Seems right to me. Mind I use that pen?”
I handed him my pen and he signed his name onto the paper. He handed it to me and I said, “Fantastic, thank you, Seth. I need to talk with Angeles outside. You have a great night!”
“Call me Amos, friend.”
“Amos it is,” I said and we headed outside. I greeted Sabi with a hug and looked at Angeles who was sitting in front of Kate’s. “Angeles, good to see you. Been lookin’ all over for ya. I remember we started talking about the ladies society fire but never got to finish. Mind if you tell me what you remember?”
“Sure,” Angeles said. I stay doing patrol on my duty that night and find a Rikki outside the Ladies Society building. We stay laughs for the asunt to the Temperance and someone put one poster in that windows who said they stay selling beer. We stay talk and laughs so the build blow up in front us.”
“Did you see anyone around suspicious?”
“We are alone Trin. Later come Kris and ask us what happends... even insinuated I no stop a Rikki.
Rikki was outside with me.”
“That’s all, Angeles?” I asked as she greeted Ruby who had joined us.
“Yes, I find close to the door a couple glasses with whiskey and a piece of that poster.”
“Glasses and poster are probably long gone by now, right?” I guessed.
“Oh! You’re the Trin Sabi talks about! Nice to meet you ma’am!” Ruby looked at me as Angeles introduced us.
“Nice to meet you too, Ruby,” I smiled. “Angeles, can you read over this and sign it for me please?” I asked the woman.
“We stay laugh and the build explodes in front us, that all. Sure, let me read.”
“Ruby, how are you doing?” I asked as Angeles looked over the statement. “And how are you Sabi?”
“Ohhh Muy Bien Miss Trin!” Sabi giggled.
“You are learning spanish?” I chuckled.
“Gotta keep up with Poppy!” she nodded.
Angeles gave me the statement back, signed, and I stuffed it in my pocket. “Thanks very much, Angeles. Much appreciated. I need to find Kris and Rikki at some point.”
“Since I am saloon owner same my husband, I know can be suspicious I was there with Rikki when the build blow up, I am not support the Temperance,” she smiled, though I could sense something strange about her attitude.
“I understand, Angeles.”
“Hey Ruby... Question for you..” I looked at the girl.
“Yes Miss Trin?”
“Have you ever seen Ben Cravens around the orphanage?”
“I did,” Sabi put in.
“You did, Sabi?”
“Uh huh.”
“No ma’am, I haven’t,” Ruby replied.
“Before the money was buried there that you found?”
“It was the night I founded the money Aunt Trin. Mr Mike had taken me back there with Miss Angi to show her what I founded.”
“Glad to colaborated Trin, hope all this be resolved,” Ang said then and headed on towards the fort.
“And when Miss Angi wouldnt follow him they started fussin.. and down from the room upstairs comes Mr Ben to rescue Miss Angi.”
“Gonna add that to your statement, Sabi,” I said.
“Okies Miss Trin.”
Poppy came over then and I turned to look at Jess, “Gonna add that to your statement, Sabi. Last week?”
“Which one?” Jess asked. “I don’t know.”
“The dance by the clock tower on the street,” I said as the girls chattered on between themselves.
“I may have been. Oh yea, I was there.”
“So you didn’t see anything suspicious then.”
“Was the bank robbed again?” Poppy asked.
“Last week, Poppy,” I said.
“I thought it was last night,” Poppy giggled.
“I always wonder if they get any money,” Jess said.
“That’s weird, I knew you were there,” Seth said about Jess.
“The bank was robbed last night?” I turned to the girls. “Any deputies around?”
“By the same Mr Ben you asked me about Miss Trin,” Sabi said.
“The problem is Trin we have no law around,” Jess said.
“Ben robbed the bank last night?” I clarified.
“Nope, in fact I aint seen Miss Angel or Mr Matthew for a while!”
“Mr. Jimmi got shot,” Poppy said.
“Yup! Poppy and me saw him!” Sabi said.
“How do I always miss everything?” Ruby wanted to know.
“And them two other fellas,” Sabi said.
“And that fellow with the pancho,” Poppy said.
“Wait wait... Jimmi was shot last night during a bank robbery?” I looked around.
“The James Brothers,” Poppy said.
“Yeah them,” Sabi agreed and my eyes grew wide at that.
“Yeah Mr. Jimmi and the guy with the pancho,” Poppy said. “And I’m not sure what the Ben fellow was doing.”
“All I know is I ain’t ever puttin my money in tha bank,” Ruby said defiantly.
“Me either,” Poppy agreed.
“Yeah, no kidding!” Sabi put in. “Be safer throwin it in the river!”
“Jess remember the day I brought my son Thomas to town?” Seth asked Jess.
“I keep mine hidden right where it is,” Poppy said.
“Which James brothers?” I looked between them.
“Oh and that real tall fellow,” Poppy added. “Manko.”
“There is more than two?” Sabi asked.
“Mmhmm. Anthony... Dominic...?” I asked.
“Oh gosh... boys all look alike ta me...” Sabi said.
“I remember very well, why?” Jess asked Seth.
“It was kind of hard to tell who was doing what,” Poppy said.
“Wait wait...the tall man I met last night was robbin tha bank?” Ruby asked.
“‘cept Mr Ben didn’t he go in the bank after got shooted?” Sabi asked.
“Oh I liked him he was hansom for a boy,” Poppy remembered. “No I don’t think he was.”
“Let me get this straight,” I looked between the girls.
“But everyone was yelling and shooten it was kind of hard to tell what was doing who,” Poppy said.
“Dominc and Anthony robbed the bank last night and Jimmi was shot ‘cause of it?” I asked.
“I’m not even sure they got into the back cause Mr. Jimmie was trying to stop them,” Poppy said.
“I remember them sayin’ ‘Here is your cut, Ben’,” Sabi said. “So he had ta do somethin’. Nah, they had to.”
“I thought he was helpin Mr. Jimmie you sure he got a cut,” Poppy said.
“Cause they gave Ben his cut,” Sabi said.
“So you saw it Sabi, and you saw it too Ruby?” I asked.
“Yup I am sure. Ruby wasn’t there,” Sabi said. “Just me and Poppy.”
“Oh okay.”
“A dang shame the kids know more about what is goin on then the adults!” Jess said then and I sighed.
“Well they kept running us away so we didn’t see everything,” Poppy said.
“Yeah. ‘Quick, hide girls!’” Sabi repeated.
“Adult don’t ever let us have any fun,” Poppy complained.
“How are we supposed ta be a gang if we are hidin all the time?” Sabi giggled.
“Alright I’m going to write up notes from what both of you saw. Thank you girls, I appreciate it,” I smiled to them. “Any other adults around that saw any of this?”
“You’re welcome Aunt Trin!!” Sabi smiled.
“But Mr. Ben ask the one if he was in love with him cause he kept looken at him,” Poppy went on.
“No ma’am....last thing I did last night was visit at Miss Angeles house and she walked me back to the orphanig. It was about 7 at night, clock tower said so,” Ruby said and I noded to her.
“Well Miss Jess was back here at tha time,” Sabi said.
“Oh and that new lady. Miss Angel,” Poppy added.
“Oh yeah!” Sabi nodded.
“Angel Cisse?” I asked.
“Yeah that’s her. You was talkin’ to her,” Poppy nodded. “And then you left. And the Mr. Ben started talken to them fellows. Then the lead started flying.”
“I’m going to write this up. Guess I have a fifth case.”
“Yeah I think they might be in love!” Sabi said.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“Oh don’t for get the pancho fellow,” Poppy said.
“Nah he was a good guy, Poppy.”
“But he saw what was going on,” she nodded.
“There was a lot of guy fire , but nobody got hurt or wounded or even nicked. that was strange,” Jess said.
“Remember after he got patched up he asked us if the folks had hurt us?” Sabi asked.
“They said Jimmi got shot, Jess,” I told her.
“Mr. Jimmie did. And so did the pancho guy,” Poppy said.
“Manko?” I asked.
“I dunno his name,” Sabi shook her head.
“Miss Jimmi’s wife patched them up,” Poppy said. “What her name, anyway?”
“Starling?” I asked.
“Miss Starling, yeah.”
“Thanks girls, I appreciate this,” I said.
“But Ben got shot too I am sure of it. He was holdin his tummy. When tha other two gave him his cut,” Sabi said.
“It’s fun watching the bank,” Poppy said.
“Oh. Maybe we could be little lawpeople,” Ruby suggested.
“Alright I’m gonna go to my office. I’ll see you ladies later!” I said and headed to my office.
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