June 12, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked over to Angel at the sheriff’s office and asked, “Hey there, Angel. How are things?”

“They’re vell quviet about now,” she smiled. 

“Quiet is good... Anything new happen recently? Need my help with anythin’?”

“Had Garth in our cellz lazt night.” 

“Ah I see. Sounds like fun. Gonna go across the road for a bit.” I walked across the road and said, “Howdy folks.” 

“Ohh just gettin’ a few things ready for my delivery I’m makin’ tomorrow night and all,” Ben was saying to Pet and I halted at the word ‘delivery’. “Evening detective.” 

“It’s right satisfying to know ya made an honest dollar, ain’t it?” Pet asked, nodding. 

I rolled my eyes at that and looked at Ben. “Any more threats from Dakota?”

“Got a few things I’m taking out to a dress shop, then picking up a few things on the way back for miss Pet and the hotel, a few other items for miss Nelle.” 

“Sure, sure. Whatever she needs, she knows she can have,” Pet nodded. 

“No no, matter of fact I had breakfast this very morning with her, but that garth fella been asking bout it, I sent him along his way last eve, but somethin’ tells me that ain’t over just yet,” Ben looked at me. 

“So you don’t need me to look into this thing with Dakota then?” 

“Miss Sugar cooked out in Black Diamond,” Ben smiled to Pet and then looked at me. “Naa... I’m tired of it. I’m just gonna shoot her the next time she utters a word about it.”

“Alright. Guess ya don’t need my help. You’re a big boy,” I nodded. “How are Adrianna and Sabi doing? Any threats from that other Kat woman?” 

“None that I’m aware of, ain’t see Kat, and spoke to both Sabi and Ann just a bit ago, they fine and dandy.” 

“Well good to know I’m knockin’ things off one by one,” I said, though to myself I was thinking that I would still look into it. “How ya doing bout that other fella we spoke of?” 

“Ain’t seen him since. And the other supposed ‘bad guy who will be here when I’m healed’ obviously ain’t here.”

“I forget the name ya told me..what was it again?” 

“Don’t matter,” I shrugged. 

“Matters to me. Especially if ya say he knows me.” 

“And why does it matter to you?” I walked closer to him. 

“Cause the way I see things..the one fella I spoke of I seen this morning...me and him good...but this other fella ya spoke of..we don’t know nuttin’ about.” 

“Which fella did you see this morning?”

“So ifin someone else knows me..I’d like to know at least a name,” Ben said then and looked at Pet and Angel then back to me, making kissing sounds. 

“If you want to kiss me, Ben, I’m right here,” I sighed. “Goodness knows no one else is kissin’ me.”

“Ya wanna be funny now eh?” 

“Ain’t like you’re bein’ helpful.”

“I’ve done told you more than I prolly should,, and ya wont fill me in on anything...I’m not real sure I’m liking this.” 

“I told you his name was Eryk. You didn’t seem to care much. And I ain’t seen him since.”

“Eryk...ahhh I’ll be remember that...but I don’t think its connected to anything else.” 

“Threats mean nothin’ till something actually happens. And in case you didn’t notice, nothin’s happening,” I shrugged. 

“I did get a wire a lil bit ago tellin me yet another of the old guard is back in town...ain’t seen any of him yet. Well nothing happening is a good thing ain’t it miss detective?” 

“Really tired of this whole telling me somethin’s gonna happen and then it never does... but the fact that they told me was for scare effect. It’s starting to get old.”

“Maybe ya all juiced up and worried bout nothin.” 

“You’re the one who threatened me!” I exclaimed. 

“I ain’t threatened ya, Miss Detective.” 

“Sure seems like ya did.”

“Everything I’ve told ya has all happened,” he smiled. 

The thirty-fourth victim?” I stared him down. 

“What other folks tellin ya don’t concern me. Well from what I’ve heard ..only heard mind ya..that’s happened.” 

“Damn it, Ben...” I sighed loudly. 

“Now you know how that works...some of them go running to the law..others don’t.” 

“Yeah and most of ‘em want to meet the bandit again.”

“I find that amusing myself...but again, nothing to do with me,” Ben laughed. 

“Well then if the thirty-fourth victim has happened, it weren’t a direct threat to me.”

“Perhaps he’s just toying with ya.” 

“Perhaps YOU are,” I said, starting to get frustrated. “You tell me this guy’s comin’. You tell me he’s gonna be happening this June. You send your minions after me to scare me and make me confused. Now you tell me he’s already got his thirty-fourth victim but of course the victim won’t come forward so how the hell are we supposed to catch the bandit?”

“I ain’t sendin’ no minions, Miss Trin. I’ve only done my civil duty as a outstanding member of this here community and informed you of what little information I know.” 

I rolled my eyes and turned to storm over towards Angel and Matt who had joined her. “Unbelievable,” I muttered. 

“Everything alvright miz Trin?” Angel asked. 

“Oh yeah just ducky. Ya’ll haven’t heard of anyone bein’ kissed than robbed?”

“That’s a new one for me,” Matt admitted. 

“Oh I i heard of zat vone.” 

“Be on the lookout and if it happens, tell me? Please?”

“Vill do miz,” Angel nodded. “Vouldnt end vell if somevone tried zat on me.” 

“I hate bein’ toyed with,” I shook my head. 

“No it wouldn’t,” Matt agreed with Angel and then nodded to me. “And I can understand that.” 

“Feels like that’s all that’s happenin’ though.”

“Am glad no ovnes tried zat trick on me vouldnt end vell for them specally since i do not go about kiszzing otherz,” Angel said. 

“Or if they did it would be bad for their health,” Matt said and Angel chuckled. I gave Matt a knowing look and then looked down. “Been pretty quiet today it seems.” 

“Gonna head home. See ya guys,” I said and headed back to Diamond. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into Diamond, frustration all over my face. “What matta, Trin?” Bree asked as she stood near Aly. 

“Heya,” Aly smiled at me. 

“I feel like I have a kick me sign on my back,” I looked between them. 

“Does Bree need to check your buttocks for bruising?” Aly joked 

“Who bugging ya?” Bree asked. 

“Ok seriously, I’m sorry, what’s wrong?” Aly asked. 

“Ben Stolen,” I muttered. 

“Ugh. I wanted to shoot him yesterday after that commend he made to Mac. What happened now?” Aly looked at me. 

“Oh he so happy I think,” Bree said. “I don’t know about that.” 

“Yeah Bree I got shot, and then he had to carry me all the way from past Annie’s to the clinic. Walked right past Ben, and he yells ‘Congratulations Mac’.” 

“You know that thirty--fourth victim he warned me about? Wasn’t me. It’s happened. He’s here. It was just a damn scare tactic for no reason. If people ain’t gonna report a crime why am I bothering? And why would he tell me all about it?” I asked. 

“I wanted to shoot him. And I hate shooting people,” Aly went on. “Ben likes to whine to anyone who will listen. I’ve learned to walk right past him.” 

“He’s doing deliveries for this guy, Aly. He knows him. He’ll tell me every damn detail except for a name,” I said. 

“Sorry to vent, and I hate talking about people, but really. All I ever see him do is sit. and make fun of law. I work hard with my job, and he continues to insult,” Aly went on. 

“He’s just toying with me. Are you even listening to me?” I looked at Aly. 

“That’s because he knows it bothers you, and he gets a rise out of irking people. Why is he happy Bree? Please tell me he’s not the new sheriff? I’m listening.” 

“Trin, him and White Owl were talking,” Bree looked at me. 

“Yeah?” I looked at her. 

“Who is White Owl?” Aly asked. 

“Had breakfast in cafe today. New lady Nellie likes like a ragged prospector. Chews straw asked me if I want straw.” 

“Nellie... Nellie... Nellie ain’t new,” I remembered the name. 

“Whole bunch of us there.” 

“Chews on straws?” Aly asked. 

“A piece of grass... straw,” Bree answered. 

“I remember she had her ore stolen in Bisbee back in February... Krell and um.... uh... Leigh were suspects,” I said. “If it’s the same Nellie.” 

“I don’t know the name,” Aly said. 

“Stuck it back in her hat when I said no thanks. I never seen her afore myself,” Bree said. 

“What does this have to do with Ben?” I asked. 

“He be a talking with him and white owl is all.” 

“Who’s White Owl?” I asked her. 

“Bree mentioned this morning in the cafe. That’s what I just asked,” Aly said. 

“What were they talking about? Anything criminal? Anything about deliveries? A bandit?” I prodded. 

“Well he comes around a lot, Trin. Like Halo too. I don’t think criminal, Trin,” Bree answered. 

“I have never heard of any of these people,” Aly shook her head. 

“Well Halo, Mexican. Sweet gal. Cooks for me at times,” Bree told me. 

“Yeah I’ve seen her around,” I nodded. 

“And White Owl has long Cherokee name too. I can’t remember that. She’s a blessing, Aly,” Bree said. 

“I’m going to head to my office and get some work done. Stay safe, you two,” I looked between them. 

“When I try end up pronouncing most Apache names I just end up spitting all over the place,” Aly said. “Okay, good luck,” she said to me and I headed to the office.