May 22, 1900

Black Diamond. 

I woke up this morning feeling exhausted. Okay maybe it wasn’t really waking up if I never actually slept. I walked into the coffee shop, relieved to see the three people I trusted more than anyone in the word. Alex, Aly, and Ger greeted me with a smile and Aly insisted she had work for me to do. I sat down and reached for the coffee Alex offered, trying to wake up. 

“Lemme know when you’re settled and I’ll start running my mouth with work related....crap,” Aly told me. 

“Right now I just wanna sit with my three friends and drink coffee and forget about the last 24 hours.”

“Yup, I’m just kinda walking off the pain today. Hoping that all I do is paperwork and less running,” Aly giggled. 

“No running for you today, Aly!” Alex exclaimed. 

“The James gang is obviously back and Matt didn’t exactly help things when he initiated their anger last night. I’m not sure it’s gonna work out with us.”

“W I’m sorry to hear that,” Aly looked at me. 

“Maybe I’m just meant to focus on my work and be the best detective in Arizona,” I said and Alex patted my hand sympathetically. 

“Are you wanting to talk about work now then?” she asked as I squeezed Alex’s hand. 

“I’ve got two cases open right now... You got the statement from Bree about Jack robbing the bank on the 17th?” I asked. 

“Yup those are done.” 

“Great so you don’t need me for that one.”

“I can tell you what I need you for though.” 

“I’m just clearing off stuff I’m working on before you add new stuff.”

“Okay.” 

“Do you need me with that one at all?”

“Which? The Jack thing? No.” 

“Fantastic. The other one is the arrest I helped you with with Sommer.”

“That report is already done and turned into court. That will be a short thing.” 

“I’m listening.” 

“You already gave me a report on the Sommer thing.” 

“Need anything more from me on that?”

“Nope.” 

“See? Case file empty now.”

“For now,” I winked. “What ya got for me?” 

“Easy peasy,” she grinned. “Okay... The thing with those nasty brothers last night... I need you to get a witness statement from Ben.” 

“Okay... And I told Matt to get you one.”

“...and I admire how professional you stay with the witnesses. I want you to keep that work ethic going and get a statement from Matt,” she glanced up at me. 

“He’s just a deputy,” I shrugged. 

“He was there.” 

“I know. He said he’d do it.” 

“Good. Next thing...” 

“Really wish I knew who that third brother was though I have the feeling it was Anthony.”

“It was. he’s the one that shot me.” 

“You got his name?” 

“He was in the bank.” 

I sighed at that. “I really hate being right.”

“Oh I know him. Remember when he was in town and I showed him around. He’s nasty.” 

“Right.” 

“He introduced himself then.” 

I looked over to see Ger’s eyes opening and winked, “Morning, Ger.” 

“Ha ha... Very funny,” he chuckled. 

“Dominic threatened to take over the town and claim his rightful place as mayor. I want to get Gerric a bodyguard. Well Gerric wants to get Gerric a bodyguard,” Aly glanced at me. 

“Do I get to be your shadow again?” I looked at Ger. 

“I want you to take a little trip to Benson today and find Mike. I trust him. Ask him if he’d be interested in a job,” Aly told me. 

“Ohh. You’re gonna take a deputy from another town?”

“And let him know about the bank robber we caught as well,” Ger added. 

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s only temporary. He’s here anyways with Stormy.” 

“I will deputize him if needed,” Ger said. 

“True...” 

“We don’t have law here to sacrifice,” she added. 

“I know. But I don’t like using other town’s law either ‘cause then they’re without a deputy.”

Ger excused himself then and Aly told me, “No..he’ll be here on his off duty time. That’s the option I want you to give him.” 

“I’ll see what I can do,” I nodded. 

“Good. If not him, then Ger was suggesting an Ashland brother.” 

“Guess they’re not afraid of Diamond anymore,” I sighed. “I knew they were still up to their old tricks... I’m just glad I was able to warn you before they came into Diamond... that they might be up to their old tricks again.”

“But I don’t know them that well. If you do, then by all means ......interview. Well we’ll take one day at a time and deal with it. Well we’ll take one day at a time and deal with it.” 

“Just changes how I’m going to act around them. I know what I needed to know now.”

Bree and Sommer walked in and Aly told them about what happened with the James gang the night before. I told them what I knew about the gang and I noted that they might know more about me than they were letting on. 

When the group dispersed to their respective businesses, Alex and I got on our horses to ride to Benson. We met Ger on the way and he joined us while we rode over but there was no one there so we headed home.