Black Diamond.
This morning I talked with Bree, Stormy and Sugar about how Stormy wanted to put up a store to sell statues at. She also told us that she and Stormy had set a wedding date. I decided to head to Allen Street and find out if there was anything going on there.
Tombstone.
On Allen Street I met a little girl named Sabi and a Native man named Jackson. “So you a law officer?” Jackson asked.
“Saw the badge did you? Yes, I’m a detective,” I nodded, looking over to see Ben walking towards Sabi. I still didn’t trust him and noticed him glare at me, though all I’d ever done was try to help him.
“Easy to spot when sun shine off it,” Jackson said, holding my attention again.
“Yeah, s’pose so.”
“Right they want make badge shine so everyone can see it.”
“Mmhmm. You find a place to stay yet, Jackson?”
“Not yet have been sleep in wilds away from town.”
“Nature’s sometimes nice to sleep in... though dangerous at times.”
“Right unless you were raise by Natives so I’m not scared... unless you outlaw then you got watch out for them. So Trin you want firewater?”
“Just doin’ the rounds actually... making sure everything is safe and quiet. Maybe some other time though,” I told him.
“I know that, as I kinda wander around town to see what around.”
“Think I’m going to wander back to Diamond,” I said then and walked back home.
Benson.
This afternoon I received a telegram from Mike over in Benson, looking for help with a case involving a fire. I rode over there and found Mike standing in front of the sheriff’s office. “Hey Mike, heard you needed some help,” I greeted him.
“Howdy Miss Trin.”
“Hey there. What’s goin’ on?”
“Well it appears some miserable filthy son of a kerr dog started a fire here over the weekend... and was kindly ignorant enough to leave some evidence behind. I have it in the safe.”
“Kerr dog?” I raised an eyebrow. “And what kind of evidence?”
“They left a flask with the initials b.s. on it,” Mike turned and went to open the office door. He bent down and turned the dial on the safe, unlocking it. He handed me the flask and said, “I have my suspicions on who started the fire.”
“B.S. ... Ben Stolen?” I guessed, taking the flask from him.
“It happened over the weekend. I’ve been up in Phoenix for a few days... and I agree with the name of Mr. Stolen. I had an altercation with him the other day that resulted in him bein’ shot.”
“Anyone else you know with those initials?”
“No ma’am.”
“Did you... See, there’s always been something about him I just don’t trust.”
“He has a problem with keepin’ his eyes to himself, and ain’t learned that Miss Stormy is my girl,” he nodded in agreement.
I nodded, smiling to Stormy as she walked in. “Your ears must have been burning.”
“Oh is he talking about me?” Stormy asked.
“I was just tellin’ Trin about havin’ trouble with where his eyes look.”
“Ah yes,” Stormy nodded.
“Has Ben been around Benson a lot?” I asked.
“Not much, no,” Mike shook his head.
“So what happened to this place?” Stormy asked as she looked around.
“Somebody tried to burn it down over the weekend, and they left a flask,” Mike told her.
“So what do you suggest we do from here, Mike?”
“Well I suppose question Mr. Stolen and try to get to the bottom of it.”
“You think he’d actually tell me the truth?” I looked at him. “Don’t think there were witnesses, huh?”
“At the same time Lot decides to take a bath... Probably not,” he answered. “Benson is pretty quiet.”
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Or just watch Ben closely from here,” Mike suggested.
“I would,” I agreed.
“If he’s ignorant enough to leave evidence behind, I’m sure he’ll slip at some point,” Mike observed. “Well thank you for stopin’ by, Trin.”
“Well he seems to fancy a pretty girl in a pretty dress. You can always dress up real pretty and then go talk to him,” Stormy said and Mike laughed.
“Indeed. I can try to work on him a bit though. I do think that’s our main suspect here though.”
“I ain’t shavin’ my legs,” Mike chuckled and nodded to me.
“Thank you for including me on this. You know I’m always here to help law, wherever it may be,” I smiled at him.
“I know.”
“You know Trin, I saw him moving in a big safe and some other supplies in his room earlier today,” Stormy noted.
“Where?” I looked at her. “In Diamond?”
“His room in Diamond over the bank.”
“I know he lives there. Just making sure he’s not setting up shop somewhere else.”
“Well he better not set up shop in Benson,” Mike said. “I’ll run him on horse theft just to make a point.”
“But awful funny he has no furniture in his place yet, but he comes in with a safe and other boxes,” Stormy went on.
“I don’t think he will, Mike. He likes Diamond,” Stormy said.
Mike went to close the safe and and I said, “I think that bottle is a good start but we need to prove those initials.”
“Yes. Ain’t goin’ to be easy,” Mike nodded.
“The fire gets rid of fingerprint possibility,” I sighed.
“That it does.”
“I’ll work on this though. I’ll take it on as a case till we figure it out. You’ll keep me closely informed?”
“Yes I will, and thank you Trin.”
“My pleasure, Mike.”
“You have a good day and stay safe,” he said as I nodded and headed out of the office.
No comments:
Post a Comment