Tombstone.
This morning I walked down Allen Street and nodded to a man sitting in front of Kate’s. Joe and Paisley walked over and I greeted them both.
“Good mornin, Ladies....My name is James....New in this fine town,” the man greeted us and we introduced ourselves. Joe continued to stand quietly in front of the hotel, not really close enough to converse with us. James told us he’d only been in town a couple of hours.
“Paisley.... Natalie has locked herself upstairs in our home and won’t come out,” I turned to Paisley. “Not till school’s over.”
“Oh dear...”
“She refuses to go and I can’t make her.”
“I thought I told her that she could sit across from Jimmy. I arranged it for her.”
“Witnessing that fire the other night kind of.... Set things back a bit. I need to find Ansar.. today...”
“Well, a fire is hard to watch.”
“Especially when it’s right next door..”
“Yes... I watched Mac, Garth and Lot set the ranger on fire. While he was hanging,” Paisley reflected.
I looked at James and explained, “An outlaw was ‘hired’ to help get someone or some folks out of a house the other night in the house next to ours. My daughter and her best friend, both about nine, watched from the balcony.”
“That’s not a good thing for kids to see....I am sure she is pretty traumatized over it.....poor child....” James shook his head.
“She is indeed,” I nodded.
“I wonder if she knows my brothers died fighting a fire back home,” Paisley said.
“I’m not sure if that would help her get over it though, Paisley. She might just be afraid of dying in a fire...”
“Maybe I could talk to her... but it does not make me more afraid.”
“Yeah, but you’re not nine...” I looked over towards the hotel and said, “Joe, come over here a sec... I wanted to thank you for making the boat for the children. Natalie and I went out in it again last night... to distract her from seeing Garth in town.”
“Maybe coaxing her to go play with that might help... Or to go fish.”
“Will be last thing I make for a while, thing I will go over the border for a while,” Joe wandered over to me.
“Oh? Aren’t you gettin’ married? Come to think of it I haven’t seen Ana around for a while...”
“I heard something about family,” Paisley said.
“It does not look like it, so as business is frankly dead here I may just seek some work elsewhere,” Joe shrugged. I walked over to him and offered him a hug, though it felt strange since we used to be attracted to one another and had danced a few times together.
“What kind of business you in, mister?” James asked.
“Undertaker and cabinets and build boats, so may just move to the ocean for a little while,” Joe shook his head.
“Outlaws as bad as they are, you would think an undertaker would have plenty of business....” James commented.
“Yes indeed, Joe... A sheriff was murdered in this whole incident the other night,” I sighed.
“Maybe so, but I have had one body on two months,” Joe shrugged.
“Natalie and Jimmy saw her body on the ground. But they weren’t sure what happened,” I told Joe, then looked at James. “Ever thought of bein’ law, James? Could use some deputies here in Tombstone.”
“I haven’t given it much thought. I don’t even own a gun,” James said.
“Another man without a gun...” I smiled.
“Yeah, gonna have to save my pennies and get me one.....for protection, of course.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Well some other folks will have to deal with that, goner spend a few days away folks, will board up my cabin while I take stock of things,” Joe nodded then. “See you folks, and of ya here from you know who, would be grateful.”
“Of course, Joe... Take care of yourself,” I nodded and watched him walk away. I sighed and leaned against the post, thinking of Ana. “So I guess it’s not just men who disappear...”
“But if Adriana is tending to family, then did she disappear?” Paisley asked.
“If he has no idea where she is and is asking us to tell him if we hear from her.....”
“Of course we will keep him posted.”
Payton walked over then and Paisley headed to take care of something. I introduced Payton to James and suggested, “Besides... Perhaps he will be interested in helping me out at the Pinkerton office,” I winked at him.
“Perhaps,” he smiled.
“Well... it all started when Miss Angi left .. Nora an Millard an Jeffery told me all bout Mrs Irelund.. how mean she really was .. an so .. we figured out .. how ta .. well.. we made up a story an sent the letter .. so that way Mrs Irelund wouldn’t show up..” Payton started.
“Go on...” I nodded, thinking this wasn’t the story I expected to hear. A boy came over then to join us and he was walking on crutches. “Seems Natalie ain’t the only one avoiding school today,” I winked at James.
When Sammy had wandered off, Payton continued. “Well.. anyway.. Nora me Millard an Jeffery have been runnin things .. pretenden that Mrs Irelund is there.. in order to keep them from actually gettin her .. I was workin at Mrs Joan’s ranch an donated the money ta help run things.. Millard an Jeffery do the same.. Nora keeps up the pretenden an we keep Mrs Irelund away,” she let out another breath and tried to relax.
I put a hand on Payton’s shoulder and said, “It’s okay hon, I’m listening.”
“Well.. me .. I make sure that all the others is clean.. baths and the place is cleaned up .. help with the food too.. Millard helps with the funds ta pay for things.. an Jeffery makes sure the boys stay clean .. well.. clean as will get anyway.”
“Well there might be a new lady interested in helping out at the orphanage. She still needs to talk to Nora about it all,” I nodded.
“And it’s all to keep them from gettin Mrs Irelund.. in the mean time.. Mrs Rye has been helpin .. an Nora has been tryin ta find someone ...”
“Mmhmm that’s the one I’m talkin’ about,” I nodded.
“Oh ok.. yeah.. she is really nice.. not really like a matron...most are pretty nasty.. which is why Mrs Andra wants ta adopt me so fast.. she thinks that Mrs Irelund is really here.”
“Mmhmm. Payton...?” I asked, looking at James, then Payton, knowing I has to rally her around to the main topic. “Remember the other day we said something about a conversation with Rikki and Miss Ashton?”
“Yes... I remember...” she bit her lower lip, looking at me.
“What can you tell me about that?”
“Well.. ya know Rikki don’ like kids none at all.. well.. Miss Ashton is settin up business .. tryin ta get others to help an all.. I was going to be helpin with keepin the books an all .. well..” she sighed softly.
“Mmhmm,” I got out a piece of paper and started writing as I listened.
Payton looked around and said, “She .. she was gettin horses from cross the border.. an needed Rikki ta help with makin sure they got inta Tombstone .. quietly .. so I could look em over.. take down types of horses an if they had a brand on em or not.. an also studyin ta be a vet ta remove the brands if they had em. Then they would be set up on Miss Ashton’s ranch.. from there they would be sold ..” she looked down. “I wanted a momma so badly that I .. I promised not ta tell no one.. its why I stopped bein friends with Natalie.. one of my best friends.. cause she was talkin ta you all the time,” she started to cry. “I .. I even was ta get in touch with Mr Joe ta get a new branding iron .. so I could change the brands on the horses. That is what started makin outlaws look excitin.. an why I took the money in the bank... but .. it wasn’t excitin .. made me sick.. couldn’t sleep or eat.. saw what it did ta my friends an family too .. made me feel worse.”
“Sounds like you’re caught in the middle of something awful, Sweetie,” I reached over to rub her back.
“Didn’t help that I can’t lie very good..” Payton sighed and wiped her face with her gloved hand.
“Yeah.. all the way around.. its why the outlaws didn’ mess with me yesterday .. only the others . Cause .. I know Garth.. though he won’t admit it .. and Mac.. an Rikki.. An now.. Miss Ashton is missing...”
I handed Payton the statement and she signed it, returning it to me with a shaky hand. I reached down and hugged her tightly after putting the statement in my pocket. “I am so proud of you, Payton. This is happening over in Benson, right?”
“I also learned a bit bout myself too.. not many kids get ta do that.. I can tell by how some of them in the orphanage act.. I learned that I can’t lie very good,” she said as she hugged me. “Yes ma’am... if you take the left past the gallows and go to where the cave is with the bats.. its the ranch right there on the right corner with the cave. She had a lot of nice new guns shipped in too.. an a safe.”
“Alright well I guess I have to talk with TJ who’s the sheriff out there... Or Ansar. Payton... you might want to stay away from that ranch. I don’t want you to get caught up in more of this... Course, I can’t tell you what to do.”
“Well...” she said and gave me a list of names of marshals and sheriff’s in the town.
“Thanks hon, I’ve got a list like this too.”
“I know .. I haven’t been back other than to take care of the horses.. I didn’t want ta run into Rikki.”
“Good...” I nodded.
Paisley came back over towards us and I asked if she had seen Ansar today but she hadn’t. We continued to talk and then I headed home to check on Natalie.
A couple of hours later, I walked back into town and talked with James in front of the clinic. We talked about how Natalie had been talking to the boy on crutches and how some outlaw had said she’d eat children. I guessed that it was Lisa Jones and then we talked about how James had come from Columbus, Ohio before moving to Tombstone. We met a woman named Bianca who was also from Ohio and I listened as the two of them talked about their home.
When Lisa Jones walked past I looked to James and asked softly, “Was that the woman from earlier?”
“Mmhmm,” he nodded.
“What about the woman earlier?” Lisa asked. “Something to say to me?”
“Yeah, stop having such good hearing,” I looked over at her. “And stop threatening and scaring my kid.”
“I hear damn good. And if I wanna eat that kid I’ll do it.”
“You will not.”
“Your kid should mind her own business and stop telling tales,” Lisa chuckled.
“She wouldn’t have to tell tales if your gang would stop burnin’ houses.”
“Oh, okay then,” she nodded.
“Well that was easy,” I chuckled and looked at James.
“Next time we won’t go try to rescue the sheriff and her damn deputy then,” Lisa said.
“You what?” I looked at her as Zeth walked over. “Who asked you to help rescue the sheriff and deputy?”
“We were there to try to save the sheriff and her dam deputy.”
“You’ll forgive a nine year old for not seeing the big picture.”
“If you knew half what you think you do, you’d have known that.”
“Why don’t you tell me the whole story then?”
“Might check with the damn calvary if you need back up.”
“All I know is what a nine year old tells me. Don’t yell at me for not knowing the full story.”
“Naw, you done formed your opinion.”
“If you’d like to tell me that story, please feel free.”
“Just like most folks round here.”
“Pardon me ladies but if you would be so kind to keep your voices down? You are scaring this poor girl,” Bianca asked us but we were too busy arguing to hear.
“Outlaws burn a house down next to mine. Where is it free for opinion?” I looked at Lisa. “Now that I know you were helping, I can gain a different opinion.”
“Cause the men that killed the diamond sheriff were in there and wouldn’t come out. After we got the deputy out and to safety we went after them. But then you know everything don’t ya?”
“I don’t, that’s why I’m askin’ ya now. And someone asked you and Garth to help?”
“Yes. Sure did.”
“Who asked you to help?”
“I don’t owe you nothin lady. You seem to know everything. Find out on your own.”
“You do if you don’t want me to form false opinions,” I said.
“You the detective. Screw you and your opinions. The ones that were there know the story. The ones that asked for help knows. All that really matters to me.”
“Tell me who,” I said but Lisa walked off. I looked at James and said, “One thing about being a Pinkerton in this town... Everyone expects we already know everything. We can’t know what they won’t tell us. All I’ve got right now is the testimony of a scared nine year old girl. And now an outlaw.”
“Partial testimony of an outlaw,” James pointed out.
“Yes, which we won’t get a signature for.”
“Not likely,” James nodded.
“But I’ll be able to create a nice incident report about this. And if a lawman really did ask an outlaw to help them fight against other outlaws... I’m sorry but I have a problem with that.”
“Maybe talk to the law near your house... They might be able to let it be known who asked Lisa to help.”
“That’s kind of the problem... There’s not much law near my house. But Natalie did recognize Mike and Stormy there... Stormy is a sheriff over in Diamond. What she was doing in Pearce is beyond me.”
“She the one who died?”
“Don’t believe so.”
“That’s sad to hear. I met Stormy before,” Zeth put in.
“I’m going to be going to the marshals about this, Zeth,” I assured him and then turned to see the girl crying louder.
“Sabi...?” I blinked, recognizing the girl who was wearing Native clothing and huddling by the wall. “Sabi, it’s okay sweetie, it’s me. Trin,” I knelt down.
“She’s wearing indian garb. You sure?” Zeth asked and I nodded.
“Sabi, is it you, sweetie? You can just nod,” I looked at her and she looked between us, nodding. I sighed and inched closer to her as James suggested they back off to give us some room. “Sweetie, it’s okay. You can talk to me.”
Sabi gasped suddenly and backed away.
“I’m your aunt Trin, remember?” I looked at her and the others backed up as Sabi continued to sob. “Sabi...? Do you remember me? You don’t have to talk if you want... You can just nod or shake your head,” I said and she nodded. “Alright, now we’re getting somewhere. Sweetie, did someone hurt you?” She gasped and looked like she was going to panic. I felt my heart break for the girl. “Honey it’s okay. You’re safe now...” She cried more and I blinked, getting emotional. “Sabi... I’m here...”
Bianca handed me a piece of candy and said, “See if she will take it from you, since she seems to know you.”
I nodded and took the candy, handing it to Sabi. “Here sweetie, have some candy, maybe that’ll help.” Sabi just shook her head and curled up, covering her head and rocking with her hands over her head. “Sweetie... Where’d the new clothes come from? You have a horsie there... What’s its name?” I smiled at her horse doll and she blinked a bit. “Natalie has a new Native bunny. Maybe you two can play together.”
Sabi pointed out towards Pearce and I looked that way, nodding. Sabi threw her stuffed horse away and watched it flop on the ground, then started to cry all over again. I cringed, taking the bunny and realized she must have heard about Aeryne or witnessed what happened.
“What happened to her Trin?” Bianca asked.
“Sweetie... I’m so sorry... about what happened to Miss Aeryne...” I sighed.
“I have heard that some indians take children to bring them into there tribe,” Zeth said.
“Same here. But Dancing Cloud didn’t her,” Bianca said.
“Obviously not in this case,” James said.
“I think Apaches keep to their own tribe,” Zeth pointed out.
“Natalie said she saw Aeryne there... In Pearce...” I sighed. “She told me bout what happened.”
“Well if you need my help, Trin, you have it,” Zeth promised.
“The sheriff?” James asked.
“She saw her on the ground.. Didn’t know if she was gonna be okay...” I sighed. “Yes James.... Zeth, thank you... This is bigger than I thought.”
“I’m sorry I’m a little lost since I’ve been away,” Bianca said.
I reached out to Sabi and said, “I’m trying to put the people in jail who hurt your aunt, honey.”
“What happened to the sheriff?” Bianca asked and I looked at her with a sombre expression, then looked back at Sabi. “Honey...” I sighed, getting frustrated and upset with the whole situation as I realized it was my close friend too who had been killed.I tried to keep it together in front of everyone but I knew it wasn’t working and I started to cry. I let my emotion flow and knew it wasn’t helping as Sabi started to cry more.
Zeth suggested he could get Bree and I said that was a good idea, since she was good with children. Soon after, Zeth came back with Bree and Bree went to hug Sabi. I knew I could use a hug too. I walked over to James, but my emotions took over and broke down. I cried on Zeth’s shoulder and had to repeat myself to Bree that Aeryne had been killed and Sabi probably heard about it or witnessed it.
I felt my head spinning and it wasn’t long before the world was spinning and I fell on the ground as things went black. I started to come back to consciousness as Zeth was asking James name and he yelled, “Water!” I took the water and sipped it, trying to calm down. James helped me over to sit on the bench and I leaned forward, trying to breathe normally again. The dog Suzie came over to cuddle up against me and I pet her slowly.
Ansar walked down the street then and I went with James to introduce the two of them. I told Ansar all about the fire in Pearce and about Stormy and Mike probably having hired outlaws to help them. He promised he would be going over everything again and would talk to the authorities about it.
We went to the saloon to have a drink and talked with people there about what had been going on and the trial coming up that evening for Zan. I decided to head home and lay down before the trial began, knowing I would need my rest.
Later this afternoon I headed to the courthouse and sat down in the front row. I was nervous, knowing it wasn’t often that I was called as a witness but in this case it would be a crucial peice of the trial. Zeth came in and took a seat on the jury and then Rikki wandered in and sat beside me. She was nice to me and offered some whiskey and I found it strange but took it as I could. Zan walked in with Adrian as her defense attorney and Suzy took the seat at the prosecution desk. Kris took his spot as judge and then called for jury members to assemble themselves. I noticed Chris walk in carrying Leo and smiled, thinking I hadn’t yet seen the baby. I took my flask and sipped more whiskey to calm my nerves and then Kris banged the gavel to begin proceedings.
“Court is now in session,” he declared. “How does the defendant plead defense? Your client is accused of murder...how does she plead?”
“Murder? No.. not Guilty,” Adrian answered.
“Please be seated... Prosecution, your opening statement?”
Suzy walked over to the jury and said, “Men and women of the jury... We will prove beyond any doubt that this woman is a cold blooded murderer who murdered Mae for her own gain,” she pointed at Zan and took a seat.
“Defense your opening statement,” Kris instructed.
Adrian walked over to the jury and began, “So good to see you folks.. so glad you’re sitting witness to this... we’re not speaking of a common criminal here.. we’re going to tell you a story that needs your compassion.. as well as your understanding. and finally.. your ability to put a family back together.. as today... only you..... all .. have the power... to do. Thank you,” Adrian said and sat back down.
“Prosecution, let’s begin. Your first witness.”
“We call Miss Angeles.”
Angeles stepped up and was sworn in and I wondered what she had to do with the murder charge since she was only part of the art theft, a far as I knew.
“Tell us what happened on August 8th,” Suzy instructed. I flipped through my notes, trying to find August eighth, but couldn’t.
“Well, if I don’t remember bad that the night Zannza was arrested for the murder of one woman her said tries to kill her same day.”
“Did you see anything before you arrested her?” Suzy asked and I looked from Angeles to Zan, knowing it wasn’t Angeles who arrested her.
“I was called by the Sheriff of Tombstone for assist in her arrest for that murder. I goes with her and listen a Zannza the history about what happens.”
“What did Zan say?”
“I was outside to the doctor office in Allen street with my future adopted daughter when one woman was attended, sadly dead almost in front me... At the Sheriff office Zannza told a Nimbrel, her ex lawyer than me about kill this woman in her own defense, look this woman tried to hang her early and said something about tries this wanted kill a her husband and son too.”
“So she admitted to killing Mae?”
“Yes, in her own defense and same in defense to her family.”
“Alright, thank you. No further questions,” Suzy said and went to sit down.
Adrian walked over to cross-examine and asked, “Hello Miss Angeles .. and thank you for being Honest... Was the arrest on the 3rd or the 8th?” I smiled at his question and he clarified, “The one in connection of Miss Zannza being terrified for her life.. and that of the life of her new family..?”
“In really was the 3 at the month 8th, that mean August 3, for this I said think was the night Zannza was arrested,” Angeles explained and I nodded to that, though I still didn’t think she had been around.
“Now of your statement of July 27, 1899.... The art theft in your gallery? Was that Miss Zannza involvement as well?”
“Yes, I sadly can said positive my answer. I tried to stop her but run fast on her horse.”
“So we have a positive on the Art theft.. but just hearsay on the So called murder..? Judging from your response of course,” he looked around the gallery. “As well as the arrest date..” he coughed.
“Well I was in both places... the difference stay just in different type to crime.”
“Thank you Miss Angeles. No more questions,” Adrian said and he sat back down as Angeles went back to her seat.
“The people call detective Trin,” Suzy said and I walked up to the seat, knowing I would have been more help to the defense but shrugged as I was sworn in.
“Please tell us about this heinous murder Zan committed and her thefts,” Suzy instructed.
“Sure. I had just finished interviewing Mae Billings for the case, as she was the child’s nanny and I was looking at all angles... Suddenly she jumped up from the chair and ran away from me. Shots were fired. Mae shouted, ‘I saw you die’. I went to stand behind the corner of the building to watch the scene unfold as I had not been deputized, so I couldn’t do anything...”
“Oh?” Suzy’s eyes went wide.
“Mae was shot in front of me and then Aly came out to arrest Zan. Zan later explained that Mae had attempted to hang her before this. She had also threatened to harm Christopher and Leo.”
“After the shots what did you see? She shot Mae in cold blood?”
“There were several shots fired, Suzy. I believe that Zan was acting in self defense. Mae had her gun out. Zan told me later in the jail that Mae had shot at her first. Also she told me about the attempted hanging. Which we found evidence of.”
“Did you hear shots from Mae gun? Were there shots fired from her gun? Were any cylinders empty?”
“Yes in fact. In the clinic, I went to gather her fingerprints from the gun on Mae’s holster while her body lay there. There were bullets missing from Mae’s gun and I have a bag with one of the bullets here. There was only one bullet left in her gun,” I said.
“Alright. No further questions.”
Adrian walked over to me and smiled, “I didn’t think I had a single question for you Miss Trin... By the way.. nice to see you in court..”
“Same to you, Boss, uh, sir,” I smiled at him.
“But this person referred to as ‘Mae?’ She tried to hang and she Shot at Miss Zannza?”
“Yes sir, she did.”
“OK Miss Trin.. Something is bothering me about this ‘Murder’ accusation. Has anyone ever seen Miss Zannza carry a gun? Have you Miss Trin?”
“Honestly, Adrian? No and that was a puzzlement to me when this case began... I asked several folk if Zan was likely to do something like this and they all said no.”
“Thank you,” he nodded and stepped back to his seat.
I returned to my spot in the front row, wishing I could have said more but knowing we were pressed for time.
Suzy called Christopher forward as a witness and I was shocked that she would call him against his wife, though I’d seen it be done before. Chris was sworn in and continued to hold Leo in his arms.
“Tell us how you knew the poor deceased Miss Mae?”
“Well... We met her at a dance in Black Diamond. Seemed like a nice old lady.”
“Oh? So she was a helpless old woman?”
“I didn’t say that, Ma’am... I said she seemed nice.”
‘Until your wife murdered her.”
“Objection!” Adrian called.
“Grounds?” Kris asked.
“How is that a question? What do you mean, ‘Grounds’? That wasn’t a question!”
“Sustained,” Kris nodded.
“Well was she a nice old woman until she was murdered?”
“Better,” Adrian nodded.
“Apparently this woman had an agenda... She was wanted in New York for several murders. We of course had no way of knowing.”
“How do you know this now?”
“Detective Trin contacted the New York office and they send word to her.”
“Ah so detective Trin told you then your wife killed this sweet old woman on Trin’s words?”
“No Ma’am... The word and wanted posters of the Pinkerton Detective agency.”
“Oh the Pinkertons like they haven’t killed a few before,” Suzy said and I blinked at that. “Nothing further.”
“Excuse me?” Chris blinked at her too and I wondered since when I was the one who was on trial.
Adrian walked over to Chris to cross-examine and said, “Lovely child.”
“Thank you Sir,” Chris nodded to him.
“I am so glad that your family is back together.”
“It’s been very trying.”
Adrian took out a book from his vest and asked, “This is your Journal sir... would you mind reading from it..?”
“Of course.”
“I would like to hear the Passage from July 22 the first 5 lines... and July 25th the entire passage please.”
Chris cleared his throat and began to read. “‘My beloved wife, Zannza, has gone missing. She took a fall from her horse about a week ago and has since suffered severe memory loss. She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t recognize our little boy, Leo. She can’t recall our friends, our home, our wedding... She seems to remember being from back east,’” Chris looked from Zan back to Adrian.
“Please sir... the next passage. The twenty-fifth.”
Chris nodded to Adrian and continued reading, “‘I have returned home to Tombstone and haven’t been able to find any clue as to Zan’s whereabouts. Most people didn’t even recognize me upon my return. I’m sure it’s due to the fact that I was quieter than normal. And I look a bit different in the clothes given to me by my new friends in Apache country. No one has seen her, but I will not give up. I plan to make another trip through the White Mountains soon. And then, on eastward. I will not give up until I either find my wife or die trying...’”
“Thank you Sir... And god bless that this trial is over.. and you are together again. Oh.. one further thing.”
“Yes?” Chris nodded and wiped a tear away.
“So.. if this ‘Mae person’ had a wanted poster.. then Anyone with a gun would have been looking for her?” Adrian asked and I smiled at that question as he looked around the room. “In your opinion...”
“I would think it would have been an obligation, Sir.”
“Thank you sir.”
Chris and Adrian took their seats again and Kris looked over to Suzy. “Prosecution, any more witnesses?”
“The people rest.”
“Defense, your witness,” Kris prompted.
“Defense Calls Doctor DollEyes Barbosa to the stand Kindly,” Adrian said and Doll was brought to the front and sworn in. “Doctor Dolleyes .. According to this reocrd.. you were the final Doctor to care for Miss Lyric.. can you give us your professional opinion on her condition from July 27th to the August 3rd please? In layman’s terms of course.”
“Well sir, I did not see her when she first was hurt; however based on an extensive medical examination i performed on her person. It is my medical opinion that she had a concussion caused by sever trauma to the brain which caused amnesia. A repression of current memory.”
“Those are big words! Memory you say...”
“Basically she injured her brain when she fell off a horse... and since recent memories had not been repeated enough for the brain to really learn them, she forgot her recent memories of her life. However older memories would survive as they had been repeated often enough.”
“Oh my!”
“Therefore she would not remember recent events.”
“How are you so sure of this Doctor?”
“Well sir I graduated from the women’s medical college of Pennsylvania and there I studied the effect of trauma on the brain as well as other medical things. And I have seen it many times in my six years of practice in Tombstone.”
“My final question .. would this have .. in some way.. made her actually.. STEAL paintings?? From Miss Angeles?”
“If she had had that tendency in the past and then had given up that type of life, the decision to leave that life would have required a lot of thought, thus making a lasting impression on the brain... therefore if she tried to do.”
“Well.. that is a lot for me to comprehend.. but worth taking note of..”
“Something similar to a past life of thievery, the last impression she would have had would be of her leaving that life and therefore make it be against her nature to steal.”
“So.. if Mis Zannza was a murder in her youth .. she’d kill again I suspect.. but the Pinkertons would have a wanted poster on that too huh?” Adrian asked and I smirked a bit at that, winking at him as he sat back down. “No further questions.”
Suzy walked over to cross-examine and asked, “So you attended school in Pennsylvania?”
“Yes ma’am. I am from New York and Pennsylvania is not far from New York.”
“I am from Pennsylvania too.”
“Oh nice!”
“So you know what the Pinkertons did in Homestead a few years ago?” Suzy asked and I sighed, giving Adrian a look.
“No ma’am, I don’t.”
“They murdered many hard working men for Carniege men just trying to get a decent wage from Carniege.”
I rolled my eyes and leaned forward as Doll asked, “And what has that to do with this case ma’am?”
“Prosecutor, I fail to see the logic in assaulting your own witness’ credibility,” Kris started.
“Suzy...” Adrian stood and walked over to her.
“And then of course there were the mollies they framed and murdered in the coal mines...” Suzy went on and I sat up straighter, feeling I was on trial now.
“Come have a seat, Ma’am,” Adrian suggested to her and I felt my heart start to pound. “Someone, get water!” Adrian called.
“So why could they not have planted ideas in Zann’s head to get her to murder this sweet old woman?” Suzy went on and I rolled my eyes at that.
“Someone get some water!” Adrian requested.
“The jury will disregard the prosecution’s last statement,” Kris instructed and I muttered something about Suzy’s methods.
“Someone... water?” Adrian pleaded and I looked at my boss in stunned silence.
“Miss Suzy...make any more statements like that again in my court...and I will fine you for being in contempt. Do I make myself clear?” Kris asked, and I could tell he was becoming outraged as well.
“I have a flask,” Jimmi offered and handed it to Adrian, who offered it to Suzy.
“As I said, if she had had a bad life prior and then left that life it would be her last memory - wanting a good life-so that would stop her from doing any wrongdoing, like murder or thievery,” Doll tried to keep things focused on the case at hand.
“Please sip from this Ma’am,” Adrian begged Suzy and I suddenly wished I wasn’t sitting alone in the front row anymore.
“I see but if her brian was damaged it is possible?” Suzy asked, ignoring Adrian.
“No ma’am, not if she had left a former lifestyle.. the leaving of it would have been what stayed in her memory,” Doll answered.
“I see. Nothing further,” Suzy nodded and walked to her seat.
I glared at Suzy as she took a sip from the flask finally and took her seat, as did Doll.
“Mayor Wise, your next witness?” Kris asked the defense attorney.
“Honestly your honor.. I believe that the People have heard all they need to.. and the truth will come out in time.. The Defense therefore rests!”
Before giving either lawyer a chance to give their closing statements, Kris instructed the jury to go to the back room and discuss the verdict. As they did, I looked over to Adrian for verification that my statement and testimony was presented well. He gave me a thumbs up and I exhaled a bit, feeling somewhat better.
After several minutes of anxious waiting, the jury came out of the room and Kris asked the defense to stand. I felt as if I should stand too but refrained as I waited for the verdict to be told. The room exhaled with relief as Zan was declared not guilty for the murder.
I walked over to embrace Chris and Zan as well as Doll for the reward of the verdict after all the hard work we had done. I played with little Leo’s fingers around mine as we talked about how this would be a new beginning for their family.
As I headed home, I felt tears of relief run down my cheek that the case was finally over.
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