Tombstone.
I received a telegram from Angel that she needed my help in a case and I walked down the street to the sheriff’s office to find her. There was no answer when I knocked and I saw Lonnie standing in the street. “Hey there Lonnie...”
“Oh, hi there.” He raised his hands up in the air and said, “I didn’t do it, really.”
I chuckled and asked, “Have you seen the deputy sheriff, Angel, around?”
“I think she’s in the doctors office.”
“Doctors office? She been shot?”
“Doctors office,” he nodded and pointed it in the direction of the clinic.
“Mmhmm, very familiar with the building. Thanks, darlin’.”
“Where all the outlaws, I mean good citizens are standing.”
I chuckled at that and walked down the street towards the clinic. I noticed a group of outlaws and natives in front of Kate’s and just shook my head as I walked past them. I walked into the clinic and saw Wedge and Angel sitting in the lobby. I asked if they were okay and Wedge looked at me. “Trin...look at the trash out there...then...ask again...?”
I nodded and then saw Lisa walk in with Lot close behind her. She asked what he meant by calling them white trash and I walked out of the clinic, not wanting to hear anymore bickering. I noticed James ignoring me and sighed, knowing that I needed his help with the Pinkerton job and I couldn’t judge him based on his girlfriend. I saw Mac and Zeth outside and asked what had happened and he told me that Lisa got shot by Ripley and then Mac shot Ripley. I looked over and asked Rock, who was standing nearby, if that was true, and he said he saw everything. Zeth said I should talk to Wedge in the clinic for his statement and then I suggested we go talk in my office where we could focus.
“Okay gentlemen, in the interest of keeping this simple...” I looked between them when we were seated. “I’m going to hand you both a blank witness statement. If you could write down what you witnessed of tonights events, from beginning to end, and sign it... That would be immensely helpful.”
I handed them both the blank reports and waited while they wrote their accounts of what they witnessed. I had heard that Angel had been possibly killed or severely wounded and hoped that one of them saw it. When they were done I read it over and said, “So neither of you saw who killed Angel... But both gave very detailed reports. Thank you so much for that.”
“I only guessed... Maybe Wedge might have,” Zeth said. “I heard her voice being weak and all.”
“Is it possible she died from getting shot by someone?” I looked between them.
“But the doctor was swamped with wounded... Yeah.”
“Anytime, Trin,” Rock nodded. “Glad to be of help. In fact I hope to be a lawman myself soon.”
“Same here. Frankly I’m still waiting,” Zeth muttered.
“Who else might have seen who shot Angel? That’s not an outlaw?”
“I don’t know. As I said, I had to leave,” Rock said.
“I’d only be assuming,” Zeth rubbed his chin. “I’d like to know just as much to know who shot down Angel.”
“I s’pose that remains the question then.”
“Aye,” Rock nodded. “Why not ask McLeary? For a statement?”
“He’s an outlaw,” Zeth said.
“McLeary? A wild bunch outlaw?” I looked at him.
“Ooh no, he is?” Rock looked between us.
“Yes sir,” I nodded.
“It’s like asking a wolf to avoid eating sheep.”
“I heard the part where he shot down Ripley because Ripley shot Lisa.”
“Dang..then he would never tell the truth right,” Rock said. “Aye, I did see that.”
“Can you add that to your statement for me Rock?” I asked.
“Sure I will.”
“Did you read mine?” Zeth asked.
“I did, Zeth. It looked good.”
“But it is another incident entirely,” Rock said.
“As I said, it is a long read,” Zeth went on.
“Could you write a separate statement for me then?” I asked Rock.
“It was not related to Angel’s death. Yes of course,” Rock too the blank statement and started writing.
The door opened and James walked into the office. I looked over, surprised to see him. “James... You still interested in this job?” I asked him.
“Him?” Zeth pointed to James.
“Problem?” James looked at Zeth.
“You called me a boy,” Zeth said.
“And?”
“Gentlemen, please...” I tried to calm them down.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t do this job,” James told you.
“James, are you willing to remain unbiased as a Pinkerton, even while knowing that you may have to investigate cases involving someone you love?” I asked him.
“On behest of the lady,” Zeth went on.
“I believe I told you I would be yesterday. Nothing has changed. And that is if I take the job,” James said.
“Are you reconsidering it?” I looked at him. “Because you won’t be able to pick and choose cases, James.”
Rock handed his statement to me and Zeth stood uup. James said, “Well, It is a matter of trust. Like I also said yesterday, if I am going to be your partner, you need to trust me.”
“Thank you gentlemen for your help,” I looked between Rock and Zeth.
“It’s the least I can do,” Zeth said.
“You done with my, lady Trin?” Rock looked at me.
“If you cannot trust me, then there is no sense in me accepting the job,” James looked at me.
“If you need anything...” Zeth looked at me.
“Thanks, guys. I need to speak with James alone,” I said, looking between them as Rock walked out of the office.
“Just apologize and I’ll be okay. For calling me a kid. A simple apology,” Zeth looked at James.
“I never called you a kid. I called you Boy, which is a matter of expression as you appear to be younger than me. Then you threatened to break my nose.”
“Still counts.”
“Fine, you threatened me, I think that makes us even.”
“I’m good with my fists. I take callin’ me a boy as an offense.”
“And I take your threats as an offense.”
“Zeth, let it go. Please,” I insisted.
“Now, I have business with this woman that does not concern you,” James looked at Zeth.
“My apologies,” Zeth said and walked out of the room.
When we were finally alone I looked over at James and asked, “Let’s have a seat and start over? I want to start by apologizing.”
“Accepted,” he said, sitting down beside me.
“And I’ll actually tell you a secret. One that no one in this town knows. There was a time before coming to Tombstone... Back in Kingsley, Texas... I toyed around with the idea of being aligned with some uh... not so respectable folk who claimed to be the type who would do anything to help the law, if you catch my meaning. I have even had a dance or two with some of those types of people to gain information for personalities and such of those specific groups. I won’t tell you about a time in a Mexican jail with a certain outlaw,” I winked at him. “I cannot hold you responsible for the actions of those around you. All I can do is trust that you will have my back in a case no matter where the evidence leads. All I can hope is that you won’t receive fallout for this decision, if you decide to accept it, if you know what I mean. See... my concern over this wasn’t merely for me but also for you.”
“But that is the big question. Do you trust me enough to do the job?”
“We don’t really know each other well enough for me to determine that, do we? All I can do is give you a chance. It involves a lot of paperwork... a lot of asking questions.”
“I asked for that yesterday and you didn’t seem to want to give me that chance.”
“I know, James, which is why I started this conversation with an apology. Trust needs to be earned. But I’m willing to give you that chance. You’re still here, and that says a lot to me.”
“Well, there has been a lot of flip flopping since I came to Tombstone. At first you were all for it. Then, since I started seeing Lisa, you were against it. Now you are all for it again.”
“You have to understand it from my perspective, James... It is hard to focus on the individual’s good traits while he is surrounded by so many people that have done many bad things.”
“I understand that. But I am still seeing her. Nothing has changed since yesterday.... except your mind.”
“I do need help, James... For instance tonight. I have two witnesses who described the entire evening, but none of them saw who shot Angel, who I have heard has died. And my mind has changed because I remembered that I have to focus on YOU as my partner, not your girlfriend. You need to understand how that trust needs to be earned.”
“Yes, sadly, she did not survive her wounds. And I can tell you for sure that Rock was not even around when she died. I think Zeth was in the clinic when she was shot. Although, I cannot say for sure where he was.”
“They did write down that they didn’t see who shot Angel. Though they also witnessed Mac shooting Ripley for shooting Lisa. Revenge hanging charge.”
“Zeth said he seen Mac shoot Ripley?”
“Rock did. He saw Riply insult Lisa. She called him on it, it led to a gunfight. Riply shot Lisa. Mac came up to Lisa and told her that he went after Ripley. Separate case from the shootout with Angel and others, I believe.”
“It was.”
“So I’ve now got two cases. Did you witness both?”
“I witnessed an altercation between Lisa and Ripley. I was even a part of that altercation to an extent. I did not see Mac shoot him, though.”
“Apart of it?” I looked at him, a bit worried.
“He called Lisa a whore and I defended her.”
“Defended her how, James?” I asked, my concern growing.
“Verbally inside the clinic. Outside, I basically tried to tell him to walk away before he shot Lisa.”
I nodded and said, “That’s fine. See? Just proved something to me about your trustworthiness.”
“He made a snide comment about her man not coming to save the day, so I stepped up and told him I would save him....” he chuckled. “And he didn’t listen.”
“And because you only used words to do so, that shows that you are not quick to your gun. And I appreciate that. Because we can only use our guns legally if we are deputized. We’re just like a normal citizen in that way.”
He opened his coat and said, “Still no guns.”
I smiled wider and said, “Okay... so help me out with these reports here because a lot hass happened tonight. In the first case... I myself went out and saw the crowd in the clinic. I went in and found out from Rock that Lisa had been shot by Ripley. Mac then shot Ripley and went into the clinic to tell Lisa as such. That has absolutely nothing to do with Angel, right?”
“No, it did not. That all happened after Angel died...”
“Alright, and as far as I know Zeth did not witness any of that, correct?”
“Although, Rock did accuse Mac of shooting Angel at first. No, he was still in the clinic.”
“Alright, good. Right, Rock’s other statement, about the incident with Angel, reads: ‘I saw Angel trying to serve a warrant on Mc Leary...he ran..and she took after him and me and Kory followed to help Angel but... I got called away..on personal matters so did not see who killed Angel but maybe Kory did..but Angel was yelling at McLeary to show himself when I left.’ So that goes in with the case with Angel.”
“Ok. My understanding about that...”
“Yes, did you witness things with this case about Angel?”
“There were two different shootouts. Angel was wounded in both of them. I got to town when she was still in the clinic.”
“Here, let me give you Zeth’s statement... Right.” I handed him the statement and started to organize my paperwork. “It’s a long read,” I chuckled.
“Only thing I know about that is what happened after the first shootings....I don’t know about Mac’s warrant or anything like that. And I never heard anything about Angel being kidnapped, either.”
“Lisa and I came into town right before the second shootout started. We were on the sidewalk talking to a few of the other wild bunch when Wedge was trying to arrest Kory. Next thing I knew, shots were being fired.”
“I’m going to get a statement from Wedge then for that case. Do you know who else was around for the incident between Ripley, Mac and Lisa? Or could you write a witness statement for that?”
“Lisa and I both ran for cover. Then Zeth tried sneaking up on us like we were dong something wrong.... I can write a statement for that....”
I got up while he was writing and reached in my desk for a badge and handed it to him. “If you’re still interested...”
“Let me think it over...sleep on it. I really need to get to bed. Early day tomorrow.”
“There’s more to the job than just getting statements at scenes of crimes, but I’ll go over that when you’re done your statement and if you’re still going to take that badge.”
“I should be in town in the late morning....about the same time I usually am.”
“Alright I will be around then as well. And if you could get me that statement... Who else witnessed the altercation between the three?”
“The morning ok?”
“Of course.”
“Garth. Not likely gonna get anything out of him, of course.”
“Can’t get witness statements from outlaws. Rule number one. Court won’t allow it and jury won’t listen to it. Is the same reason that outlaws can’t be on the jury.”
“Can’t blame them, can ya? Outlaws live for breaking the law. It’s their nature.”
“Now you’re seeing my point,” I smiled.
“And, hopefully, you are seeing mine.”
“That you have potential as a detective? And that I can trust you? Yes, I am. But it takes time, James. Remember that.”
“The people I hang out with do not define me. I define me.”
“Understood, James,” I nodded.
“I will see you in the morning then?”
“Indeed,” I held my hand out to him, standing. He took my hand and shook it and I said, “Think about it. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
“Take care and good evening...”
“Now that this is all sorted, I will,” I smiled and watched him walk out of the office.
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