Tombstone.
This morning I walked over to the sheriff’s office where Angel and Paisley were talking about Paisley’s wedding. They greeted me and I said, “Sheriff, good, glad I caught you.”
“Oh?” Angel looked over to me. “Vat is going on miz Trin?”
“Seems no one cares about the toilet paper being put on two establishments in town. I tried to investigate it last night but they all laughed like I was crazy.”
“Actually three.”
“Three?!? What other one?”
“I saw Mister Lot’z house got covered too.”
“Oh? Well that’s interesting, isn’t it?”
“Trin, it was a Halloween prank. I am sure a child did it. Do you prosecute children for pranks?” Paisley insisted.
“Mizter Lot’s house," Angel said again.
I held out my hand to Paisley and looked at Angel. “See? Just because we might not arrest the children, they think children can run free and do whatever they want.”
“Mayor vise usually assigns children to do chores about town if there caught in shanagins,” Angel said.
“Exactly. They might not get arrested but they will get punished somehow,” I said.
“Iz hard to tell vitch child did it though,” Angel said and Paisley pointed to her.
“Either way it’s vandalism. Especially if it’s now three buildings and they’re not picky about the homeowner or building owner,” I said.
“No, It would be nice if the child cleans it up,” Paisley admitted. “Did anyone see it happen?”
“Angel did it?” Amara laughed.
“No, iz vhy I assigned miz Trin to look into it,” Angel told her.
“Well then, Paisley, let me do my job and stop telling me it’s no big deal,” I told her angrily. “I attempted to and they all thought I was a fool for it. Even Pet.” I looked over and saw Thomas walking over and relaxed a little.
“Afternoon ladies,” Thomas smiled as he walked up.
“Iz best to not let them become hooligans,” Angel said. “I don’t tolerate vandalism even from children so even if they clean the corals for a veek.”
“Dear... is that a badge you’re wearin’?” I blinked at Thomas and said, “Glad someone agrees with me, Angel.”
“That he iz miz Trin. He’s mine new deputy,” Angel smiled.
“Oh yes, did I not tell you?” Thomas smiled and looked at me.
“Iz up to Miss Trin if she finds out or not,” Angel said to Paisley.
“I am just not sure how you are going to figure who did it is all,” Paisley said. “Not that it should not be looked into.”
“Well dear, that’s just fantastic!” I went to hug him tightly. “I’m so proud of you!” I looked over at Paisley then and said, “That’s why I’m the detective, Paisley.”
“If ve find out ve assign punishment if there a child if there not vell ve vill think of something,” Angel said. “Children have been getting bad about vandalism lately. Vrigthing all over town. Iz an issue.”
“Angel I did match the tp to the roll you gave me and the ones on the hotel. It was a match. I bet you the ones on Lot’s house will match too,” I told her.
“Ah vell you might vant to check mizter lots house for he finds the kid first and switches them,” Angel said.
“Where is Lot’s house, exactly?”
“Behind the library and next to the school house. Can’t miz it. It’s the vone covered in tp.”
“First house after the bridge going towards Pearce. On the left,” Amara said.
“Well dear, time to do your first rounds and walk around with me to the library?” I looked at Thomas as Amara headed on.
“Yes I do believe you are right dear. Have a good afternoon Miss Amara,” Thomas nodded.
“And have fun looking at tissue paper. I am going to wander,” Paisley told me.
“Oh don’t fret on her. Children need structure,” Angel said to Paisley.
“Yep, let’s make a turn round town and have a looksie,” Thomas said as Paisley walked away without a word.
“Tired of people laughing at me,” I shook my head.
“Don’t fret her, Miz Trin,” Angel chuckled.
“They sure do. You’re right, Lot would take this and make the child his,” I said and Thomas held me close.
“Juzt cause iz halloveen iz no excuse to ignore the law,” Angel said.
“Exactly. But tell that to the judge, the preacher, the doctors, the undertaker…”
“She can have her opinion and no matter how right she thinks she iz she’z vrong,” Angel insisted.
“I listen to you, Sheriff, and I have my orders,” I leaned against Thomas, trying to stay calm.
“Yup, so don’t let them get to you, miz Trin,” Angel said.
“Pet doesn’t want to help in the investigation then that’s her problem. Right?”
“Correct. I vant to find the vandals.”
“You and me both,” I said and took Thomas’ hand. “I’m ready when you are, dear.”
“Well if anyone can, Trin can, she is good at finding the culprits,” Thomas promised.
“Vhy I azked her to look into it,” Angel nodded.
“We’re gonna be a trio to be reckoned with, Angel,” I smiled at them both.
“Well Miss Angel, if ya need me, I will be making a round about town, seeing if anything is amiss.”
We walked towards Lot’s house and stopped on the bridge, seeing the mess at the house in front of us. “Oh my!” Thomas exclaimed first. “Lot will not be happy about this for sure.”
“Wow…” I shook my head as I walked closer, taking out a roll from the other locations, and looking at the toilet paper on Lot’s house. “Yep, same brand.”
“Makes me wonder if this was a kids joke, or an adult who is really up to something.”
“We should use this to our advantage, dear. Go talk with some kids and put the fear of God and Lot about them so they confess. That’s what I’m wondering too, but I think we should start with the kids. Adults would probably just torch the place.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Tell them this sort of thing could land them in hot water.”
“Mmhmm especially with Lot.”
“Yeah, that’s for sure.”
“hall we keep walking honey?”
“Yep, let’s take a walk down near the school and church.”
We walked towards the church and saw a building there that I’d discovered recently. “You know what this building is babe? I looked in it one day,” I said and grinned to him. “The ladies society, next to the church.”
“The what?”
“See? I had no idea they met here but I figured it was a good thing to know. There’s a group of ladies that meet... I’m not really sure how often. They were all in court once though. Was a huge trial.”
“Hmmm, thats a good thing to know.”
“Indeed,” I winked to him. “Now where hon?”
“I want to check something while near here.”
“Sure,” I smiled as we walked to the bank.
Thomas walked up and checked the back door of the bank and tried to rattle it. “Well the bank’s back door is secure.”
“Glad to hear it. Now where?”
“Let’s go into the coral, Jimmy said it looked like the register had been tampered with a while back. I want to have a look for myself.”
“Sure,” I said and followed him to the OK Coral. “Hmm... this would be a good hideout…..”
Thomas looked at the register and checked the drawer of the desk and said, “Hmm… Looks okay… Yes, it would. I don’t understand why Pet leaves money in here though. Jimmy doesn’t need access to money.”
“A very good question,” I shook my head.
“Jimmy loves his job, I just wished he wouldn’t work so hard for a kid.”
I walked towards the saloon with Thomas close behind and noticed Irish standing over by Angel. Thomas had to head to the office then and I waved to Irish as he said, “Good Day Miss Trin.”
“Sheriff, it’s a match. Same make of tp on Lot’s home,” I told Angel first.
“Vell seemz ve ave a little vandal on zeh loose.”
“Mmhmm. Unless it’s a big vandal. I intend do find out either way though.”
“Good.”
“Heading to the dance, Irish?” I asked him.
“Yes ma’am,” Irish shifted uncomfortably.
“Think I might go home and change, then come back to the dance,” I said.
“Alvright miz trin ve can talk more on it latter time to ave some fun!” Angel smiled.
“Mmhmm not much more to talk about,” I chuckled and headed back home to change. When I walked back to Venice Saloon, I saw Irish still waiting for me.
“Save me a dance Miss Trin?” Irish asked me.
“Not sure my man would like that so much,” I smiled at him. “I promise to be the perfect gentleman, Miss Trin.”
I looked him up and down and then said, “Think I’m going to get a drink for a bit first before I start dancin’.”
“After you ma’am,” Irish smiled softly and flushed as we walked into the saloon.
Everyone greeted me as I waved to them and headed to the bar to get some whiskey. We talked about dancing and people came in to join the fun. I pulled out my notebook and sipped my whiskey, hoping to overhear something useful.
“You okay Trin?” Bree asked after a while.
“Trin forget the work then come for dance too,” Angeles said to me.
“S’pose I should…” I said and walked over to dance beside Jeff. I whispered to him and said, “Gonna want to talk to you when we can, kiddo.”
“Okay miss Trin,” Jeff nodded to me.
We continued to dance and talked about halloween and all the candy the children had received. Adrian even came to join the fun, and I greeted my boss, happy to see him.
“AND I see that the Russ house.. and Mr Lot’s is Decorated as well... not the work of the Lollys?” Adrian asked at one point.
“Yes…” Paisley nodded.
“And mine office,” Angel said.
“Oh really?” Adrian looked over at her.
“But I cleaned it up,” she said.
“No sir, the lollys aren’t in Tombstone anymore,” Ruby insisted.
“I defend a the Lollipop Gang Mayor….” Angeles assured.
“Adrian, I’m looking into that,” I informed him.
“Oh they’re not?” Adrian tilted his head.
“They say taking some break,” Angeles explained.
“I didn’t know this,” Adrian said. “Imagine.. I wonder where my Lollys went to?”
“Angel’s assigned that case to me. About the toilet paper,” I told Adrian. “I’ve determined it’s all the same brand of tp so it’s the same person or people.”
“I ave Miss Trin looking into it,” Angel added.
“Now I’ve just gotta scare the truth... I mean get the truth out of em,” I winked at Angel as the others talked about the disbanning of the lollipop gang.
Reb joked that I should use her mask to scare the truth out them. We continued to dance and have fun and then I went out for a ride.
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