December 1, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked into the photo studio and saw Prudence and Angel talking with a customer who was looking around. “Morning all,” I greeted them. “Was wondering if I could ask ya’ll some questions? I’ve got a few cases on the go that need some answers. Figured since you’re such a central store ya might know some things.” 

“Oh okay, I go back to decking my halls if you need me either one of you just yell,” Prudence said and then noticed her sister. “Oh sis, where were you hiding?” 

“Anyone know anything about the fire at Dutch Annie’s over a week ago?” I asked them. 

“We can alway try special order as hats out fit an stuff to play with here,” Angel smiled. 

“No ma’am, I surely do not.. never even knew there was a fire sorry I can not help you.” 

“Hmm... how about the one at the russ hotel?” I looked around. 

“No Saturday night I saw the outlaws do fires,” Angel said. 

“At the sheriff’s office?” 

“But yes, it was at the sheriff office.” 

“Ma’am, we barely step outside these walls… too busy, don’t you know,” Prudence shook her head. 

“What did you see, Angel?” I asked and got out a statement to write notes as she talked. “I need to know things about that fire too, Angel, if you could tell me what you witnessed?” 

“I got my bucket to try to put it out,” Angel said. “The door was locked.” 

“Oh sis you saw a fire?” Prudence asked. 

“Yes so close to our shop. I had to see if I could stop it,” Angel said. “It was the same night the outlaws went crazy an did terrible stuff.” 

“Did you see who started the fire?” I asked. 

Angel shuddered a bit and said, “I heard the ranger yelling to an outlaw to stop it. But he was watching the horror.” 

“Do you know the names?” I asked. 

“I went back to peek. I did not get too close, but I saw the whole bunch that call themselves the Wild Bunch. Mr. Spin watching too. The smell of burning flesh…” she cried a bit. 

“Not them again..” I cringed but then blinked. “Burnt flesh!? What else happened?” 

“Why are you crying sister?” Prudence asked, going to comfort her. 

“I heard the loud laughter of them banging and burning him and their evil laughter,” Angel cried. “I have bad dreams of it.” 

“Burning whom?” I asked. 

“The guitar player. Mr. Grant. They shot him and hung him and put fire to him.” 

“And you witnessed all of this??” I gasped. “Good Lord…” 

“I heard his scream. I was so scared… New people were in town…” Angel went on. 

“I can imagine, Angel... That’s an awful thing to witness,” I shook my head. 

“Oh your speaking of the man from the other night... I did not witness it but it surely upset sister. She told me about it,” Prudence said. 

“What were their names?” I asked. 

A man walked into the store then and Prudence greeted her as Angel continued to talk to me. “Lisa, Lot, Snoodle, Sniper, a new man in their group, and Mr. Spin the ranger was all around the gallows.” 

“And Mr. Spin couldn’t stop the madness?” I said more as a statement than a question. 

“It was terrible, and not law in town ‘cept that ranger… To burn the sheriff’s place was bad enough.” 

“Can I get you to sign this statement that I’ve written up based on what you’ve told me, Angel?” I asked her. 

“Most was hearing the screaming…” Angel said. 

“I’m not sure if the people responsible have been caught but at least now we know who all was there. You have helped a lot,” I told her. 

“An seeing the fire… an hearing the fire… the outlaws scare me so bad.” 

“I can only imagine hon..” 

“They are already mad at me.”

“They are the ‘wild’ bunch for a reason.” 

“A reason to ruin this wonderful town…” 

“Because they’re wild…” I nodded. 

“That poor lady she may have left her forever,” Angel said. “Miss Tommy was so nice. This might take a bit,” she said, working on the statement. 

“Take your time hon, I will wait here,” I nodded. “Your statement is well worth the wait. You may edit that to fit more details if you have them.” 

I looked over then at Bass and Bianca who had come in the store and asked, “You two didn’t witness this horrific fire and hanging the other night did you?” 

“Hello Sir....aren’t you a friend of Miss Pet’s?” Bianca asked the man. 

“I’m also looking into a fire over in Benson involving the Temperance movement,” I said. 

“Why, yes’m I am,” Bass smiled. 

“Detective, sister was upset for days. I do hope you catch them folks that were doing all them awful things…” Prudence said to me. 

“Her statement will help a great deal,” I nodded to her and took the statement from Angel when she was finished. “Thank you so very much, Angel.” 

“Thing like this will chase away kind good folk…” Angel said. 

“We’ll just have to let that not happen, won’t we Angel?” I winked at her. 

“They should be stopped or chased off for this,” Angel said. “I do not know if Miss Tommy will ever be back. She may have bad dream too.” 

“I hope that your nights get better, Angel. Rest assured we are taking care of this,” I promise. “I hope that you’ll all come to Bisbee in a couple of hours? I’m going to be doing a Christmas Carol singsong special today.” 

“This is so good to hear…..” Prudence said. 

“Thank you Miss Trin. I do know there a bad lot them all,” Angel said. 

“Oh ma’am we will try but the shop keeps us busy,” Prudence said. 

“Of course, Prudence,” I nodded to her.

“It may take more law or what ever to stop them,” Angel said. 

“We’ll rally the troops somehow,” I nodded. 

“I do hope you find enough.” 

Bass and the others were talking about how good of a cook that Pet was and I started to wander around the store, complimenting them on their selection. I decided to head out after a while to find more information and walked out of the store.