December 25, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked over to Annie’s this evening where a group of people were already standing in front of it, awaiting the start of the Christmas dance. Angel looked over at the bank and I followed her gaze asking, “Is there someone inside the bank?” I walked over with her and raised an eyebrow. “Door’s wide open.” I put my hand on my gun just in case and called back to Angel, “Everything clear back there, Ang?” I looked over at Ansar who had followed us and said, “Both outside and indoor doors wide open.” 

“Vierd no vone in here bank vault iz still shut,” Angel said. 

“Strange... Vault hasn’t been touched?” 

“Maybe they didn’t know the combination,” Rikki suggested. 

“Nope,” Angel said. 

“Don’t s’pose we have the lock to close this up either,” I commented. 

“Vasn’t unlocked a moment ago though. Iz odd.” 

Ansar looked in his vest and pulled out some keys. 

“Only one I saw near was a kid,” Rikki noted. 

“Very strange… I’ll look around the building.” I walked around the bank to see if anyone was there and took out my gloves, putting them on as I tested the back door, finding it sealed shut. “Door is sealed back here!” I called out. “Not another soul around.”

“Maybe was a strong wind,” Rikki said. 

“At least there’s no money stolen,” I said. 

“Nope not a cent gone. Vault’s still clozed and locked.” Ang gave her keys to Ansar and he put the keys away in his pocket. 

“Only one that I saw was that kid doing some stretching exercises,” Rikki said.

“Probably people in Annie’s since before it happened too. So they wouldn’t have seen anything,” I commented. 

“Maybe that kid got coal from Santa?” Angel suggested and we laughed. 

“Oh Angel, I investigated those prints on my cabinet... where the threat was left. Partial prints,” I told her.

“Huh, only partial?” She looked at me. 

“Won’t help me much. Same as on the dagger. I’ve got nothing except a very suspiciously-acting Downy. And I’ve not been able to track down the mayor to confirm if it’s hat on my kitchen table.” 

“She haz been acting odd ven your about,” Angel nodded as Chris came over and we greeted him. 

“Indeed. All I can hope, Ang, is that Adrian will know who stole his hat.” 

Kris and Abi came over then and we talked about Christmas and Kris gave me a harmoninca for Christmas. I thanked him and started to play it, and then gave Ansar a copy of the incident report about the threat at my house. 

“Well that got a way with words…” Ansar said. 

“They stole the presents under the tree, left a hat that looks like Adrian’s on my kitchen table, and daggered that to my cabinet. Then traced in blood a ’WB’ underneath. So far no leads yet, though Downy has been acting oddly around me and wouldn’t accept the drink or cake we offered her. It’s been awful... Thomas has been worried sick. We’ve been trying to keep it from the kids so they don’t get upset or scared.” 

“I see. Well, good luck to your investigation.” 

“Been wanting to get you in the loop in case you heard anything or saw anything suspicious. Could use your help. Thomas and I are barely holding it together sanely with this over our heads.” 

“Not really.. few people own hats of the mayors,” Ansar said. “In fact, I got one that looks just like it.” 

“I hope he knows who may have stolen his. I just need to consult with him and we’re not around at the same times.” I said and he shrugged. “Ansar this is serious and there’s nothing I can do about it. Someone broke into my house where my children live. And threatened me.” 

“Exactly, nothing anyone can do. Why stress over it? Deal with the here and now. If more info comes then it will.” 

“At least we can add this to their charges if they do anything more obvious. Harassment, theft, destruction of property..” 

“Exactly.” 

“See, my head’s sorta on straight,” I said with a wink. “I’ll let you go dance, I just really wanted to keep you in the loop.” 

“Until it progresses then nothing we can do. If you had some suspect i could try to help getting prints from them.” 

“Right now prints won’t even help. Not since they were only partials. I’ll let ya go dance. Just needed to…” I sighed. 

“Well it’s Christmas. At least for today, we’re off duty right?” 

“I can just see the worry in Thomas’ face.” I nodded. 

“Better go see where Angel ran off to.” 

“Take care, Ansar. Merry Christmas,” I said and watched him head into Annie’s. Not feeling very festive, I turned and went home.