December 28, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked into town this morning and saw a woman I didn’t recognize. She introduced herself as Cathy Willis and said that she lived in Bisbee. We talked about our families and our jobs. She told me that her partner at the ranch was missing. 

“I’m guessing she just got lazy and decided to travel…” 

“How long has she been missing?” 

“Just a couple of weeks.” 

“She still should have left word with you or something…” 

“I was missing for maybe two months. So… it happens.” 

“If you’re concerned about it… I can help..” 

“That’s wonderful. I will let you know.” 

“What is her name?” 

“Sushi.” 

“Interesting name.” 

“Yes. She’s from Japan.” 

“She have a last name?” 

“Sushirocks.” 

I asked for a description and she gave me a picture and then Cathy headed home. I went to the sheriff’s office to write up the case report and then Little Dove and Angel were talking outside so I went to join them. 

“Angel, how long have you been standing there?” 

“Longer than you realize?” Angel chuckled. 

“Lost in my notes I guess. Just picked up a new case.” 

“Oh? “ 

“Missing person’s case. Haven’t had one of these in a while.” 

“Oh my.” 

“Woman by the name of Sushi is missing.” 

“Never heard of her.” 

“Apparently they run a ranch together over in Coronado, her and this Cathy person who told me about it.” 

I asked Angel when Pet’s wedding would be and we talked about the winter weather and Christmas. We talked about the Bee and Little Dove said she hadn’t seen Natalie in a while. I read the Bee and smiled at the interview Natalie had done with Thomas. When it came time, I went over with them to Pet and Bass’ wedding.

***

I walked into town tonight and Bree asked me to come over to where they were in front of the bank. “Everything alright, Bree?” 

“Hey Trin, I know who that hat belongs to,” Rikki told me. 

“Do you, Rikki?” I looked at her. 

“Yep, I do.” 

“Trin, Dennis here found some bullet casings in the street tonight,” Bree said. 

“A bullet casing, eh?” I looked between them. “Who does the hat belong to, Rikki?” 

“If ya wanna know, it is going to cost you.” Rikki smiled. 

“Eh, They’re mine now ye know.” A man folded his arms and shook his head. 

“Of course it is. How much, Rikki?” I asked. 

“How much ya got?” 

“Depends how much you’re going to tell me the truth, now don’t it?” 

“Up to you. I know who it belongs to and you don’t. Have a good evening.” 

I reached in my bag and pulled out one hundred dollar coins. “Is this enough?” 

Rikki looked at the coins and reached for them, but then pulled her hand back. “Nope, not enough.” 

“Are casing got special mark Dennis?” Bree asked him. 

“He is one of my clients.” Rikki giggled. 

“That’s one hundred dollars, Rikki. Pretty big lump of sum if you ask me. What do you want, two hundred?” 

“Not big enough to turn him in.” 

“Hey Trin, I have a casing I’ll sell ya for half price.” Chris chuckled. 

“Turn him in? The man who owns the hat?” 

“Didn't know that,” the man Bree had called Dennis replied. “And I haven’t looked. ALl I did was play a catching game with myself.” He laughed. 

“Or the man that stole the hat?” I asked. 

“Yep, ain’t gonna tell ya who it is cause I don’t want to lose him as my business partner,” Rikki said. 

“So then why on earth did you offer to tell me?” I asked, putting my money away. 

“I keep one of the ones Zan shot me with for a souvenir,” Chris said. 

“To see what you would do.” Rikki grinned. 

“And since I offer to give you money you’re not gonna tell anything?” I looked at her. “This person broke into my house, Rikki. Threatened my life. Stole my kid’s presents. And left that damned hat on my kitchen table. I want to know who did it.” 

“Maybe I’ll just take that money from you later.” Rikki sneered.

“Oh Trin, I am sorry to hear this,” Bree said. “Poor kids.” 

“I’ve lived in this town for almost three years, Rikki. You know how much Pinkertons make, it ain’t no secret.” 

“Have a good evening. Bah… kids,” Rikki said.

“You’ve not bothered to touch me once. I’m not worried about you doing it now,” I told her and she walked away. 

“How did...Bullet casings...Go to…This…?” Dennis blinked and then went towards the saloon. 

“Bloody moron, she is,” I muttered, turning back to the group. “Now, someone said something about a bullet casing? What’s so interesting ’bout this bullet casing?” 

“She is a real critter I declare,” Bree agreed and then said she had to go home because it was almost Tarra’s bedtime. 

“Was it near someone who got shot?” I asked. Chris and Bree talked about something else as she headed home. “How hard is it to get information around here?” 

I walked down the street and found Dennis drinking at the bar. “Hey there, sorry, I got distracted.” 

“Sorry to hear bout the robbery.” He nodded. 

“Not the best time of year for it to happen, that’s for sure.” I sighed, and then tried to change the subject. “Where’d you find the bullet casing?” 

“Nothing’s ever easy.” Dennis chuckled and then lifted a brow. “A trail from the doctor’s office, general store and the outhouse… So unless someone tells me someone went to take a crap, gone shopping and visited the doctor… while shootin’ i think it’s all but weird.” 

“That does seem odd. A trail of bullet casings? Can I see one?” I asked, putting on my gloves. 

Dennis reached into his pocket and pulled out an old badge and three fresh bullet casings. He took one of the bullet casings and nodded, holding one out to me. “Colt Peacemaker, Older gun...Seems like it hasn’t been cleaned for a while either.”

I took the casing with my gloved hand and studied the bullet, noticing the old badge he’d taken out as well. “You were a lawman?” 

“Pinkerton, after that however i became a law man, Sarrah has trained me.” He smiled. 

“Well it’s good to meet another one. I’ve been the only one around these parts for a few years now. Had a couple partners but they couldn’t stand the paperwork.” I smiled and gave him a wink. 

“The paperwork is the easy part...Solving crimes is the hard part.” Dennis shrugged and turned his head towards the sheriff’s office. “I miss Sarrah to tell you the truth… Same goes for Seth.” 

“I agree with you... Paperwork’s easy for me too.” I nodded to him and studied the bullet more. “Well I’ll tell ya... this bullet could be from any gun around here. You know outlaws in this town... they get healed then boom, they’re out the door shooting again.” 

“Colt Peacemaker seems to be the towns favourite,” Dennis said with a nod, patting his guns. “Same counts for me however.’” 

A man walked into the salon then and smiled as he sat at the end of the bar. I nodded to him and he grabbed the bottle of whiskey, pouring himself a glass quietly. 

“Evening, Sir. Don’t think we’ve met,” I greeted him. 

“Just riding back into town. Been a long while…” The man chuckled. “The old days. I’m Andrew.” 

“Howdy.” Dennis lit a cigarette and said, “The name is Dennis. And whoever these cases are from… IS most likely long gone.”

“Consider it a souvenir I guess.” 

“Good to meet ya’ll,” Andrew said. 

“See I never understood gathering bullet casings... There are several guns made of the same make. How are we to tell the different owner?” I asked Dennis. “I’d much rather gather fingerprints, you know? At least those I could match perfectly. Or boot prints.” 

“Some...Like me, Tend to play with the bullets...scrape words or drawings into the casings. Otherwise it’s a long search.” 

I nodded and then looked over to another man walking into the saloon. “Hi sir, don’t think we’ve met either. I really need to hang out in saloons more often.” 

“Evenin’ ma’am… No, I reckon we ain’t,” the man said as he sat at the bar and gave me a grin. 

“I’m Trin,” I said, reaching out my gloved hand. 

“John… pleasure, ma’am,” John said and shook my hand. He held up his glass briefly in a ‘cheers’ signal. 

“Howdy.” Dennis said to the man and drank his whiskey. “Jeez, the liquor at Annie’s is better, I’ll tell you that much.” 

“Nice to meet you too, John.” I looked over at Dennis and said, “Honestly, I’ve been thinkin’ people need to hang out in saloons more in this town. They’re always in the streets or in Annie’s. And Annie’s ain’t my kind of place.” 

“Eh… This close to Mexico… We take what we can get, right?” John grinned and shrugged at the man. 

“Ain’t mine either, But if there’s good booze it’s good enough for me.” Dennis chuckled and nodded back to the man. “I hear ya on that! The name is Dennis Spark.” 

“John Geary,” John introduced himself to the man. 

“Pleasure to meet ye. Good to see some decent people in this heap of dust.” Dennis laughed. 

“Ya’ll seen the poster out front the sheriff’s office?” I asked them. 

“The top hat?” Dennis shrugged, scratching his head. 

“Yeah... Recognize it?” I nodded to him. 

“Who said I was decent?” John grinned and drank his whiskey. 

“My memory ain’t great, but I believe that fellow Lot used to wear one…” Dennis shrugged and scratched his head. “Either way, it’s just a hat… Ye lost it, buy a new one.” 

“Of course, Lot.” I raised an eyebrow and muttered. 

“Is this detective business, ma’am?” John asked, looking at my badge. 

“Yeah, you could say that. Why else would I put up a poster of a top hat?” 

“Beats me… I ain’t seen the poster yet.” John shrugged. 

“Lost it? Maybe you thought it was pretty…” Dennis chuckled. “Who knows.” He looked over at John and said, “Never said you were decent. Never said you weren’t. Actions speak louder than words, so I won’t judge ‘till seen.” 

“That top hat was left on my kitchen table. After some outlaws broke in, stole my kids’ presents from under the tree, and daggerred a death threat to my kitchen cabinet against me,” I said as I looked at Dennis. “I find who owns that top hat... I find who wants to kill me.” 

“Well ma’am… Either Lot or the mayor wear that hat… But it’s been a while since I met the rest of the townsfolk.” Dennis nodded slowly to me. 

“The mayor?” I looked at him. 

“I believe he wears a top hat, right?” 

“Sounds like serious business,” John said as he looked at me. 

“That’s who I thought of first when I saw it... but I wanted to see what others thought. If it’s Lot’s... geez…” I nodded. 

“The mayor is a decent guy… Saved my life before,” Dennis said as he scratched his chin. “Lot would be my first thought.” 

I tried to picture Lot in my house and shuddered, remembering the blood tracing. I stayed quiet, realizing that it all matched up. I asked them if they knew of a woman named Sushi and they didn’t. “Well I’m glad I didn’t waste two hundred dollars on getting the information about the hat out of Rikki.” I sipped some more whiskey then and said goodbye to the men as I walked out of Kate’s. 

I headed over to the sheriff’s office and leaned against the post with a frustrated sigh. I went to remove the poster now that I knew the top hat probably belonged to Lot. The door opened and I looked over at him. “Might want to stay inside dear, I’ve got some news,” I said, walking towards him. 

“Oh my, such wonderful news just as I am getting off work?” 

“Yeah... not good news.” I leaned over to kiss him softly, relieved to see him. 

Thomas hugged me tightly and kissed me. “Ok, tell me what the bad news is. I needed some fresh air.” 

“Good news is I have a pretty good idea who owns that hat left in our kitchen. Bad news is... you’re not gonna like either option.” 

“Ok, I am not sure I like where you are going with this but tell me.” 

“I was talking to a man who’s been around Tombstone for a long time... he knows a lot of folks and is probably a good source since he used to be a Pinkerton. Anyway... he said the hat might belong to…” I took a deep breath and looked at him. “Either Adrian Wise or Lot. They both wear top hats such as that one.” 

Thomas choked a bit at that and said, “You do know you just said the name of the mayor of Tombstone right?” 

“Yes, I do. And the leader of the gang whose initials are traced on the cabinet in blood.” 

“But why?” 

“Dear, I can’t solve all the mysteries in one night.” I sighed and leaned against his shoulder. 

“Can you imagine... Lot in our house…” 

“No more than I can imagine Mayor Wise breaking in and threatening you.” 

“Unless…” I shook my head in agreement. “Unless Adrian doesn’t know that his hat landed up in our kitchen.” 

“Something tells me that someone in the Wild Bunch is up to something, and they’re trying to pin it on someone else.” 

“Or they’re just up to something. They did write their initials on the cabinet. They know I’m not stupid and would figure that one out pretty quick.” 

“Yeah, but why would they go to the trouble to put Adrian’s hat on our table. If it really is his hat.” 

“Then our only other option is that it’s Lot’s hat and he left it there as a signature.” 

“Well I don’t know about you, but I am not really thrilled about having to ask Lot about anything.” 

“It wouldn’t get us anywhere anyway. Not that asking the mayor has gotten us anywhere. If you remember I sent him a telegram weeks ago to no reply about the hat.” 

“Yeah would probably get one or both of us shot more than likely.” 

“So either it’s really not his and he just didn’t care about the hat... Or it is his and he’s just ridiculously busy with things.” 

“Have you seen Lot lately?” 

“I haven’t.” I shook my head. “Had a run in with Rikki earlier though. She said she knew who owned the hat but wouldn’t tell me.” 

“What about the rest of his gang?” 

John walked over then, the man I’d met in the saloon, and looked at the wanted board. “Miss Paige… you mentioned a photo before… I was curious curious if I could see it? I don’t know that I’ll be much help… but can’t hurt to try.” I nodded and gave him the poster copy. He looked it over and puffed on his pipe. “Well ma’am… It looks like a fairly common top hat… I’ve seen…” 

“Oh, one thing Riki did say…” I nodded and said to Thomas. “She said she knew who the hat belonged to... but then she said she wouldn’t tell me ’cause she didn’t want to lose him as her business partner.” Looking at John I asked, “Yes?” 

“Oh… Well, I was gonna say I’ve seen Mr. Lot wear a top hat before… but not like that one. His is shorter… Um… I’ve seen the mayor wear one that looks a lot like that one but…” He looked at the picture again and said, “I can’t picture Mr. Wise bein’ anything but a righteous, clean-hearted mayor… Certainly no criminal. Though I guess you never know what’s in a man’s heart… and I’ve always heard enough time in politics can corrupt a man.” 

I nodded to him, sighing a bit as I looked at Thomas. “I hate to say it, but it seems that hat is pointing more to Adrian. But why would he be in our house?” 

“I have no idea dear... unless, like I said, he doesn’t realize that his hat wound up in my house.” 

“That’s a possibility. Someone could have planted it there.” 

“Dear, you know what’s been puzzling me? We’ve only lived in that house for a couple of weeks. We moved there right before Christmas. How could people possibly know where we live already? We haven’t had anyone over except Irish, Cole, and Enola.” 

“What’s that dear?” 

“Well, I’m not a detective…” John looked between us. “But… I don’t know. Could be just about any explanation… like an enemy of his making a weak attempt to dirty up his name… but now this talk about Rikki and not wanting to tarnish some business relationship… That could be a lead. Although she’s a clever little outlaw herself and could be in on whatever evil is going on.” 

“Or she has nothing to do with it and is just tryin’ to bug me by sayin’ she knows who the hat belongs to and that’s all she knows.” I nodded. “Cause she thinks it gives her some sort of power.” 

“Well we both know news travels fast in this town dear. Probably half the town knew we moved to Bisbee by the time we got moved in.” 

“Just didn’t think people cared that much I guess,” I said and winked at Thomas. 

“Trin, do you think we should ummm...I hate to say it, but relocate the kids until we find out whats going on? I mean maybe they could stay at the Russ, or with Mr. Cole or something for the time being.” Thomas looked at me. 

“Hmm… well if she were truly being helpful… maybe she’d give you a name.” 

I sighed and leaned against the post. No... I don’t want to make them think we’re scared. The outlaws or the kids, I mean. I want their life to be as normal as possible. They’ve got Shira, she will protect them. They’ve already been uprooted so many times lately... I don’t want to move them again. And if Rikki wanted to be helpful, she would have just told me. Or taken the two hundred coins I offered and told me. But she didn’t.” 

“You’re right dear. I know Jimmy will try to protect them with his bb gun I bought him. He’s gotten quite good with it.” 

“There you go. Even more protection. They’ll be okay love.” I said and rubbed my hand down his back to calm him. “Besides… If they wanted to do more, don’t you think they’d have done it by now? It’s been a few weeks since that trial against the wild bunch member that I got hanged… Since they barged in the house… I truly don’t want to show them our fear. That’s what they want. Maybe I should just avoid doing hanging trials from now on…” 

“Me neither love. I know if I ever catch one of them around our house, there will be hell to pay.” 

“I think I better head back to the house. You want to come, dear?” 

“Yeah, I feel the need to check on the little ones right now.” 

“Thank you John, for your assistance.” I said to him. 

“My pleasure, ma’am,” John said with a grin. 

“Yes, thank you sir for your help. If you think of anything else, please let us know.” 

We greeted Angel and Ansar who were setting a trap in Ghenna for Mac and we headed home. 

Bisbee. 

We walked into the house and found Natalie reading Sherlock in the living room. “Well hey there, angel. How are you doing tonight?” I asked her with a smile. 

“Hey there pumkin,” Thomas greeted her. 

“I’m… okay.” Nat closed her book and set it on the nightstand. She pulled her knees up under her chin and I looked at her with worry. 

“Are you alright, Natalie? Where’s Jimmy?” 

“He went to bed hours ago but I... Um.. had to stay awake until I saw you come home safe.” 

Thomas looked from me back to Nat and asked her, “Natalie, what’s wrong?” 

“I went to church this mornin’... and prayed for you two…” Natalie looked down. 

I looked at my daughter and we sat down on the couch as I asked her, “What did you pray about? It’s good you went to church.” 

“Natalie, are you ok? Something happen to you and Jimmy?” Thomas asked as we sat down. 

“I know somethin’s going on with you two. You’ve been worried since before Christmas and I dunno why. I been actin brave in front of Jimmy but I not stupid. Somethin’s goin’ on, isn’t it?” Nat looked between us. 

I took a deep breath, knowing my twelve year old daughter was smarter than most. I looked over at Thomas, not sure how to answer, since I was still learning this part of parenthood. 

Thomas held my hand and looked in my eyes, then at Natalie. “Everything is ok dear. It’s just Christmas was busy and we wanted everything right for you and Jimmy.” 

Nat shook her head and looked between us. “I know that ain’t true. I know it. I been reading Sherlock and figurin’ out when people ain’t bein honest. You been tellin us to stay together, to go with Shira everywhere... to…” 

I took a deep breath and looked at Thomas. “We can’t lie dear,” I whispered to him softly. Thomas nodded and I looked back to her. “Honey... let me explain a story to you... you know how Sherlock has... bad people he’s gotta go after? And sometimes they don’t like it when he reveals that they’ve done something wrong?” 

“Yeah…” I nodded. “I guess bad people wouldn’t like that so much. It’s like he’s ruinin’ their fun. But he never really gets hurt in the stories and always comes out the one controllin’ everything ’cause he’s smarter than them.” 

“Well... your ma’s got people that don’t always like her either. But... we’re always smarter and better than them, right?” I looked at Nat and then back at Thomas. 

“Also munchkin, with you, Jimmy and Shira together, you are less likely to get hurt, or less likely to have someone bother you...there are more and more strangers in Tombstone every day...we’re worried about keeping you both safe,” Thomas told her. 

“Oooh... so someone not like something you did ma? I remember you were in court and were upset ’bout it but never knew why. I guess both sides can’t be happy there.. One guy’s gonna get to jail or whatever and it’s your fault,” Natalie said. 

I sighed at how perceptive she was and nodded. “You’re right, kiddo. And your pa’s right too. There’s lots of people in town that you shouldn’t talk to... so if you’re with Jimmy or Shira, if it’s a bad person, they can protect you.” 

“That’s right dear.” Thomas nodded. “Sometimes they umm… try to get others to do bad things. Just as your ma said, if you are alone, you are in more danger than if with Jimmy or Shira.”

Nat nodded and stood. “Well that makes sense... I just... didn’t want ya to have to think ya couldn’t tell me the truth. I know Jimmy don’t gotta hear it but I’m older... I gotta know if somethin’s not safe, ya know?” Nat asked, walking over to each of us and giving us a tight hug. 

Thomas hugged her and me together and kissed Nat’s forehead. “You are a smart girl Natalie. We both love you so much.” 

I hugged Nat tightly and said, “I’m proud of you, Natalie, wanting to look out for your little brother. Sometimes we gotta deal with bad people but we gotta be strong and not change who we are, got it?” 

“I got it ma. I love ya both too. Did ya read my article about our first Christmas in the Bee??” Nat asked. 

“I sure did. You’re turning into a great writer, kiddo. You know, I was a writer once a long time ago too... I ran a few papers before moving to Tombstone.” I grinned. 

“I sure did munchkin. Did you see my post in the Bee too? Your ma and pa both were in it.” Thomas replied. 

“Uh huh! Those were good resolutions! I put one in there too. And about the snowgirl/cow we found!” Nat grinned. 

“Go on to bed, kiddo. I hear Shira whimpering for you up there.” I chuckled. 

“Yeah your ma ran papers back when people still use stone and chisel, and grunted a lot,” Thomas said and hugged me tightly. 

I laughed and nudged Thomas in the ribs lightly. “Listen you... I was a teenager and I made good money runnin’ those papers.” 

“I’m gonna go to bed. Night ma and pa. Love you both lots!” Nat said and ran upstairs. 

“ You may have been a teenager, but men still clobbered their women with clubs and eat dinosaurs for dinner…” Thomas giggled. 

I laughed and kissed him firmly. “Thank you for being so great with her. I didn’t want to lie to her but I didn’t know how much to tell her either.”

“Well I thought I would let you say what you wanted to. I realize now she is too smart to lie to. I just feel she is growing up so fast.” 

“She sure is... she’s too smart for her own good. Well dear… I’m almost tempted to just lay back and fall asleep on this couch.” I leaned back in his arms happily. 

“Sounds like a good idea to me baby. I am much too tired to go upstairs anyways.” Thomas pulled the blanket over us and I fell asleep happily in his arms.