January 14, 1901

Tombstone. 

This afternoon I greeted Millard and David talking in front of the clinic and I greeted them. 

“Crap… I mean, hi Trin,” David replied. 

“Nice to see you too, Dave.” 

“Yes I am sure it is,” David said. 

“Was you able to save anything from the fire?” Millard asked. 

“Not a thing. Not even any evidence.” I shook my head. 

“Wait, fire?” David asked. “Who had a fire?” 

“I don’t even know if anyone was around to see it.” 

“I seen it,” Millard said. 

“Yeah, my Pinkerton office here in town.” I nodded to Dave. “Joe’s working on the repairs for it. I need to gather wood.” 

“Need wood do ya?”” Dave asked. 

“Mr Lot and ummm... dern I forgot who else was around…” Millard said. “Miss Downy maybe? I don’t recollect for sure.” 

“Of course.” I sighed at that. “Any other adults around, Mill?” 

“Umm... yeah, an old fella. I’m so bad at rememberin’ folks names and faces.” 

“Oh it’s okay Mildew,” David said. 

“You have some wood, Dave?” I asked. 

“It was an older fella who had just come back to town,” Millard said. 

“Ah I see. Don’t think I know who you mean.” 

“Yes I always have wood,” Dave told me. 

“Just wish I could use you as a witness, kiddo.” I sighed and watched Downy stroll by. 

“I’ll try to remember who the old man was,” Millard said. 

“Could you liaise with Joe about that wood, Dave?” I asked. 

“Why can’t you? Boys old enough to drink and smoke,” David said about Mill. 

“That would help, Mill. I s’pose he is... can you write me a statement Mill? Wouldn’t hurt.” 

“Yesum,” Mill nodded and took the statement from me. “I’ll get this back to you later on” 

“Um I really would rather not show Joe my wood,” David joked. 

“David, there’s a child around for goodness sake,” I said and rolled my eyes at him. 

“Hell the boy probably heard worse then that,” David said. 

“Our family will be going on vacation soon… Glad you find the fact that my life is in danger amusing, David.” 

“In danger? How?” 

“I’ve been receiving several threat.” 

“Maybe you just misreading them?” 

“The least of which was just before Christmas when folks came into our house and stole the presents and hanged a letter on the kitchen cabinet.” 

“Some threats could be up side down love letters.” 

“That said that the hangman’s noose would soon be around my neck. With a dagger And ‘WB’ traced in blood underneath.” 

“‘WB’…” David said as he thought about it. 

“And the mayor’s hat sitting on the kitchen table which had been stolen by some woman named Jane Downs.” 

“Oh! Now I remember!” Millard said then. “It was ol’ man Grey.” 

“Mark? Sam?” I guessed. 

“Sam.” Millard nodded. 

“Oh good. I know him well.” I said. 

“I think Mr Lyric may have been around too,” Millard said. 

“That’s even better.” I smiled. 

“So who you think WB stands for?” David asked. 

“WB? Maybe it’s somebody initials,” Millard said. 

“Well… considering I’d just won a big hanging trial before Christmas… Against one of the Wild Bunch members… It don’t take a genius…” 

“Or maybe its short for other words… Like wagon or water.” 

“But yeah I reckon they can tell you about it. Mr Lot was accusin’ ol’ man Grey of settin’ the fire,” Millard said. “Or maybe it was Miss Downy that was.” 

“Pretty sure it was a signature,” I said to David and then looked at Millard. “That’s good to know. If you can write it up for me that’d be a big help.” 

“I know!” David brightened. “Maybe they saying welcome back in some strange manner?” 

“Yessum, I will. I reckon I will now, excuse me,” Millard said. 

“With a threat to hang me and a dagger?” I looked at Dave. 

“Maybe.” 

“Finally, a witness.” I sighed. 

Dave headed out then and I leaned against the sheriff’s office post, knowing there was no point talking to Downy, but then I got an idea. “Hey Jane? Jane Downs?” I called across the street towards Downy. 

“Any luck with yer burnin?” Glicea came over and asked. 

“May have just caught a break,” I told her. 

“I seen you in here through the window but see, Miss Downy was awful mad askin’ if i told on her,” Millard said to me with a nod. 

“Make sure that you include that in your statement. She won’t see us back here.” I told him. 

“Oh, I reckon I better add it.” 

“Mmhmm. Shows her guilt.” I gave him a pen and he worked on finishing his statement, handing it back to me. 

“How’s that?” 

“Thanks Mill. I better hang out in here and you might wanna go out the back way..” I suggested. 

“Yessum, bye.” 

“Stay safe kiddo. Thanks,” I said to him and headed home.