Tombstone.
I walked down the street this afternoon and saw Angel and Bree by the bank. I greeted them and heard Bree saying, “Well… I heard Gli and Shy and Rikki discussing this, but I did not see it.”
“I miss something?” I asked, looking between them.
“Oh Trin, iz good to see you,” Angel said and looked at me.
“That’s always nicer then ’oh great, you again,’” I said and winked at Bree.
“So yezterday I had a voman come to me and tell me somevone blew up the sheriff’s office and the courthouse.”
“Oh and Kellee was there. Have not seen them in aa long time her and Gli,” Bree said.
“Oh really?” I blinked.
“And then the vwoman said somevone vas claiming she shot her. Now I didn’t catch this vwoman’s name and didn’t know the lady making the claim. And no vone’s made a statement. But Miz Bree just said she heard Rikki, Gli and Shy talking about it.”
“Not sure… you know shy? I forget rest of her name,” Bree said. “Oh wait… Miss Bella. Ask her. She got shot.”
“Miz Bella?” Angel asked and looked at me. “Villing to help me out with this vone Miz Trin?”
“She was made and she did say Mis Mer almost got burned alive. I do remember this,” Bree said. “I never saw Miss Mer though. Better write this all down as it come to my mind.”
“Yes ma’am, just wrapping my head around the information,” I said.
“So let me get this straight… A woman came to you yesterday and said someone blew up the sheriff’s office and the courthouse. Then the woman said someone was claiming that she shot her. But you ain’t sure what either person’s names were?” I asked.
“Miss Bella was healed by Jess and Jess may know more,” Bree added.
“Semz the miztery vwoman shot vaz miz Bella,” Angel guessed. “Thank you Bree, you’ve been a big help so far in getting all this started.”
“Bella as in... The one that ran the wells fargo?” I asked.
“Miss Bella was mad as heck and I told her stop hollering at the women outlaws as I know they could get mean,” Bree said. “No no Trin, a new little lady.”
“Oh okay. And Bella was healed by Jess.”
“She sometimes sweep at Russ and she helps at the orphanage. Pretty young I think,” Bree said.
“Oh does she?”
“Miss Bella needed food, I fed her. There’s Kelly… maybe she can tell you more,” Bree said and pointed to a woman coming over.
“Ok so.. Bella, a newcomer, was shot. Jess healed her. And this is connected with the two fires?” I asked.
“Yes Trin,” Bree nodded.
“What have I done now?” Kelly asked as she came over.
“Hello ma’am. I’m Detective Trin Paige. Don’t believe we’ve met,” I said and turned to her.
“Tell them what Miss Bella was so mad about last night Kelly,” Bree told her.
“Ah yes thiz iz the vwoman vho told me about it,” Angel said.
“Well that’s awfully convenient. Nice to meet you ma’am,” I said with a smile.
“Whatever it is, I did not do it,” Kelly insisted.
“So Kelly ,you told the sheriff about the fire at the courthouse and the sheriff’s office?” I asked. “And then you said someone was claiming that you shot them?”
“Oh yes. The crazy woman.”
“Crazy woman? Bella?” I confirmed.
“Bella was mad Trin,” Bree said.
“Yes, I was really close to shooting her ‘cause someone with no evidence,” Kelly told me.
“What was Bella mad about?” I asked.
“About being shot and her friend getting almost burned alive,” Bree said.
“Her friend…?” I looked over, confused.
“Miz Mer, right?” Angel asked.
“I will testify to it,” Bree promised and nodded to Angel. “Yes.”
“I don’t know names,” Kelly said.
“I took photoz of her yesterday so I do know zer close how I met miz Bella,” Angel said.
“Mer?” I blinked, getting lost in the details.
“Gosh Trin, you getting mixed up with this,” Bree stated.
“Kelly... if you could write a statement. Exactly of what you witnessed. Then I’ll have that in your perspective. Right now I’m getting three perspectives and a bunch of names I don’t know. So yes, I’m getting a tad confused.”
“Well, I was not there when fire started,” Kelly told me.
“Alright... from the beginning. Kelly. What did you witness? Let’s do this one at a time.”
“I suggest you ask doc Jess,” Bree advised.
“Well, I was in Ghenna,” Kelly said. “I hear a boom… And me and Rikki fall off our chairs.”
“I’m listening,” I prompted her.
“We looked at Tombstone… see smoke… So me and Rikki got in to investigate and saw sheriff office and court house was blown up. We went to the docs office and one lady there accused me of shooting her.”
“That’d be Bella,” I said with a nod, understanding finally.
“She would not give up. She threaten me and I tried to explain. She got even more mad. I was ready to defend myself but I know the law does not like guns drawn in town and I did not want to get in jail. I mean, I have seen it many times. It was my home before.”
“Of course…” I nodded and chuckled. “So then what happened?”
“So then you just... left? Or is there more?”
“One lady was wounded in courthouse I believe.”
“That would be Bella’s friend. Right Angel?”
“Correct,” Angel said with a nod.
“I went inside to see if it was more wounded,” Kelly said. “But too much smoke.”
“Well where did Mer go?” Bree asked.
“Bella’s statement will be crucial in this case. And Mer’s,” I said.
“Did she make it?” Kelly asked Bree.
“I don’t know,” Bree replied.
“I saw her at the saloon before I came here,” Kelly said.
“Must not been burned then,” Bree observed.
“Alright, I think I have a better grasp on the story now. Let me make sure I have this right for my notes then… And correct me if I’m wrong on names. Okay?” I looked at Kelly and Angel and they nodded. “So yesterday Kelly tells Sheriff Angel about how the sheriff’s office and the courthouse were blown up. Then, Kelly says that someone, Bella, was claiming that she, Kelly, shot her, Bella. Correct?”
“Yes,” Kelly said with a nod.
“Bella, meanwhile, was getting healed by Doc Jess in the clinic. Bella had been in the fire, I’m assuming?”
“Yes, I think so,” Kelly and Angel agreed.
“In which fire? the courthouse or the sheriff’s office?” I asked.
“I am not sure. I do not know someone got burned,” Kelly said.
“Alright, either way… Bella, as Bree’s informed me, helps out at the orphanage and the Russ. So then... Kelly comes into the doc’s office and Bella accuses Kelly of shooting her?”
“There she is. Bella,” Kelly said as Bella walked over.
“I want to get this right first,” I said with a bit of a sigh.
Kelly and Angel went out to tell Bella to join us at the sheriff’s office and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to finish my notes. Aspen came over and Angel told her we had to work as Angel, Bella and I headed into the office and Kelly stayed outside with Aspen.
“You want to talk about what happened yesterday, don’t ya?” Bella asked as we all sat down at the desk.
“We sure do. I’d like it in the form of a witness statement, if we could,” I said and got out a blank statement to fill out while she talked. “Why don’t you start at the beginning… What did you witness, from the start of it all?”
“I promise I will not lie on this then. You have my word,” Bella insisted.
“I know you’re new to town, Miz Bella,” Angel said, “But ven something like this happens iz important to come tell the law.”
“Well, there really isn’t much to it,” Bella said with a sad look on her face. “Mer was hurt, and there was nothing I could do about it. And I let my anger get the best of me.”
“If your too scared to speak in person I keep a witness statement in my mailbox you can take and fill out anonymously,” Angel told her.
I nodded to that and said, “But if we have your name, it would be very useful if it goes to trial.”
“Thank you two,” Bella said with a nod. “I am scared. Rikki and her friend just threatened me at the library. Bella Stones,” she said and introduced herself.
I sighed and looked at Angel and then back to Bella. “Thank you ma’am. Can you tell us what happened yesterday? From the beginning?”
“Iz going to be alvright, miz. The more I know, the sooner I can handle Miz Rikki and her friends,” Angel said to her.
“Well, me and Mer had just came from the library. I had helped her restock her books. We had went to Breezes and noticed that Rikki was unloading something at the courthouse. We went to help and Rikki was all secretive,” Bella told us and I wrote while I listened. “And Mer was the first to notice it was dynamite. We tried moving to wagon but it was too heavy, and we tried destroying but Rikki had came out.”
I sighed, knowing there was something about Kelly’s story. Angel grabbed a warrant to fill out as she listened to Bella talk.
“And I had went to get help but no one came. When I came back…” Bella said and looked like she was about to cry. “Mer was tied, and sat on the box with Rikki pointing a gun. She begged, BEGGED, me to leave.” I looked over at Angel, knowing she had more than enough for a warrant.
Angel nodded and gave Bella a sympathetic look. “Continue, Miz Bella. I need to know it all.”
Bella started crying as she said, “She was going to help me. She was going to give me a job at the library so I could get a home and become a teacher. I was going to try to help. Now she’s in pain and there’s nothing I could do about it.”
I looked straight at Bella and Angel leaned over to put a hand on her shoulder. “Thingz vill be alvright miz. I know this iz hard, but vat happened after Rikki tied up miz Mer?”
“And what’s worse is that I had left her. And when I came back… boom,” Bella said.
“And miz Mer?” Angel asked.
“Burnt. She was inside when Rikki blew the detonator.”
“Did she pass?”
“Damn it…” I swore, shaking my head.
“Alive, but burnt like bacon. The good Lord must’ve been watching her.”
“Well Angel, sounds like you have this case locked up in a nice little destructive bow,” I told her.
“She’ll be alvright I’m sure of it miz Bella and don’t you go blaming yourself for zis,” Angel said.
“I am sorry that you had to go through this, Bella. I need to head home to the kids, but I will try and gather Jess and Mer’s statements for you later, Sheriff,” I said then.
Bella took a second to dry her eyes and said, “Thank you Miss Trin. Sarah’s told me all about you in her letters.”
“Alvright I’ll let you know if I see them first,” Angel said.
“I hope we can talk again under better circumstances,” I said with a smile to Bella. “Sounds good, Sheriff. Take care ladies,” I said to Angel.
“By the way, Sarah made this for Nat and Jimmy,” Bella said and held out two little paper flowers.
“Sarah who lives over at the orphanage? How do you know her?” I asked with interest.
“That’s her. I’m one of her mother’s friends from the orphanage.”
I took the flowers and smiled widely. “They will be delighted to receive this. Thank you so much. We will have you and Sarah over soon. Take care ladies.”
“We’ll be delighted!” Bella smiled.
“Take care, Trin. Thank you for helping,” Angel said.
“My pleasure, Angel. Glad I could stand there and act like a magnet for witnesses to come to us,” I said and winked at her as she chuckled.
As I was walking away, Angel asked for Mer’s full name and she said it was Mer Kuiper. I filed the information in my mind and headed home to update my files.
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