August 24, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked down the street this morning and found Jimmy and Paisley sitting in front of Dutch Annie’s. They greeted me and I asked if everything was okay. 

“Yeah, I think so... I was doing a little reading for Jimmy is all,” Paisley told me. 

“So far so good... ‘cept someone broke in bank agin Miss Trin!” Jimmy said. 

“Oh I see...” I looked over to the bank. 

“Yes. He came over to tell me.” 

“Did you see who did it Jimmy?” I asked. 

“I look inside, but no touch...no, I see nobody roun...firs person I find was Miss Paisley when she come out.” 

“He came over as soon as he saw me,” Paisley said. 

“Ah okay. Guess ya don’t need me then...” I nodded. 

“Awe, Miss Trin you can sit wit us..I jus askin Miss Paisley read dis letter I find...I from my ma when I little,” Jimmy said and I took a seat on the steps, full of exhaustion and frustration from the trial yesterday. “Miss Trin, you look tired.” 

“You okay?” Paisley looked at me. 

“It was a long and hard day yesterday,” I shrugged. “What was the letter about Jimmy?” 

“Yes it was,” Paisley smiled. “Go on, tell her.” 

“My ma wrote me a little fore she die, she tell me she love me, and about who I am.” 

“Oh yeah? Where’d you find the letter?” 

“I find it in an old shoe I had.” 

“Oh I see.” 

Sammy came over hobbling on his crutches and we talked about how he knew Natalie and she’d told me about him. 

“Momma tell me I was part Apache indian, cuz she was too,” Jimmy said then. 

“Oh yeah? Just like me...” I looked at him. 

“Oh you part indian too Miss Trin?” 

“Mmhmm I sure am. My daddy fought in the war but with a group of Apache warriors... They were a special group of soldiers. I’m teaching Natalie how to speak Apache.” 

“All wonderful groups of Natives,” Paisley said. “Rich heritages. Nat said you had a book Trin.” 

“I learned my momma’s name from the letter too..he name was Mandy, but Miss Paisley said it could be short for Amanda,” Jimmy said. 

We went over several words that we knew in Apache and then I went to change into the outfit I wore when I went to visit the village. They all said that they really liked the outfit and I suggested Jimmy and I could go for a ride to the village sometime since they knew me and trusted me. 

With all the talk about the Natives, my mind went back to many memories of how things had ended badly with each tribe I had tried to help so long ago. My emotions were heightened when Paisley mentioned Sunset and I walked over to the coral, needing to gather myself. The last couple of days had been hard and I felt like I was losing my sense of calm and peace. 

“Miss Trin you ok?” Jimmy’s voice brought me back to the present and I looked down at him, wiping the tears away. 

“I’m sorry Jimmy... It’s been a hard few days and I just... the memories sometimes get to me.” Jimmy handed me a handkerchief and I took it, wiping away the tears. “Being Apache is something to be proud of, Jimmy, but it’s not always easy.” 

“It’s ok Miss Trin...I cry too...I cry when Miss Paisley read me that letter earlier..cuz I miss my ma so much.” 

Sammy walked in then to make sure I was okay and we talked about how the last couple of days had brought up a lot of painful memories for me. Jimmy talked about how he worked at the stable for miss Pet. Kaden walked over then and I listened to the boys talk about working with the horses. 

“Ms Trin likes to hang out with the injuns,” Sammy said. 

“Well.. I used to... I haven’t really gotten to know them here much but...”

“What happened?” Kaden asked me. 

“I did help them with court once. I helped save their Chief from getting hanged.”

“How did you do that?” Kaden asked. 

“Well that sounds like a friend,” Sammy smiled and then Jimmy said he had to go.

When Jimmy ran off to Benson I looked at the other two boys. “You want me to tell you how I saved the Apache Chief from getting hanged?” 

“Yes’m, it sound real intresting,” Kaden nodded. 

I smiled and knelt down to their level and started to tell them the story. “Well... I felt bad that the Chief was gonna get hanged... cause you know when you kill someone... you get killed for it... But I knew that the Chief had done it to protect his son...” 

“That good that he protect his son but killing is still bad,” Kaden said. 

“Well... I went to talk with the Chief’s wife and got her statement... I thought that maybe if I had her story, the court would go easier on her husband because then they’d understand why he did it. Wanna hear what she said?” 

“Yeah,” Kaden nodded. 

I remembered the day so clearly and told them, “She said... ‘My husband was wronged. Our family was said bad things against. She call our papoose, our baby son, a critter. Our papoose not rat. My husband, Chief of tribe, is his duty to protect family and tribe. We just look. We not bother no one.’ Then she said... Woman come to us. I back behind husband, I not trust. She say bad things. Then my husband, he need to react. Is the Apache way, not to do this. She put her hand to her guns. Put us in danger and my papoose. Left Chief no choice but attack.’ She said ‘Dago te’ to her. She make fun of language. My husband try tell her. She not like this, so this all happen. We just stand quiet and look. Not cause trouble. So she he no choice, when see she went for guns, to protect us.’” 

“So she said bad things and touched her guns? That scary,” Kaden said. 

“So the chief took out his weapon to protect himself and his son. But see... When white man looks at this story... all they see is that Chief killed the woman, right?”

“If that all you say then that what people know,” Kaden pointed out. 

“They didn’t think about it from the Chief’s view.. And Apache women don’t trust anyone enough to give them their stories written down... They can’t even write.... But I went to the village and I told the woman that I was part-Apache. She trusted that I wanted to help her and her husband. If I hadn’t gone to talk to her... No one would have... And no one would have heard her story. I even sat on the jury for that trial and made sure to say that the chief wasn’t guilty. The rest of the jury agreed and he was let go.” 

“You done a good thing,” Kaden said. 

“See normally... Pinkertons don’t help the defense...” 

“You was a witness and a juror?” Kaden asked. 

Well... I sat on the jury but they didn’t tell me to get off. They never said my name with the report.” 

“Tombstone law...” Sammy said. 

“Cause I was scared then... to show that I was helping the defense. Now that I think about it I shouldn’t have been on the jury at all...” 

“So it was a anonymous report?” Kaden asked. 

“Just from the Pinkertons,” I nodded. 

“But you weren’t what they say, impartial.” 

“Right... but I was able to listen to both sides and hear both arguments of the case...” 

“They’ll favor who’s paying them,” Sammy said. 

“As a detective... I have to look at all the sides and facts, right?” I said. 

“Well that’s true, Sammy,” Kaden nodded. 

“So maybe I had made a mistake and maybe the prosecutor would convince me otherwise... I had to take that chance. In the end though... Mr. Lot had the better case and a solid argument for the Chief.” 

“Mr Lot likes to help the indians,” Kaden said. 

“But see that teaches you a lesson, right? Before you decide something about a person based on who they are or where they’re from.. You’ve gotta hear the whole story. From both sides. Then you can decide who you believe more.” 

“Yep, it’s ok to be on the jury even if you made up your mind ahead a time long as you ain’t a kid,” Kaden said. 

“Well... I hadn’t quite made up my mind yet, that’s the thing. I was still confused ‘cause I’d heard all the sides of the story. All I’d done was gotten a statement from the chief’s wife..” 

“Didja lose your job with the pinkertons?” Sammy asked. 

“Nope. They knew I’d done a good job and helped the law in a lot of other cases. Sometimes... the facts lead us where we don’t want to go. Sometimes the facts make us help the other side. Like yesterday..” 

“What happen then?” Kaden asked. 

“My friend Zannza went to court.” 

“What for?” Sammy asked. 

“She and her husband hired me to do the whole investigation though... Cause she had been stealing artwork from galleries around town. Thing was.. someone else was doing it and making her look bad. But we didn’t know that when we started. So I thought I was helping the law by getting her arrested... But then the woman doing it came and tried to kill her so she actually ended up killing her too. Kinda like the Apache Chief... The woman she killed had tried to hurt her and said she’d hurt her family.” 

“Wow...” Kaden shook his head. 

“Yeah... So see it’s the same kind of thing. I wrote a huge report about it and the prosecutor person actually tried to use me as a witness.” 

“People keep killin like they ar ain’t gonna be no one left in Arizona by 1910,” Sammy pointed out. 

“But I don’t think she’d read the whole report or she woulda seen I was actually in the end helping the other side this time too. Problem though with yesterday...” I sighed. 

“Ma’am?” Sammy looked at me. 

“The prosecutor didn’t seem to like that I was helping the other side... She brought up all this bad stuff that the Pinkertons had done in the past and tried to get the jury not to trust me as a witness.” 

“Who was that?” Kaden asked. 

“Suzy...” I sighed. “It was awful. I felt like I was bein’ punished for what my other detectives had done in the past.” 

“Weren’t she a pinkerton way back?” Kaden asked. 

“Was she?” I looked at him with surprise. 

“Kaden’s got a purty good memory,” Sammy said. 

“I ain’t real sure but I thought she was,” Kaden tried to think. 

“Hmm... That’s interesting. But see...” 

“That would give her the information she was throwing at you,” Kaden pointed out. 

“Someone shouldn’t be held accountable for the actions of everyone that’s gone before. Those two cases I told you about? Where I helped the other side?” 

“She might a been talkin bout what she herself done,” Kaden said. 

“But lawyers know folks don’t think that way,” Sammy pointed out. 

“Those are the only two times I’ve ever done that. And the second time, yesterday, I didn’t know I 

was helpin the defense until the end. It hurt a lot... the way she talked about the Pinkertons and how she tried to make them not trust me.” 

“You gotta have a thick skin in your business ma’am,” Sammy observed. 

“Yes you sure do. I’m tryin’ to see it just like you said Sammy... She was a lawyer tryin’ to do her job.” 

“I don’t like her. she even tried to get a bunch of us kids once to get guns and join her posse,” Kaden said. 

“Wow... That isn’t allowed.” 

“Now that’s really against the law,” Sammy shook his head. 

“But she did,” Kaden said. 

“She shoulda been up before territorial justice for that,” Sammy pouted. 

“You would think...” I said and looked between them. “Hey guys? Thanks for letting me talk about all this... It helps me keep things in perspective and try not to get too.. upset about it.” 

“Well ma’am there sure ain’t much law west of the Pecos, is there?” Sammy looked at me. 

“I’ve been kinda lonely lately. Though I’ve got Natalie. And Alex and Aly... and Thomas when he’s in town I guess.” 

“I met her yesterday, she’s sweet. Got a purty name,” Sammy said. 

“Mmhmm. She and Jimmy are best friends but she likes hangin’ out with the boys better than the girls. She’s scared to go to school though.” 

“After last night i think we’re all a little nervous about school,” Sammy frowned. 

“What happened last night? She didn’t go...” 

“There was a big shootemup right outside the school.” 

“Really?” 

“Yikes,” Kaden cringed. 

“We was all inside afeared they’d come ridin through the door.” 

“Wow... That’s awful.” 

“Didnt last long but it was right skeery while it did.” 

“I bet you were. Hope they caught em.” 

“Shot ‘em, I think.” 

“The law did?” 

“Yes. Soon’s the street cleared I headed for ms Joan’s.” 

“Well they shouldn’t be sootin’ right near the schoolhouse. That ain’t right.” 

“Nope,” Kaden shook his head. 

“Never had ‘em back on that street before,” Sammy pointed out. 

“How was the class part?” I asked. 

“Allen Street got plenty of room,” Sammy muttered. “The street by the school is narrow. Ifn ya didn’t git shot ya could git run down by a horse.” 

“Mmhmm, you’re right Sammy,” I nodded. 

Sammy and Kaden said they had to go and Kaden looked at me. “Thanks fer tellin the stories Miss Trin, I real sorry it causin ya problems with the Pinkertons.” 

They both said that they found my life interesting and I told them I could tell them lots of stories if they wanted to hear them sometime. 

I walked over towards the courthouse and saw Jimmi and Starling standing in the street in front of it. They greeted me and we talked about how I had been checking my gun to make sure there were bullets in it. 

“Gonna need it if I’m gonna protect my honor around this town after yesterday,” I muttered. 

“What happened?” 

“Suzy attacking the Pinkertons like that in court.” 

“Trin, you’re not a Pinkerton in whatever and wherever it was whenever too. You’re here and now in Tombstone today.” 

“Precisely. She shouldn’t be holding the crimes of my predecessors against me.”

“Suzy is great to know when she has a few lemonades inside her.” 

“I just hope it hasn’t tarnished folks’ trust of me and my fellow detectives that might be hired. I worked hard on that case. And to have it manhandled by her hit hard.”

“She is a lawyer and she will drill holes in any testimony she thinks needs a few leaks. Don’t take it personally.” 

“I guess it should be seen as a compliment then,” I nodded. 

“Exactomondo,” Jimmi nodded. 

“She just didn’t realize that my statement would be helping the other side this time. Though, I didn’t know that until the end of the case,” I winked at him.

“It was amusing though, Adrian helping Suzy back to her seat. ‘This way Suzy, sit here have some water.’” 

“I thought it was amusing that Adrian, who is technically my boss, was defending and asking questions to me as a defense witness,” I chuckled. “I was just telling the boys... Only other time I helped the defense in court was for the Apache Chief murder trial back in February. It don’t happen often,” I chuckled. 

“He killed Vena,” Jimmi remembered. 

“Out of self defense and protection of his family.”

“Over a few words, words don’t hurt unless you allow them. Guns and knives, you have no choice if they are used. They will hurt. “ 

“I recalled his wife’s statement. Vena went for her guns and the chief felt threatened. It hadn’t been over merely words.”

“It started as words and could easily ended as words. This street is not where the old chief lives; he did not have to be here and even Vena could have walked away unharmed. As soon as a weapon was drawn, that’s breaking the law. Killing without lawful reason is murder.” 

“But Vena was the one who drew a weapon first. What choice did the chief have? His own son and wife were right there.”

“Don’t matter who drew a weapon first. Let me explain...” 

“Sure it does.” 

“No...” 

“That was because she called the baby a critter,” Starling put in. 

“Right...” I nodded. 

“You can have a fast draw up against me,” Jimmi went on. “The fast draw sees me going for my gun. He pulls faster than me because he cant help it.” 

“But you still went for your gun.”

“By the time I am drawn, he has cocked aimed and fired. Who started the fight?” 

“The motion of hands going towards a gun is enough to signal a threat to the other person.”

“I could be scratching my pants.” 

“But doesn’t say you are going to fire,” Starling said. 

“With your hand on your gun?” I blinked. 

“Starling... if you and Garry were out for a walk and someone called you names and then that person put their hand to their gun... Would you not take all precaution to protect your child?” I asked her. 

“The person who draws first is not always the person who starts the fight. The person who kills the other is the winner of the argument,” Jimmi said. 

“Of course. But I don’t wear weapons,” Starling said. 

“It’s the same thing with Zan’s situation,” I said. “Mae Billings threatened Zan’s husband and child.”

“That’s not a fair example Trin. Starling is unarmed and could never cope with a gun drawn on her.” 

“Well sure but I’m just trying to explain the mentality behind it.”

“The chief and his wife back then were armed.” 

“I could put you in Starling’s place, Jimmi. If you and Garry were out for a walk and someone started to have words with you and then went for their gun. What would you do Jimmi?”

“Cover my child with my own body.” 

“And then?” 

“I only draw my guns when I intend to kill someone Trin, not for threats or ego.” 

“Well... Native people are much more... firm with their protection of their family. It’s a cultural difference that not all folks understand.”

“Let’s get into detail of the chief and Vena.” 

“You forget Trin, I am Apache also,” Starling said. 

“I remember, Starling... Is another reason I asked what you would do.”

“It started with poor choice of words which is not really poor choice at all. Vena calls every child a critter,” Jimmi said. 

“But how was the chief to know that, Jimmi? Or his wife?”

“He wouldn’t Trin, that’s just it. So what was said for Vena to reach for her guns?” 

“As far as we know... Vena wasn’t the one who felt threatened.”

“Either way the chief got off free of all charges,” Starling said. 

“Yes, Starling, granted... But this issue keeps coming up again and again.”

“Oh I think you may find it is very different, vena cant tell you because she is dead now.” 

“People take out weapons to protect their family against someone else who is being threatening or appears threatening. The question for court to figure out is... Is it murder worthy of hanging? And that’s a question we have to wrestle with whether we’re Apache, White, or some other tribe.”

“But Vena would not reach for her guns unless she felt under threat from two armed Apache natives in Allen Street too just over there,” he pointed to the undertaker’s office. 

“Perhaps, Jimmi...” 

“So, you spoke to the chief and his woman?” 

“If I recall, I spoke to the chief’s wife. The chief was unavailable for comment.” 

“The chief’s woman talks for the chief,” Jimmi shook his head, smiling. “You know who wore the loin cloth between those two.” 

“Either way, Jimmi...” I chuckled. “We were faced with the same dilemma in court yesterday, were we not? A woman killed another woman in protection of her family. And herself.”

“Court is word against word, a battle of wit over bull shit.” 

“That may be true but you see my point, don’t you? At what point does murder become murder worthy of hanging?”

“One woman was murdered, she may have had it coming to her for crimes she did in the past but thats for law and court to decide, not another citizen unless they are part of a jury.” 

“Yes, I agree with you... But as a member of the law and a judge yourself, and a Pinkerton myself, these are questions we must wrestle with, no?”

“Killing lawfully only happens in three situations Trin. When we are at war... when we work for law... and finally only if we or our family and property is under serious threat of imminent destruction.” 

“Which is what both the chief and Zan believed they were doing. I’m sure there are other examples, just those are two major cases I worked with.”

“Zannza had past the point of self defense, she was out to murder Mae in cold blooded vengeance.” 

“Because Mae tried to hang her and threatened to harm her husband and son.”

“As far as the chief and vena are concerned, we will never know why vena went for her guns. Look at the chief and Vena again.” 

“And let’s not forget... Mae shot at Zan first.”

“She reached for her guns, was she about to defend herself? You only have the story from the chief’s woman, she will support her husband.” 

“I’ll concede that point,” I nodded. “But as you said earlier... We will never know why Vena put her hands to the gun. In the case of Zan and Mae, we have all the facts.”

It was then that I noticed Sabi behind the sign in front of the courthouse and watched her with concern as she hid more when Starling walked over to her. 

“We have words Trin and versions of stories. It is the task of a court and jury to decide the most plausible version,” Jimmi said. 

“Not just the words of Trin... We had the words of Zan as well. And Mae’s. And Chris’.” 

“And we have versions of stories.” 

“Versions or not, we all swore to tell the truth on the stand, did we not?” 

“Indeed, and my version of a story will be different to yours. Nobody sees things in the same way even though two people could be looking at the same event.” 

I smiled at Jimmi and said, “It’s healthy discussions like these that make our positions enlightening, isn’t it?”

“It is healthy yes. And look! We haven’t drawn!” 

I chuckled and said, “And now you know why I write everything down.”

“That is not funny honey,” Starling muttered and I couldn’t help but smirk at this. 

“So that I don’t tell the story differently at two different times. Well if we did draw, Jimmi, Starling could heal us both,” I winked. 

“Trouble with a lot of people here these days is that they settle arguments and grudges with bullets and knives.” 

“Indeed... Where many of those arguments could be settled with words.”

“Or a drink.” 

“You and I are on the same page on that one. My gun is my very last resort.”

“Mine are too.” 

“Even as a Pinkerton... I have only ever killed one person. Here in Tombstone. She was shooting at both me and Alyssa. Alyssa was unarmed at the time, I had no choice but to defend us against the woman.”

“I haven’t killed anyone in Tombstone yet. I have been tempted.” 

“Believe me, all I wanted to do was scare the woman off. If they die because no medical help came quickly enough... That’s a whole other discussion. Doesn’t necessarily mean the person who shot them wanted to kill them.”

“Yet they would live if they had never been shot.” 

“Right, but perhaps the other person might not.”

“If something happened that morning say your bacon burned and delayed you. You would never have met that woman that fateful day.” 

“True. But Jimmi you see my point? Say two people are in a gunfight... Not intending to kill one another, just wound them perhaps... Say that one person goes down and is brought to the clinic... Say the doctor does not come to help in time and the person dies.”

“You don’t draw to wound, you draw to kill.” 

“Is the other person still charged with murder? See that’s just my point. I doubt that everyone who draws a weapon wants to kill.”

“If I don’t want to kill someone these guns sty right where they are.” 

“I suppose but that’s not always the case, is it?”

“Put it like this Trin, if there are a few Wild bunch on the street at night whoopin and yellin and messing about as they do would you draw your guns and start shootin?” 

“Not unless one of them came at me with a weapon drawn.”

“This is where it gets different, you are feeling under threat. so imagine another situation. the whole hordes of outlaws are descending upon this town on horse back with guns drawn and firing this way and that. you draw and defend?” 

“Obviously.” 

“Indeed, as would I. Even though the act of drawing without lawful consent would put us both into a jail cell.” 

“But seeing as we both work somewhat with the law... would we be arrested? Even if we weren’t deputized?” 

“We may be arrested and that depends on the workings of the law officer at the time. If they are standing at the wrong end of the street, turn around hearing gunfire and see you and I firing on a bunch of folk they may not consider our action as lawful.” 

“But if they understand that the Wild Bunch is threatening the entire town and they see us shooting at them? Knowing that you and I, as Judge and Pinkerton, always try to uphold the law and protect citizens that are under our power?” 

“They may discover that quickly yes, but you and I are rightfully sitting in a jail cell while the town cleans up the mess of bodies we made. What we should be doing is running for a law officer, not drawing guns and doing the task of the lawman.” 

“Okay so run with me on this scenario... Wild bunch come into town. They threaten and draw guns and shoot at everyone in their path. There is no lawmen around but you and me. A judge and a Pinkerton. No one to deputize us. We sit back and let them shoot up the town, or we defend our citizens and explain later when lawmen come in and find us shooting?” 

“We fight them of course Trin and then make believe it never happened.” 

Sabi started crying about shooting and I sighed, realizing maybe this conversation had been too much for the child to overhear. Jimmi went over to help Starling with trying to figure out what had happened to Sabi. I noticed a man standing nearby then who had been listening to our discussion. I introduced myself and found out his name was Ken Tungsten. I walked over to the others and explained to them what was going on with Sabi as Jess walked over to take care of the girl. Seeing she was in good hands I thanked Jimmi for the discussion and headed home. 

August 23, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked down Allen Street and nodded to a man sitting in front of Kate’s. Joe and Paisley walked over and I greeted them both. 

“Good mornin, Ladies....My name is James....New in this fine town,” the man greeted us and we introduced ourselves. Joe continued to stand quietly in front of the hotel, not really close enough to converse with us. James told us he’d only been in town a couple of hours. 

“Paisley.... Natalie has locked herself upstairs in our home and won’t come out,” I turned to Paisley. “Not till school’s over.” 

“Oh dear...” 

“She refuses to go and I can’t make her.” 

“I thought I told her that she could sit across from Jimmy. I arranged it for her.” 

“Witnessing that fire the other night kind of.... Set things back a bit. I need to find Ansar.. today...” 

“Well, a fire is hard to watch.” 

“Especially when it’s right next door..” 

“Yes... I watched Mac, Garth and Lot set the ranger on fire. While he was hanging,” Paisley reflected. 

I looked at James and explained, “An outlaw was ‘hired’ to help get someone or some folks out of a house the other night in the house next to ours. My daughter and her best friend, both about nine, watched from the balcony.” 

“That’s not a good thing for kids to see....I am sure she is pretty traumatized over it.....poor child....” James shook his head. 

“She is indeed,” I nodded. 

“I wonder if she knows my brothers died fighting a fire back home,” Paisley said. 

“I’m not sure if that would help her get over it though, Paisley. She might just be afraid of dying in a fire...” 

“Maybe I could talk to her... but it does not make me more afraid.” 

“Yeah, but you’re not nine...” I looked over towards the hotel and said, “Joe, come over here a sec... I wanted to thank you for making the boat for the children. Natalie and I went out in it again last night... to distract her from seeing Garth in town.” 

“Maybe coaxing her to go play with that might help... Or to go fish.” 

“Will be last thing I make for a while, thing I will go over the border for a while,” Joe wandered over to me.

“Oh? Aren’t you gettin’ married? Come to think of it I haven’t seen Ana around for a while...” 

“I heard something about family,” Paisley said. 

“It does not look like it, so as business is frankly dead here I may just seek some work elsewhere,” Joe shrugged. I walked over to him and offered him a hug, though it felt strange since we used to be attracted to one another and had danced a few times together. 

“What kind of business you in, mister?” James asked. 

“Undertaker and cabinets and build boats, so may just move to the ocean for a little while,” Joe shook his head. 

“Outlaws as bad as they are, you would think an undertaker would have plenty of business....” James commented. 

“Yes indeed, Joe... A sheriff was murdered in this whole incident the other night,” I sighed. 

“Maybe so, but I have had one body on two months,” Joe shrugged. 

“Natalie and Jimmy saw her body on the ground. But they weren’t sure what happened,” I told Joe, then looked at James. “Ever thought of bein’ law, James? Could use some deputies here in Tombstone.” 

“I haven’t given it much thought. I don’t even own a gun,” James said. 

“Another man without a gun...” I smiled. 

“Yeah, gonna have to save my pennies and get me one.....for protection, of course.” 

“Mmhmm.” 

“Well some other folks will have to deal with that, goner spend a few days away folks, will board up my cabin while I take stock of things,” Joe nodded then. “See you folks, and of ya here from you know who, would be grateful.” 

“Of course, Joe... Take care of yourself,” I nodded and watched him walk away. I sighed and leaned against the post, thinking of Ana. “So I guess it’s not just men who disappear...”

“But if Adriana is tending to family, then did she disappear?” Paisley asked. 

“If he has no idea where she is and is asking us to tell him if we hear from her.....” 

“Of course we will keep him posted.” 

Payton walked over then and Paisley headed to take care of something. I introduced Payton to James and suggested, “Besides... Perhaps he will be interested in helping me out at the Pinkerton office,” I winked at him. 

“Perhaps,” he smiled.

“Well... it all started when Miss Angi left .. Nora an Millard an Jeffery told me all bout Mrs Irelund.. how mean she really was .. an so .. we figured out .. how ta .. well.. we made up a story an sent the letter .. so that way Mrs Irelund wouldn’t show up..” Payton started. 

“Go on...” I nodded, thinking this wasn’t the story I expected to hear. A boy came over then to join us and he was walking on crutches. “Seems Natalie ain’t the only one avoiding school today,” I winked at James. 

When Sammy had wandered off, Payton continued. “Well.. anyway.. Nora me Millard an Jeffery have been runnin things .. pretenden that Mrs Irelund is there.. in order to keep them from actually gettin her .. I was workin at Mrs Joan’s ranch an donated the money ta help run things.. Millard an Jeffery do the same.. Nora keeps up the pretenden an we keep Mrs Irelund away,” she let out another breath and tried to relax. 

I put a hand on Payton’s shoulder and said, “It’s okay hon, I’m listening.”

“Well.. me .. I make sure that all the others is clean.. baths and the place is cleaned up .. help with the food too.. Millard helps with the funds ta pay for things.. an Jeffery makes sure the boys stay clean .. well.. clean as will get anyway.” 

“Well there might be a new lady interested in helping out at the orphanage. She still needs to talk to Nora about it all,” I nodded. 

“And it’s all to keep them from gettin Mrs Irelund.. in the mean time.. Mrs Rye has been helpin .. an Nora has been tryin ta find someone ...” 

“Mmhmm that’s the one I’m talkin’ about,” I nodded. 

“Oh ok.. yeah.. she is really nice.. not really like a matron...most are pretty nasty.. which is why Mrs Andra wants ta adopt me so fast.. she thinks that Mrs Irelund is really here.” 

“Mmhmm. Payton...?” I asked, looking at James, then Payton, knowing I has to rally her around to the main topic. “Remember the other day we said something about a conversation with Rikki and Miss Ashton?” 

“Yes... I remember...” she bit her lower lip, looking at me. 

“What can you tell me about that?” 

“Well.. ya know Rikki don’ like kids none at all.. well.. Miss Ashton is settin up business .. tryin ta get others to help an all.. I was going to be helpin with keepin the books an all .. well..” she sighed softly. 

“Mmhmm,” I got out a piece of paper and started writing as I listened. 

Payton looked around and said, “She .. she was gettin horses from cross the border.. an needed Rikki ta help with makin sure they got inta Tombstone .. quietly .. so I could look em over.. take down types of horses an if they had a brand on em or not.. an also studyin ta be a vet ta remove the brands if they had em. Then they would be set up on Miss Ashton’s ranch.. from there they would be sold ..” she looked down. “I wanted a momma so badly that I .. I promised not ta tell no one.. its why I stopped bein friends with Natalie.. one of my best friends.. cause she was talkin ta you all the time,” she started to cry. “I .. I even was ta get in touch with Mr Joe ta get a new branding iron .. so I could change the brands on the horses. That is what started makin outlaws look excitin.. an why I took the money in the bank... but .. it wasn’t excitin .. made me sick.. couldn’t sleep or eat.. saw what it did ta my friends an family too .. made me feel worse.” 

“Sounds like you’re caught in the middle of something awful, Sweetie,” I reached over to rub her back. 

“Didn’t help that I can’t lie very good..” Payton sighed and wiped her face with her gloved hand. 

“Yeah.. all the way around.. its why the outlaws didn’ mess with me yesterday .. only the others . Cause .. I know Garth.. though he won’t admit it .. and Mac.. an Rikki.. An now.. Miss Ashton is missing...” 

I handed Payton the statement and she signed it, returning it to me with a shaky hand. I reached down and hugged her tightly after putting the statement in my pocket. “I am so proud of you, Payton. This is happening over in Benson, right?”

“I also learned a bit bout myself too.. not many kids get ta do that.. I can tell by how some of them in the orphanage act.. I learned that I can’t lie very good,” she said as she hugged me. “Yes ma’am... if you take the left past the gallows and go to where the cave is with the bats.. its the ranch right there on the right corner with the cave. She had a lot of nice new guns shipped in too.. an a safe.” 

“Alright well I guess I have to talk with TJ who’s the sheriff out there... Or Ansar. Payton... you might want to stay away from that ranch. I don’t want you to get caught up in more of this... Course, I can’t tell you what to do.” 

“Well...” she said and gave me a list of names of marshals and sheriff’s in the town. 

“Thanks hon, I’ve got a list like this too.”

“I know .. I haven’t been back other than to take care of the horses.. I didn’t want ta run into Rikki.” 

“Good...” I nodded.

Paisley came back over towards us and I asked if she had seen Ansar today but she hadn’t. We continued to talk and then I headed home to check on Natalie. 

A couple of hours later, I walked back into town and talked with James in front of the clinic. We talked about how Natalie had been talking to the boy on crutches and how some outlaw had said she’d eat children. I guessed that it was Lisa Jones and then we talked about how James had come from Columbus, Ohio before moving to Tombstone. We met a woman named Bianca who was also from Ohio and I listened as the two of them talked about their home. 

When Lisa Jones walked past I looked to James and asked softly, “Was that the woman from earlier?”

“Mmhmm,” he nodded. 

“What about the woman earlier?” Lisa asked. “Something to say to me?” 

“Yeah, stop having such good hearing,” I looked over at her. “And stop threatening and scaring my kid.”

“I hear damn good. And if I wanna eat that kid I’ll do it.” 

“You will not.” 

“Your kid should mind her own business and stop telling tales,” Lisa chuckled. 

“She wouldn’t have to tell tales if your gang would stop burnin’ houses.” 

“Oh, okay then,” she nodded. 

“Well that was easy,” I chuckled and looked at James. 

“Next time we won’t go try to rescue the sheriff and her damn deputy then,” Lisa said. 

“You what?” I looked at her as Zeth walked over. “Who asked you to help rescue the sheriff and deputy?” 

“We were there to try to save the sheriff and her dam deputy.” 

“You’ll forgive a nine year old for not seeing the big picture.” 

“If you knew half what you think you do, you’d have known that.” 

“Why don’t you tell me the whole story then?” 

“Might check with the damn calvary if you need back up.” 

“All I know is what a nine year old tells me. Don’t yell at me for not knowing the full story.” 

“Naw, you done formed your opinion.” 

“If you’d like to tell me that story, please feel free.” 

“Just like most folks round here.” 

“Pardon me ladies but if you would be so kind to keep your voices down? You are scaring this poor girl,” Bianca asked us but we were too busy arguing to hear. 

“Outlaws burn a house down next to mine. Where is it free for opinion?” I looked at Lisa. “Now that I know you were helping, I can gain a different opinion.” 

“Cause the men that killed the diamond sheriff were in there and wouldn’t come out. After we got the deputy out and to safety we went after them. But then you know everything don’t ya?” 

“I don’t, that’s why I’m askin’ ya now. And someone asked you and Garth to help?” 

“Yes. Sure did.” 

“Who asked you to help?” 

“I don’t owe you nothin lady. You seem to know everything. Find out on your own.” 

“You do if you don’t want me to form false opinions,” I said. 

“You the detective. Screw you and your opinions. The ones that were there know the story. The ones that asked for help knows. All that really matters to me.” 

“Tell me who,” I said but Lisa walked off. I looked at James and said, “One thing about being a Pinkerton in this town... Everyone expects we already know everything. We can’t know what they won’t tell us. All I’ve got right now is the testimony of a scared nine year old girl. And now an outlaw.”

“Partial testimony of an outlaw,” James pointed out. 

“Yes, which we won’t get a signature for.” 

“Not likely,” James nodded.

“But I’ll be able to create a nice incident report about this. And if a lawman really did ask an outlaw to help them fight against other outlaws... I’m sorry but I have a problem with that.” 

“Maybe talk to the law near your house... They might be able to let it be known who asked Lisa to help.” 

“That’s kind of the problem... There’s not much law near my house. But Natalie did recognize Mike and Stormy there... Stormy is a sheriff over in Diamond. What she was doing in Pearce is beyond me.” 

“She the one who died?” 

“Don’t believe so.” 

“That’s sad to hear. I met Stormy before,” Zeth put in. 

“I’m going to be going to the marshals about this, Zeth,” I assured him and then turned to see the girl crying louder. 

“Sabi...?” I blinked, recognizing the girl who was wearing Native clothing and huddling by the wall. “Sabi, it’s okay sweetie, it’s me. Trin,” I knelt down. 

“She’s wearing indian garb. You sure?” Zeth asked and I nodded. 

“Sabi, is it you, sweetie? You can just nod,” I looked at her and she looked between us, nodding. I sighed and inched closer to her as James suggested they back off to give us some room. “Sweetie, it’s okay. You can talk to me.” 

Sabi gasped suddenly and backed away. 

“I’m your aunt Trin, remember?” I looked at her and the others backed up as Sabi continued to sob. “Sabi...? Do you remember me? You don’t have to talk if you want... You can just nod or shake your head,” I said and she nodded. “Alright, now we’re getting somewhere. Sweetie, did someone hurt you?” She gasped and looked like she was going to panic. I felt my heart break for the girl. “Honey it’s okay. You’re safe now...” She cried more and I blinked, getting emotional. “Sabi... I’m here...” 

Bianca handed me a piece of candy and said, “See if she will take it from you, since she seems to know you.” 

I nodded and took the candy, handing it to Sabi. “Here sweetie, have some candy, maybe that’ll help.” Sabi just shook her head and curled up, covering her head and rocking with her hands over her head. “Sweetie... Where’d the new clothes come from? You have a horsie there... What’s its name?” I smiled at her horse doll and she blinked a bit. “Natalie has a new Native bunny. Maybe you two can play together.” 

Sabi pointed out towards Pearce and I looked that way, nodding. Sabi threw her stuffed horse away and watched it flop on the ground, then started to cry all over again. I cringed, taking the bunny and realized she must have heard about Aeryne or witnessed what happened. 

“What happened to her Trin?” Bianca asked. 

“Sweetie... I’m so sorry... about what happened to Miss Aeryne...” I sighed. 

“I have heard that some indians take children to bring them into there tribe,” Zeth said. 

“Same here. But Dancing Cloud didn’t her,” Bianca said. 

“Obviously not in this case,” James said. 

“I think Apaches keep to their own tribe,” Zeth pointed out. 

“Natalie said she saw Aeryne there... In Pearce...” I sighed. “She told me bout what happened.” 

“Well if you need my help, Trin, you have it,” Zeth promised.

“The sheriff?” James asked. 

“She saw her on the ground.. Didn’t know if she was gonna be okay...” I sighed. “Yes James.... Zeth, thank you... This is bigger than I thought.” 

“I’m sorry I’m a little lost since I’ve been away,” Bianca said. 

I reached out to Sabi and said, “I’m trying to put the people in jail who hurt your aunt, honey.”

“What happened to the sheriff?” Bianca asked and I looked at her with a sombre expression, then looked back at Sabi. “Honey...” I sighed, getting frustrated and upset with the whole situation as I realized it was my close friend too who had been killed.I tried to keep it together in front of everyone but I knew it wasn’t working and I started to cry. I let my emotion flow and knew it wasn’t helping as Sabi started to cry more. 

Zeth suggested he could get Bree and I said that was a good idea, since she was good with children. Soon after, Zeth came back with Bree and Bree went to hug Sabi. I knew I could use a hug too. I walked over to James, but my emotions took over and broke down. I cried on Zeth’s shoulder and had to repeat myself to Bree that Aeryne had been killed and Sabi probably heard about it or witnessed it. 

I felt my head spinning and it wasn’t long before the world was spinning and I fell on the ground as things went black. I started to come back to consciousness as Zeth was asking James name and he yelled, “Water!” I took the water and sipped it, trying to calm down. James helped me over to sit on the bench and I leaned forward, trying to breathe normally again. The dog Suzie came over to cuddle up against me and I pet her slowly. 

Ansar walked down the street then and I went with James to introduce the two of them. I told Ansar all about the fire in Pearce and about Stormy and Mike probably having hired outlaws to help them. He promised he would be going over everything again and would talk to the authorities about it. 

We went to the saloon to have a drink and talked with people there about what had been going on and the trial coming up that evening for Zan. I decided to head home and lay down before the trial began, knowing I would need my rest. 

Later this afternoon I headed to the courthouse and sat down in the front row. I was nervous, knowing it wasn’t often that I was called as a witness but in this case it would be a crucial peice of the trial. Zeth came in and took a seat on the jury and then Rikki wandered in and sat beside me. She was nice to me and offered some whiskey and I found it strange but took it as I could. Zan walked in with Adrian as her defense attorney and Suzy took the seat at the prosecution desk. Kris took his spot as judge and then called for jury members to assemble themselves. I noticed Chris walk in carrying Leo and smiled, thinking I hadn’t yet seen the baby. I took my flask and sipped more whiskey to calm my nerves and then Kris banged the gavel to begin proceedings. 

“Court is now in session,” he declared. “How does the defendant plead defense? Your client is accused of murder...how does she plead?” 

“Murder? No.. not Guilty,” Adrian answered. 

“Please be seated... Prosecution, your opening statement?” 

Suzy walked over to the jury and said, “Men and women of the jury... We will prove beyond any doubt that this woman is a cold blooded murderer who murdered Mae for her own gain,” she pointed at Zan and took a seat. 

“Defense your opening statement,” Kris instructed. 

Adrian walked over to the jury and began, “So good to see you folks.. so glad you’re sitting witness to this... we’re not speaking of a common criminal here.. we’re going to tell you a story that needs your compassion.. as well as your understanding. and finally.. your ability to put a family back together.. as today... only you..... all .. have the power... to do. Thank you,” Adrian said and sat back down. 

“Prosecution, let’s begin. Your first witness.” 

“We call Miss Angeles.” 

Angeles stepped up and was sworn in and I wondered what she had to do with the murder charge since she was only part of the art theft, a far as I knew. 

“Tell us what happened on August 8th,” Suzy instructed. I flipped through my notes, trying to find August eighth, but couldn’t. 

“Well, if I don’t remember bad that the night Zannza was arrested for the murder of one woman her said tries to kill her same day.” 

“Did you see anything before you arrested her?” Suzy asked and I looked from Angeles to Zan, knowing it wasn’t Angeles who arrested her. 

“I was called by the Sheriff of Tombstone for assist in her arrest for that murder. I goes with her and listen a Zannza the history about what happens.” 

“What did Zan say?” 

“I was outside to the doctor office in Allen street with my future adopted daughter when one woman was attended, sadly dead almost in front me... At the Sheriff office Zannza told a Nimbrel, her ex lawyer than me about kill this woman in her own defense, look this woman tried to hang her early and said something about tries this wanted kill a her husband and son too.” 

“So she admitted to killing Mae?” 

“Yes, in her own defense and same in defense to her family.” 

“Alright, thank you. No further questions,” Suzy said and went to sit down. 

Adrian walked over to cross-examine and asked, “Hello Miss Angeles .. and thank you for being Honest... Was the arrest on the 3rd or the 8th?” I smiled at his question and he clarified, “The one in connection of Miss Zannza being terrified for her life.. and that of the life of her new family..?” 

“In really was the 3 at the month 8th, that mean August 3, for this I said think was the night Zannza was arrested,” Angeles explained and I nodded to that, though I still didn’t think she had been around. 

“Now of your statement of July 27, 1899.... The art theft in your gallery? Was that Miss Zannza involvement as well?” 

“Yes, I sadly can said positive my answer. I tried to stop her but run fast on her horse.” 

“So we have a positive on the Art theft.. but just hearsay on the So called murder..? Judging from your response of course,” he looked around the gallery. “As well as the arrest date..” he coughed. 

“Well I was in both places... the difference stay just in different type to crime.” 

“Thank you Miss Angeles. No more questions,” Adrian said and he sat back down as Angeles went back to her seat. 

“The people call detective Trin,” Suzy said and I walked up to the seat, knowing I would have been more help to the defense but shrugged as I was sworn in. 

“Please tell us about this heinous murder Zan committed and her thefts,” Suzy instructed. 

“Sure. I had just finished interviewing Mae Billings for the case, as she was the child’s nanny and I was looking at all angles... Suddenly she jumped up from the chair and ran away from me. Shots were fired. Mae shouted, ‘I saw you die’. I went to stand behind the corner of the building to watch the scene unfold as I had not been deputized, so I couldn’t do anything...” 

“Oh?” Suzy’s eyes went wide. 

“Mae was shot in front of me and then Aly came out to arrest Zan. Zan later explained that Mae had attempted to hang her before this. She had also threatened to harm Christopher and Leo.” 

“After the shots what did you see? She shot Mae in cold blood?” 

“There were several shots fired, Suzy. I believe that Zan was acting in self defense. Mae had her gun out. Zan told me later in the jail that Mae had shot at her first. Also she told me about the attempted hanging. Which we found evidence of.” 

“Did you hear shots from Mae gun? Were there shots fired from her gun? Were any cylinders empty?” 

“Yes in fact. In the clinic, I went to gather her fingerprints from the gun on Mae’s holster while her body lay there. There were bullets missing from Mae’s gun and I have a bag with one of the bullets here. There was only one bullet left in her gun,” I said. 

“Alright. No further questions.” 

Adrian walked over to me and smiled, “I didn’t think I had a single question for you Miss Trin... By the way.. nice to see you in court..” 

“Same to you, Boss, uh, sir,” I smiled at him. 

“But this person referred to as ‘Mae?’ She tried to hang and she Shot at Miss Zannza?” 

“Yes sir, she did.” 

“OK Miss Trin.. Something is bothering me about this ‘Murder’ accusation. Has anyone ever seen Miss Zannza carry a gun? Have you Miss Trin?” 

“Honestly, Adrian? No and that was a puzzlement to me when this case began... I asked several folk if Zan was likely to do something like this and they all said no.” 

“Thank you,” he nodded and stepped back to his seat. 

I returned to my spot in the front row, wishing I could have said more but knowing we were pressed for time. 

Suzy called Christopher forward as a witness and I was shocked that she would call him against his wife, though I’d seen it be done before. Chris was sworn in and continued to hold Leo in his arms. 

“Tell us how you knew the poor deceased Miss Mae?” 

“Well... We met her at a dance in Black Diamond. Seemed like a nice old lady.” 

“Oh? So she was a helpless old woman?” 

“I didn’t say that, Ma’am... I said she seemed nice.” 

‘Until your wife murdered her.” 

“Objection!” Adrian called. 

“Grounds?” Kris asked. 

“How is that a question? What do you mean, ‘Grounds’? That wasn’t a question!” 

“Sustained,” Kris nodded. 

“Well was she a nice old woman until she was murdered?” 

“Better,” Adrian nodded. 

“Apparently this woman had an agenda... She was wanted in New York for several murders. We of course had no way of knowing.” 

“How do you know this now?” 

“Detective Trin contacted the New York office and they send word to her.” 

“Ah so detective Trin told you then your wife killed this sweet old woman on Trin’s words?” 

“No Ma’am... The word and wanted posters of the Pinkerton Detective agency.” 

“Oh the Pinkertons like they haven’t killed a few before,” Suzy said and I blinked at that. “Nothing further.” 

“Excuse me?” Chris blinked at her too and I wondered since when I was the one who was on trial. 

Adrian walked over to Chris to cross-examine and said, “Lovely child.” 

“Thank you Sir,” Chris nodded to him. 

“I am so glad that your family is back together.” 

“It’s been very trying.” 

Adrian took out a book from his vest and asked, “This is your Journal sir... would you mind reading from it..?” 

“Of course.” 

“I would like to hear the Passage from July 22 the first 5 lines... and July 25th the entire passage please.” 

Chris cleared his throat and began to read. “‘My beloved wife, Zannza, has gone missing. She took a fall from her horse about a week ago and has since suffered severe memory loss. She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t recognize our little boy, Leo. She can’t recall our friends, our home, our wedding... She seems to remember being from back east,’” Chris looked from Zan back to Adrian. 

“Please sir... the next passage. The twenty-fifth.” 

Chris nodded to Adrian and continued reading, “‘I have returned home to Tombstone and haven’t been able to find any clue as to Zan’s whereabouts. Most people didn’t even recognize me upon my return. I’m sure it’s due to the fact that I was quieter than normal. And I look a bit different in the clothes given to me by my new friends in Apache country. No one has seen her, but I will not give up. I plan to make another trip through the White Mountains soon. And then, on eastward. I will not give up until I either find my wife or die trying...’” 

“Thank you Sir... And god bless that this trial is over.. and you are together again. Oh.. one further thing.” 

“Yes?” Chris nodded and wiped a tear away. 

“So.. if this ‘Mae person’ had a wanted poster.. then Anyone with a gun would have been looking for her?” Adrian asked and I smiled at that question as he looked around the room. “In your opinion...” 

“I would think it would have been an obligation, Sir.” 

“Thank you sir.” 

Chris and Adrian took their seats again and Kris looked over to Suzy. “Prosecution, any more witnesses?” 

“The people rest.” 

“Defense, your witness,” Kris prompted. 

“Defense Calls Doctor DollEyes Barbosa to the stand Kindly,” Adrian said and Doll was brought to the front and sworn in. “Doctor Dolleyes .. According to this reocrd.. you were the final Doctor to care for Miss Lyric.. can you give us your professional opinion on her condition from July 27th to the August 3rd please? In layman’s terms of course.” 

“Well sir, I did not see her when she first was hurt; however based on an extensive medical examination i performed on her person. It is my medical opinion that she had a concussion caused by sever trauma to the brain which caused amnesia. A repression of current memory.” 

“Those are big words! Memory you say...” 

“Basically she injured her brain when she fell off a horse... and since recent memories had not been repeated enough for the brain to really learn them, she forgot her recent memories of her life. However older memories would survive as they had been repeated often enough.” 

“Oh my!” 

“Therefore she would not remember recent events.” 

“How are you so sure of this Doctor?” 

“Well sir I graduated from the women’s medical college of Pennsylvania and there I studied the effect of trauma on the brain as well as other medical things. And I have seen it many times in my six years of practice in Tombstone.” 

“My final question .. would this have .. in some way.. made her actually.. STEAL paintings?? From Miss Angeles?” 

“If she had had that tendency in the past and then had given up that type of life, the decision to leave that life would have required a lot of thought, thus making a lasting impression on the brain... therefore if she tried to do.” 

“Well.. that is a lot for me to comprehend.. but worth taking note of..” 

“Something similar to a past life of thievery, the last impression she would have had would be of her leaving that life and therefore make it be against her nature to steal.” 

“So.. if Mis Zannza was a murder in her youth .. she’d kill again I suspect.. but the Pinkertons would have a wanted poster on that too huh?” Adrian asked and I smirked a bit at that, winking at him as he sat back down. “No further questions.” 

Suzy walked over to cross-examine and asked, “So you attended school in Pennsylvania?” 

“Yes ma’am. I am from New York and Pennsylvania is not far from New York.” 

“I am from Pennsylvania too.” 

“Oh nice!” 

“So you know what the Pinkertons did in Homestead a few years ago?” Suzy asked and I sighed, giving Adrian a look. 

“No ma’am, I don’t.” 

“They murdered many hard working men for Carniege men just trying to get a decent wage from Carniege.” 

I rolled my eyes and leaned forward as Doll asked, “And what has that to do with this case ma’am?” 

“Prosecutor, I fail to see the logic in assaulting your own witness’ credibility,” Kris started. 

“Suzy...” Adrian stood and walked over to her. 

“And then of course there were the mollies they framed and murdered in the coal mines...” Suzy went on and I sat up straighter, feeling I was on trial now. 

“Come have a seat, Ma’am,” Adrian suggested to her and I felt my heart start to pound. “Someone, get water!” Adrian called. 

“So why could they not have planted ideas in Zann’s head to get her to murder this sweet old woman?” Suzy went on and I rolled my eyes at that. 

“Someone get some water!” Adrian requested. 

“The jury will disregard the prosecution’s last statement,” Kris instructed and I muttered something about Suzy’s methods. 

“Someone... water?” Adrian pleaded and I looked at my boss in stunned silence. 

“Miss Suzy...make any more statements like that again in my court...and I will fine you for being in contempt. Do I make myself clear?” Kris asked, and I could tell he was becoming outraged as well. 

“I have a flask,” Jimmi offered and handed it to Adrian, who offered it to Suzy. 

“As I said, if she had had a bad life prior and then left that life it would be her last memory - wanting a good life-so that would stop her from doing any wrongdoing, like murder or thievery,” Doll tried to keep things focused on the case at hand. 

“Please sip from this Ma’am,” Adrian begged Suzy and I suddenly wished I wasn’t sitting alone in the front row anymore. 

“I see but if her brian was damaged it is possible?” Suzy asked, ignoring Adrian. 

“No ma’am, not if she had left a former lifestyle.. the leaving of it would have been what stayed in her memory,” Doll answered. 

“I see. Nothing further,” Suzy nodded and walked to her seat. 

I glared at Suzy as she took a sip from the flask finally and took her seat, as did Doll. 

“Mayor Wise, your next witness?” Kris asked the defense attorney. 

“Honestly your honor.. I believe that the People have heard all they need to.. and the truth will come out in time.. The Defense therefore rests!” 

Before giving either lawyer a chance to give their closing statements, Kris instructed the jury to go to the back room and discuss the verdict. As they did, I looked over to Adrian for verification that my statement and testimony was presented well. He gave me a thumbs up and I exhaled a bit, feeling somewhat better. 

After several minutes of anxious waiting, the jury came out of the room and Kris asked the defense to stand. I felt as if I should stand too but refrained as I waited for the verdict to be told. The room exhaled with relief as Zan was declared not guilty for the murder. 

I walked over to embrace Chris and Zan as well as Doll for the reward of the verdict after all the hard work we had done. I played with little Leo’s fingers around mine as we talked about how this would be a new beginning for their family. 

As I headed home, I felt tears of relief run down my cheek that the case was finally over.