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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2748457" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 76, “I hate it when you’re right”, Friday, March 17th </strong> </p><p></p><p>Jake walks up the stairs thinking about what he is going to say and enters the room none the wiser. He sees Ruby stomping about, gathering her traveling clothes and things she might need to go and find Nanuet and Chester, leaving them together in case she needs them fast. He goes directly to changing out of his silk and linens. He says, "I'm not one to tell a woman how to feel, but it isn't your fault that the Cowboy gang is doing all this. You aren't making them hurt anybody. Best we can do is get them back, if they are still alive, don't let them get any more leverage on us by grabbing or threatening others and make them pay, for..." Jake swallows hard, "... for whatever they have done." </p><p></p><p>His street clothes back on he straps his long barrel Colt across his regular belt and continues, "So go ahead and let it out, tell me what you are thinking. First tell me this, because I didn't understand what you meant. If I shot Ringo was the cowboy gang going to blow up the Lady later, or is the Lady wired up to blow and I should go do something about that?" Jake puts on his duster and grabs the sawed off shotgun and some extra shells for it while she answers.</p><p></p><p>Ruby continues to stomp around for a few more moments. “I don’t know Jake. What he thought was, ‘Go ahead and shoot me. Len will give the signal and the boys will blow this place to kingdom come.’ I don’t know what that means, except it sounds really bad.” Ruby’s pile has grown larger and she looks it over. “I think that’s good.” Her leather clothes top a pile of weapons and her backpack, which is full. She finally plops herself down on the bed. </p><p></p><p>“How can Kate be so self centered right now, thinking about Conrad? We need to find Nanuet and Chester, I won’t believe that they are dead until I see if for myself. Why would the Cowboys care about him?” She doesn’t let Jake finish, “Right they wouldn’t. And we don’t have time to sit around here and think about all the people who can be hurt because they know us. And it is my fault, if they didn’t go to Tombstone for that stupid story they would be here and ok.” </p><p></p><p>Jake loops the lanyard on his shotgun around his neck and buttons up the top half of the duster, keeping it hidden. "Sure and it's my fault I didn't cut Eastman's throat earlier this week, and it's my fault you are still here in Promise City. While we are at it let's go dig up Pete and kick him for getting killed, we would have never been in the rustlers cave if not for that." </p><p></p><p>Jake drops his hat on his head. "If it makes you feel better, part of this is your fault. So what? Katherine's getting attached to Conrad and she's scared, so maybe none of us are thinking straight." Jake opens his nightstand drawer and takes out his old hunting knife and adds that to his belt. "So I think they are dead and you think they are alive. So what? We are both going after them, aren't we? Give me a kiss and get dressed. We'll need all four of us to make sure this building isn't loaded with explosives. Then we are going to find Nanuet and Chester." </p><p></p><p>Ruby is quiet for a moment, thinking, then stands up from the bed slowly. “I HATE it when you do that, you know.” Jake raises an eyebrow but Ruby doesn’t see it as she is already starting to take off her dress. “I HATE it when you’re right,” she calls over her shoulder. “And I HATE it when I want to be mad but you know the right things to say.” Ruby drops the dress to the floor and pulls on the leather outfit. “And I HATE it that you didn’t even tell me that I looked good in the green dress before I had to take it off.” It only takes a minute for her to finish dressing. Ruby walks towards Jake and wraps her arms around him in a tight hug. “You really do think they’re dead, don’t you? I’m glad you didn’t kill Ringo because if they are dead he’s going to wish you did him that favor.” </p><p></p><p>He says, "Don't dwell on what I think. We just better make sure this building doesn't blow up then, I expect to see you in that dress again someday soon." Ruby gives him a smile. "Chester likes that dress too you know. So let's go get him so he can enjoy it." Ruby kisses Jake, grabs her pack and guns and starts heading out the room, then stops suddenly. "Jake, we don't know that much about the priestess and if she can handle herself in dangerous situations. I mean, I'm guessing she can but you never know. Promise me you won't let anything happen to her, or Kate. I mean, just watch out for them, please." </p><p></p><p>"I'll do what I can to keep them safe." As they leave the room he adds, "Protector of attractive women was not what I had in mind when I used to think I was a ladies man." She adds, "Yeah well, now you got your hands full with two. And don't forget, it was your idea to come off the market, so you are a ladies man no more! You belong to me, right Mr. Cook?" Ruby gives him a giggle and a wink. "You always make me feel better Jake, I mean it." </p><p></p><p>"Yes, I'm off the market." Jake smiles at her as they approach the room where he hopes Katherine and Minerva are waiting. "Now that you feel better, let's try and not be blown to pieces." Ruby gives him another kiss. "Good plan. You want me to come in there with you or can I start investigating outside?" He says, “Yes, come in. But I agree with you wanting to get out there quick, so WE can go look for dynamite. Ringo's may still have friends in the room downstairs if there are perhaps these two can keep them busy while we check out the outside."</p><p></p><p>As they walk into the room Ruby says, "Oh I can tell you exactly what the guys downstairs look like. I saw them through Ringo's eyes. They might be gone by now, so we should hurry if we want to get info. Plus we don't want to wait around and give them time to set up another trap for us." </p><p></p><p>Ruby turns to Minerva. "I know you said you were in this with us, but it is a very dangerous, life threatening situation. You might want to consider that before you head out with us." Ruby smiles at her, "Although we would be happy to have your help if you're still offering." Ruby looks at Kate and Minerva. "I'm going out to try to find Nanuet and Chester. I know it's crazy, with this weather and they could be anywhere, but that's what I'm doing unless someone else has another plan."</p><p></p><p>Jake states, "I'd like nothing better than to, ahem, take care of any of Ringo's friends in the room down stairs. We need to find out about Chester and Nanuet before we start taking any of them out. If we find we have to, we can't leave any evidence before we get our friends back." </p><p></p><p>Jake scratches his chin before continuing. "How is this to start? We all go down stairs. If Ruby sees any of Ringo's friends you give us some kind of signal or info so we know which ones. Ruby goes to the kitchen and waits for a minute before going out the kitchen door. I tell Jeff Mills some of what is happening and then hangs around for a minute before he has to visit the outhouse. Katherine and Minerva keep Ringo's friends from going outside, or if they can't let us know somehow. Ruby searches for explosives and Jake covers her. If things go bad, get creative. When the building is safe, we start figuring out how to find them."</p><p></p><p>"Fine," Kate said flatly, arms still crossed over her chest as they had been since Jake and Ruby came back. She took several steps until she stood in front of Ruby. "How dare you insinuate that I don't care about Nanuet and Chester?" she grated, barely louder than a whisper. "All we know about where they are is somewhere between here and Tombstone, and they might not even be there. There is magic that could help, but I don't know it and there is no one to help me. I can't go ask if the Apache saw anything now in the night with the Cowboys out there. So forgive me if I tried to think of something I could do rather than everything I can't!" </p><p></p><p>As Kate gets in her face Ruby stands tall, a good 4 inches over her, not backing down in the slightest, also crossing her arms. Her eyes are cold and cloudy as she says calmly, “I didn’t insinuate anything, Katherine, it’s just not my style. I’ll tell you how I feel," she continues punctuating each word slowly, "right to your face. You should hear me fairly well from where you are standing. Before I left I did not hear one word about Nanuet or Chester, so what should I think? What I did hear was how hard and dangerous YOUR life is for you and the people around you. You need to decide if you should even stay in Promise City if you think you are putting Ginnie and Conrad in that much danger all the time.” </p><p></p><p>“But this isn’t about YOU or what YOU can do, not everything is. It’s about what WE have to do together, that is the only way to get out of this mess. I’m tired of us, and I mean all of us, not working together. We wouldn’t be in half the trouble we get into if we did. If we are going to be friends and survive here, do well here in Promise City, we have to work together.” Ruby puts extra emphasis on the last word. </p><p></p><p>Kate backed off a step and said, "I suggest we go over to Drover's and ask if they were seen on the road to Tombstone. It would give us at least an idea of where to start looking. After we're finished here, of course." </p><p></p><p>Ruby declares, “Now I’m not going to stand around here arguing another minute. You don’t like my ideas, fine, do as you will. Your idea about checking who might have seen them on the road is a good one, they would have passed the coach if they made it to Tombstone. But first, I’m going to check out this building and make sure it isn’t about to explode.” Ruby turns away from Katherine and looks to Jake. “Well?” She giving him the ‘you wanted me in here’ look.</p><p></p><p>Kate didn't back away from Ruby either, but now was not the time for an argument. "You know damn well I'm not letting you go anywhere alone. If you're going out to look I'm going too. It's not all about YOU either. We can argue about this later. Jake had a plan, let's do it." “I'm not trying to make it about me," Ruby replies without turning back to Kate. </p><p></p><p>Minerva stands silently taking in all the conversation and waits until Ruby and Kate are done venting their frustration on one another. she sighs and thinks, " Why does Senor Jake always assume that when someone goes missing they must be dead. Such little faith. </p><p></p><p>She ignores the scathing comments and faces them all with a calm look about her. "I think it is a good idea to first make sure that the building is not going to blow up. And I agree that we should take the men downstairs and get whatever information that we can out of them. I don't know if Ruby can still read their minds or not but it would be a good idea to try and do so. I would also like to bring to your attention that Although I have been in your saloon there is no reason for Senor Ringo to associate the new preacher with any of you so I may be able to move more freely.”</p><p></p><p>“And I would like to point out " she says turning to Jake "that although it is true that Nanuet would not have willingly parted with his amulet, it is still quite possible that he and Chester are alive and we should act on that assumption. We will do them no good by eliminating possible sources of information or ending up in jail. Also If they are indeed alive, they will probably be so in the morning or Senor Ringo would not have wanted to discuss them with you. I'm not sure if searching for them tonight would be very fruitful in this weather. If we wait until the rain stops I can instruct Luna to search from the air while we ride, She has keen night sight as well as sharp hearing and smell, but if you decide that we must ride soon than I shall be willing to do that also. </p><p>However, it would help if I had a horse." </p><p></p><p>She turns to Ruby, "And yes, I can handle a gun and am also quite proficient with a rapier ,which is a much quieter weapon. I can also petition the goddess for extra help if we are faced with a confrontation and heal should it become necessary.” Ruby replies, "I'm afraid my spell has ended, Senorita. I can't detect anyone's thoughts until tomorrow." Ruby sighs, "Those are good talents to have, let's hope we don't have to use them." </p><p></p><p>"Alright, I'll head downstairs and will give a," she tugs on her ear, "Behind anyone if they are still here." She puts her hat on her head and without further words heads downstairs. She stops briefly at the bar while the rest of her friends make their way downstairs. Ruby fingers the necklace in her pocket while she waits. Before Jake goes down stairs Minerva tells him, "If they are heading out the door, I'll have Luna fly out." </p><p></p><p>Once they are downstairs Ruby walks towards the back of the saloon, making her way near Tony Lucky's table. She does stop briefly here and there to bid some customers goodnight. She waits until a hand is dealt and the players are looking down and as she walks past them discreetly tugs her ear behind the one known as Len. She continues past and back into the kitchen. She waits a minute, as Jake instructed before going out the back door. </p><p></p><p>Minerva gets herself a drink at the bar and then moves to where she can observe the game at Tony Lucky's table and the two doorways to the outside. Luna sits contentedly on her shoulder. Kate plastered a smile on her face and went back to serving drinks, checking more often on Tony's table than she normally would.</p><p></p><p>Jake walks over to Jeff Mills pats him on the shoulder and smiles. Jake speaks in a low voice to him so no one can hear and stops speaking if someone comes near. "Keep smiling like I'm telling you a joke. Johnny Ringo, who just left threatened to blow up the Lucky Lady. Ruby and I are going to go out and check to see if he was bluffing." Jake laughs and hits Jeff on the shoulder. "Katherine and Minerva are going to keep any of Ringo's men who are still here from coming out while we check. If things get ugly, help them out." </p><p></p><p>Jake finishes in a normal voice, "Don't tell Ruby I told you that one, she wouldn't think it as funny as we do." They laugh some more before Jake adds, "All this rain makes your bladder active, eh?" He heads to the doorway next to the bar and to the latrine. After making sure he was not followed, he looks around and makes sure he isn't being watched. Then he disappears into the shadows and moves quietly keeping Ruby safe and watching for any of the Cowboy gang outside. </p><p></p><p>Once Ruby is out, she silently as she can in the rain, makes her way around the building, looking for any suspicious people or any signs of tampering of the building or explosives. She does her best to hide in the shadows of the buildings, even if the lightning makes it hard.</p><p></p><p>The rain has intensified and there do not appear to be any people out and about outside. The Lucky Lady has been built with a solid brick foundation, but there are a few ventilation grates on the east and west walls for air to circulate in the crawl space between the ground and floorboards a foot above. A check of the two grates on the east wall looks promising, with enough light coming from the window for Ruby and Jake to see that the paint on the grate screws has not been disturbed. </p><p></p><p>They move over to Allen Street and check the east wall. The light isn't as good, but the lightening flashes briefly illuminate the scene. The first grate shows signs of having been removed at one point, the second still has original paint over it. Going back to the other grate, there does not appear to be any rust over the bare metal on the screw, although it has been dry for the past two months so it is still possible that it was removed by Tom Whipple when doing routine maintenance back in January.</p><p></p><p>Ruby reaches down into Jake's boot and retrieves his dagger. She looks around the street and since no one is crazy enough to be out in this weather the street is deserted. She kneels next to the grate, has Jake cover her anyway, recites the trigger word and a small flame comes out of the tip of the knife. She points the flame in the grate, looking for any sign of recent activity. Any distinct footprints that might have been left have already been washed away. Based on the missing paint and a partially stripped screw it is clear that at some point a dagger or screwdriver was used at some point to remove this particular grate.</p><p></p><p>Ruby kneels in front of the grate, leaning back on her feet. She hands Jake the flaming dagger and pulls out of a secret pocket in her jacket what looks like a long leather wallet. When she opens it Jake sees a bunch of tools (thieves tools). She picks the most appropriate tool and unscrews the grate from the wall, pulls it off and moves it to the side. She takes the flaming dagger back from Jake and carefully holds it outside the opening with the light shining inside. Leaning down to the level of the grate she carefully looks inside to see if there is anything there. She decides that if she doesn't see anything she will slowly extend her arm inside, careful not to light any explosives that might be there.</p><p></p><p>The crawl space has lots of the usual things one would expect to find there - old dried leaves, dead bugs, some rat skeletons and some rusted old nails. But what stands out is a wooden box, 8-inches wide, 6-inces deep and 4-inches high. The box does not appear to have a lid, although neither Ruby or Jake can see what may be inside as the box is around eight feet away from the grate, beneath the kitchen. There are indentations in the dirt where a shovel or rake was used to move the box to that location</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2748457, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 76, “I hate it when you’re right”, Friday, March 17th [/B] Jake walks up the stairs thinking about what he is going to say and enters the room none the wiser. He sees Ruby stomping about, gathering her traveling clothes and things she might need to go and find Nanuet and Chester, leaving them together in case she needs them fast. He goes directly to changing out of his silk and linens. He says, "I'm not one to tell a woman how to feel, but it isn't your fault that the Cowboy gang is doing all this. You aren't making them hurt anybody. Best we can do is get them back, if they are still alive, don't let them get any more leverage on us by grabbing or threatening others and make them pay, for..." Jake swallows hard, "... for whatever they have done." His street clothes back on he straps his long barrel Colt across his regular belt and continues, "So go ahead and let it out, tell me what you are thinking. First tell me this, because I didn't understand what you meant. If I shot Ringo was the cowboy gang going to blow up the Lady later, or is the Lady wired up to blow and I should go do something about that?" Jake puts on his duster and grabs the sawed off shotgun and some extra shells for it while she answers. Ruby continues to stomp around for a few more moments. “I don’t know Jake. What he thought was, ‘Go ahead and shoot me. Len will give the signal and the boys will blow this place to kingdom come.’ I don’t know what that means, except it sounds really bad.” Ruby’s pile has grown larger and she looks it over. “I think that’s good.” Her leather clothes top a pile of weapons and her backpack, which is full. She finally plops herself down on the bed. “How can Kate be so self centered right now, thinking about Conrad? We need to find Nanuet and Chester, I won’t believe that they are dead until I see if for myself. Why would the Cowboys care about him?” She doesn’t let Jake finish, “Right they wouldn’t. And we don’t have time to sit around here and think about all the people who can be hurt because they know us. And it is my fault, if they didn’t go to Tombstone for that stupid story they would be here and ok.” Jake loops the lanyard on his shotgun around his neck and buttons up the top half of the duster, keeping it hidden. "Sure and it's my fault I didn't cut Eastman's throat earlier this week, and it's my fault you are still here in Promise City. While we are at it let's go dig up Pete and kick him for getting killed, we would have never been in the rustlers cave if not for that." Jake drops his hat on his head. "If it makes you feel better, part of this is your fault. So what? Katherine's getting attached to Conrad and she's scared, so maybe none of us are thinking straight." Jake opens his nightstand drawer and takes out his old hunting knife and adds that to his belt. "So I think they are dead and you think they are alive. So what? We are both going after them, aren't we? Give me a kiss and get dressed. We'll need all four of us to make sure this building isn't loaded with explosives. Then we are going to find Nanuet and Chester." Ruby is quiet for a moment, thinking, then stands up from the bed slowly. “I HATE it when you do that, you know.” Jake raises an eyebrow but Ruby doesn’t see it as she is already starting to take off her dress. “I HATE it when you’re right,” she calls over her shoulder. “And I HATE it when I want to be mad but you know the right things to say.” Ruby drops the dress to the floor and pulls on the leather outfit. “And I HATE it that you didn’t even tell me that I looked good in the green dress before I had to take it off.” It only takes a minute for her to finish dressing. Ruby walks towards Jake and wraps her arms around him in a tight hug. “You really do think they’re dead, don’t you? I’m glad you didn’t kill Ringo because if they are dead he’s going to wish you did him that favor.” He says, "Don't dwell on what I think. We just better make sure this building doesn't blow up then, I expect to see you in that dress again someday soon." Ruby gives him a smile. "Chester likes that dress too you know. So let's go get him so he can enjoy it." Ruby kisses Jake, grabs her pack and guns and starts heading out the room, then stops suddenly. "Jake, we don't know that much about the priestess and if she can handle herself in dangerous situations. I mean, I'm guessing she can but you never know. Promise me you won't let anything happen to her, or Kate. I mean, just watch out for them, please." "I'll do what I can to keep them safe." As they leave the room he adds, "Protector of attractive women was not what I had in mind when I used to think I was a ladies man." She adds, "Yeah well, now you got your hands full with two. And don't forget, it was your idea to come off the market, so you are a ladies man no more! You belong to me, right Mr. Cook?" Ruby gives him a giggle and a wink. "You always make me feel better Jake, I mean it." "Yes, I'm off the market." Jake smiles at her as they approach the room where he hopes Katherine and Minerva are waiting. "Now that you feel better, let's try and not be blown to pieces." Ruby gives him another kiss. "Good plan. You want me to come in there with you or can I start investigating outside?" He says, “Yes, come in. But I agree with you wanting to get out there quick, so WE can go look for dynamite. Ringo's may still have friends in the room downstairs if there are perhaps these two can keep them busy while we check out the outside." As they walk into the room Ruby says, "Oh I can tell you exactly what the guys downstairs look like. I saw them through Ringo's eyes. They might be gone by now, so we should hurry if we want to get info. Plus we don't want to wait around and give them time to set up another trap for us." Ruby turns to Minerva. "I know you said you were in this with us, but it is a very dangerous, life threatening situation. You might want to consider that before you head out with us." Ruby smiles at her, "Although we would be happy to have your help if you're still offering." Ruby looks at Kate and Minerva. "I'm going out to try to find Nanuet and Chester. I know it's crazy, with this weather and they could be anywhere, but that's what I'm doing unless someone else has another plan." Jake states, "I'd like nothing better than to, ahem, take care of any of Ringo's friends in the room down stairs. We need to find out about Chester and Nanuet before we start taking any of them out. If we find we have to, we can't leave any evidence before we get our friends back." Jake scratches his chin before continuing. "How is this to start? We all go down stairs. If Ruby sees any of Ringo's friends you give us some kind of signal or info so we know which ones. Ruby goes to the kitchen and waits for a minute before going out the kitchen door. I tell Jeff Mills some of what is happening and then hangs around for a minute before he has to visit the outhouse. Katherine and Minerva keep Ringo's friends from going outside, or if they can't let us know somehow. Ruby searches for explosives and Jake covers her. If things go bad, get creative. When the building is safe, we start figuring out how to find them." "Fine," Kate said flatly, arms still crossed over her chest as they had been since Jake and Ruby came back. She took several steps until she stood in front of Ruby. "How dare you insinuate that I don't care about Nanuet and Chester?" she grated, barely louder than a whisper. "All we know about where they are is somewhere between here and Tombstone, and they might not even be there. There is magic that could help, but I don't know it and there is no one to help me. I can't go ask if the Apache saw anything now in the night with the Cowboys out there. So forgive me if I tried to think of something I could do rather than everything I can't!" As Kate gets in her face Ruby stands tall, a good 4 inches over her, not backing down in the slightest, also crossing her arms. Her eyes are cold and cloudy as she says calmly, “I didn’t insinuate anything, Katherine, it’s just not my style. I’ll tell you how I feel," she continues punctuating each word slowly, "right to your face. You should hear me fairly well from where you are standing. Before I left I did not hear one word about Nanuet or Chester, so what should I think? What I did hear was how hard and dangerous YOUR life is for you and the people around you. You need to decide if you should even stay in Promise City if you think you are putting Ginnie and Conrad in that much danger all the time.” “But this isn’t about YOU or what YOU can do, not everything is. It’s about what WE have to do together, that is the only way to get out of this mess. I’m tired of us, and I mean all of us, not working together. We wouldn’t be in half the trouble we get into if we did. If we are going to be friends and survive here, do well here in Promise City, we have to work together.” Ruby puts extra emphasis on the last word. Kate backed off a step and said, "I suggest we go over to Drover's and ask if they were seen on the road to Tombstone. It would give us at least an idea of where to start looking. After we're finished here, of course." Ruby declares, “Now I’m not going to stand around here arguing another minute. You don’t like my ideas, fine, do as you will. Your idea about checking who might have seen them on the road is a good one, they would have passed the coach if they made it to Tombstone. But first, I’m going to check out this building and make sure it isn’t about to explode.” Ruby turns away from Katherine and looks to Jake. “Well?” She giving him the ‘you wanted me in here’ look. Kate didn't back away from Ruby either, but now was not the time for an argument. "You know damn well I'm not letting you go anywhere alone. If you're going out to look I'm going too. It's not all about YOU either. We can argue about this later. Jake had a plan, let's do it." “I'm not trying to make it about me," Ruby replies without turning back to Kate. Minerva stands silently taking in all the conversation and waits until Ruby and Kate are done venting their frustration on one another. she sighs and thinks, " Why does Senor Jake always assume that when someone goes missing they must be dead. Such little faith. She ignores the scathing comments and faces them all with a calm look about her. "I think it is a good idea to first make sure that the building is not going to blow up. And I agree that we should take the men downstairs and get whatever information that we can out of them. I don't know if Ruby can still read their minds or not but it would be a good idea to try and do so. I would also like to bring to your attention that Although I have been in your saloon there is no reason for Senor Ringo to associate the new preacher with any of you so I may be able to move more freely.” “And I would like to point out " she says turning to Jake "that although it is true that Nanuet would not have willingly parted with his amulet, it is still quite possible that he and Chester are alive and we should act on that assumption. We will do them no good by eliminating possible sources of information or ending up in jail. Also If they are indeed alive, they will probably be so in the morning or Senor Ringo would not have wanted to discuss them with you. I'm not sure if searching for them tonight would be very fruitful in this weather. If we wait until the rain stops I can instruct Luna to search from the air while we ride, She has keen night sight as well as sharp hearing and smell, but if you decide that we must ride soon than I shall be willing to do that also. However, it would help if I had a horse." She turns to Ruby, "And yes, I can handle a gun and am also quite proficient with a rapier ,which is a much quieter weapon. I can also petition the goddess for extra help if we are faced with a confrontation and heal should it become necessary.” Ruby replies, "I'm afraid my spell has ended, Senorita. I can't detect anyone's thoughts until tomorrow." Ruby sighs, "Those are good talents to have, let's hope we don't have to use them." "Alright, I'll head downstairs and will give a," she tugs on her ear, "Behind anyone if they are still here." She puts her hat on her head and without further words heads downstairs. She stops briefly at the bar while the rest of her friends make their way downstairs. Ruby fingers the necklace in her pocket while she waits. Before Jake goes down stairs Minerva tells him, "If they are heading out the door, I'll have Luna fly out." Once they are downstairs Ruby walks towards the back of the saloon, making her way near Tony Lucky's table. She does stop briefly here and there to bid some customers goodnight. She waits until a hand is dealt and the players are looking down and as she walks past them discreetly tugs her ear behind the one known as Len. She continues past and back into the kitchen. She waits a minute, as Jake instructed before going out the back door. Minerva gets herself a drink at the bar and then moves to where she can observe the game at Tony Lucky's table and the two doorways to the outside. Luna sits contentedly on her shoulder. Kate plastered a smile on her face and went back to serving drinks, checking more often on Tony's table than she normally would. Jake walks over to Jeff Mills pats him on the shoulder and smiles. Jake speaks in a low voice to him so no one can hear and stops speaking if someone comes near. "Keep smiling like I'm telling you a joke. Johnny Ringo, who just left threatened to blow up the Lucky Lady. Ruby and I are going to go out and check to see if he was bluffing." Jake laughs and hits Jeff on the shoulder. "Katherine and Minerva are going to keep any of Ringo's men who are still here from coming out while we check. If things get ugly, help them out." Jake finishes in a normal voice, "Don't tell Ruby I told you that one, she wouldn't think it as funny as we do." They laugh some more before Jake adds, "All this rain makes your bladder active, eh?" He heads to the doorway next to the bar and to the latrine. After making sure he was not followed, he looks around and makes sure he isn't being watched. Then he disappears into the shadows and moves quietly keeping Ruby safe and watching for any of the Cowboy gang outside. Once Ruby is out, she silently as she can in the rain, makes her way around the building, looking for any suspicious people or any signs of tampering of the building or explosives. She does her best to hide in the shadows of the buildings, even if the lightning makes it hard. The rain has intensified and there do not appear to be any people out and about outside. The Lucky Lady has been built with a solid brick foundation, but there are a few ventilation grates on the east and west walls for air to circulate in the crawl space between the ground and floorboards a foot above. A check of the two grates on the east wall looks promising, with enough light coming from the window for Ruby and Jake to see that the paint on the grate screws has not been disturbed. They move over to Allen Street and check the east wall. The light isn't as good, but the lightening flashes briefly illuminate the scene. The first grate shows signs of having been removed at one point, the second still has original paint over it. Going back to the other grate, there does not appear to be any rust over the bare metal on the screw, although it has been dry for the past two months so it is still possible that it was removed by Tom Whipple when doing routine maintenance back in January. Ruby reaches down into Jake's boot and retrieves his dagger. She looks around the street and since no one is crazy enough to be out in this weather the street is deserted. She kneels next to the grate, has Jake cover her anyway, recites the trigger word and a small flame comes out of the tip of the knife. She points the flame in the grate, looking for any sign of recent activity. Any distinct footprints that might have been left have already been washed away. Based on the missing paint and a partially stripped screw it is clear that at some point a dagger or screwdriver was used at some point to remove this particular grate. Ruby kneels in front of the grate, leaning back on her feet. She hands Jake the flaming dagger and pulls out of a secret pocket in her jacket what looks like a long leather wallet. When she opens it Jake sees a bunch of tools (thieves tools). She picks the most appropriate tool and unscrews the grate from the wall, pulls it off and moves it to the side. She takes the flaming dagger back from Jake and carefully holds it outside the opening with the light shining inside. Leaning down to the level of the grate she carefully looks inside to see if there is anything there. She decides that if she doesn't see anything she will slowly extend her arm inside, careful not to light any explosives that might be there. The crawl space has lots of the usual things one would expect to find there - old dried leaves, dead bugs, some rat skeletons and some rusted old nails. But what stands out is a wooden box, 8-inches wide, 6-inces deep and 4-inches high. The box does not appear to have a lid, although neither Ruby or Jake can see what may be inside as the box is around eight feet away from the grate, beneath the kitchen. There are indentations in the dirt where a shovel or rake was used to move the box to that location [/QUOTE]
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