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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3292436" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-thirty-three “Derek Avery’s Murder”, Sunday June 11th, 1882, 8:30 P.M. Jake Cook arrives back at the Lucky Lady.   Job Kane tells him, "It's a quiet night at the Lady.  Tony Lucky has five at this table including his cousin Frank.   Job approaches Jake and says, "I heard about the debate.  Helen came by, she made it clear that she expects us to have a story in tomorrow night's paper that clarifies our position on both this tournament and prostitution.  One of us should probably head upstairs and talk to Van Horne about that. I've been reluctant to do so.""Fine. I will do it. It will be easier with a bottle of bourbon though." Jake retrieves a bottle with two glasses. "Remember that sometimes I do the dirty work," he tells Job with point of his finger. Jake slowly mounts the stairs as if he is reluctant to reach the top, once again trying not to laugh all the way up.  He knocks on Van Horne’s door, "Excuse me Mr. Van Horne, we have a business matter to discuss."   Van Horne's thick Georgia accent says, "Come in then Mr. Cook."   In a loud voice Jake says, "You cost me $100 tonight," and closes the door. Then in a quiet voice while holding up the bottle of bourbon, "Care for a drink?"   He is still in the Van Horne form but he switches to his own voice and says, "Pull up a chair Jacob me boy, and let's chat. I've been wanting to speak with ye for quite some time but it didn't seem appropriate until now."   Jake pours some bourbon in each glass, hands Red one and touches them together, "Luck." "Before I forget, Van Horne's alleged funding of prostitutes has become an issue with the election and all.  If you are paying for that you need to distance that activity from the Lucky Lady. You know, you are just hiring the Lady for the venue.  All other 'lady' hiring is from the tournament business or whatever.  I am sure you know the routine.  Frankly I do not give a rats tail but everything is news worthy thanks to this blasted election.  What did you want to talk about?"He replies, "Why the future of the saloon, our dear friend Evan had in mind winning it from you during the tournament and then shutting it down.   But with this morning's mishap he's reconsidered.....after he wins it he plans to turn it into the new Palace Saloon."    Jake answers, "What a great idea.  That man is so smart. Since there is already a tournament with an entry fee and a prize, why would I be inclined to bet my twenty percent share?  Against his wreck of a saloon in a grudge match?  My best revenge is watching him squirm without a saloon."  Jake swirls the bourbon in the glass and sips it. "Actually my best revenge is a might more violent, but I digress."Red replies, "Well Evan figures that whatever tricks I pulled in Tucson to get you to lose your five-percent can be duplicated.  He's also stacked the deck by having five participants who he thinks are in with him to win, namely himself, an out-of-town gambler friend of Steve Lord, from Kate Higgins’s saloon with be her gamblers Conrad Booth and Wendell Spaulding and from the Gay Lady is Burton Lumley.   It’s also uncertain what his relationship now is with Hamilton Fisk, who is also going to play.   Then he's figuring since I'm arranging both the dealers and security I'll set things up so that any cheating won't be caught.  When I stressed to him that Van Horne won't do anything dishonest he laughed and let on that he knows about my magical amulet and what it does. So this is now blackmail, he wants me to help him out to win this thing by any way possible or he destroys Van Horne's reputation.""I hate blackmail.  You cannot trust a man you put in a corner like that."  Jake grits his teeth and frowns.  "Are you getting sloppy in your old age? How did Adair find out about your little piece of Jewelry?  That may be very important to know.  And if he knows about it, how does he keep you from knowing what he thinks?"  Red can see the thoughts racing behind the younger gamblers eyes.Red replies, "How he found out is uncertain, but I did live with him for several months. Most-likely he has known since way back then and has just been waiting for the time to use it against me.  One advantage I have is that Van Horne could just permanently disappear if necessary, his will is up to date and we are both among his beneficiaries, so what Adair can do to him is limited.  We have several days to consider what to do, but I fully intend that this tournament be an honest one." He pours himself another drink and says, "Drink with me Jacob, I need some cheering up.  The death of the young woman at the Palace has upset me far more than I would have thought possible."   "I do have some thoughts about how to deal with Adair, but that can wait. What is this about the woman?" Jake seems concerned.Red replies, "Sara MacBridger....she died in her bed. When the dynamite went off the wall and floor fell out from under her and the floor above collapsed on top of her....poor Sara."   In an uncharacteristic display of emotion he wipes his eyes and says, "Jake, my Jane is right, the gods do watch over and protect our lives.  I never actually believed it until now."  Jake states, "They did not watch out for Sara. Why are you suddenly a convert?"Red replies, "I didn't even know Miss. MacBridger, she was new to the Palace.   She took Jane's place and was in Jane's old room.  Jake, if the gods hadn't convinced me to bring Jane with me to Tucson that would be her lying in the casket over at Lester's Funeral Parlor"   "Ah." Jake is quiet and refills both their glasses.  "So the gods convinced you huh?  Well I will not deny you that belief.  They put their hands in our lives for good and ill." Jake offers a quick toast. "Here is to getting some of the good."   Jake and Red share the toast and the older man then says goodnight, indicating that it had been a longer and rather traumatic day.   Jake leaves him to his rest, taking the bottle back down stairs and delaying the other serious conversations for another time.At the Long Branch Saloon, Deputy Neil Cassidy has just asked Kate "Mrs. Kale, do you have any information about the murder?"   She exclaims, "Murder? Who was murdered?  You're not talking about the hooded men from this morning, are you?  I only came in looking for Mr. Booth and wondered if he was here or not.  I didn't want to interrupt but it didn't seem you would be finished here anytime soon."Neil says, "Mr. Booth is waiting upstairs for us.   Mr. Avery was found around twenty minutes ago.  He was stabbed to death just outside the back door of this saloon, lying between the Long Branch and the back door of Johnson's Barber and Baths.   We were hoping somebody here might have seen or heard something but so far there doesn't appear to be anybody who did."Kate stood in stunned silence for several moments.  "This has to stop.  Poor Mr. Avery, he didn't deserve that."  She took a minute to pull herself together, then asked, "Why is Mr. Booth waiting upstairs?"   Neil replies, "Marshall Berg wanted to speak to him in private and asked him to wait alone in one of the rooms.  I can tell him you were looking for him when the Marshall is through.""Please. Tell him I'll either be at the Unity rally or at the Lucky Lady. I assume you want this news kept quiet for as long as possible?"   Neil says, "Yes, please." Mitchell Berg finishes up his conversation with Kate Higgins and rushes over to Kate Kale. "Mrs. Kale, I'm glad I saw you.  Judge Isby wanted you to come and testify as a witness tomorrow at Mr. Snavely's trial.  It was supposed to start at 8:00 AM but I'm going to ask him to delay it until 9:00 or 10:00 given this new investigation as it is probably related. Will you be available then?"She replies, "I'm supposed to be teaching, but Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Caudell can handle things without me. I didn't even know Mr. Snavely had been arrested. I hope he's been forthcoming with what he knows?"   Berg replies, "His arrest was due to your eye-witness of seeing him. He hasn't been very forthcoming but that may change with the murder of his boss.  I'll send one of my deputies over to the school when the trial is about to start.""Thank you. You should know I plan to stay out at the ranch house tonight. After what happened this morning I wouldn't sleep well in the school building. I'd appreciate it if whoever is on duty could check in on the place now and then.   No one else knows I was the one who saw him, do they?"   He replies "Deputy Martin told those of us at the Marshall's Office. Judge Isby mentioned you by name to me so somebody told him as well.  Hold on for a minute, I'll have Neil escort you to where you are going just to be on the safe side.""Thank you." Kate waited while the men went back to their work. Her mind had busily trying to avoid thinking about what she had just learned, but the picture of a man stabbed to death in an alley was far too familiar for her to force out of her mind.  Thankfully it was only a few moments before Mr. Cassidy walked her outside. "Where are you going, Mrs. Kale?" he asked. "The Lucky Lady please, Jake is going to escort me out to the ranch later."At the Lucky Lady Tony Lucky's game has broken up early and they have all left.  Harry Rote is over at the piano playing. Jeff Mills is sitting with Coyote Kay Kaufman at the table closest to the door chatting with her.  The only other patrons in the Lady are a young couple Pat and Moria Enion, who he doesn't recall ever visiting the Lady before.  Pat Enion works part time for Morand Cartage but his preferred profession is sign painting and he was the one who had made the Lucky Lady's distinctive sign in March.Jake leaves Jeff and Coyote alone, not sure what is between them but thinking it is best to let them be uninterrupted. After returning the bourbon bottle to the bar Jake welcomes the Enion's to the Lucky Lady. He chats briefly telling them he is happy to see them and if he feels they prefer their privacy he will quickly leave them be.   The Enion's chat pleasantly with Jake for around a ten minutes, mostly small talk. Patrick then asks, "So, how what can you tell me about this poker tournament that I keep hearing about?"  Jake fills them in on the details of the tournament. "A bit of a steep entrance fee, but that is the only way to keep it to serious players and make the pot large enough. Should be entertaining to watch too. Nothing like a poker tournament to bring out the pride in a real poker lover. Every player wants the recognition they are among the best."   The innocent looking freckled-faced Moria looks up and speaking in a soft voice with just a slight hint of a Welch accent asks, "And it is acceptable for a woman to play?"    "Heh." Jake's grin grows wide. "Acceptable to me and the tournament organizers. Helen Barker is one of our regulars here. I dare say she would have strong words if someone were bold enough to attempt preventing women from joining if they chose." Jake releases a chuckle. "I would be pleased to have you join Mrs. Enion. If you are asking if it is acceptable around town for a woman to play poker, I would say that depends heavily on who you count as friends. Heck, I suspect that one of those political parties would ban poker for men AND women if they had there way." Jakes says with a little bit of aggravation. "Please feel welcome to make friends here and join the tournament."Cassidy escorts Kate over to the Lucky Lady and bids her goodnight.   Kate walked inside and saw that Jake was busy talking with a couple she didn't recognize. Instead of interrupting she went over to the piano and began to play the Chopin piece she'd played in New York, trying to find some calm.   When Jake finishes with the Enion's, he takes a seat near the piano. As he listens to Katherine play he slouches in a chair with his feet up on a table and enjoys his bourbon in quiet contemplation.The Enions finish up their beverages and depart. Jeff Mills heads up to the bar to get Coyote Kay Kaufman a refill of her tankard. He calls over to Jake, "Are you going to be needing me for the rest of the night boss?" When Jake says they are fine Mills fills a tankard for himself and goes back to join Miss. Kaufman.When the piece was over Kate sat down at the table Jake had chosen. Her voice was grim and quiet as she said, "Derrick Avery is dead. Stabbed to death behind the Long Branch."   "Avery?  Huh, I had not expected that. I figured that Snavely was next, and whoever he could finger would not let him make it to trial. That is too bad, Avery was a decent enough sort. At least once he gave up on the Vigilance committee. Foolish to be hanging around in an alley behind the Long Branch, it ser-" Jake stops speaking suddenly.  "Oh. Yes that is quite tragic." He pulls his feet off the table and sits up. "Though it seems obvious, I wonder if it is really related to Snavely and this mornings trauma?""He didn't deserve that," Kate said, taking firm hold of herself to stop her shaking hands.  "Mitchell Berg said Snavely hasn't been forthcoming with information. That fact that he might live to see trial take some suspicion off the Cowboy Gang, at least for this.  I can make this make sense in one way, but it may be my own bias. I think we're looking at people even more extreme than the Vigilance Committee. They'll strong-arm as much as they can, but Doctor Eaton at least would never allow murder to get something done. I asked at Drover's this morning if anyone had taken their horses out this morning. Icabod Shackelton took a wagon and two draft horses. Chester followed just such tracks this morning after the attack. The Palace is the most notorious saloon in town, Ike Sherman is known to be friendly was criminal elements. The Morands work with other races, and Mr. Fly is on the Committee for Racial Equality and is helping to support my school. I still don't know if the school was a target but it would certainly be on Shackelton's list. And now Derek Avery, who was kicked off the Vigilance Committee for supporting the vote for other races.  It all makes sense if the perpetrators are looking to make this town a human only town without sin.""Real sin lies only in hurting other people unnecessarily. All other ‘sins’ are invented nonsense by those looking to foist their morality view on the world around them." Jake snorts a chuckle, "I should leave the preaching to Senorita Florencia." He takes a sip from his bourbon and continues, "I came to a similar conclusion myself this morning after the attack. Someone with the Vigilance Committee views about morality that is willing to kill the 'sinners' to get their way does appear to be a likely perpetrator. Shackleton, eh? He and I have not had much contact, so I do not know much about him. He is Mrs. King's creature. Could be King money is involved.""I like your preaching. I'm not sure about King money. I don't know them well but I don't get that feeling from them. One of the ladies suggested to me that if the Kings don't get the influence they want here they would turn to Tombstone instead.  All I really know of Shackelton is he's never spoken to me without an insult, and he is incredibly bigoted. He would certainly love to see the school burn to the ground. His behavior at the baseball game was unpardonable. I don't want to get to set in the idea of Shackelton though. We still know that that the Cowboy Gang is out there along with the restless corpses."Jake shrugs. "I suppose we will find out more at the trial in the morning. Do I understand from what you said that Berg and company do not seem to have any witnesses or major clues on the who did in Avery?"   She replies, "He had just been found about fifteen minutes before I stopped at the Long Branch. They were interviewing the people there, but I doubt they would have told me any sensitive information anyway. They had Conrad waiting upstairs, so I couldn't see him. I have to testify in the morning, they'll send someone to get me from school when the trial is starting. They said no one has been told that I was the one who saw Snavely."Jake replies, "I had not known that. I knew you told the lawmen, so I figured word was around. I mentioned to Isby that it was you, and I was surprised that he did not know. Sorry, I was not thinking. Anyway, I will see you safe to the ranch." Privately he thinks, I almost wish one of them would try something. In my current mood I would enjoy putting several more of them down. If not for Katherine's safety I would not mind drawing them out. "Do you have adequate protection at the ranch?"Kate answers, "Mr. Gonzales is there with Sonoma and Flint. I'll be fine. Most people would look for me in town if they were looking.  Telling Judge Isby is fine, it's not like you were wandering around talking with everyone telling them what I'd seen. Hopefully after tomorrow I'll just go back to the usual amount of danger. I wouldn't want to start staying other places and making whoever is out there think I was trying to hide from them.""I know what you mean. I have this aversion to letting folks like that think they have any influence over me." Jakes sighs. "Anytime you want to go is fine with me. I am not needed here. Jeff and Coyote are too busy staring into each others eyes to notice me anyway." Jake gives her a silly grin. "No rush either. I need to pickup a few items at my house before we ride out."Kate says, "The only thing I'm waiting for now is Conrad to come by. I'm still annoyed he went to Mr. Gonzales instead of spending more time trying to talk to me first, but his heart was in the right place and I don't want to go to bed angry.  I just need to collect Ginnie before we head out of town."   She looked over at Jeff Mills and his companion. "Looks like Jeff is starting to shake that reputation. At least things are going well for someone.  Why don't you go on and get your things? I'd like to play a while longer."   Jake nods, finished the last bit of the cherished Kentucky bourbon in his glass and stands. "As you like. I will meet you out in front of the saloon."   He leaves her to the piano and private time she obviously needs.   After Jake left Kate turned back to the piano, letting herself pour everything out through its keys. She says to herself “I have to get a piano for the house. Everything else I have done, I think I can manage that.” Over at Drover’s, Minerva finishes her conversation with Helen and continues to circulate the room. Smiling and shaking hands with those around her as though she herself is running for office, she loudly voices her position, bestowing her blessings upon those who are in favor of racial equality and warning everyone of the gods' displeasure with those who are of a more narrow mind. "There is no place in this town for those who cannot play nice. We are all children of the gods' and They have made it clear that it is up to us to treat one another as brother and sister before it is too late. They cannot protect us from what we are bringing down upon ourselves. All of this bigotry and hatred is only serving to widen the chasm of evil. Mark my words, if we do not pull together soon something dark and horrific will emerge from the abyss and even the gods may not have the power to stop it."  As she moves from one group to another she repeatedly glances at the door wondering where Nanuet could be. I wonder if he even knows that we are here, at Drover's?  She chuckles inwardly as she notices that Nakomo is awkwardly hovering around the girls with a pitcher of lemonade, filling their glasses as quickly as they emptily them. "He is a brave young man, to take on three at once. It will be good for him to get to know his peers. Oh but I wish Nanuet were here" she sighs and anxiously eyes the door one more time. "what could be keeping him?" She gives her attention back to the woman who is speaking to her and catches something about 'the women folk banning together and parading through the streets for women's suffrage.  The young priestess nods and smiles distractedly. Oh, That sounds like a fine idea, Senora." she pats the woman's shoulder and glances beyond her as though she sees someone. If you will excuse me, por favor. I must go now."  She briskly escapes out the door before anyone else can accost her and leans her elbows on the railing, deeply inhaling the cool night air. "Some hurried men rush into Drover's Hotel and depart equally as fast a minute later with Helen Barker with them. Minerva then hears several people talking saying that Derek Avery has been found murdered.   "Minerva does not follow, but instead looks up to the heavens and addresses the gods angrily and demands. "Why do you allow this to continue?! How many more must be sacrificed to gain our freedom?"  She bows her head and prays for the soul of Derek Avery.Nanuet finds out Minerva's whereabouts from others and makes his way to the drover's. He stands in the background for a few moments listening to her speak and then when she has a quiet moment he approaches and says "I see your job as priestess is never done. Sorry that I have been of little help since my return, there just seems to be so much going on I am not sure where I should be or what I should be doing. I knew that you would be doing some good so I figured by your side would be a wise choice."Warm feelings of joy and relief wash over Minerva when she feels the soft breath of her lover's voice tickling her ear. As she turns into his arms to greet him, she is knocked back by the waves of disbelief and anger that begin to roll though the room in the wake of the news that Derek Avery has been murdered. Her eyes dart around the room as she tries to assess the severity of the situation. "Well you are just in time then! Although I'm not so sure about your choice being a wise one. By the gods! This was supposed to be kept quiet! Nanuet, we must do something before this turns into another mob scene!" She looks to Nanuet for answers as the dull roar escalates to shouts of outrage.  Nanuet takes Minerva's arm firmly and attempts to soothe her. "Let's stay calm first. I think people are just scared and nobody here means to do harm, at least not right now. Let's stay here and keep an eye on things for the time being, deal with anything serious as it arises."Minerva and Nanuet walk through the crowd speaking calmly to individuals here and there, re-assuring everyone that the law is handling the situation and advising them that the best thing they can do is to go on home. When the building begins to empty, Nanuet and Minerva leave as well and make their way home.</blockquote>

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