WHO Susan Turner & Faith Lehane WHAT Patrol WHEN Wednesday evening WHERE Out and about WARNINGS their awkward attempt at small talk? STATUS Closed | Complete gdoc
The murders happening in town were far too out of the ordinary for Susan's liking. The fact that the killer was only targeting women - and mostly Brothel workers at that - concerned her tremendously. She didn't condone any sort of law breaking, but she was particularly sensitive when it came to the subject of violence against women. It was bad enough that women were thought to be good for only two things, which was why she'd stuck around when the Sheriff had begun forming his all female deputy squad.
Because their fearless leader was really only fearless when it came to his own safety, they were patrolling in pairs and she found herself partnered with Faith. She liked the other woman, even if she was a bit rough around the edges. That sort of thing worked in their favor. "Here's hoping some of these leads pan out," she said, unfolding the sketch of four men that had been anonymously provided to the Sheriff. Or at least, that was what he was saying. "Couple of these guys look familiar, but I don't know where to start."
***
“Well gee, where do we always start when looking for men? We look at the saloon and the brothel.” Faith had a background that didn’t leave her with many good opinions of men, or a lot of women to be honest. She had no real love for the brothel women but she had a hell of a lot less for any man that was killing them and so far the Sheriff had her back and loyalty so even though she’d made a hell of a lot more money taking bounties she was sticking it out.
“Chances are if their worthless hides are in either there’s someone there that’s seen them and can point them out if we give them a little persuasion.”
***
Susan chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's start with the Saloon," she suggested. "The Sheriff's been busy at the Brothel the past few days." She didn't judge him for it, more envied him. She didn't exactly have men lining up to court her since she was a widow in her thirties, a Sheriff's deputy and mom of two. Maybe she'd find a nice arrangement soon to satiate some of her needs, but that was a problem for after they caught the murderer.
"It's been a little crazy this past little while." Having a bunch of women show up murdered was a big difference from what they normally dealt with and it had left her a little shaken. She was glad she had sons and didn't need to worry about them getting attacked, but that didn't make her worry any less about all the other young women in town. Maybe she'd speak to Steve about starting some sort of self defense class, though she wasn't sure how well received it would be.
***
Faith hadn’t ever been married and she sure as hell wasn’t planning on it because no matter how open minded a very few people could be she didn’t figure there was any man in the world that was going to let her run around wearing britches, getting in fights and doing what she liked to do. She didn’t want to be owned or told what to do or be held down by anyone.
“Likely to get crazier if we don’t figure it out soon. People will turn on each other if they don’t know who to blame. I’ve seen it get real ugly in other places.”
***
"Well, it's a good thing we're taking a crack at them. At least we'll know there won't be any bad information we bring back." Faith had her ways and Turner usually acted as a balance to that, but she didn't have any real desire to stop the other woman. Death was, of course, something she'd prevent. There was just a lot between the beginning of an interrogation and death, and that was where Faith worked best.
They turned toward the Saloon and she wondered idly if her sons would be there, passing the time. She hoped not, but they were adults and able to spend their money as they pleased. So long as they were respectful, Turner was content to let them be and parented from afar. Faith, she knew, didn't have any children and wasn't about to offer up her own children as a topic of conversation. Instead, she asked, "When do you think our dear Sheriff will admit he's grown fond of Darcy?" she asked, referring to the Brothel worker he often spent time with.
***
“I’m pretty good at cracking em.” Faith laughed because she enjoyed her work and one of the reasons she didn’t mind being paired with Turner since the man in charge refused to believe she could take care of herself was because she let Faith play.
That wasn’t exactly a topic she could even pretend to be an expert on which meant that Faith sighed and shrugged. “Far as I know he’ll never admit it because he doesn’t admit anything. He’ll probably just visit her in the whorehouse until she’s too old to lift her skirts anymore.”
***
"I don't know that it'll take him that long," she replied. Turner gave the Sheriff a little more credit than that, but she didn't expect he'd admit his feelings any time soon. Their boss was the kind of guy who moved carefully and cautiously when it came to literally anything and everything that wasn't just himself. He tended to dive head first into harm's way if it meant keeping someone else safe, which was commendable. Up until he tried to do it with them. Then it didn't really work out all that well.
"I'm sure Kate will give him grief for it. She's more than a little headstrong. She might wear him down faster than any of us." It wasn't like he cared what the rest of the town thought, considering he was all about empowering women and letting them all live the lives they wanted to have instead of what society back East told them they should be like.
***
“More than a little headstrong? That’s one way of putting it.” Stubborn as a mule and with that opinion coming from Faith that said something. She frowned a little not really liking the talk about relationships. Faith didn’t like or trust them. You gave someone power over you when you gave them your feelings.
“What does it matter? He will or he won’t and it won’t catch us a murderer. And it’s not like he’d come to ask me about any of it.” Because she would have no idea of what to tell him because he was friend enough she wouldn’t tell him what she really thought about relationships and how stupid they were.
***
Susan did hope that Faith might one day find a husband who could appreciate her for her strengths, without being too put off by all the ways she wasn't a proper lady. They were all rough around the edges in many ways, but Faith most of all. Still, she let the conversation drop as they approached the Saloon. There were some things best left unsaid and time would out. She was a firm believer in that.
"You're not wrong," was all she said as she held the swinging door open to allow the other woman through first. "But that can be a discussion for later. And, to make it up to you, I'll let you crack the first skull." Turner grinned, something hungry and a little dangerous. She'd be alright to crack a couple of heads to keep their town safe.
***
Faith wasn’t going to hold her breath on that subject. And she tended to avoid the subject even to herself so it didn’t come up a lot.
Turner’s offer put a dimpled grin on Faith’s face as she walked by her into the saloon. “See that? That is why you are my favorite other deputy. You know what I like.” Now all they had to do was see if any of their suspects were in there, if not they could start beating on people until they told them where to go look.