Part 7

(Thanks again to all the people who have reviewed.)

Tony woke early the next morning. He had head Gibbs come back the previous night and knew that he would want an explanation that Tony couldn't give.

He crept down the stairs, he so hoped Gibbs wouldn't hear him, opened the door and ran. He felt like a child running away from home, only if this was his home he wouldn't be running away.

He made his way towards the church, hoping that someone would be there. He tried the door and to his amazement it was open. He opened it and went in. A man came out of the room at the back and said," Can I help you?"

"I hope so, I need to look at some old records of marriages and deaths."

The man looked at his watch,"You need t9o do it right now?"

"Yes sorry. I really need to do it now."

"Very well, can I ask who told you about the records being at the church?"

Tony didn't blame him for being suspicious. After all he was a stranger. "Yes, Miss Wells at the museum. I was there yesterday doing some research and she told me that I could find the records here. You can phone and check with her if you wish."

"You'd have to be a braver person than me to phone her at this time in the morning," the man said laughing. "Come on, the records are in the back."

He led him through to the back of the church where there was a small office. "Which records did you want to see?"

"I want to look at marriages from 1880 onwards and deaths in 1878."

"I haven't seen you around here before, do your family come from here?"

"Yes they do," well it wasn't a lie, Tony thought crossing his fingers behind his back.

The minister pulled down some books from a shelf sneezing as some dust came with them. "Bless you," Tony said smiling at his own joke.

"Thank you. I'm afraid no one has cleaned up in here for quite a long time."

"That doesn't matter. Can I sit here?" Tony asked pointing to a table and chair.

"Help yourself." He pointed at one book," That is the record of deaths for 1878 and this is the record of marriages for 1880 to 1885. The other book up there is for 1886 to 1889."

"Thanks." Tony sat down.

"I'll be in the church if you need any more help."

Tony opened the record of deaths book and turned some pages. There was Jenny Gibbs name followed by her two sons. He looked at the cause of death and was shocked. Shot! Then he looked at the boys records, both of them were shot as well. It happened on the same day. What on Earth could have happened?

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Sort of. Do you know where I might find copies of newspapers for the area from this time?"

"They'd be in the library. There used to be a local newspaper here but it was sold many years ago. The most exciting thing that ever happened was Mr. Kellot's marrow being stolen. Not exactly headline news." Tony stood up as if to go. "Don't you want to look at the marriage records?"

"Forgot sorry." Tony had gotten such a shock he'd forgotten to look there. He sat again and opened the book. There was no marriage for Jethro Gibbs in 1880 but there was one in 1881. He had married Rose O'Neal. Good Tony thought. At least that was part of the mystery solved. "Could you tell me where the library is?"

"It's not far from the museum. You go along the street and it's the white building on the corner. It should be open soon," he said looking at his watch.

"Thanks again," Tony said helping to put the books back. Tony wanted to get there before Jack and Gibbs realised he was gone and went looking for him.

Gibbs had heard the stair creak as he lay in his bed wondering what to say to Tony. He looked at his watch, Dad is up early he thought. He listened again and this time heard the door open. He jumped out of bed and headed for Tony's room. It was empty. Damn! he thought. He looked out the window but couldn't see Tony. "Dad!" he shouted getting dressed. Jackson appeared at Tony's door looking slightly dishevelled.

"What's wrong Leroy? Can't a man get a decent sleep?"

"Tony's gone."

"What? Where?"

"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"

"No, except I found him at the museum yesterday. I'll phone Miss Wells see if he asked her about anywhere in town."

Jackson phoned. When he put the phone down he said,"That woman can still put you in your place even now. She says Tony asked about marriage and death records and she told him to try the church."

"Let's go." Leroy said going back into his room and grabbing his keys.

"Think I should get dressed first son."

They were soon in the car and heading down to the church. "What on Earth has got into him?" Gibbs asked his dad.

"I don't know. He seemed fascinated by the old photos."

They stopped the car and jumped out. "Reverend Miller, have you seen a young man this morning. Asking about the church records?" Jackson asked.

"He was here earlier."

"You wouldn't happen to know where he went?" Gibbs asked impatiently.

"Leroy, he is not one of your suspects." Jackson turned to the minister. "I'm sorry my son forgets that he's not on duty."

"It's alright, Mr Gibbs. I did wonder about the young man appearing so early in the morning. He did say he had been at the Museum yesterday."

"What was he looking at?" Jackson asked.

"Marriage records and death records from the 1870's and 80's."

"Did he say why?"

"No but he did ask where old newspaper copies are kept and I told him to try the library."

"Thank you," Jackson said. They jumped back into the car.

Tony had made it to the library just as it was opening. A young girl was behind the counter. "I'd like to look at an old newspaper from 1878."

"Come with me," she said.

They walked into an old room at the side of the library. She handed Tony some white gloves. She lifted down a heavy book from the shelf. "The copies are very fragile, we are having them put onto micro film but it's not completed yet."

Tony sat at the table and opened the book. The paper was very brittle. Then he saw the photograph that Jackson had of Jethro, Jenny and their two boys. Above it was the headline: Sheriff's wife and children killed by the Clay gang. Tony couldn't believe it as he read the article. No wonder Jethro had been unwilling to talk about it.

The article said that the Clay gang had robbed the bank in a nearby town and the neighbouring towns had raised a posse to search for them. They had cornered them in a farm nearby where there had been a gun battle. Jethro had killed one of the Clay brother's in the fight before they had managed to use the family in the farm as their hostages and rode away. It seems that the oldest brother, Karl, had been so angry he had headed for Stillwater. He was determined to avenge his youngest brother's death. He had found out where Jethro lived and had broken into his house killing Jenny and the two boys. The article went on to say that Jethro and Fornell had tracked them down and caught them all. They had been hanged in Stillwater. Tony couldn't imagine how Jethro must have felt. No wonder he'd given up being a lawman and no wonder he'd been so mad when Tony had picked up that gun. He shut the book and got up. He put it back on the shelf and then removed the gloves. He was just about to call out to the librarian when he saw two figures standing at the door. Shit! he said to himself. He turned back looking for another exit but there was nothing. He'd just have to face the music.

Gibbs had noticed the panicked look on his face, "Going somewhere?" he asked in a cold voice.

"I..."

"Get in the car son," Gibbs said.

Son! Tony couldn't believe he'd called him that. He moved past Gibbs and Jackson keeping his backside away from both of them.

"In the back," Jackson said as they reached the car.

They drove back to the house in silence.

TBC